I walked toward the stables with anticipation. The closer I got, the more I was hit with a sense of nostalgia. The feeling was almost overwhelming. It was as though I was getting back a little piece of something I had lost a long time ago; something I forever wanted to hold onto. If only life wasn't as fleeting and unreliable as it was.

The smell of manure and hay hit my senses, and I closed my eyes to breathe it all in. Some people were turned off by the smell, but I found it comforting. It reminded me of simpler and happier times. I rounded the stables and happily gazed upon the horses in the stalls and then to the three horses tied to the fence.

A man was in the front of one adjusting the harness. I stepped closer and called out my arrival, assuming he was the guide for the ride. He looked around the side of the horse when he heard me, and the sight of him stopped me dead in my tracks.

"Are you kidding me? You signed up for a couple's ride too and on today of all days?"

The obnoxious man walked toward me, running his hand along the horse's back as he did so. He stopped at butt of the animal, resting his arm on top.

"Actually, I believe I don't know what it's like to be in a relationship, since I am not exactly the type, remember? So, I am definitely not here for a couple's ride." He looked around me, searching for something, and his eyes narrowed back on mine. "And it appears neither are you."

I matched his narrowed expression, doing my best to ignore his snide comment, and figure out the actual meaning behind it. Unfortunately, realization hit.

"Wait, you are the guide? You work here?" I groaned, knowing my well awaited ride had been ruined.

"That would be correct. Ma'am." He tipped his hat, just as he had the night before in the same smug manner, and walked closer to me.

I know I promised I could be well mannered around him, and I did not exactly just start out that way. So despite his horrible nature, I decided to start over. I had been looking forward to riding again, and there was no way I was going to let him spoil it.

"Grace, actually. Grace Campbell. And please don't call me ma'am." I held out my hand for him to shake. He looked down to it, then back up to my face. Instead of taking my hand, he walked by me to one of the horses and began untying the rope.

"Well, Grace, I see it's just gonna be me and you today. I need to put this girl back in the stall. You will have to give me a minute."

"Sure, sorry about that...um...what exactly do they call you?"

"That depends on who you're asking." He winked as he walked the horse past me. "Most call me Colt though."

Well he wasn't wrong about that, because I am pretty sure I had been calling him a slew of foul words.

When he got back, he untied a pretty chestnut horse and walked her to me.

"This here is Star. She is a veteran, so you should have no trouble with her."

I momentarily froze hearing the name. I was no longer a woman awaiting a ride. I was a child, laughing and twirling in the open pasture. I swallowed hard, trying to keep my feelings at bay. I took it as a sign from up above that she was the horse I was to ride, and smiled. I rubbed her neck lovingly and went to her head to say hello.

It was easy to see how she got her name. She had a white patch shaped like a star on her forehead. "Hey Star. I'm Grace. You're so beautiful." I murmured to her, rubbing her forelock. "We're going to have a great ride together." She pushed into my hand and snorted. I took it as an indication of agreement and laughed.

I turned to see Colt staring at me with his broad arms crossed over his chest and a slight smirk on his lips. I expected him to make a rude, teasing comment about me talking to the horse, or something along those lines, but he was surprisingly quiet. He walked up past me to where the saddle was.

"Okay, to mount you just need to--"

"I know how, thank you."

"Really? You sure you don't need any help?"

"No, I'm capable, but thank you." I walked up to the saddle next to him. He held up his hands in defeat, backed up, and motioned for me to get on.

I grabbed the horn, slid my foot in the stirrup, and lifted my body over the horse. Or at least I attempted to. My foot slipped, and I did not get a good swing of my leg, so I ended up back on the ground. I looked over to Colt who was covering his mouth with his hand, undoubtedly hiding a snicker. Ignoring him, I tried again.

That time, I got a good hold and swung myself around. Sitting proudly at the top, I looked down at Colt who was then mounting his.

"Alright, now that we're mounted, just grab the reins, give a light kick, and follow me. Star and Cash have ridden this trail several times, so you won't have to do much of the leading."

