The Ranch Ch. 03

On the third afternoon, Cory decided to take Katie horse riding.

"Don't look so scared," he advised her, seeing the startled look on her face. "They can tell, you know."

"It...it just feels much higher up than it looks in the movies," she responded nervously, leaning forward to stroke the horse's shiny mane. It was a beautiful creature, a deep chestnut colour, evidently well cared for.

"You'll get used to it fairly quickly," Cory told her, swinging himself up into the saddle. His horse was an admirable velvet grey, much stronger and faster than Katie's mount. With all the time he spent on his farms, Cory was completely at ease handling horses of all different abilities and temperaments.

It was a stunning afternoon, the sun-light glimmered through the trees, and the heat of the day was eased by a lovely breeze. Fresh scents of the forest floundered about them in the wind, and Katie was fascinated by the numerous types of flora they passed. As she plied Cory with questions, he patiently explained what he knew about each of them, if anything. Going down the path side by side, Cory held onto Katie's reins, just in case. Although she blushed painfully at first, feeling like a humiliated kid being babied by their parent, she was nonetheless glad of Cory's supervision.

"Ouch," gasped Katie, confusedly raising one hand to her neck. Startled, she looked to Cory, who gently reined both horses to a standstill and leaned toward her.

"What is it?" he asked, leaning across and narrowing his eyes at her neck.

"Ugh, something just bit me really bad," Katie winced, feeling around the area. "Ouch, fuck!" she cried, pulling out the sting. Eyesight slightly blurred, she stared down at the green dart in her hand.

"Uh oh," she mumbled, fighting to stay in the saddle, but as her eyes began to lose focus she felt herself slowly but surely slipping sideways off the horse.

Collapsing to the earth in an undignified pile, Katie dimly felt the ground shake as she heard Cory hit the floor with a loud thud behind her. Both horses restlessly pawed at the path, wondering at their masters.

Blinking across the ground in bemusement, desperately trying to keep her eyes open, the last thing Katie saw before slipping into unconsciousness was a pair of men's boots stepping out of the woodland.