I Promise

16

We drive from the mountains all the way to some sort of off the beat ranch, filled with cattle and horses. Then I notice the sign.

"We're going horseback riding?" I ask, and the excitement is clearly visible in my voice.

"Hell yeah we are," Matt says.

As we walk to an old ranch house, a couple greets us.

"Hey Matt, we haven't seen you in years!" the man exclaims. He's middle aged, wearing a cowboy hat and some sunglasses.

They embrace and Matt leads them aside, and then looks at me as if to say don't you dare follow. I wonder if he is trying to negotiate some sort of horseback ride where they don't give them. But from the way the couple greeted him, he knows them quite well. Maybe it's some private matter, so I try to not be too bothered by it.

Matt walks out a few seconds later, grinning.

"Ready to go on the best horseback ride ever?" he asks.

I smile, and follow him to the back. There are two horses with saddles, all ready to go. We leave Zeus with the couple, and he doesn't seem to mind. He's too occupied with barking at the cattle to even notice us leaving.

"Ladies first," Matt says, beckoning for me to choose a horse. I've gone horseback riding before when I was eight. And then I went once again freshman year in high school. I fell in love ever since, and somehow my parents scrounged up enough money to get me a few lessons. I go straight for the tan brown one. He glistens in the morning sun, and he looks breathtaking.

Matt and I board our horses and ride out the back of the barn, where a valley stands before us. I don't even realize I am grinning ear to ear as I guide my horse alongside Matt's.

"You're quite the skilled rider there," he says, looking over.

I smile. "I took a few lessons, actually," I reply.

"So not only do you like cars and sunsets and photographs, but horses too?" he says.

I nod. Now it's my turn.

"So how do you know the couple?" I ask. The horse, whose name is Ace, trots easily, and I look down to see his muscles glisten with each step.

"They used to live in New York. Well, the suburbs, actually. They're wealthy, and once they retired they moved out here, and now own a ranch. My dad worked in the same firm as Clinton, and Sherry is good friends with my mom."

"Their names sound perfect for the outskirts of Santa Barbra," I say, and Matt chuckles.

"Maybe it was their fate," he says.

I stifle a laugh, and Matt looks at me, his face full of fake shock.

"You're telling me you don't believe in fate?" he asks.

I shake my head. "I can't believe that a person is made to live their life based on something other than their own actions."

"Not even a little?" he asks.

"Nope," I say.

"Well you know what? Maybe I'll change that. Maybe, it was fate that made me go out to the field that night and find you pelting the net with soccer balls."

I laugh.

"In all seriousness, I actually debated whether or not I should come over to you or let you be. You seemed pissed."

I remember that day, and I shiver at the thought. Matt sees it, and I can feel him tense up, like he's scared he pushed the wrong buttons. But somehow, I doubt he'll fall into that alligator pit.

We stop talking about the incident because I feel like Matt thinks he's pushing too far. But the thing is, I didn't put up a wall when he mentioned that day. I don't feel like I have to.

As our horses walk down the valley, we manage to go on flatter ground.

"Last one to reach the end of this trail has to kiss Zeus on the nose!" Matt yells, and without warning he yells and dashes off. Not skipping a beat, I do the same.

I'm laughing, feeling the wind on my face. I'm flying through the valley, and time itself stops. I don't have to face my fears, my anger, my pain. I let go and embrace the rhythm of Ace's hooves hitting the ground, and the wind that is blowing at my face, whispering secrets into my ear that are too hard to make out.

I see that Matt's horse is slowing to a trot so I make sure to pass him and then stop my horse completely. I look toward him and laugh.

"Guess you have to kiss Zeus's nose, then," I say, smiling. The breeze hits my face, and I realize that the valley is slowly becoming more even, and some sand is milling about. The valley trail is leading to a secluded beach, probably even owned by Matt's family friends.

Matt is smiling, but doesn't saying anything about kissing Zeus's nose.

"We made it all the way to the beach," I say. "Should we check it out?" I ask.

Matt nods, still smiling at me. It's like he's trying to memorize every part of my face. I look away, feeling a bit shy.

We tie off our horses by a wooden fence, and walk through some shrubs to find the beach. I take off my shoes, letting my feet sink into the sand. I turn around to face Matt, who stands behind me.

The beach looks beautiful, secure. No one could enter it unless you went by the trail; the beach was surrounded by thick shrubs. Suddenly, I feel so happy that I agreed to find the mysteries of Santa Barbra because I have seen more today than I have ever seen in my life. I had felt carefree for the first time, safe from my troubles and my messed up family.

"It's beautiful, Matt," I say. Somehow, it feels different when I say his name. Like I just meant for him to hear what I said .

Matt is still smiling, and a mysterious glimmer shines in his eyes. He's looking at something behind me, so I turn around. And gasp.

Right in front of me by the beach stands a small table for two, decked on in the most outrageous and typical picnic I've ever seen, complete with a checkered tablecloth. There's even a pitcher of water and some glasses set aside with some plates.

I look over to Matt, speechless. He's grinning.

"Another adventure. I bet you've never had a beach lunch," he says, smiling. To my amusement, he seems a bit shy as he puts his hand behind his back, as if wondering whether I find it too cheesy.

"Wow, Matt..." I trail off. I don't know what to say. In fact, no one had ever done something like this for me before. It makes me realize that there is kindness everywhere if you just look hard enough.

He smiles. "It's no big deal. I didn't even set this up, I mean Clinton and Sherry helped-"

I cut him short because I run over to him and hug him.

"No one's ever done something like this for be before - ever. Thank you," I murmur into Matt's year, my hands still wrapped around his neck.

We break apart and sit down, ready to eat.

"I'm glad I'm the first person to give you a lunch by the beach," Matt says, and I laugh.

"I don't think you know what I meant," I say. Matt raises his eyebrows in question.

"No one has ever done a nice gesture for me, like this, or anything. Ever," I say, getting a bit quiet.

Matt is silent for a moment, and then he gives me a small smile.

"I will never understand how no one would do something like this for Rynn Connaughy before me."

Chapter 16 is doonneee!! I hope you all like it :). Also, that gif of Leonardo DiCaprio is not random. A) we all need a little more DiCaprio in our lives and B) we need a round of applause for Matt Redford and his way with words because it makes him the dreamiest guy EVER. Don't argue with me on this one. 

hehe; until tomorrow guys!! :) 

Yours, 

FanaticWriter15