Argento's huge white head appeared over his stall door when he smelled the apple in my hand.  His velvet lips felt for it but I held it out of arm's reach a moment, raising my nose to his, giving him my scent and snuffling back at him, greeting him before bribing him with the treat I stole from the Temple kitchen.  While the stallion munched happily, I coaxed the dappled gray mare in the stall next to him closer with another apple I produced from behind my back.  I could see she wanted to accept it from me- her large brown eyes burned with intelligence and eagerness to please- but something held her back from pursuing her wish.  I leaned on the door, letting her see Maximus' prized stallion nibble at my hair and clothing, nudging me for scratches and affection while I talked to her, holding the fruit to her and teaching her the sound of my voice. 

She almost came to me.  Almost.  But footsteps behind me sent her skidding back against the wall of her quarters, where she planted herself firmly and gazed wild-eyed at the intruder who had broken our tenuous moment.  East held Argento's halter, murmuring to the animal in dulcet tones, words I could barely make out and glanced over my shoulder to the mare.  "She's still a bit flighty, mate.  Could be a while for her."

"If you'd just stayed in bed a few more minutes, I think I might have at least got a start with her," I teased.  "Maximus says she's been abused."  

He nodded. "Beat by the man who had her last. She likes women well enough.  Doesn't trust anyone enough to let them touch her, though.  Isn't that right, mate?" He patted the stallion's neck and continued looking the mare over, pointing out several scars and marks to me.  I whispered to him that I hoped I would never meet the man that did those things to her.  His arm slipped about my shoulders in agreement and squeezed. 

"Maybe I should break her in.  She'll be mine, anyway."  The smell of horses, hay, leather and morning seemed to grow in the breeze that wafted through the open door of the stables, reminding that autumn is not far off and the time for getting things done is at hand before winter sets in.  And East's own heady, masculine scent overpowered the others, wrapping itself around me as much as his arm and body seemed to.  I leaned my head back against his strong shoulder.  It was as natural as though it was an everyday occurrence.  It is not often we see each other, but when we do we fit together easily, bound by the animals that we adore and the quiet of being at home in the elements.  Wild things unfettered by time or convention.

"I think Max is going to do it, or have me do it," he was saying.  "She's gotta learn to trust men again.  She'll still be yours, because you'll be her rider and you'll form your own bond with her.  But she has to figure out that men aren't her enemies.  Only one bloke is, and he can't hurt her anymore." 

Giving in to his and Maximus' wisdom, I smiled.  "All right.  In the meantime, I'll just ride Argento.  Saddle him for me?"  My sweet smile grew into a wicked grin when his eyes widened.  I had come out for a morning ride.  East would be most welcome company.

"No."

"You don't think I can ride him?  He's a babe in my hands."  I slipped an arm under the horse's jaw and buried my nose in his mane.  "Like you and Max..."

"He takes a firm hand, love.  He doesn't have a mean bone in his body, but he likes to test his limits.  Even Max has to hold him hard, sometimes.  He's spirited."

"The way I like them.  Please?"

"Max'll kill me if he finds out I let you up on him."

"No he won't.  He'll know exactly who deserves his annoyance, if he catches me." 

"If you get thrown, I warned you.  He tossed Jack."

"Jack is a sailor, not a cavalryman. I've been riding since before I could walk, and Maximus knows that.  Argento knows, too."  A sweet image of being cradled in Maximus' arms on the back of the animal in discussion, as we picked our way through the forest of redwoods at the edge of the Temple property and planned out our future flashed in my mind.  The speed of Argento's powerful body as we let him have his head, the control of Maximus' mind and body as he held me and still kept command of his beloved horse's movements.  The awe I felt when he entered me as we rode on, letting the gallop of the great beast set the rhythm of our love as we took our pleasure in each other.  I could still feel the movement of the horse between my knees, the tip of Maximus' cock teasing and thrusting in time with Argento's steady gait.  My hand tightened in his mane in a surge of emotional remembrance. Argento knows well that I can keep my place on a spirited animal.   Man or horse.  And both.

