It was a beautiful spring afternoon and she rode her horse Peppermint through the open fields just outside the city. She came here every day after work, rode and then took care of her horse and helped the keepers for a few hours before heading home. When she arrived today she noticed a gentleman there she had never seen before. This was not uncommon as people were always coming bringing new horses for boarding, as well as for riding lessons. Something about this one caught her eye though as she pulled up. He was walking away from leading a beautiful palomino toward the stable. He was a little different from most of the people who came here she noticed. He wore nice pants and a dress shirt, yet did not seem uncomfortable or out of place there. She parked her car and headed toward the stable to get Peppermint for their afternoon ride.
As she entered she looked around the barn. She saw him in one of the stalls with his horse and quickly walked past toward Peppermint. As she began putting the saddle on her horse a voice came from over her shoulder. "Hello" he said, "my name is Mike, and that is my horse Midnight." She quickly turned, half startled, have excited. She started to introduce herself but she could not find the words. Her eyes gazed upon his rugged yet soft face, her eyes lost in his deep green eyes, trapped in an eternal stare. "I am Peppermint and that is Ally, I mean I am Ally and this is Peppermint," She said. She extended her hand to him and he to her. He grasped her hand firmly yet gently and shook holding on to her delicate hand as they stared at each other in awkward silence.
He was a large man almost 6' big broad shoulders, dark hair with streaks of gray. He had a rugged look about him yet at the same time looked as soft as a teddy bear and as gentle as a kitten. They broke their handshake a he walked around her horse and began patting him down and demanding what a fine animal it was. He walked all the way around her horse his eyes never really moving from her delicate face. He came back around to the other side of the horse and asked if she was about to ride. She nodded her head signaling yes. "Mind if I join you?" he asked. "I am new here and would love to be shown the area by someone who knows."
"I would love to," she responded as she finished saddling her horse. They each led their horses out and then mounted and headed out to the wilderness. They rode side by side talking to each other. She showed him the area and talked about all of the people at the stables and all of their little idiosyncrasies. He listened intently and looked around as she pointed out areas to avoid and those not to miss.