Chapter 176

Tessa’s POV

“Wait… Ivy is a horse?!” Ruby gawked as she stared up at the large blonde stallion, while desperately trying to wipe the saliva off her face.

I couldn’t help but laugh at her expression as I ran my hands down her long and lean body. I had Ivy since I was 16 years old. She was a birthday gift and the best one I had ever gotten.

Of course, we had a bunch of other horses. But Ivy was mine and I was hers. I slept in this stable beside Ivy more than I slept in my own bed.

I opened the pack of carrots and placed a few in the palm of my hand. I chuckled as Ivy’s large wet tongue ran over my hand and she devoured the carrots.

Ruby kept her distance in the farthest corner of the stall, staring wide-eyed at Ivy.

“She isn’t going to hurt you, Ruby,” I said with a grin. “She’s an amazing horse.”

“I’ve never been this close to a horse before,” she said nervously, keeping her eyes locked on Ivy like she worried Ivy was about to charge at her.

I smiled at her and motioned for her to step closer so she could see that Ivy was a good girl.

“Ivy has been with me through some pretty tough times,” I told her, feeding her some more carrots. “I spent a lot of nights in this stable.”

“Why would anyone ever choose to sleep in a stable?” She asked, crinkling her nose.

I shrugged.

“I guess I was a weird kid,” I told her. “I didn’t grow up in the city like you did. I grew up here… in the country. With horses, hay, and cow poop.”

She raised her brows at my words, and I could tell she was shocked by what I had said. This only made me laugh again as I grabbed her arm and pulled her closer.“My cousin loves this stuff,” I told her, nudging her with my shoulder. “He grew up in the mountains, so he’s used to living outside the city.”

Her face reddened instantly as she snapped me a look.

“Does he ride horses?” She asked, curiously.

“I’m not sure,” I said with a shrug. “Maybe.”

She sighed and looked up at Ivy.

Ivy blinked her blue eyes and if she had actual lips, I know she would be smiling at Ruby in return.

Hesitantly, Ruby reached her hand out and ran it down the front of Ivy’s long snout. Ivy let out a snort, which immediately made Ruby wince and pull her hand back.

I laughed even harder; this was definitely the distraction I needed. I’m so glad I brought her with me to my father’s farm.

After the initial shock of Ivy’s snot on her hand wore off, Ruby reached back out and decided to rub the back side of Ivy, far away from her nose. I saw the calm expression wash over Ruby's face and an actual smile played on her lips.

“She is soft,” Ruby breathed.

“Isn’t she?” I said in return.

While Ruby was busy getting to know Ivy, I went across the stable and grabbed a saddle. There were a bunch of saddles hung up on the wall, but I grabbed the black one with the pink rims. It always looked good against Ivy's blonde coat of hair. I also grabbed a couple of helmets and went back to Ivy's stall.

“You aren’t so bad,” I heard Ruby whispering. “I’m sorry for being disrespectful.”

I chuckled as I walked toward them.

“She forgives you,” I assured her as I began to place the saddle on Ivy's back.

“How do you know?” Ruby asked, narrowing her eyes at me. “Don’t tell me you talk to horses too.”

I smiled.

“No,” I told her. “But if she didn’t forgive you, she’d eat you by now.”

Her eyes widened and her entire body stilled.

I laughed at her expression as I strapped the saddle on Ivy.

“Ready?” I asked.

She frowned, dropping her hand to her side.

“For what?” She asked.

Her eyes finally saw the helmets I was holding and then she glanced at the saddle. Her eyes widened in shock.

“Oh, hell no!” She gasped, staggering backward.

“Oh, come on! I don’t know when they took her out last and I really need this,” I pleaded, stepping toward her with the helmet outstretched. “Come with me for a ride.”

“Absolutely not!” Ruby nearly shouted, making Ivy snort again. “I will fall and break my neck.”

“I won’t let you fall,” I assured her. “All you have to do is sit.”

She glared at me with an expression, I couldn’t quite read, but then she grimaced.

“I can’t…” she whimpered. “Can’t you just go without me?”

I shook my head and handed the helmet to her; she took it with a lot of hesitation.