From his withers to the rise of his haunches, I ran my hand over the animal's back, signaling my intention.  His big body shifted in anticipation but he did not move away from me when I reached for the bridle hanging on a peg on the post of his stall.  I handed it to East.  "I won't be unseated.  Come with me.  We haven't had a morning ride in a long time."

"Whose fault is that?"  I pulled my tongue at him and he grinned and opened the headstall to slip it over Argento's head.  

"Yes.  I'll make it up to you."  

Slipping the bit in the horse's tender mouth, he thoughtfully replied, "You know Bou, you'd have to do a lot less making up for lost time if you would just ask for us and not let other things get in the way." 

"You are probably right."

"I am."  He handed me the reins with a lop-sided grin and went to find Maximus' saddle.  I watched him walk away, admiring the length of long, muscled leg topped by the curve of tight, perfect rear as he strode to the tack room, the wolf-walk adding a bit of sway to the set of his body while he moved.  The broadening of his back over a narrow, tapered waist, to round into wide shoulders and thick neck.  His flannel shirt covered the back I love so much on all of them, made for hard, strongman's labor, but smooth and soft-skinned as a baby's under the touch, but I could see the slide of his muscles through the cloth.  Ah, the sight of the Creator's children in the gray light of early morning in the element that they love, doing what they enjoy most.  Horses and men.  A powerful, peaceful, primitive bond that transcends time and age and endures beyond the advent of vehicle.  East, Max, Cort, and Egan always remind me why my people revered horses so much, and why horsemanship was a prized skill for us.  Each of them was endowed with the Creator's natural ability to sit and handle a horse well and understand the special nature of the beasts.

When East disappeared inside the door of the room at the end of the hall, I turned from Argento back to the mare.  With Max' prized stallion, she would be the start of our own horse breeding operation.  It had broken Maximus' heart to terminate the first attempt at it that he began after coming to this world, but he was set to try again.  Between the Andalusian to my right and the Arabian mare on my left, he was going to produce the finest stock- strong, intelligent, hardy animals that would carry the best of both breeds and hopefully someday be a breed of their own.  It was Maximus' hope that the fine bearing and looks of the Arab would couple well with the height and power and easy temperament of the Andalusian, and combine to make an animal similar to those the Spaniards were famous for in our time.  I held the apple out to her again, whispering encouragement for her to come and take it from me.  She wanted it, but stalwartly refused to face her fear of being handled, instead bracing herself against the back wall.

East returned, carrying two saddles and their pads.  "A foal will take some of that out of her," he predicted as he worked, throwing one pair of the items over the stallion's back and setting them properly.  He tapped the horse on his belly when Argento filled his lungs with air and expanded his girth in protest against the cinch that East tightened.  "None of that, mate.  Behave for a lady."

"Or make her worse," I answered, regarding the mare.  

"Yep.  That happens too.  You should do what Max does, though.  Turn your back on her and pay attention to all the other horses but her.  She'll get curious and start wondering what's up, how come they're not afraid of you and what she might be missing."  He indicated the apple in my hand.  "She's gonna pout, but show her what she could have had.  Let Argento have it.  He's been sweet.  Be sure she sees you give it to him." 

I understood what he meant.  It is a matter of knowing how horses communicate within herds that range freely or animals that are held together in domesticity.   Turning away indicates displeasure or disinterest.  The leader, in the case of tame horses, their owner, establishes the kicking order.  Argento took his second treat of the morning from me, for his compliance with my wish to pet and cosset him.  The mare looked on, stamping her delicate foot and shaking her pretty head.  I did as East instructed though and gave my full attention to Argento while he led a gentle bay mare out and tacked her up.  I hummed to the stallion, avoiding the hooves that pounded an irregular rhythm of impatience to be off. 

