《Ashlyn’s choice》All about horses (part 1)
Advertisement
“Janine? What is this?” I picked up a beautiful yellow rose from my nightstand.
The lady’s maid snickered under her breath. “Well, Your Grace wanted to give you a little present, but you were still fast asleep,” she leaned closer to me, whispering in a hushed conspiratorial tone. “I think he was relieved you haven’t woken up yet since he looked awfully embarrassed.”
“He was in here?” I questioned, suddenly very conscious of the bird’s nest on top of my head. I sloppily fixed a few disobedient strands and tucked them behind my ear.
Her eyes glinted when she dismissively waved her hand. It was quite indisputable she revelled in Baxter’s every puzzling action. “He only brought the flower. I swear he ran out like his boots were on fire.”
Her words expelled the last of the sleepiness that hung upon me like a thick mist. “Did he say anything more, Janine?”
“Yes, he instructed for you to join him in the stables.”
“Horses,” I stated dryly. “Not such a good idea.”
“But you said you missed horses, Miss,” Janine’s brows snapped together. “Especially now when you know all about them,” she dragged out innocently.
I moaned, burring my head into the feathery soft pillow. “I do! But I swear I’ll let them stomp me to death if he starts to lecture me again,” my voice was so muffled it was a wonder Janine heard me.
“Now, now Miss,” she chuckled. “I am sure it won’t be that bad.”
I dragged myself out of the comfort of my warm bed and let Janine help me with my riding attire.
“Is there a chance I could ride in breeches?” I looked at her out of the corner of my eye.
Advertisement
“Miss, are you trying to give me a heart attack? What would His Grace say? Or the whole London for that matter?” Her eyes bulged out with sheer horror.
“Well, the truth is... I am awful in sidesaddle riding. People scream murder when I gallop past them.”
“Is that so?” Janine’s eyes sparkled mischievously. The woman was certain I was only jesting. “Then, let’s hope you gallop straight into Lord Tinley.”
The mental picture caused a fit of uncontrolled giggles. “Or the Crone clique.”
“Crone clique?” She asked with confusion. “What in God’s name might that be?”
“Lady Wyatt and my aunt,” I stated as I positioned a small, black velvet hat on top of my head.
Janine let out a loud unladylike snort. “Just don’t let them hear that,” she warned with evident traces of amusement on her face.
“You’re right. I’d be condemned to wander the wicked nine circles of aunt Abby’s personally tailored hell.”
Baxter peeked through the door, curiously listening in on our banter.
“G-Good morning l-ladies, w-what are y-you smiling a-about?” He inquired, his eyes suspiciously travelling between me and my lady’s maid.
“Good morning, Baxter. I was just asking Janine if I could ride in bre-”
Janine was beside me in an instant, covering my mouth with her hand. “-Hush, dear child! Don’t mind her, Your Grace. She seems not to be herself this morning.”
Baxter’s head tilted to the side. “A-Actually, I was a-about to say how d-delighted she a-appears,” he studied me intently, trying to find a reason behind my sudden bubbliness.
“She’s simply excited to hear more about your horses, Your Grace. The thought of riding puts her in good spirits,” Janine added while smiling with angelic innocence.
Advertisement
She yelped softly as I stomped her foot.
I will get you for this! I mouthed as our eyes briefly met in the mirror’s reflection.
“Baxter!” I turned toward the poor gentleman’s puzzled face. “Thank you for the rose. It’s beautiful.”
“Y-yellow rose r-represents our f-friendship, Ashlyn.”
He was still unaccustomed to hearing my name on his lips. He always used a stiff tone when he pronounced it, as though he was embarrassed to say it out loud.
“Are we going for a ride, Baxter?
“Yes, I’ve h-heard you’re q-quite an e-excellent rider, My L-Lady,” he winced. “I m-meant, A-Ashlyn.”
I exchanged a worried look with Janine, seeing it finally downed on her that I in fact was not trying to be humorous. It was correct - I was an exceptional rider – however in a man’s saddle. I was terrible at riding astride and I will most certainly break my neck while doing it.
“You heard right, Baxter,” I gulped, avoiding Janine’s shaking head. I stepped closer to him, looping my hand under his arm. “We mustn’t waste any time then. Lead your way, Your Grace.”
I followed him out of the house and into the stables. It was so good being able to walk again without feeling the pain pinching at my ankle. I truly hoped the feeling would last.
“I-I have the p-perfect mare f-for you. N-Nyx is swift a-and sometimes s-stubborn, but I b-believe you w-won’t have problems w-with her.”
“Nyx – goddess of the night. Perfect,” I forced myself to smile, widening my eyes in panic the second he turned around to face his stallion.
This will most definitely be my funeral. I studied the sidesaddle like it was louse-ridden not knowing how to properly mount it. My eyes anxiously twitched as I discreetly tried to hoist myself into the saddle, hoping Baxter wouldn’t notice my ill attempts of climbing onto the nervous horse.
At last, I succeeded and proudly straightened my posture. Never before I had a problem controlling a horse, but sitting in this manner - it was virtually impossible.
