Four.

That was the number of reasons I had for knowing for sure that today was going to be a bad day.

One, I was obviously spending it with the demon spawn himself. Two, Will had to an appointment today with some friend, Dylan had a shooting and Evan had golf with his father and some investors. Therefore I revert back to my first reason, adding the fact that it would only be us. Three, I hated the tight riding gear that his ass-ness had sent last night, because and I quote, "I don't trust your fashions sense". And fourth, I didn't know a single thing about horse-riding. Heck, I hadn't seen a horse in real life at all. The only ones I saw were those competing in the infamous Melbourne Cup Horse race thingy. See, I didn't even know the proper name of the race thing.

Did I mention I was spending the day with him alone and the fact that I didn't know a single thing about horses?

I struggled to shove my feet in the a little bit small riding boots Douglas had sent and groaned in relief when one foot slipped in after ages of struggle. I had a half a mind to call him and tell him I wasn't feeling too well, but then I thought twice about it.

For all I know, he had concocted this whole horse-riding ruse suspecting I would back out at the last minute. And I wasn't about to give him another reason to get me out of this job, although I wouldn't want anything more than to be as far away as possible from him.

With both my boots finally on after another amount of time dedicated to doing so, I grabbed my small bag and headed for my little piece of hell on earth.

* * *

"No freaking way," I sighed out as I looked at the insane person standing in front of me in a slightly similar riding gear. Instead of the black and brown coloured ensemble I was in, Douglas' riding gear was blue and gray, a contrast to his green eyes.

"Why not?" He smirked as he leaned against the steel iron fence that housed the numerous Thoroughbreds behind. "It is your job."

I chuckled at the idea. "My job is to follow you and make sure you don't get your spoiled ass into any sort of trouble, Douglas. Not to ride a freaking horse."

"I don't see the difference, really. Nor the problem with the suggestion."

"I could get killed."

He rolled his eyes as he grabs the velvet riding helmet that hung on the post beside him and proceeded to strap it on. "Horse riding is the safest sport in the world."

"Tell that to Christopher Reeve," I frowned at the thought of my favorite Superman actor that had passed away after being left paralyzed from falling off a horse. "Oh right. You can't! Because he died from riding a horse."

"Stop being childish, Krystal. We're just going to go for a slow gallop around the grounds and then come back. It'll be safe."

"And what if I don't want to? You'll call your dad and tell him about yesterday?"

He scowled as if I had insulted him, his eyes darkening. "You really think I'm the type of guy to go back on a deal?"

I shrugged even as I felt slightly unhinged by his glare. "I don't know. You tell me."

"I'm not an asshole, Krystal. And I certainly don't go back on my word."

I chuckled dryly. "And yet you're the guy that got me fired from my dream job even before I passed the final processing."

"Believe me. That's a decision I've been regretting ever since. Maybe if I didn't I wouldn't be stuck here with you being paid to follow me all summer." He pushed away from the gate and started to head for the exit. Before I could put my tongue out at his disappearing back he turned around. "And to answer you first question, if you don't want to that's fine. But I sure hope you can keep up with a Thoroughbred running 30 miles per hour." Then he continued on his way without another word.

Well that definitely made my mind up. Today, Krystal Sanders will be riding a horse for the first time.

Ten minutes later, Douglas is mounted on his horse and waiting, rather impatiently, for me to mount mine.

It wasn't my fault I hadn't ridden a horse, much less seen one before today. A fact I made sure to remind him two times already.

"Hurry it up, Krystal. I'd rather not spent the whole day watching your annoying ass not mounted on a horse." He made the dark Thoroughbred he was riding canter slowly around us as both of them remained restless. His dark horse was called Georgia while my brown was called Jackstone, who was supposedly Georgia's younger brother.

"I don't know how to do this, okay. It's your fault, you wanted to come out here in the first place."

"Georgia wanted to go for a run. I hadn't come out in nearly two weeks. It's not my fault you can't manage to do this little thing."

I glared at him, an amazing feat as I was now considerably shorter than him and the sun was now directly above us, shining into my eyes. "Then shut up and let me concentrate!"

He must've been hopeful that I would get on because he listened and closed his yap.

"Now..." I paused, trying to concentrate on the directions he had been repeating endlessly for the past eight minutes. "Get on from the left side of the horse," I muttered under my breath, knowing Douglas was now watching me closely, ready for any slight mistakes for him to blow out of proportion. "Otherwise known as the 'near' side. Then grab the reins and saddle with the left hand," I did it as soon as the words escaped. "With the right hand grab the stirrups, turn it clockwise. Left foot in, grab the saddle and jump slightly, right foot mounting the horse." I did so, but couldn't manage to get my whole body over the horse, slightly hanging on my left side.

"Shit," I cursed as I felt myself fall slightly, unable to get off cleanly with my left foot now stuck in the stirrups.

Suddenly I felt a hand grab my waist and push me over the horse. Then it grabbed my right foot and placed it on the right side of the horse on the stirrup there.

My face blushing with embarrassment, I turned to see Douglas next to me, strapping the saddle tightly, making sure it didn't come undone.

"Thanks."

He didn't say a word as he walked back to his horse and mounted it again. "Now since you've wasted half the day with your meaningless squabbles..."

"I didn't waste half the d-" I ceased my complaining once he shot me a look.