I glanced askance at his mount.  "She needs a good run," East explained.  "Don't know if Cort will get to it or not while he's busy nurse-maiding the number ones.  This way, at least she'll get some exercise." 

The oak walls of the stables rang with the echo of shod hooves over cement as our horses clipped their way through the run and into the blessing of morning that threw off its covers and woke up the temple grounds with daylight.  Once clear of the doors, Argento danced excitedly sideways when I slipped my foot into the stirrup.  I hopped a little to stay with him as I began my ascent. 

East's big hands on my hips pushed me up into my place in the leather seat and remained there a few more moments than was necessary, under the guise of settling me into the saddle and steadying me amidst the prancing of my mount.  The heat of his palm on my backside warmed through my jeans, leaving the lingering imprint of the feel of his strength and the message that he was interested in more than a morning ride across the Temple grounds.   "Been a while, Bou." He angled his face away, checking the bridle for snugness, running his hands along Argento's chest and neck, looking everywhere but at me. 

Reaching down, I laid a caressing hand along his jaw and turned his face up to mine.  He had lived in my home for a while, eaten at my table, and I had nothing to give him then but silent gratitude for his understanding of my reticence. The gift he possesses of healing the hurts of a wounded and downtrodden creature does not just lend itself to the four-legged but to those of humankind.  And perhaps that is why he is the secret desire of so many hearts.  To watch him enchant something wild to his hand is a wondrous thing.  I would love nothing more than to see him find someone who can tame him to hers and set his soul free at the same time. 

"Since I rode a horse, or since we have ridden each other?"  I teased wickedly but ran my fingertips over his smooth, beardless cheek. "We can remedy both, if you are up for it."  Color crept up into his skin under the tan. 

"Christ. The way you talk sometimes." But he smiled and patted my bottom appreciatively.  

I giggled.  "You like it, though."  It is true.  He loves a woman who knows her mind, who is as wild as the wind when set free but can still be regal when necessary.  I think, intrinsically, they all do to a point.  With perhaps the exception of Kim, but then I'm not interested in him whatsoever.  And that is probably the reason why.  But East- East understands women as he does horses- the desire to play in the company of a man who knows when they need to have fun and can bring them around to seriousness when it is time.  This was time to run unfettered, and I wanted to share it with him this morning.  "I'm all yours for a while and we can do whatever you like.  Get on your horse, and let's go!"  I leaned down to brush his lips with mine. It had been much too long, for sure.  I felt the pull of his youth and the memories of past trysts flow into my body with the rise of the sun.  Morning rides that often ended in a tangle of naked limbs and bodies in fields of tall prairie grass or along the sodden banks of a babbling river.

"I'd rather see you on this one than Argento," he tried again.  "He's liable to leave you behind, the way he's acting.  Let's switch."  

"Absolutely not.  We're doing just fine."  I lay over Argento's neck and whispered in the ear that twitched back to catch my words and smiled when he quieted.  "See?" I crowed at East, who grinned and shook his head before seating himself on the mare. 

"Just watch him," he growled.  

"I will," I promised.

The singing and chirping of robins and sparrows hailed the waking of the sun and called out the joy of impending autumn around us, as we trailed over the rolling Temple grounds toward the vineyards and hills beyond.  At the top of the first gentle slope, we pulled up side by side to watch as the rays crept over the land, creating a coverlet of soft gold that shimmered over the grapes and vines, turning them into a banquet for the gods, and feast of the senses.  I imagined that I played in vats of golden grapes, crushing them to make ambrosia for the deities, thanking them for all their gifts.  I would be practicing that later on in the afternoon. I wondered briefly if Maximus was up and watching this too while making preparations for the grape harvest, then thought about his stories of Trujillo and his beloved crops and fields that he had tended so lovingly.  The excitement in his voice and his eyes, shutting out the somber austerity of the general, when he talks about that which he really loves- the land and its treasures.  Behind us, the sun touched the walls of the Temple, shining off the windows of our quarters and lighting up the building with tender warmth and love.  Or maybe only highlighting that which resides within.  The love of good friends.  We are family, no matter our place in the scheme of the game.  My hand found East's as I gazed over the panorama ahead and gripped tight. 