“R-Ready?” Baxter inquired, completely oblivious to my struggle.
“Born ready,” I lied as I grasped the leathery reins between my fingers. I followed right behind him, trying my best to hold the proper balance as I swayed left and right.
My teeth chattered loudly as Nyx raced along the meadow and my body wobbled with every step she took. If someone watched my riding skills from afar, I am sure I must’ve blessed their day with this tragicomic spectacle.
Panic overrode my insides as I suddenly started slipping off the saddle. I tried to readjust myself only to accidentally nudge the horse and command it to move faster.
I cursed under my breath as Nyx started to gallop as though a horde of wild hogs were hot on her heels. My body helplessly trashed in every direction and I could only pray I will somehow survive this dire circumstance I pushed myself into. Branches mercilessly snapped at my face and leaves tangled into my hair while I raced straight into the woods. Now, without a doubt I knew I would be thrown off the saddle if I didn’t do something.
“Baxter!” I screamed loudly while I barely held myself upward. “Baxter! Help me!”
Advertisement
The Blood Core
Amara has been having a rough couple of weeks. Unwittingly committing tax fraud can do that to a person. Now forced to "enjoy" house arrest until her court date, she ends up playing a Virtual Reality Dive Game that she hasn't touched in over three years. Logging in was easy enough, she just had to sit down in her Dive Chair. The complications came after that when her character seemingly broke the game. Now she is a dungeon core of all things! With no way to contact other players or the Game Masters, she has to find a way to get out of the game in time for her court date. She'd rather not go to prison for a long time. Maxwell had decided that he had just wasted the last five months of his life on a path that would never work for him in life. Deciding to just give up on the finals, he loads up the new game he just bought for the exams. He didn't expect to end up trapped inside like all the shows he'd seen in his youth. It didn't help that his character was basically on Hardcore mode being a Dark Elf Village Leader in the middle of a human supremacy kingdom that went in every direction for hundreds of leagues. Without knowing how dying might affect him, he steels himself to grow his village into the new power in the area. Of course, that's easier said than done when a blood-thirsty dungeon appears to be on a warpath with everything in the area.
8 253A Witch out of Time
After a brush with death at the hands of a vampire, a witch named Rory falls into a destroyed landscape, barely held together by magic.Lost and 300 years from her own time, she befriends a Vietnam vet torn from the battlefield, a punk from the streets of London, a green-thumbed witch...Oh, and the vampire who already tried to kill her once? He's there too, and he's pretty into her.The already damaged future hangs in a delicate balance, and they, along with a few others, might be humanity's last chance.A Witch Out of Time is the first book in the The Wayward Coven series, and is inspired by the urban fantasy genre, although, set in a far-off future time. Within these pages you will find questing witches, paranormal action, dystopian themes, and insatiable vampires along with swearing, violence, and sexual situations. If you like a dash of sci-fi mixed in with your fantasy and romance, you won’t want to miss out on this one!
8 234REACH || yoo kihyun
| COMPLETED 8.8.2018 || BOOK TWO "DREAM" OUT NOW || HIGHEST RANKING NR. 1 IN #kpop, #monstax, #kihyun and #yookihyun |❝I went to sleep every night with my heart in pain and my mind a mess.❞as the world threatens to tear them apart, Arena and Kihyun have to crawl through time and reality to find their way back to each other.❝Don't you dare choose this over me, I'm the one you've always wanted! ME!❞ a monsta x fanfiction
8 159FROM NEVER TO HAPPILY EVER!
A collection of short stories that will blow your mind with the drama, set the bar higher for love and vows to be a roller-coaster ride.
8 222Stop lying to me. (GirlxGirl) (wlw)
Juliette has a happy approach to life and is a lively girl. No stranger would suspect the hardhships she went through and she prefers to keep hidden from the woman she just met.Amelia is a successful business woman whose only relationship left her scarred. Will they be able to hide their past to build the relationship they have both been needing for so long? Read and find out ;)
8 93Rightfully His
"You don't own me!" I shout glaring up at him as he smirks down at me tightening his grip around my neck. "You're mine sweet cheeks. Ever since I walked into your life 15 years ago, you became mine. Your heart, soul, and especially your body belongs to me" he says staring deeply into my eyes as my breath hitched. ...Ever since I was born into the most lavish and kindest family on the face of the earth, I knew my life would never be regular. I mean, I was the only child with the blood and DNA of the richest people on the block full of rich families. The only downside of being an only child was that I was always lonely with both my parents being workaholics. Then finally, one day my parents both decided to make my wish come true and gift me with 3 older siblings. Since both my parents both didn't have time to actually make me siblings, my mother decided to adopt 3 boys from one of the adoption center my father was sponsoring at the time at his work place. They weren't blood brothers, I could tell by their different genetics as soon as I saw them, but there was something about how close they were that made it seem like they were inseparable triplets.I should've known my life was going to change right after I met my new, what my parents wanted me to call them, step brothers. Especially the one that kept his attention on me since the minute he walked into our large house.
8 146