As they cantered back to the ranch, Josh couldn't help but keep glancing over in Tobias's direction. The steady rise and fall of his body in the silver encrusted highly polished leather saddle made Josh feel all giddy inside, much like a little school girl experiencing her first boy crush.
As they neared the gates to the ranch, Josh slowed Hermes down to a walk and Tobias pulled the reins of his steed to keep pace. Passing under the cathedral style arched marble stone entrance, Tobias looked up at the two large J's hanging from the center of the arch. He turned to look back at them after passing beneath the arch, wondering if they were made of what they looked like; solid gold. It was a short ride from the entrance gate to the front of the main house. When they arrived, Josh dismounted and a young black man, not much older than Tobias, walked up and took the reins of Hermes.
"Did you have a good ride Mr. Jenson?" he asked, then he tipped his hat to Tobias. "And good afternoon to you sir."
"Kinto," Josh said as he removed his hat and wiped the sweat from his brow. "This be Tobias..."He paused, trying to recall Tobias's last name. "Tobias, he will be staying with us for awhile. After you tend to the horses, would you be kind enough to have one of the maids make up a guest room for him."
"Will do Sir," Kinto replied as he took the reins of Tobias's steed. "Does your horse have any special requirements?"
"Just some good hay and fresh water will suit ole Lightning just fine."
"Give him the big stall beside Hermes." Josh ordered. "And have one of the stable hands wipe him down and give him some grain too."
"Yes Mr. Jenson." Kinto answered as he led the two horses to the barn.
"Well Mr. Carter," Josh said with a large grin, finally remembering his last name, bowing and waving his hat across his waist, ending with it directed at the huge, twin, mahogany
doors. "Welcome to my humble abode."
"Why thank you Mr. Jenson," Tobias said as he tipped his Stetson and walked past Josh and up to the doors. They both laughed as Josh swung open both doors and led Tobias into the foray of a house the size of which Tobias had only heard about in stories back in ole England.
"Wow, Josh," Tobias said with both shock and amazement. "Just how large is this 'humble' place of yours?"
"The house or the property?" Josh asked as he took Tobias's hat and hung it on one of the many hooks running down the sides of a large framed mirror just inside the foray.
Tobias looked around the entrance area of the house. The walls were a good twenty feet high, covered in numerous paintings that looked as if they should have been in a museum. A double spiral staircase encased the large room and appeared to rise up at least three stories. The main hallway seemed to go on for a hundred yards to the far wall, where there appeared to be a set of double glass doors that looked to lead out into a garden. The floor was covered with a series of small hand woven Persian rugs, which contrasted sharply with the hand carved inlayed Italian wood flooring. Tobias stood in awe at the mere sight of this entrance way, it was like he had walked into a dream. As he stood there wondering what the rest of the house would be like, he was brought back to reality by the sound of a bell ringing.
"You still with me?" Josh laughed as he sat the brass bell back down on the ledge under the mirror. In a matter of seconds, a young Spanish woman came half running down the hallway. She was dressed in a mid-length sun yellow silk dress. It contrasted nicely with the dark skin of here bare legs, and with its low cut top, it formed a lovely glowing frame around her smallish bosom. Her rich obsidian hair flowed in curls over her shoulders and didn't stop until it reached her waist.
"Maria," Josh asked. "Would you be so kind as to draw a hot bath for our new guest?"