"You think too much."  He caught the mist of tears that welled up in my eyes for the beauty of the scene and the realizations in my soul.  Sidling his horse next to Argento, he kissed my temple. 

"It's because I feel much."  

"I know why you do it.  Just let go sometimes, eh, mate?  Run barefoot over the grass, climb trees, go skinny-dipping.  Ride horses you have no business being on like life is over tomorrow and you might as well piss Max off good when he catches you.  Just let your heart take over."  His smile promised the wolf lying under the skin of lamb.  No hints of the hedon inside me, he wanted the evidence.  As easily as I shut out emotion, he wanted me to let loose of the seriousness of life while I was with him.  A challenge.  East does not break horses.  He teaches them.  And people, too, if they pay attention to him long enough.  I made a solemn (my last for a few hours) promise to myself to ask for him more often, in order to hear his understated wisdom and knowledge and let him teach me, again.  But then, I know he would tell me that he does not do anything Maximus does not try to already. 

I smiled gratefully and gauged the distance between the redwoods and us.  A half mile or so. I sized up the differences between our mounts, deciding that East's was small and fast but carried a good-sized man, while Argento was heavy but only had a lighter woman to hinder his ability to run.  All in all, we were fairly evenly matched.  "You know, another good way to keep Argento from getting too out of hand is to run it out of him," I started offhandedly. 

East was instantly suspicious.  "Yeah.  What do you have in mind?"

"A race.  The first one to the forest gets to choose the way we make love."  I chewed my lip shyly when the blue-green flame seared over my face, burning me with the blaze of lust. 

"I thought you were mine to do with whatever I want, anyway," he whispered, searching my eyes, capturing my soul and pulling it to him by ropes of seduction. 

"I changed the rules?" 

"You would."  But he was laughing, and wheeled around to face the course of our contest.  The animals beneath knew what was afoot, and the mare stood patiently, the only indicator of her excitement the slight tremor that pulsed in her haunches.  Argento was not still.  He broke the start, ready to show what he is made of but with effort I held him and brought him back under control until East called to go.  And he chose that moment to urge the mare forward and she bounded away, charging down the hill toward our destination. 

The surge of muscles under the saddle, forcing my body into their rhythm took my breath away when Argento took after her and her rider.  I understood then just how much mastership over him Maximus had, because the stallion almost tore my arms out of their sockets as he stretched forward to catch them.  The ground and vineyards rushed by around me, a stationary blur of gold and green and soft earth, eaten away and left behind by the big horse's blinding speed.  The trill of birdsong and the noises of morning life became a symphony of a tinkle in the wind in my ears, like holding up a seashell and hearing the ocean's muffled roar, only with fairy laughter.  Through the silvery mane that lapped at my face and stung my eyes, mingling with my own hair as I dropped low to give him more impetus, I saw East's horse clear a felled tree stump.  I was lifted as Argento gathered himself to make the jump.  He is amazingly agile and never broke pace, simply hurtled himself to gallop beside the other horse, and East glanced over, face set in determination not to lose this game but making sure I was all right and truly in control.  I grinned and pulled ahead, exhilarated by being so high above the earth and flying through time and space with such an incredible creature. 

The redwoods were just ahead, and I felt hot breath on my ankle.  The mare's head inched up to draw even with my horse, and they galloped neck and neck for the finish.  Stride for stride they matched each other, and the flash of triumph in East's eyes caused me to do something I do rarely. 

