dirt.
“Very patient. Wish some of my instructors were the same.”
A shrug of the
older woman’s shoulders. “Maybe you’re just a good student?” A
lizard skittered over warm boulder as they passed.
The trees
thinned out in density as they rode through the afternoon. More
clearings, rolling tree lined plains. Jean pointed to rare
instances of scorched earth. Lightning strikes had burnt dry grass,
luckily she’d been prepared.
“You worried
about fire?” A concerned look behind Jo’s sunglasses.
“Yes and no,
dug out the firebreaks earlier, they do controlled burns out here
when the grass gets too high.”
A nod of
agreement, Jo didn’t know much about the countryside. She’d grown
up in the suburbs.
The sun was
getting lower over the trees, and their horses likely needed a
rest. Jean knew of a nice spot some twenty minutes ahead. Jo was
looking forward to cool water and stretching her legs. Eventually,
a clearing came into view, atop a gradual plateau. Straight ahead
through the trees diverged a valley below, all golden and red in
the setting sun, it looked beautiful. Protected from the wind, leaf
covered ground softened with grass.
“This should
do.”
Jo was still
mesmerised by the scenery, having taken off her shades to look
around. She looked down and Jean was holding her reins, having
already dismounted.
“Just swing
your leg over Jo, like in reverse. It’s OK, I’ve got her.”
The Sergeant
did as she was instructed, one hand rested on the shorter woman’s
shoulder as her feet touched the ground.
***
A crackling of
dead wood, and the smell of crushed bark and sweetness of old
blossoms drying with the beginnings of a warm summer.
Grey eyes
looked honey coloured with the reflection of the flames, a tanned
arm poked the fire across from her with a piece of broken tinder.
Slivers of vivid ash and spark circling up with the thin plume of
smoke. Jo sat on a fallen dried out log, whilst Jean sat on her
sleeping bag. The fire was more for comfort and light, the evening
air was warm enough this time of year.
“Jean, thanks
again for bringing me up here, can’t tell you what a relief it is
to get away.”
An honest
smile. “You’re welcome, been a while for me too. Funny how it all
tends to build up on top of you? Takes coming somewhere like this
to realise.”
Jo nodded, the
twitch of her brow showed she was still a little stressed, still a
little anxious, a lot on her mind. “It’s so quiet here.”
The older woman
turned, popping open the cold cube of insulated foam, ice raspy at
the bottom. She fished out a can of low cal soft drink. Motioning
it to the blonde.
A shake of her
head and a smile. Feeling slightly more adventurous. “Got any beer
in there?”
Jean’s hand
swished around in the cooler, pulling out a slender glass neck. She
handed it to her friend across the campfire. An indulgent smirk as
the item was received.
“Been a while,
I don’t usually drink.” A twist and a hiss as the beer
uncapped.
“Worried
someone will jump you?”
“Occupational
hazard.” Said with a frown of the cupid’s bow.
A dark raised
brow and a cheeky grin. “Don’t worry, no one out here but me, and
‘Kensey isn’t the brawling type.”
A soft whicker
from somewhere in the strand of trees nearby almost seemed like an
indignant rebuttal.
Her friend only
smiled, studying her hands.
“Jean?”
Hazelnut eyes
met hers. “Yeah?”
Her friend
seemed hesitant. “You mentioned you were married once..what
happened?” Thinking of her own difficult times with Owen. Sometimes
it dominated her thoughts.
A soft breath
petered out over her lips. “Widowed, would be more accurate.”
She regretted
it as soon as she’d asked. “Oh. Forgive me I’m sorry.”
Her knees
shifted on the crunchy leaf litter and sleeping bag. “Long time ago
Jo, it’s OK.”
The blonde
looked at her again, curious but worried about overstepping her
bounds. They’d only known each other a month or
“Very patient. Wish some of my instructors were the same.”
A shrug of the
older woman’s shoulders. “Maybe you’re just a good student?” A
lizard skittered over warm boulder as they passed.
The trees
thinned out in density as they rode through the afternoon. More
clearings, rolling tree lined plains. Jean pointed to rare
instances of scorched earth. Lightning strikes had burnt dry grass,
luckily she’d been prepared.
“You worried
about fire?” A concerned look behind Jo’s sunglasses.
“Yes and no,
dug out the firebreaks earlier, they do controlled burns out here
when the grass gets too high.”
A nod of
agreement, Jo didn’t know much about the countryside. She’d grown
up in the suburbs.
The sun was
getting lower over the trees, and their horses likely needed a
rest. Jean knew of a nice spot some twenty minutes ahead. Jo was
looking forward to cool water and stretching her legs. Eventually,
a clearing came into view, atop a gradual plateau. Straight ahead
through the trees diverged a valley below, all golden and red in
the setting sun, it looked beautiful. Protected from the wind, leaf
covered ground softened with grass.
“This should
do.”
Jo was still
mesmerised by the scenery, having taken off her shades to look
around. She looked down and Jean was holding her reins, having
already dismounted.
“Just swing
your leg over Jo, like in reverse. It’s OK, I’ve got her.”
The Sergeant
did as she was instructed, one hand rested on the shorter woman’s
shoulder as her feet touched the ground.
***
A crackling of
dead wood, and the smell of crushed bark and sweetness of old
blossoms drying with the beginnings of a warm summer.
Grey eyes
looked honey coloured with the reflection of the flames, a tanned
arm poked the fire across from her with a piece of broken tinder.
Slivers of vivid ash and spark circling up with the thin plume of
smoke. Jo sat on a fallen dried out log, whilst Jean sat on her
sleeping bag. The fire was more for comfort and light, the evening
air was warm enough this time of year.
“Jean, thanks
again for bringing me up here, can’t tell you what a relief it is
to get away.”
An honest
smile. “You’re welcome, been a while for me too. Funny how it all
tends to build up on top of you? Takes coming somewhere like this
to realise.”
Jo nodded, the
twitch of her brow showed she was still a little stressed, still a
little anxious, a lot on her mind. “It’s so quiet here.”
The older woman
turned, popping open the cold cube of insulated foam, ice raspy at
the bottom. She fished out a can of low cal soft drink. Motioning
it to the blonde.
A shake of her
head and a smile. Feeling slightly more adventurous. “Got any beer
in there?”
Jean’s hand
swished around in the cooler, pulling out a slender glass neck. She
handed it to her friend across the campfire. An indulgent smirk as
the item was received.
“Been a while,
I don’t usually drink.” A twist and a hiss as the beer
uncapped.
“Worried
someone will jump you?”
“Occupational
hazard.” Said with a frown of the cupid’s bow.
A dark raised
brow and a cheeky grin. “Don’t worry, no one out here but me, and
‘Kensey isn’t the brawling type.”
A soft whicker
from somewhere in the strand of trees nearby almost seemed like an
indignant rebuttal.
Her friend only
smiled, studying her hands.
“Jean?”
Hazelnut eyes
met hers. “Yeah?”
Her friend
seemed hesitant. “You mentioned you were married once..what
happened?” Thinking of her own difficult times with Owen. Sometimes
it dominated her thoughts.
A soft breath
petered out over her lips. “Widowed, would be more accurate.”
She regretted
it as soon as she’d asked. “Oh. Forgive me I’m sorry.”
Her knees
shifted on the crunchy leaf litter and sleeping bag. “Long time ago
Jo, it’s OK.”
The blonde
looked at her again, curious but worried about overstepping her
bounds. They’d only known each other a month or
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