Wildfires

Wednesday morning seven a.m.

 Kate looked so sweet lying there. I'll let her lie in. I got up had a shower and got dressed. I went over to the stables and tended to Smokies leg. It didn't look so bad as yesterday. Got some salt water, bathed the wound and bandaged it back up.

 While waiting for Kate to stir, I switched on the news. Life came and watched the television, she was curious of how the people got in there. Well it seemed that way to me. The newscaster off CNN, Ted Tanner spoke....'Fire fighters are at this moment battling to contain a series of wildfires across south California. Strong winds and hot temperature following one of the driest winter in years, have turned swathes of wilderness into a tinderbox...'The screen cut to a scene of helicopters dropping loads of water to protect properties down on the ground...'A ten mile section of the Pacific Coast highway has been closed for a while west of Malibu, because of the Camarillo Springs blaze...' again it cut to a motorist by the name of Zeke Jaquez , " It's unbelievable..." he says,"...several homes have already been destroyed."...and then it cut back to Ted Tanner at the news desk, '...and on a lighter note...' I switched it off. Life had disappeared. I needed the bathroom. While in there doing what a guy does, a knock came on the door. On opening it Kate...sweet Kate stood before me. I planted a long kiss on her lips.

Kate blushed. "I need the shower. Your dog drooled all over me, waking me up."

 "Yeah, she...has a nasty habit of doing that," I smiled and moved out of the way to let Kate pass."You want to eat out for breakfast or what ?"

 "Whatever you want Kyle." 

 "Okay, but lets eat out first." A slow easy smile spread across my face. "Last night was special wasn't it ?"

 "Yes," she whispered, blushing again, "you seem to have only one thing on your mind Kyle."

Eventually Kate appeared and we got into the car and drove to the Stroppy Mare diner.

As I drove out of my drive, a for sale sign was being erected on the small property to the left. It got me thinking. If I bought it, I could use it for a holiday let or, if any of my family came to stay.

 We both had coffee and pancakes with syrup. Oh! and eggs over easy. I payed the check and left.

Kate relaxed into the car seat, "You're quiet?"

 " I was just thinking about the wildfires. Let's hope the winds stay down south and don't change course. Oh, and that property on the corner of my place. I wonder if I should buy it, what do you think Kate ?"  

 "It's up to you. Can't help you there Kyle."              

 Back at the farm I tacked Drifter up and mounted him. After a short while He reared up and I fell off.   Kate stood there, laughing at me while I brushed the dust of my pants. My cellphone rang and a female voice spoke, "I want to speak to a mister McCormack."

 "You're speaking to him. How can I help you ?"

 Well it turned out the female voice belonged to a Sofia Martin. Um, you may recall that Johnny Denver had scribbled down a garbled message yesterday. I told her to come over and take a look at Lady. I wasn't sure she could train her to the western style of riding, as she was eight years old. So far all of my clients wanted to ride western style. Can't blame them. I had paper work to enter into my laptop, ringing around and one thing and another, and a jumping lesson to take in an hour, so Kate volunteered to see to Sofia Martin when she came.

I was still on my laptop when Sofia Martin came. I saw Kate talking to her...well I presume that's who she was. Yes, now Kate is getting Lady for her and tacking her up. They go into the manege and Sofia is riding Lady over the cavaletti trainer jumps in there. I know Lady can do these, I've done them on her myself...and the green and white inclined triple bar jump. Sofia was about late thirties to early forties. She had thick black wavy hair done up into a French Plait  and tied with a band of some kind. I finished on my laptop so went out to watch Sofia ride. I had ten minutes or so before my client would arrive.

 "Well what do you think, um, Ms. Martin ?" I didn't know whether she was married or not. Couldn't see a wedding band as she was wearing gloves. Kate went and made us a coffee.

 "Won't take a lot to put her right. I think she was originally taught to the western way of riding before. I can do a little with her every other day for three months. May be less."