Sitting up, I tugged at the reins and slowed Argento down.  He fought against my staying command and started to rear in protest, his competitive nature not appeased by being held back from completing the race.  But I had only been desirous of riding him up to that point and experiencing the joy of being wrapped up in the elements with him.  Now he needed to know that I wanted East to win, and that my will superceded our mutual desire to finish the game to our satisfaction.  East's words in the stables, as he warned me about the strength of this animal, and how even Maximus has to be aware of him at all times ran through my mind as I battled to keep my place and calmed him. I watched the bay mare and East cross the threshold of the forest and stroked Argento's thick neck in reward, smoothing his mane and scratching him under it, along the nape. 

"There will be other times, my friend," I murmured.  "We'll race again someday.  For now, let it go.  We both know who would have got there first."  He seemed to understand but still danced from side to side when I trotted him up to our companions. East had dismounted and was walking his animal to rest her. He raised an eyebrow and angled his chin like they all do.  I smiled reassuringly back and shrugged.  The cockiness of the win replaced his concern though, and he reached up to me to pull my mouth to his. 

"I win," his lips said against mine before his tongue claimed its prize.  Nodding, I gave it, following his kiss as he drew me from my perch, arms molding me into his body among the giant trees and foliage that lent their fragrance to the smell of horse and man that assaulted my olfactory senses anew.  One hand left our embrace and slipped the headstalls from each horse to allow them to graze freely while we lost ourselves in abandon of the world around us. East smelled of Polo and desire, of need held back and wishing to be set free in response to my answering female scent which he breathed in deeply.  His hands found my buttocks and raised me against the hardness of his desire, eliciting a moan from me that sounded much like his name.  "I get to choose, right?" he mouthed on my throat, sending pulsing waves of liquid electricity through my nerves to meet those rising from where our privates met in anticipation of the act of mating. 

"Yes," I breathed, letting my tongue taste at the cleft of his chin and trail over his Adam's apple to the spot left bare by the openness of his flannel.  Thick fingers found the buttons of my shirt and unfastened them one by one, until they had me exposed, my bare breasts being lifted into palms that tested their weight and explored over particular points, judging and petting.  Finding me sound and healthy there, the examining hands worked lower, tickling me and stroking my belly, sliding over the curve of my hips and just under the waist of my jeans. 

"Good, solid frame," he praised, slipping my top down off my shoulders and pulled the zipper of my pants down to give him access to the lower half.  "Let's see if the rest of you measures up."  I toed my boots off, steadying myself on his shoulder while he tugged the denim and my underwear off my legs and let them fall away.  His tongue snaked between his teeth and wetted his delicate lips at the sight of me. 

I stood still, trembling from heightened awareness of the air and the sun that filtered through the branches overhead and showered me in muted glow.  His hands continued to feel over me, and he pretended to make note of my muscles, the solid strength in my flesh and the things I could do as a result.  He circled around, looking me over with a practiced eye, pleased with his acquisition.  He caressed my brands and scars, murmuring as he would to a mare who has seen seasons of much use and hard work, and wrapped himself around me from behind, fingers teasing down to the patch of hair tingling with want.  They slid inside my folds to the wetness that began to flow and dampen my sex. 

His forehead rested against my shoulder and through his clothes I felt the rage of passion that took over him.  "You're in season, love," he muttered hoarsely into my neck, nuzzling and teasing my readiness, pulling me hard against his chest and burying his face in my hair. He backed away, leaving a hand on my shoulder and I took his fingers to my lips to kiss and nibble.  Behind me, I heard the swish of fabric and the catch of a zipper. 

Turning, I dropped to my knees in the ferny carpet of the undergrowth.  "Let me," I begged, taking the cock that arched out to me from his jeans in hand and stroking it tenderly.  He nodded, teeth clenched tight in control while I primed him.  There was no water or soap to wash him so I improvised, slipping the sheath away from his cockhead and laving it with my tongue, bathing him gently and taking him as far as I could, repeating several times.  I tasted his musk, the salty perfume of perspiration and passion, and the throbbing of my pussy increased in tempo to match that of the vein under my tongue and tightened in response to the hardening of his testicles as I drew him deeper into my mouth.  What I could not love with my lips I did by hand, until he whimpered and knelt beside me, pinning my arms around my back, fingers entwined with mine.  His teeth grazed my throat and he hummed against my breasts, bending me back over his arms to reach them.  

