She couldn’t believe their heated argument was barely three days ago…
As Samantha eased the jeep along the quiet road toward Trinity; hills rolled by, verdant green and luscious. Along the route, wooden corrals gave way to divided farms where cattle grazed contently in the distance. Horses of different shades and sizes pranced near the length of the fence. Heads held high and manes blowing in the slight wind, their neighs loud as if enticing vigilant mates.
Samantha traveled a fair bit. Her visits ranged from the beautiful yet humid coastal cities to the dry inland landscapes of South Africa. Nothing, however, prepared her for the pure beauty and open vastness of the land she drove past. Cloudless skies, impressive mountains, beautiful valleys, and open plains designed the perfect collage of a surrealistic countryside.
Perhaps, being alone created the unusual edge to her surroundings. Her traditional holidays always entailed she accompany her parents when they visited family in South Africa and India, but never alone. Or maybe it rose from the fact she lived in the energetic city of Sandton, beautiful in its entirety yet prolific in diversity, culture, and wealth. Although, surrounded by traffic and the hustle and bustle of everyday commuters to the rich financial district which made up Sandton City itself.
Samantha’s enthusiasm crested as she downshifted and reduced speed well below the required limit. She wanted to breathe it all in, leisurely. With a sigh of contentment, she inhaled deeply then exhaled in a gradual release. At peace, her body shimmered with the excitement of her freedom. No tea parties or tedious dinner invitations, no pretty dresses with matched high heeled pumps, and no reprimanding father. Free to indulge in how she deemed fit…denims, shirts, and sneakers.
****
“Oh God…”
Samantha jerked out of her reflections with a quick slam of the brakes as a huge black stallion appeared from nowhere and blocked her path. The animal reared nervously on its hind legs then plunged down on its forelegs with a resonant thud. Samantha’s heart pounded. She gawked through the windshield in fascination at the magnificent creature prancing in front of her jeep. Nostrils flared, and muscles pulsated under the rider while he soothed the animal.
Her gaze switched from animal to rider. Two faded denim powerful thighs pressed firm against the animal’s flank. Shirtless, lean muscles rippled in the sunlight, tanned and moist from the sweat of a hard ride. Samantha swallowed as her eyes devoured the outline of every sinew muscle greedily from his defined six packs to the tight biceps, and finally landed on his bronze chest. The sudden prick of her pulse points sent her heartrate into overdrive. Unfamiliar heat cascaded through her body. Her mind whirled, and her breath expelled in short gasps. The sudden heat between her thighs intensified. Her clit throbbed. OMG. If this was his visual effect on her, she could only imagine the result of his touch.
Everything became a distant blur. The urge to reach out and caress his strong, masculine arms strained as he held the reins tightly, taunting her innocence. Samantha shifted her gaze to his face and stifled a shocked gasp. From beneath the dusty black hat, stone cold, emotionless blue eyes glared at her in contempt. This man wasn’t easily intimidated. He radiated visceral authority. Intensity she never witnessed before. It scared her a little. The height of the jeep, thankfully, gave her some comfort.
Still riveted, she stared at the tightening of his jaw, almost positive he was grinding his teeth. Mercy, he was sex on a horse. Her tummy muscles constricted.
“Can’t you see where you’re going, boy?” he snarled in a sexy western drawl. His arm pointed at a signpost on the side of the road.
Not waiting for a reply, the rider nudged the horse. Samantha stared as the animal threw back its head, uttered a loud snort before he galloped off the road, jumped the fence, and trailed dust as it picked up speed. Tipping her hat in a mock salute, she smiled as rider and horse became one until they were nothing more than a mere speck in the distance.
“Jeepers.” A relieved sigh escaped her lips. Samantha glanced over her shoulder and read the animal crossing signpost with a loud groan. “No.” Lost in thought, she almost ran over the animal and its rider. “Hell, girl, this ain’t your fancy hometown…this be the Wild Wild West.” She attempted a western drawl and uttered a hearty laugh as she failed miserably.
