Citry

4.

"Do you know how to ride a horse?" James asks, opening the stable.
"I've never ridden one before" I smile.
He grins. "I'll give you baby, she's still young., and she actually listens."
He opens her gate before walking her to me.
"She's really big" I look up at her.
"I know, here I'll help you on" he pulls up a step stool before gripping my waist, helping me onto baby's saddle. 
"So, she's going to follow her papa, Knight. She's a good girl, she listens well and won't trail off." 

He steps into the stirrups, straddling Knight. "So we're just gonna walk for now, okay?" He smiles, glancing back. "C'mon, baby." My cheeks warm up, before realizing he's talking to the horse.
We follow a trail, clomping to an open field.
"So, where are you from, Kat?"
"LA. And I assume you're from here?"
"You assumed right. What made you come to Tennessee?"
I shrug. "A change in scenery."
"That's a big change. Are you running from something?"
"Myself." 
He slows, glancing over his shoulder at me. "Mhm. So, what you're gonna do, when you're ready to have her run is kick her in her sides," he stares into the bushes.
"Kick her?" I frown.
"Kick her."
He turns his head back forward, kicking Knight leaving me behind him.
At this point, Baby begins trotting faster. I send a few kicks to her sides, and she runs following behind him, not missing a beat.

We pass through the trees alongside a hill. He points showing me different views of hills and valleys, pointing out the neighbor's house that is plenty of acres away. "Nice people, they're not a fan of me, though." Knight slows to a trot with Baby following his change in pace. 
"Are you up early at all, LA girl?"
"I'm more of a sleep til noon type of girl."
"Good luck with Grandpa, he will not allow that shit. You smoke bud, or drink at all?"
I shake my head. "No smoking. But, I do occasionally enjoy a casual shot or two."
"Grandpa ain't allowing that shit either. He's got glaucoma so, expect some pot clouds to float through the walls occasionally."
I nod.
"What's your deal? You don't have a family back home that you have to tend to or anything?" He asks, squinting at the sunset ahead of us, both horses trotting side-by-side.
"Y-you ask a lot of questions." I stammer back. 
"I like to know who I'm sharing a roof with."
I nod. "We'll talk more later."

We run back up to the stable, Knight slows to a halt whilst Baby continues running.
"Pull back" James directs me.
I pull back on her saddle and she quickly stops.
James grunts as he jumps off of Knight, landing on his knees. He fans for me to do the same thing. 
I shake my head "No."
He comes towards me and reaches his hands out.
I roll my eyes.
"Come on, jump I'll catch you. Unless you want to use this again." He drags the step stool out we used earlier.
"I-
"Jump" he grabs me.
I jump directly into his arms and he grips me tight before letting me go, placing my feet onto the step stool.
"You okay?" He asks, blinking his green eyes hard.
"Yeah, I'm... I'm fine" I smile, looking down at the dusty step stool he'd dragged over. 
"James put the horses away and come help your grandmother set the table for dinner." Grandpa slams the door.
"I should probably go do that" his jaw drops before he lets me go.