CHAPTER SIX
Jokah walked around the front of the Range Rover and opened my door before I had the chance to reach for the handle.
"My lady."
I laughed as I stepped out.
"Thank you."
He took my hand, helping me onto the sidewalk before closing the door behind me. I looked around, expecting to see something that would finally give away where he'd brought me. All I saw were trees, a long gravel driveway and a white wooden fence that seemed to stretch forever.
"Jokah."
He slipped his sunglasses on.
"What?"
"Where are we?"
He smiled.
"You still asking questions?"
"I've been asking questions for the last forty-five minutes."
"And I been giving you the same answer."
I folded my arms.
"No, you haven't."
"I have."
"What'd you say?"
"You'll see."
I sucked my teeth.
"I can't stand you."
He chuckled and reached for my hand.
"I know."
We started walking side by side down the gravel path. The deeper we went, the more beautiful everything became. Tall oak trees lined both sides of the trail, their branches swaying gently in the breeze while the smell of fresh grass filled the air.
"This place is pretty."
"It is."
"So... are you finally gonna tell me what we're doing?"
"Nope."
I laughed under my breath.
"You are so aggravating."
"I've been called worse."
I shook my head, smiling. "You really enjoy keeping me in suspense, don't you?"
"I do."
"Why?"
"'Cause your face be telling on you."
"My face?"
"Yeah."
"What's it saying now?"
"That you're dying to know."
I gasped dramatically.
"I am not."
He looked down at me.
"You lying."
"I am not lying."
"You wanna know so bad your walk done got faster."
I looked down at my feet and realized he was right. I burst out laughing.
"Oh my God."
"What?"
"I really am walking faster."
"I know."
He squeezed my hand.
"Slow down."
I looked over at him.
"You're evil."
"Nah. I'm patient," he grinned.
Just then, we rounded the corner and I stopped walking. My mouth fell open.
"Oh..."
Standing behind the fence were at least a dozen horses, each one more beautiful than the last. Some grazed peacefully in the field while others trotted across the pasture, their coats shining beneath the afternoon sun. I looked over at Jokah.
"No way."
He smiled.
"Surprise."
Me being surprised was an understatement.
We stood there taking in the view when one of the horses slowly wandered over to the fence. A few seconds later, an older gentleman wearing a pair of cowboy boots and a straw hat came walking behind him with a smile on his face.
"Mr. Jokah," he called out.
Jokah smiled and reached his hand out.
"Good to see you again, Mr. Walker."
"You too." They shook hands before the older man looked over at me.
"And this must be the young lady you've been telling me about."
Heat rushed to my cheeks.
Jokah glanced over at me and smiled.
"It is."
Mr. Walker stepped toward me and extended his hand. "I'm Walker. Welcome to my ranch."
I smiled and shook his hand.
"Kaior. It's nice to meet you."
"You as well."
He looked between the two of us before patting the horse on its neck. "I'll give y'all a few minutes to get acquainted while I go get everything ready."
"Appreciate it."
Mr. Walker tipped his hat before walking back toward the barn. I looked back at the horse and swallowed my spit.
"That horse is too big."
Jokah looked from the horse to me before a devious grin spread across his face.
"He ain't bigger than me."
I turned and looked him up and down.
"You know what..."
"What?"
"I can't even argue with that."
He laughed.
"I know."
I looked back at the horse.
"What if he don't like me?"
"He will."
"How do you know?"
"'Cause I like you."
I rolled my eyes.
"That ain't got nothing to do with this."
"It got everything to do with it."
I instinctively took a step back and Jokah noticed immediately. He didn't laugh or tease me. He simply stepped behind me.
"Come here."
His chest rested lightly against my back as he reached around me, gently placing his hands over mine.
"Relax."
"I'm trying."
"I know."
Together, he slowly lifted my hand toward the horse's nose. "They can feel when you scared."
"I'm trying not to be."
"Relax."
"Easy for you to say."
"Nah..."
He gently rubbed the horse's nose before guiding my hand over it.
"He’s trusting you the same way you gotta trust him."
I looked up at him.
"You think so?"
"I know so."
The horse leaned forward, sniffed my hand, then nudged it with his nose and I gasped.
"It touched me!"
Jokah chuckled softly.
"He’s saying hello baby."
