Ian
shoved three beers in each saddle bag as his
contribution, and they were about ready to go.
While Bily secured his truck and horse trailer, Ian
mounted Firefly. When Bily turned and headed toward
Duke, he had to stop a second to admire the beautiful
man on horseback. With the last of the morning sun on
Ian’s back and the fal colors al around him, Bily
thought this was a picture he would remember for many
years to come. He sensed the strength and ease with
which Ian mounted Firefly and realized that his earlier
admission of “I do okay in a saddle” was a major
understatement. Could this man be real?
Ian and Bily rode side by side, talking about the
scenery, Nashvile, the horses. As the morning passed,
they became more comfortable, and the topics
transitioned effortlessly from one to another, but it
seemed that they both felt too vulnerable to get any
more personal.
The trail narrowed as it approached the first
crossing of the Cumberland River. At the crossing
point, the river was only about two feet deep, and both
horses seemed adjusted to the terrain, so Bily took the
lead and they crossed without incident. Once over the
river, they folowed the narrow trail as it climbed to the
ridge and widened again as they looked out over the
hils of Davidson County. They rode a bit further,
admiring the vistas, and came across an overlook with a
pavilion surrounded by a split-rail fence. Attached to
the roofline of the pavilion was a gutter system that
spiled into a half-barrel, supplying ample water for the
many horses using the trail.
“Looks like a great place to stop for lunch,” Bily
said. “What do you think?”
“Sure, I could use a bite,” Ian replied, and they
both dismounted.
Bily and Ian walked over to the split-rail fence
and tied up the horses so they could drink and cool
down after the uphil climb. After they’d had their fil of
water and looked pretty content, Bily removed his
saddle bag and puled out the two apples he’d packed
earlier that morning. He dug in his pocket for his pocket
knife and cut one of the apples in half, handing both
halves to Ian. “Firefly’s been waiting for this.”
He did the same with the other apple and fed
each half to Duke, watching as Ian folowed his lead.
With the horses taken care of, it was their turn. Bily
removed a blanket he had roled and tied to the back of
his saddle and turned to Ian. “Folow me.” Saddle bag
in hand, instead of heading for the pavilion, Bily led Ian
to a smal clearing slightly off the path that he had
spotted when they’d ridden up.
Ian noticed that the cozy clearing Bily had chosen
had a slightly different view that overlooked the majesty
of the Great Smoky Mountains as wel as the foothils to
the east. He studied Bily, amazed at the fluidity with
which he moved as he spread out the blanket and
began to set up a picnic lunch. The man had thought of
everything. Ian could see how hard Bily was working
to make this day a special one, but little did Bily know,
Ian thought, just being here with Bily was special
enough.
Ian watched as Bily moved with a purpose, a
man who seemed to know exactly what he wanted in
life and was very confident that he was going to get it.
“Hey, stud,” Ian said with a smile.
Bily didn’t turn this time, thinking he wouldn’t be
caught again. When Ian repeated, “Hey, stud,” Bily
turned slowly and saw Ian smiling at him.
“I thought you were talking to Duke,” he said.
“Yeah, wel, I was talking to Duke this morning
when you turned around, but this time I was realy
talking to you.”
Bily felt his face turning blood-red. He smiled,
swalowed hard, and said, “I don’t know what you’re
talking about.”
“Oh, yes you do,” Ian said.
“Okay, so you saw me. I realy hoped that you
hadn’t.”
“Oh yeah, I saw you, and it took everything I had
not to laugh out loud. But I thought it would probably
come in handy later in the day, so
shoved three beers in each saddle bag as his
contribution, and they were about ready to go.
While Bily secured his truck and horse trailer, Ian
mounted Firefly. When Bily turned and headed toward
Duke, he had to stop a second to admire the beautiful
man on horseback. With the last of the morning sun on
Ian’s back and the fal colors al around him, Bily
thought this was a picture he would remember for many
years to come. He sensed the strength and ease with
which Ian mounted Firefly and realized that his earlier
admission of “I do okay in a saddle” was a major
understatement. Could this man be real?
Ian and Bily rode side by side, talking about the
scenery, Nashvile, the horses. As the morning passed,
they became more comfortable, and the topics
transitioned effortlessly from one to another, but it
seemed that they both felt too vulnerable to get any
more personal.
The trail narrowed as it approached the first
crossing of the Cumberland River. At the crossing
point, the river was only about two feet deep, and both
horses seemed adjusted to the terrain, so Bily took the
lead and they crossed without incident. Once over the
river, they folowed the narrow trail as it climbed to the
ridge and widened again as they looked out over the
hils of Davidson County. They rode a bit further,
admiring the vistas, and came across an overlook with a
pavilion surrounded by a split-rail fence. Attached to
the roofline of the pavilion was a gutter system that
spiled into a half-barrel, supplying ample water for the
many horses using the trail.
“Looks like a great place to stop for lunch,” Bily
said. “What do you think?”
“Sure, I could use a bite,” Ian replied, and they
both dismounted.
Bily and Ian walked over to the split-rail fence
and tied up the horses so they could drink and cool
down after the uphil climb. After they’d had their fil of
water and looked pretty content, Bily removed his
saddle bag and puled out the two apples he’d packed
earlier that morning. He dug in his pocket for his pocket
knife and cut one of the apples in half, handing both
halves to Ian. “Firefly’s been waiting for this.”
He did the same with the other apple and fed
each half to Duke, watching as Ian folowed his lead.
With the horses taken care of, it was their turn. Bily
removed a blanket he had roled and tied to the back of
his saddle and turned to Ian. “Folow me.” Saddle bag
in hand, instead of heading for the pavilion, Bily led Ian
to a smal clearing slightly off the path that he had
spotted when they’d ridden up.
Ian noticed that the cozy clearing Bily had chosen
had a slightly different view that overlooked the majesty
of the Great Smoky Mountains as wel as the foothils to
the east. He studied Bily, amazed at the fluidity with
which he moved as he spread out the blanket and
began to set up a picnic lunch. The man had thought of
everything. Ian could see how hard Bily was working
to make this day a special one, but little did Bily know,
Ian thought, just being here with Bily was special
enough.
Ian watched as Bily moved with a purpose, a
man who seemed to know exactly what he wanted in
life and was very confident that he was going to get it.
“Hey, stud,” Ian said with a smile.
Bily didn’t turn this time, thinking he wouldn’t be
caught again. When Ian repeated, “Hey, stud,” Bily
turned slowly and saw Ian smiling at him.
“I thought you were talking to Duke,” he said.
“Yeah, wel, I was talking to Duke this morning
when you turned around, but this time I was realy
talking to you.”
Bily felt his face turning blood-red. He smiled,
swalowed hard, and said, “I don’t know what you’re
talking about.”
“Oh, yes you do,” Ian said.
“Okay, so you saw me. I realy hoped that you
hadn’t.”
“Oh yeah, I saw you, and it took everything I had
not to laugh out loud. But I thought it would probably
come in handy later in the day, so
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