The Landlord

Chapter 50

Chapter 50

After spending most of the afternoon on the ranch, we headed back to the house to shower and relax for a bit. I cooked us a huge spaghetti dinner and even built a fire on the deck (despite several failed attempts). Then, I suggested going for a night-time walk into the deep woods. Believe it or not, it was a wonderful walk that even I enjoyed.

It was just like last night – bug-less and beautiful. Instead of looking out over the valley of trees, we were walking through them on a trail. Blackness surrounded each side of us, but the flashlight I held guided us deeper into the valley. Sure, I almost tripped a billion times on the protruding roots on the trail. Sure, I now needed another shower (it was hot, sticky, and muddy), but it was worth it. And yes, it was all because of the man next to me.

However, for the past few hours, Blake seemed quite distracted. I kept feeling his eyes on me. The hue of the moonlit sky allowed me glance over and catch his gaze already on me. Whatever was distracting him, it was making him awkward and cute.

"What?" I chuckled. "You keep looking at me."

He looked away. "That's not okay?"

"You just seem distracted is all."

"Well... you... I don't know," he chuckled almost shyly, rubbing the back of his neck.

Our feet sloshing against the muddy trail, I couldn't help but smile to myself. I think he was just stunned by all I did for him today. Hell, he should be stunned. Earlier, I raked out stalls of horse shit. Real, disgusting, clumpy horse shit. Yes, I gagged the whole time and quit about five minutes in, but I still did it!

"You know, you can just admit that you are beyond impressed," I teased.

"Oh, believe me, I am."

"What, are you still suspicious about my intentions?"

"I honestly don't know. You, uh, you surprised me today, that's for sure."

Ahead of us on the trail, moonlight seeped in from a gap in the trees to our left. It flooded the trail, allowing me to turn off the flashlight. I didn't expect much, but when we reached the break in the trees and paused, the opening revealed a wide and grassy field. God, it was gorgeous too – which says a lot coming from me.

The field was illuminated by the clear sky and full moon. It was reflected in the little lake that sat a couple hundred feet away. There was even an outline of a rundown-looking gazebo near the water. The flat field was surrounded by tree-covered hills looming up towards the sky in the distance. It created the impression that we were blocked out and protected from the rest of the world.

Glancing up to him, his eyes were warm in mine. "Pretty, isn't it? A lot of these trails stop off at these different lakes that sit between the valleys."

"Have you been to this one before?"

"No actually."

"It feels so secluded." No longer needing the flashlight, I set it aside at the opening and wandered into the calf-high grass.

Blake followed next to me. While we took in the beautiful landscape around us, I couldn't help but feel his eyes flick to me every few seconds. It made me more aware of my cotton shorts, my camisole, and the few locks of my long hair I pinned back with a clip. Why did he keep looking at me? From not paying attention, the man failed to dodge a patch of mud in the grass, causing his legs to slide out from under him.

"Blake," I gasped in surprise, watching him land directly on his ass against the damp and muddy ground. I couldn't help but laugh. "Dude, that's twice you ended up in mud today!"