"Sure, no problem. When I booked, they said this was a four hour ride with some trotting and running, right?"

"That is correct. It is four hours, there and back, with a dinner included at the end." He paused, observing me. "Although, that's the couple's package, so we don't have to make the dinner stop if you don't want."

"It's fine. I am never one to turn down food, especially food I paid for."

"Alright then. Let's go." He made a clicking sound, and lightly kicked his horse to go, and I followed.

The movement of the horse beneath me sparked instant joy. The trail led up into the woods as we climbed the mountain, but so far, it was mostly flat terrain. The tall pine trees surrounding us stood to each side as if purposefully making way for our ride. I supposed that was why customers were taken up this way; the horses had no problems with their footing. In the distance, I heard bustling in the trees.

"What kind of wildlife is up here?" I asked, breaking the comfortable silence. I was suddenly aware of how many animals could potentially see me as lunch.

"Several kinds. Probably about every kind of animal you're envisioning eating you right now." He chuckled. "We have bears, mountain lions, deer, bisons, and so on. Wyoming is rich in wildlife, especially in the mountains."

Bears? Mountain lions?

I am not sure why the thought hadn't even occurred to me until then. My face must have given me away, because Colt spoke up with such genuineness, it surprised me.

"Hey, I have guided this trail a few times now. We usually don't see much. A few deer here and there. Maybe an elk. Most animals are further back than we will go. But, just in case, I always come prepared." He reassured, patting the gun in the holster on his saddle. I nodded and gave him a small smile to let him know I was fine.

We rode for quite some time in mostly silence, with some small talk here and there. Colt pointed out a few deer he spotted along with other small wildlife and filled me in on some of Wyoming's history. A little further in to the ride, and Colt let us sprint the horses at a clearing we came upon. The hooves clomping on the grassy terrain was music to my ears. I was grinning from ear to ear. The wind blew my hair back as we picked up a faster pace and a feeling of nostalgia hit me fiercely.

I closed my eyes and willed deep breaths as I fought the strong emotions back. I was not sure if I wanted to laugh, or if I was going to cry. Probably a combination of both. We ran the horses a good distance, and I took it all in.

We slowed back down, and Colt's voice broke my trance.

"So, why are you on a couple's ride by yourself?" We were then riding side by side, and he eyed me with an arched eyebrow.

"Mark's work is important to him. He ended up having a lot to do so he stayed behind."

"And that's okay with you? After you guys planned this out together and booked it?"

"Well Mark's not really into this type of stuff. So, it must have slipped his mind when he agreed to take on a new proposal. It's fine." I muttered, though not even convinced myself.

"Doesn't sound too fine. Sounds like his work is more important than you are." He asserted.

"His work is not more important. It's just important to him that he gets promoted. He is working very hard for us."

"Really? Are you sure about that? Because it sounds more like he is working very hard for him. Seems like a prick if you ask me."

His words were like a punch to the gut. How dare he talk about Mark and our relationship like that. He had no right to act as if he knew a thing about my private life.

"Yeah, well I didn't ask you! And I don't need your judgment over something you have no idea about." Enraged, I whipped my reins and kicked my feet in the stirrup. Star abruptly took off.

Colt immediately took off after me, but Star was pulling a good distance ahead. I could hear him calling after me to stop, but I did not care. The old emotions that started to surface earlier, and then his comments just then, had ignited a spark inside me, one I wasn't sure how to put out.

I wanted nothing more than to be free. Free of him. Free of his comments. Free of the truth. Free of the pain. Free.

The last time I felt completely free without a care in the world, was with a horse running beneath me. So, I leaned in closer, whispered, "faster", and closed my eyes in hopes that whatever it was I was missing, would find its' way inside of me.

Grace is clearly going through something. She is chasing something she cannot find, while Colt is running from something he can't leave behind.

If you want to find out what makes each of them run, please stick around!

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Until next time...💕