When The Wrong One Loves You Right 1: A New Life

Chapter 17: The Weekend

I hold Mark's hand watching out the window as he drives. After a couple hours we finally stop. It's early afternoon. Mark makes a phone call as I get out of the truck to get some air. I breathe in deeply as I listen to the wind rustle the leaves. Mark wraps his arms around me from behind kissing my neck.

"Have you ever ridden a horse before?" He asks.

"Yes, when I was a child I loved it."

He pulls away taking my hand and leading me down a dirt path.

"I've hired two horses for the afternoon. It will be just you and me."

"I haven't been riding in so long." I say excitedly.

"I knew you'd like it."

"You couldn't have come up with a better idea!"

"It shouldn't be too long." Mark slips his arm around my shoulders holding me tightly as we walk. He softly kisses my forehead.

"Do you like my surprise?"

"Yes, very much."

"When I was about ten my grandmother sent Matt and I up here to help a family friend on his ranch. His name is Jeff. He was my dad's best friend when they were children. He is one of the few people who's always been there to help out when I needed it. He was kind of a second father to us after my parents passed away. At the time when my grandmother sent us up here I would've rather stayed on the streets to hang out with my friends. He taught us about hard work and discipline. Jeff is a really special guy to me."

"It's so beautiful here. It reminds me a lot of where I grew up. I should have guessed that you liked this sort of place. You may act like a bad boy but I knew that you weren't."

"Oh really? I'm a bad boy?"

"Mmm, Yeah. And a sexy one at that." I feel a little ridiculous right now having said that. I lean into kiss him with a smile on my face.

He spins me around suddenly pulling my back against his chest. He slips his hands around my waist and whispers in my ear.

"Do you know what bad boys do to pretty angels like you."

"No." I giggle and bite my lip.

He skims my ear with his lips, I hold my breath.

"You're going to have to wait to find out."

I hear the sound of hooves approaching in the distance. An older man, maybe mid 50s, heads for us riding one horse and pulling the other along behind him. He dismounts the horse. Mark walks toward him leaving me behind and gives him a warm hug. They talk for a minute and Mark hands him the keys to the truck. The man looks over at me. Mark smiles and blushes a little as they walk towards me.

"Jeff this is Ana. Ana, Jeff." Mark introduces us.

Jeff shakes my hand. "Pleasure to meet you Ana. How do you like it out here?"

"I love it, I grew up on a ranch but yours is spectacular." I say.

"Where'd you grow up?" Jeff asks.

"I grew up in Idaho."

"Well you certainly are a long way from home."

"I moved to the city after my dad passed about six years ago when I was 17. My family still owns the ranch, but I haven't been there for years."

"Oh, so you know your way around a horse?"

"I know my way around most barnyard animals. But horses are my favorite." I say.