"...gently tap your foot against his stomach," he continued as if I hadn't said a word, as he demonstrated. As if the horse read his mind, he took a step forward and started walking.

I did the same thing, but as always I had to do something wrong. Instead of tapping the horse gently in the tummy area, I applied more force than necessary.

"Softly, Krystal."

I didn't argue knowing that I was in the wrong this time. The second time, I tapped the horse slowly and he rewarded me with a slowly yet steady walk.

Douglas led us down the path to the right that disappeared into the trees that began just fifty metres down.

"When did you start riding?" I asked him after minutes of riding and watching the unfolding scenery that nature offered.

He turned around, surprised I had willingly made conversation with him, I supposed. "When I was seven." His reply was short, yet understandable.

But if I was to be stuck with him for the whole summer I might as well try to work us past the whole hate thing we had going on.

"Why do you like riding horses so much? They are dangerous, no matter how tamed they may seem."

Douglas nodded as if considering what I had said. "I guess it is, but really what's life without risks right? The lack of oxygen in outer space didn't stop men from going there anyway to explore it. The intense pressure underwater didn't stop two men from going down the Marianas Trench. I guess I just love riding. It's something I grew up doing and it's ingrained in me. At one point I just fell in love with riding."

I nodded, understand what he meant.

"And you?" he asked.

I looked at him, confused and shocked that he had asked me a question.

"What made you want to work in Gloss Magazine?" He elaborated as he nodded of us to go down the right path of the fork ahead.

"My mom was the editor for Alibi magazine, I guess I just dreamt about also being one for my favorite magazine. And Gloss just happened to be it. I think I just wanted to experience what she did. I was closer to my dad than my mom when they were alive. I guess I just thought I owed it to her. Besides, I also happen to love writing, so I thought why not kill two birds with one stone?" I chuckled trying to play off my sadness of failing to do so.

He slowed his horse down and came beside me. "I'm sorry. I didn't know. Your parents passed?"

I nodded. "Don't worry. It's already been three years. I've learned to live with it. Besides Nancy has helped me out and has been a quick study for the job." I chuckled at the memory of our constant banters before the incident.

"I shouldn't have done that." He looked sorry and that made up for most of it. The sight of Douglas Burns looking hurt over something he did was a sight.

To ease his guilt slightly, I told him some funny stories from my childhood, especially the one where Nancy had caught me trying to guilt trip dad into handing over the keys to his Mercedes.

"She caught you? Does she have cameras installed everywhere or are you just that obvious?" He burst out laughing, probably imagining the sight of me handing back dad's keys.

"I am not obvious. I assure you that woman is a cyborg. Or a mind-reader at the very least."

"Right," he nodded although he looked unconvinced.

"Anyways, so who got you into riding in the first place?"

"My mom," he replied, his voice held a hint of longing. He was now back to short answers.

"Really?"

He nodded. "She loved riding. It was her passion first before it became mine. She loved that horses were companions that would always stayed true to you. I guess she also fell for the idea that they didn't discriminate or judge, all they need is someone there to take care of them."

I nodded as what he said made sense. "So where is your mom now? I haven't seen her around."

I saw his body tensed as he remained silent. Then with his eyes firmly on the path before us he whispered so low, I would have lost the words in the wind if I hadn't been on edge, "She died. Twelve years ago."

My eyes widened as I went speechless. His mom died? That long ago? When he was ten? "I'm sorry, Douglas. How did she die? An accident?"

As if I had thrown a lit match on wood covered in kerosene, I was taken aback by his expression.

It was pure anger. His fingers had tightened around the reins. "Didn't I tell you to mind your own business?" And with that he tapped his horse's stomach lightly and galloped away, leaving me in the dust.

What the hell just happened?

"Douglasss!" I called out as he quickly put distance between us two. "Wait up!"

I didn't have a choice but to follow him. We had been riding for the past twenty minutes and had made so many turns, I'd lost count already. I didn't know my way back and my only guide was already half a mile away.

Gently tapping on the tummy of my horse, I made pursuit.

"Douglas!" I called out as my horse quickly accelerated. "Whoa, slow down Jackstone," I said to the horse. But he didn't listen and Douglas hadn't told me what to do.

Douglas and Georgia were long gone and I decided it was better I was safe and lost or hurt, possibly paralysed and found. After watching some movies, I tried my best and grabbing the rein and pulling back on it. Somehow it didn't work. Instead Jackstone accelerated even more as if I had pressed on the gas instead of the brakes.

I held on for dear life as Jackstone continued his run of terror, zooming down paths and turning right then left then left again.

Then after endless minutes of galloping and me fearing for my life, two things happened. Somewhat bittersweet.

One, I had somehow found my way back to the club, which was good.

Two, I had entered the course that as Douglas distinctly put "made you regret ever getting on a horse". It was the course that was simply put, the barrel pattern course, where there were lines of barrels set randomly in which a horse and its rider must maneuver and make some sort of pattern.

Jackstone didn't slow done even when he narrowly missed the first barrel. He saw the second barrel and moved away two seconds before we could hit it. However he didn't see the third barrel. He saw it at the last second and I pulled the rein hard hoping he would stop in time. However he didn't. Instead he chose to jump.

I didn't anticipate him jumping and my fingers remained on the reins as I didn't have the time to brace myself. Just as Jackstone jumped, my fingers loosened themselves and I knew what was happening a second before it did.

I was falling and there was no Douglas this time to help me back up.