Sandwiches and Mold

Kira made sure the picnic basket was attached securely to Dixie's saddle, then she checked the buckskin mare's girth one more time. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed her brother leaning against the wall, chuckling at her and she turned, glaring at him.

"What?"

"Nothing, sis. I'm just watching a woman freak out about a trail ride. That's all."

"Oh shut up, Kev. It's important to me. I want everything to be just right."

"With you, Kir, it always is."

Kevin smiled at Kira and then pushed himself off the wall before walking down the aisle humming a silly, immature schoolyard song that made Kira stare hard at his back for. If looks could kill her brother would almost certainly be in the ground. Shaking her head, though, Kira turned her attention back to the mare and her preparations. Before she knew it, she heard a rider's approach from outside the barn and took a deep breath.

"Well Dixie, this is it. I'm finally putting myself out there. Let's hope I'm not in for a mess, eh?"

Jason dismounted as he reached the barn and held the reins of his Quarter Horse gelding, Shim. Kira was just leaving the barn with Dixie in tow when she saw him stop and stretch and she nearly choked. How could the man be so damn sexy? Shaking her head to snap herself out of the trance, she walked outside and smiled at Jason.

"You made it. Prompt, I like it. I got a lunch all packed. You ready?"

"I sure am. I thought we might take the trail over the hills. Is that alright with you?"

"Of course. Dixie needs the workout anyway. Ever since she was retired, she's been chilling in the pasture with Tary and her sister, Jaws. Getting a little pudgy."

Kira laughed softly as she swung herself up into the saddle of the mare and watched Jason do the same on his gelding before nudging the horse forward toward the trails. Jason, too, laughed at the comment.

"Shim's been getting the same way since I've been concentrating on working with Jocko. I figured the old boy would like to get out today."

Kira smiled and nodded, then took the lead out of the gate and waited for Jason to pass before closing the gate and heading along the trail. If someone had said that she and Jason would be "dating" a year ago, she would have scoffed and shaken her head, but over the time they had been friends it had deepened into so much more and now it appeared that they were treading into more dangerous waters by dating. She hoped it worked out or she would lose a dear, dear friend and that wasn't something she wanted to happen.

The ride was a comfortable one. At times it was silent between them and at others there was laughing. That was one of the things Kira noticed they had, they were very comfortable with one another. It wasn't like they had anything to prove to the other. They were already friends, after all. Nearly an hour later and they were riding up to the small river that bordered a portion of Ravenwood Farms. Here they both dismounted and tied the horses to keep them from wandering. Kira took the basket off the saddle and began to set it up, but Jason came over to her and stayed her hand. He took hold of it in his own and brought it to his lips, kissing her knuckles softly.

"I missed you, Kira."

Kira was stunned. It was a huge admission, after just one date, but she found herself repeating it anyway.

"I missed you, too, Jason. I enjoyed our date, but you'd better not forget to call me ever again. Got it?"

"Ha ha, I got it, Kira. Never again. Now, would you like some help getting set up?"

"I think that would be very nice, Jason. Sure."

The lunch set up was much quicker with the two of them working together instead of separately. Kira was about halfway through her sandwich when her phone rang. Giving an apologetic face to Jason, she answered the phone. At least he understood, owning his own farm, so he didn't mind.

"Hello?" A pause.
"Yes, this is she." Another pause.
"Oh really? I had forgotten about even putting my name in there." Another pause.
"Yes, please. If you call my sister she will give you all you need. Thank you very much."
"You, too. Goodbye."

Kira hung up the phone and sat there, smiling and shaking her head, but then looked at Jason and giggled at his perplexed look.

"Apparently I had put my name into some 50/50 raffle a while ago. I forgot all about it, but that was the person in charge calling to tell me that I had won."

"Really? That's cool. What did you win?"

"I won a thousand dollars. Can you believe that?"

"Amazing. Just like you are." Jason reached out and caressed her cheek softly briefly before dropping his hand again. "So tell me about this river."

Kira caught her breath as he touched her cheek and even found herself leaning into it slightly, but when he dropped his hand, she swallowed and nodded. Kira started to talk about the river and how it was where she first saw the ravens that the farm was named for. Another hour and a half and their lunch was gone. Kira was the first to suggest they get back in the saddle and after packing everything up, they did just that. She was glad for the day that she had spent with Jason, but farm duties were weighing on her mind. She knew that the coming days weren't going to be so easy. Weaning time was at hand and that was never a good time for Kira. She hated it when the foals called for their mamas. As they reached the stable yard, they were met by a frustrated Kevin.

"What's up, Kev?"

"What's up? What's up, she asks. Well, dear sister, I was working on giving out hay when I noticed something wrong with the flakes I was pulling. When I looked closer, I realized the whole bit was worthless. It was damp and full of mold. We're gonna have to order an entire new load. A fixable problem, sure, but just a bunch of crap I didn't want to have to deal with."

Kira frowned at this news, but figured it came with the territory. One didn't own a horse farm without it happening once or twice. She dismounted and patted Dixie's neck, looking up at Jason with an 'I'm sorry' look before glancing at Kevin.

"I take it you are working on ordering the hay already?"

"Uh, sure. I was just cooling off. Hey Jason. Guess I'll go make sure the supplier knows where to go."

Kevin turned and left the two alone again and Kira giggled softly before looking at Jason.

"Please excuse my brother. He gets a bit tempered at times, but he's harmless." Kira winked.

"Let's just hope that temper's never aimed at me." Jason smiled at Kira. "Look, I had a great time today, but I should get home. I've got a mare due to foal any day now. I'll call you. This time I mean it."

"You'd better. See ya."

Kira waited until Jason had disappeared from view before turning and leading Dixie into the barn and untacking the mare. She spent the next hour grooming the horse before putting her into the stall and patting her neck. Then she went into the house to see what she needed to do to get the load of new hay delivered.