Ricky leaned forward, his chin on my shoulder and his hand around my waist once again as he held the reins with his other hand. “This is nice. Had I known it’d be like this, I would have ridden a horse a long time ago.”
“I think you’re already getting the hang of this,” I said.
We walked around the corral once, horse, rider and passenger all in harmony.
“This really is nice,” Ricky said.
I couldn’t argue with him. Even with my precarious position on Buster’s back, it was pleasant.
*****
AS I FLOATED ON THEhigh of my ride with Ricky, I entered the house to find Matthew and Susie cozying up to one another on the couch as they practiced lines that seemed unfamiliar to the script I knew so well.
Were they improvising? Were they re-writing the script I’d worked so hard on?
Susie reached up to caress Matthew’s cheek, her eyes filled with love and admiration.
“You are so wonderful, Matt. I could listen to you read your lines all day long.”
“You’re making me blush,” Matthew replied.
“And you’re adorable when you blush,” Susie shot back.
I felt sick to my stomach. Watching them together was torture and I needed to get my mind on something else, something pleasant.
As I rushed to turn away and leave, I stumbled over a small pedestal, announcing my presence to the rehearsing pair.
“Darling,” Matthew called out. “What perfect timing. Why don’t you come in and assess our scene.”
“I...” I looked out into the hall hoping to find any excuse to leave. “I really should...”
“It would really be helpful,” Susie said. “After all, you’re the one who worked on this script, right? We’re having issues with this scene and would like to know the intent behind these words.”
Argh.
“All right. I guess I could stay and listen for a bit.”
They stood up and faced one another.
“I assure you, Edmund,” Mary Crawford said, “I haven’t the vaguest idea what you’re referring to.”
Matthew responded but I barely heard a word. My mind was fogged up by the sight of them, standing inches away from one another, clearly enamored with one another.
I couldn’t bear it.
“How was that?”Matthew said, breaking through my fog.
“Huh? Oh. Good. Perfect. That sounded truly, just fine.”
“Well, which is it?”Susie said. “It’s good? It’s perfect? Or it’s...just fine?”
I had to find something to say, to show that I’d been listening. “Your first line, Susie. It should be more teasing and playful rather than resentful and defensive.”
“Oh? Oh, all right. I’ll make note of that.” She turned to Matthew. “Guess we’ll have to do it again.”
But before they read their lines one more time, Susie leaned up to kiss Matthew.
This is too much. This is more than I can stand.