 "Okay, let's agree on how much it's gonna cost me."

 We came to an agreement.

Kate's Story

Kate's Story

Dear diary:

Me, Kate

 Well what can I tell you about myself ? I am nineteen years old and the only child to Roddy and Brittney Winsley. I Have auburn hair and deep green eyes. If they were still alive today, my parents would of been forty seven and forty five respectfully. Only one bad stormy night on the way back from dining with a number of very influential people, their car was involved in a gruesome interstate pile up. Sadly they were among those pronounced dead at the horrific scene. They had worked hard all their lives, reaching the top of the financial and social ladder...and what for ?

Goldie Horne was great friends with my mom although Goldie was six years younger. Up to my eighteenth birthday Goldie was my guardian, a pact that she and mom had made together every time they got a bit tipsy ! Little did they know how that pact or promise was to turn out. It was she who encouraged me to keep a diary and write down my thoughts to help me 'heal' so she said, that's why I'm writing this diary. I feel I have to hide it away from...prying eyes.

I was 'home tutored', as I had a hard time adjusting when my parents were killed, and kids at school can be very cruel...you know ? So now, I have this large condo with a view of the river flowing past this place where I now lived, aptly named River View. I don't need to work as I have enough money to last me the rest of my life, although some of it is in Bonds till I reach thirty. Was I lonely ? Not all the while, as I had friends at the place where I do voluntary work with disadvantaged kids.

Recently I had accompanied Goldie to a horse auction at Hidden Springs. I just love horses...especially Palominos. Goldie taught me to ride and is a qualified teacher. That's how she makes a living, and where my love of horses sprung from. It also helped in the 'healing process'.

Kyle in town

On this particular day we met Kyle McCormack. Boy, did I blush ! I was drawn to him straight away. In fact, I liked him a lot ! He had pushed his way through the crowd to talk to Goldie, but I think he had another reason too. I would of liked to of stayed to talk to him find out more about him, but I was with Goldie and we had a prior engagement elsewhere. Guess what ? He gave me his cellphone number. I remember he had black hair, nice brown eyes...and a cocky smile.

Goldie warned me to take care. She said she knew what sort of guys like Kyle were like, and what they were after. So to please her I threw the cellphone number away. I was so miserable the rest of the day that Goldie had a heart to heart with me. She said I should find someone nearer my own age. She said that he was too experienced and would only break my heart. How could she know ? She hadn't know him long and had only given him one riding lesson ! So I made it clear that I was old enough to make my own choice and mistakes. You know what I think ? I think she was sweet on him herself ! Well I'll show her !

I made my mind up to go to Kyle's opening day to launch his business adventure. I had seen it advertised on the 'net'. I arrived by taxi and...Oh no ! Goldie is over there. Well, I'll show her a thing or two. I walked straight up to Kyle and...and, alright, so I didn't kiss him, I just smiled, rather shyly I'm afraid. Still, Goldie frowned and uttered something inaudible. But just to rub it in that I was old enough to make my own choices, I offered to help Kyle out at the Happy Hooves Day the next morning.

                             * * * *

I arrived at nine twenty a.m. to find Kyle cussing his dog. I spoke loud telling him that I hope I wouldn't get that sort of treatment. I made him jump. We laughed and joked and went into the kitchen for a coffee before the kids turned up...the kids got a little wild cleaning the stables and I ended up getting horse manure in my face and hair. What was more humiliating was that Kyle was laughing at me along with the kids. He said something stupid, like how attractive I looked. With tears threatening to flow I ran into the farmhouse and made for the shower. I washed my tears away. Just as I stepped out of the shower, Kyle appeared. I grabbed a bathrobe and blushed, because Kyle had seen me naked. He...apologized...for laughing at me and looked so...sorry that I forgave him instantly. I think you would of done too. He wanted to make it up to me, so I said he could take me to the new Italian restaurant in Hidden Springs. That should take up a decent bit of the profit he had made on Happy Hooves day !