“I want you to come with me,” I told her gently. “I need my best friend.”

She glared at me for a moment longer and then she sighed.

“If I fall—”

“You won’t,” I interrupted, helping her get her helmet on. “You’re going to love this!”

I put my helmet on and strapped it under my chin. I grabbed the metal clutches on the saddle and effortlessly swung my leg over Ivy’s body, positioning myself comfortably in the saddle. I looked down at Ruby who was staring up at me with wide eyes.

“You made that look too easy,” she muttered, shaking her head.

I chuckled.

“It is easy,” I assured her, reaching my hand down for her to grasp.

I could practically hear her heart pounding in her chest as she grabbed my hand.

Ruby stumbled a few times, but she eventually managed to get her leg over Ivy and sat in the saddle behind me. He wrapped her arms around me tightly and for a second, I thought I wasn’t going to be able to breathe. But she soon lightened her hold on me, and we were both sitting comfortably as Ivy began to move.

“We are so high up,” Ruby said nervously.

“Hang on tight,” I warned her as I nudged my foot against the side of Ivy’s body.

Soon, we were moving out of the stable and into the outdoors. I held onto Ivy tightly and she began to move at a steady speed through the horse trail on the side of my father’s farm. Feeling the fresh hair blowing through my hair was exactly what I needed.

I forgot how much I loved riding horses. I’m not able to do anything like this in the city. As passed my father’s house, he was watching from his porch with a smile on his lips.

He waved and I waved in return. Ruby held me even tighter, burying her face in my back. I had a feeling her eyes were probably squeezed tightly. I chuckled as I nudged Iv again.

Ivy picked up some speed.

“Too fast!!” Ruby yelled, panicked.

“No way,” I said in return.

We traveled down the pathway that led to a meadow. The field was large and only a mile past my father’s house.

As Ivy ran, I held my arms out and closed my eyes. Doing so, it felt like I was flying. All my worries and fears clouding my mind vanished, and I felt so free. I couldn’t help the smile on my face as I took in the fresh air.

Ivy began to slow once we reached a stream and Ruby seemed to have relaxed.

I allowed my horse to drink from the stream and I slid off her back, helping Ruby down as well. She looked frazzled and she immediately sat on the ground, panting as if she had run a mile.

I sat beside her, staring off into the distance where the river met the horizon.

“It’s beautiful here,” Ruby breathed, also staring down the stream.

“It was my favorite place to go growing up,” I told her. “I’d come here to think a lot.”

“I can see why,” she said softly. “Are you feeling any better?”

I sighed, not really wanting to think about Joseph, but also knowing I couldn’t avoid the subject forever.

“A little,” I admitted. “It's nice being here and away from everything. But I know I’ll have to face reality on Monday and I’m not ready for that yet.”“Did he ever respond to your text?”

I shook my head, staring down at my hands.

“I left my phone at my dad’s house, so I’m not sure.”

On that note, Ivy lifted her head and snorted, making me smile at my beautiful stallion.

“We should go back before the sun officially disappears,” I said as I stood to my feet. “Ivy doesn’t like being out at night.”

Ruby nodded and stood as well.

After struggling to get on the horse, Ruby finally settled behind me and wrapped her arms around my waist. I nudged Ivy and we galloped back to the farm and into the stable where I placed her in the stall and dismantled her saddle.

Ruby couldn’t get the helmet off fast enough.

“Ugh, my poor hair,” she moaned, trying to salvage her messy hair.

I chuckled as we hung up our helmets and went back inside.

“How was your ride?” My father asked, peering over at me from his couch.

Penny was curled up beside him, scrolling through her phone.

“It was great,” I said, forcing a smile. “It was much needed.”

“Definitely an adventure,” Ruby murmured. “Do you have a shower here?”

I chuckled.

“Of course, we do,” I told her, looping my arm through hers. “Your guest room actually has its own bathroom. I’ll show it to you.”

We started to walk toward the stairway when my father’s voice stopped me.

“Oh, Tess. You left your phone on the table,” he said, reaching for the coffee table and grabbing my purple-cased phone. “You have a missed call as well. Who’s Joseph?”