A smile spread across my face as I reached out on my own this time, slowly rubbing the side of the horse's face.
"Oh my God... I did it."
"I knew you would."
Mr. Walker disappeared into the barn for a few minutes before returning with two saddled horses. He stopped beside us and smiled.
"I'd like y'all to meet Midnight and Snowflake."
He patted the jet-black stallion standing beside Jokah. "This big fella here is Midnight."
Then he rubbed the nose of the white horse standing in front of me. "And this pretty girl is Snowflake."
I smiled nervously.
"She's beautiful."
Mr. Walker nodded.
"And she's just as sweet."
He looked between the two of us.
"Looks like y'all ready."
I looked at the horses. Then back at him. "No, we not."
Jokah laughed beside me.
"Speak for yourself."
"I am speaking for myself."
"Don't worry, sweetheart. These two are about as gentle as they come." Mr. Walker smiled.
I looked at Snowflake.
"She don't look gentle."
"She is."
"That's easy for y'all to say."
Jokah stepped closer.
"You trust me?"
I looked up at him.
"You know I do."
"Then trust her."
I took a deep breath.
"I'll try."
"That's all I'm asking."
Mr. Walker handed Jokah the reins while I stood there staring at Snowflake like she'd personally offended me.
"You ready?"
"No."
Jokah laughed.
"You still getting on."
Before I could argue, he placed both hands on my waist.
"Come here."
I barely had time to react before he lifted me off the ground.
"Jokah!"
"I got you."
He settled me into the saddle, making sure both of my feet were secure in the stirrups before stepping back. My hands immediately grabbed the saddle horn.
"Oh my God."
He rested one hand against my knee.
"Relax."
"I'm trying."
"You doing good."
I looked down at him.
"Don't you drop me."
He looked up at me like I'd lost my mind.
"Kaior..."
"What?"
"Have I dropped you yet?"
"No."
"Exactly."
Mr. Walker climbed onto his own horse while Jokah mounted Midnight like he'd been doing it his whole life.
"You've done this before?"
"A few times."
"A few?"
He shrugged.
"I lost count."
"Of course you did."
He smiled.
"Ready?"
I looked down at the ground.
"No."
Mr. Walker gave Snowflake a gentle pat.
"She'll do all the work. You just enjoy the ride."
"Easy for you to say."
The horses started walking and heart immediately started racing.
"Oh my God."
Jokah looked over at me.
"Breathe."
"I am breathing."
"Barely."
I shot him a look.
"I'm serious."
"I know."
He rode Midnight closer until our horses were side by side. "You doing alright baby."
It wasn't a question. It was a statement. I looked down at Snowflake as she walked calmly beneath me.
"I am."
"I know."
A few minutes passed before I realized I wasn't scared anymore. I looked around at the open fields stretching for what felt like miles. The breeze brushed against my face while the steady rhythm of the horses' hooves somehow settled my nerves.
"This is..."
I smiled.
"What?"
"I don't even know how to explain it."
"You ain't gotta explain it."
I looked over at him.
"It's peaceful."
He nodded once.
"I know."
We rode in comfortable silence for a while, taking in the scenery around us. Without realizing it, my grip on the saddle loosened. I reached down and gently rubbed Snowflake's neck.
"There you go."
I laughed.
"I think she likes me."
Jokah looked over at Snowflake.
"I told you she would."
"I guess you were right."
"I usually am."
I rolled my eyes.
"There goes that confidence again."
"It ain't confidence."
"What is it then?"
He smiled.
"Experience."
I laughed and shook my head.
"You always got an answer."
"I do."
Snowflake turned her head slightly, brushing against my leg. "Aww..." I scratched behind her ears. "Who's a good girl?"
Jokah looked over.
"Oh... so that's your friend now?"
I smiled without looking up.
"Don't be jealous."
"I ain't jealous."
I kept rubbing Snowflake's neck.
"Yes, you are."
Jokah pointed toward Snowflake.
"I brought your ass here."
I burst out laughing.
"I don't care. She's my favorite right now."
"I see how fast loyalty change."
"I've known Snowflake longer than five minutes."
"Oh, word?"
He shook his head.
"I should've left both y'all at the barn."
I laughed so hard my stomach started hurting. For the first time in what felt like forever...Life felt light.