                           * * * * *

The meal was delicious. After Kyle had payed the check, he drove me back to my condo. I had told him all about my parents and Goldie and the condo, when I had changed earlier on for the restaurant...my gypsy top, just revealing enough flesh...to get him going. I laughed to myself as his eyes sparkled. And now he wanted to come in for a coffee...so he said. I made some excuse, but he kissed me. A slow, warm, kiss and...Wow...I really enjoyed that...but I resisted...and forced myself to close the door. Next on the agenda, I would make Kyle wait for me.

                            * * * * *

Three days seemed long enough to me and...what's this ? A text on my cellphone...I gasped! He's got a Palomino !  I must go and see them...both. I just adore Palominos ! 

When I got to Kyle's, I instantly clasped eyes on the Palomino. Johnny came up to me while I was talking and patting the horse.

"I'll let Kyle know that you're here." he muttered. I don't think Johnny liked me much !

Anyway, here comes Kyle now. Isn't he the most cute, gorgeous guy you've ever know ! Kyle said he had someone he wanted me to meet. Jolene. He said Jolene had delivered Drifter and that was her job...that was why she was here. So-o-o okay, I buy that. She didn't stay long. I noticed she handed Kyle his cellphone he had left in the house. How kind and thoughtful that was of her. What a nice job Jolene has. She must transport lots of horses in that big horse box.

Kyle wouldn't let me ride Drifter then and there. He said he wanted to make sure what he was like first, didn't want me to get hurt or thrown off. Well I didn't tell him that I was an skillful rider because I liked him looking out for me. Kyle's beach ride 'Dudes' turned up, city guys, you could tell that a mile off. What a bunch of queer looking guys ! Off they went while I stayed. I told Johnny that he could go if he wanted as I would stay and help Kyle with the horses when he returned. So off he went in his battered truck.

Kate on Drifter

Great. I was on my own. I put a saddle on Drifter and rode him about the grounds and in the manege. I enjoyed it very much, lovely paces. Before Kyle and his three 'Dudes' came back, I hosed Drifter down and brushed him to get rid of the sticky saddle marks off his back. That would of been a definite give away !  

Phew! Just made it in time as Kyle came back just then. He saw the guys off giving them a business card each. I was innocently  playing with Life, his dog...a bitch actually. I helped him hose and brush the other horses. Joe came for Prince and Shadow as Kyle had loaned them for that day. Smokie was in the barn, resting his leg.

He could cook !

Kyle was now using his charm on me, I let him and we began flirting. And he asked me to stay for supper. Oh, here was a new one on me - Kyle could cook ! Supper was spaghetti bolognese. He looked very domesticated in the kitchen. There was quite a few bottles of wine in the refrigerator...for entertaining...I presumed.

Kyle flirted outrageously, all the time, and I...I flirted back of course.Then it happened. I knew it would. He asked me to stay the night. Should I, or shouldn't I ? All I'm willing to write in this diary is...well you never know who might sneak

The bedroom scene

a peep if found...is that.........Oh! sorry, but I have crossed a lot out just here.....here.....and here.....with a really thick black marker pen ! It's too private. Now where was I ?...Oh yes...we were wrapped round each other real close. I was calling out, Kyle, oh Kyle and he was calling out Kate, oh Kate. So this is what it was like then. No mystery now. Well I reckoned that there is a first time for everything. We made love till we were spent. That's all I'm saying.

As I drifted off to sleep, now with Kyle's gentle breathing as opposed to the gasping, groaning and moaning sounds he had made...well I think I threw a good noises in myself...should I cross that bit out ? No ! Think I'll leave it in. I was sort of imagining of how my name would sound, you know like one does, if we married...Kate McCormak...Kate McCormack....Kate McCormack....that sounded....good !

But girls...can you tell me something ? Do all men do it with their socks on ? 'Cause I'd really like to know.