Zeke made a sound in his throat, then worried his lip with his thumb.
“I’m fine, but I reckon there’s something fun we could do before that,” he said. “It’s like this. We might have a gallop across this lovely valley while the sun shines, then take a dip before supper, before it rains. How does that sound?”
“A gallop?” asked Cal. He couldn’t figure what Zeke was talking about.
“Bareback,” said Zeke. “Do a little exploring. Have a wander. Let the fairies know we’re still here, in case they’re looking for a midnight ride.”
“Oh,” said Cal. He quite liked the picture this painted. “I don’t know how to ride bareback, though.” He paused to laugh at himself. “I barely know how to ride with a saddle.”
“We can double up,” said Zeke. “We won’t go very far or very fast and Applejack can carry us both.”
Cal nodded, then watched, a trifle agog as Zeke ducked below the electric gate, then led a willing Applejack from the pasture and over to the paddock. There, he gave Applejack a few swipes with the brush, but it was easy to see he wanted to get to it. He took off Applejack’s halter, warmed the bit for him, then slipped on the bridle.
Looping the reins over Applejack’s neck, Zeke looked over at Cal.
“I’ll get on and you can slip on behind me, unless—” He paused, chewing on his lower lip. “Unless you want to ride in front?”
“In front?” Cal could only imagine what that would be like, both of them astride, Zeke behind him. With their bodies positioned that close, it would be like a dream. “Sure. I’ll ride in front.”
Zeke helped Cal to get astride Applejack and, as Cal held the reins, Zeke climbed to the middle rail of the metal paddock and slipped on behind.
With his arms around Cal, Zeke took the reins. Then he scooted close, right behind Cal, his front to Cal’s back, his thighs below Cal’s thighs.
“I can’t sit too far back, or Applejack might not like it.”
“Would he buck you off?” asked Cal, the question coming out a little thin.
“He’d buck us both off in a heartbeat if he wanted to,” said Zeke with a laugh. “We won’t ask him to carry us very far, though.”
With a click, Zeke urged Applejack forward. Cal could feel just about every muscle of Zeke’s body, the tautness of his thighs, the angle of his hip. The warmth of him through his clothes. The steady way he held himself.
Cal wanted to press back and then press some more into the body behind him, but he held himself upright and enjoyed the thrill of it when Zeke clicked and Applejack trotted and then cantered.
The horse’s body beneath him signaled every movement Applejack made, or was going to make, and behind him, Zeke’s body would lean into a turn, or move forward as Applejack went a little faster. Cal felt like he was on a rocking horse, with Zeke’s arms around him, keeping him safe.
The grass rippled beneath their feet as they raced across the valley, and the sun was bright and warm on their shoulders. Overhead the clouds swirled about, threatening rain, but there was plenty of sunshine and a cool breeze rippled across the grasses as they cantered to the far edge of the valley and back again.
At one point, Zeke urged Applejack to go left, only Applejack dodged right, and Zeke flew off Applejack’s back and onto the ground with a loud gasp and a laugh.
When Cal looked down, gently tugging Applejack to a halt, he could see the sprawl of Zeke’s body in the tall grasses and the lazy way Zeke smiled up at him, as if he didn’t mind at all that he was no longer astride.
In a heartbeat, quickly looping Applejack’s leather reins over the gelding’s head, Cal was on the ground as well, looking up at the blue and white sky framed by green grass. He looked over at Zeke, his head crowned by green grass, smiling, his heart full.
Zeke smiled back, reaching out and just about curling his fingers around Cal’s as if he meant to hold Cal’s hand, to let the moment linger, and had thought better of it.
Applejack looked down at them, his red and white forelock hanging over his large brown eyes, curious as to why they were no longer on his back.
Zeke began to sit up, and Cal saw him rub his left thigh and knew that they should get back so Zeke could soak in the cold water before supper. Before sunset. Before their last night in the middle of nowhere.
Cal leaped to his feet, still holding Applejack’s reins, and held out his hand for Zeke to take. Digging his heels in for leverage, Cal leaned back so he could help Zeke stand up.
“I’ll give you a leg up and you can ride while I lead,” said Cal. It wasn’t just the distance back to camp, which was maybe a mile or so, it was the bumpy territory he was worried about. Therewasn’t a fence nearby to help them both mount, and Zeke didn’t need the extra stress of walking all that way.
“I’m fine,” said Zeke, but Cal shook his head.
“I’ve got the reins,” he said, holding his hands wide as if to ask,What are you going to do about it?“I’m in charge now.”
“Yes, boss,” said Zeke with a grin that told Cal exactly what he already knew.