Releasing me, he stretched out and pulled me over him, spreading my thighs to straddle his slim hips.  His cock was hot and insistent between us and I rolled a bit to give it ease, without disjoining from East's kisses that burned over my mouth, my cheeks, my nose, my eyelids, devouring me and leaving messages that he had missed me.  I returned each, sucking in his lips and pecking at them, to let him know I still think about him too.  He set me away from him and to my knees. His cock nestled between my buttocks and I pushed back involuntarily, deliciously and he nipped at my neck, taking charge of the moment and bringing me under command, as a stallion is wont to do with the mare he is about to service.

I presented myself to him, tail raised high, setting in position against him, thigh to thigh, buttock to groin when he mounted me.  He kicked my knees apart a bit to give himself room to slide inside, teasing at my slit and coating himself in my juices before the first drive to my womb.  His hands grabbed at my shoulders, holding me in place while he began to buck, pulling his cock all the way out, then gliding home again. His grip tightened, dragging me hard back on him, making me thrust on the thick member that took me as he covered me and his pace picked up, hard and fast, building into a frenzy of heated bodies caught up in primal joining.  Fingers grasped at my hips, pulling them as high as they could be without my knees leaving earth, and I gasped when I felt every vein, every fold of skin, and the outline of the head of his cock scrape against the roof of my cunt.  It caught at the secret spot, over and over, until I was thrashing and bucking back, begging him to stop and not stop, calling out for my stallion to ride and break me.

Long after my head hung between my shoulders in sated submission, he bellowed his coming into the air, letting the trees absorb his cries and moans.  He climbed off me, rubbing my sore and tired muscles, and pulled me against chest.   I planted gentle busses over his nipples and shoulders, and we said nothing for a while. 

Finally, he took my chin in his hand and lifted my face to his.   His smoke-and-honey voice drifted into my ears when he spoke.  "You feel okay, mate?"  I nodded and reached for his mouth.  "Do me a favor," he went on, after leaving the sweetest of kisses on my lips.  "I know you get caught up in your life with Max and the others and you get busy.  But don't forget me.  I don't forget you.  I'm not talking about having an affair or romance, but I love you.  You're one of my best friends.  All I want is for you to see me sometimes.  Especially when life gets you down."

"I don't think you will have time to miss me, sweet.  You're going to be a very popular man in the near future.  But I already intended to make sure we spend more time with each other, so don't worry."  We said little else, just dozed in each other's arms until Argento nudged me with his nose.  By East's watch it was the breakfast hour, and everyone would be up by then.  East had other horses to work, which I offered to help him with for my interruption.  We dressed and bridled our patient animals, then mounted up to retrace our path over the vineyards toward the stables.  At the stump we had leapt earlier, East turned to me, motioning with his chin.  My gaze swept the countryside, catching the sight of Maximus walking toward the barn from the vats. 

He was waiting by the large doors when I reached him, leaned against the criss-crossed panels, arms folded across his chest.  I sauntered up, letting Argento play and show off for his master and grinned down at my husband's disapproving face.   "Boudicca... " 

"He rides well," I cut him off. "Very spirited.  We enjoyed a good run, didn't we, pretty boy?"  I let Max hand me down from the saddle and took Argento's reins to lead him to water and a good rubdown.

"You have moss and pine needles in your hair," he observed, glancing to the stall where East had disappeared and back to me.  Taking his proffered hand, I acknowledged his words with a mysterious smile.

"I was tossed down by the stream..."

-Boudicca, 9 September, 2003