Between Two Trees (Mush Meyers x Reader)

VI

A few minutes later, you were seated at the table inside on the long, low bench, Peggy on your left and Mush on your right. In the back of your mind you thought that Mush may have been sitting a little closer than perhaps necessary, but it was a small bench, right?

Such thoughts were forgotten a few seconds later, when Martha set three plates in front of the three of you, with varying portion sizes. 

 It seemed to be bread combined with a fried egg, and you looked slightly dubiously at it as both the other two dug in quickly. 

"Try it, it's good." Peggy told you. You shrugged fatalistically and took a bite. It was good. Better, in fact, than the eggs you'd had in the city. 

"Farm-fresh." The girl said happily, polishing off her plate with ease. "Everything tastes better out here, you know." She said, jumping up and stacking her plate into the sink, beginning to wash the dishes.

"The rest are already over at your place." Martha informed you, sweeping your and Mush's plates away when empty, setting a glass of water in front of you with no pause at all. "I figured we'd bring everyone over, make the day out of it, see how much we could get done." 

You nodded, realizing it might be best to sit back and observe for a little, at least until you knew what you were doing. 

Martha continued; "If you three'd like to take the wagon and Bess you can get started, I'll be along in a minute." 

"Can't we take Jupiter and Artemis, Ma?" Peggy asked with a slightly pleading tone in her voice. 

"Can Y/N ride?" Martha asked with a raised eyebrow. 

Peggy looked at you hopefully. 

"Um, yes." You said. It came out more of a question than you had hoped, although you weren't sure why. 

Peggy clasped her hands together, grinning at her mother. "So?" 

Martha shook her head, but abated. 

Peggy grinned wider. "Go put those overalls back on, meet us by the barn." She said, pushing you lightly in the direction of the room. You did so, shaking your head slightly as you picked your way out to the barn. 

By the time you had gotten there, Peggy and Mush had already bridled two horses, and Peggy was leading out a third. 

"Where are the saddles?" You asked after a second of appraising the two horses before you. 

"Don't need 'em." Peggy said carelessly. "Don't really need reins either, with Artemis at least, but Jupe's a little harder to handle, so the bit's usually necessary with him. Unless Mush's drivin' him at least." 

You blinked a little, nodding slowly. "Okay." 

Peggy nodded, smiling. Saying something about how Artemis was pretty much hers, since she'd raised her and broke her and whatnot from a filly, and how Jupiter was Mush's the same way. All you could think of was how you had over estimated your riding ability. 

"So how much experience with horses've you had, Y/N?" Mush broke in while Peggy was taking a breath. 

"Not much." You admitted with a blush. "I rode once, at my friend's, but sidesaddle and whatnot." 

"That's... interesting." Peggy said politely, starting to unbridle the horse she was currently working on and leading it back to the stall. "You'll want to ride double with one of us then. Considerin' speed and whatnot, the only one beginner horse we've got is Bess, she is more of a carthorse though, but she definitely is not speedy, and we may as well walk if we're taking her." 

The only thing you managed to glean from that was the 'riding double' bit. "So, uh, who will I be riding with?" You asked quietly. A little unsure which horse (and rider) you'd rather be with. 

"Prob'ly Mush." Peggy said offhandedly, just as Mush said, "Me, I suppose." 

"See? Settled." Peggy beamed, effortlessly vaulting herself onto the palomino's back. 

Mush looked at you, the faintest hint of pink on his cheeks. "Do you want a boost?" He asked, resting a steadying hand on Jupiter's back. 

You nodded a little, since the horse's tan back came up nearly to your head height. "Yes please." 

Mush laced his hands together, providing a step for you, and easily lifted up so that you could swing onto the horse. 

You sat slightly nervously on the horse, nearly right up on the mane. 

"Do you mind moving back a bit?" Mush asked, cheeks still a little pink. "I should go in front, so I can reach the reins." 

"Of course." You mumbled, scooting back as much as you dared. Mush mounted in front of you, shooting you a reassuring glance. 

"On your marks, get set," Peggy began, wheeling Artemis around to face the door. 

"Oh no." Mush mumbled under his breath. "Hold on-" 

"Where?" You began, blushing heavily.

"GO!" Peggy yelled, spurring Artemis into action. The horse cantered quickly out of the barn, and the one underneath you followed, quickening it's pace until it caught Peggy's horse, surging neck and neck down the dusty road towards your farm. 

Your arms were wrapped tightly around Mush as the easy gait of the horse sped more into a gallop. 

"We shouldn't run them too long." Mush called over to Peggy, who probably nodded. You couldn't tell, since your eyes were screwed shut. 

It seemed like not a moment too soon when the horse beneath you slowed to a trot and you peeled your eyes slowly open, suddenly aware of the fact that you were squeezing the boy in front of you very hard. And those muscles you had accidentally (but not regretfully) seen were definitely not just for show. Your cheeks were red hot as you loosened your grip slightly, before the horse stepped on a rock and you tightened it again. 

Mush chuckled a little bit in front of you, and your blush only darkened. "Don't worry, you ain't gonna fall off." He said quietly. 

Honestly it was a miracle you hadn't already. 

"Promise?" Your voice was something resembling a squeak, and you mentally cursed it. 

"Promise." Mush said easily, which set butterflies in your stomach off again. 

You slowly loosened your arms again, lifting your head to look around. The surrounding area was pretty, the sight only ruined somewhat by Peggy's wide-as-the-Mississippi-River grin across from you. 

Luckily, she didn't say anything, except, "Can we run them again? Please?" 

Mush thinks for a second. Then two. 

"Artie's ready." Peggy said, patting her horse's neck. 

"Jupe's carryin' two." Mush pointed out. "And I don't know if it's fine with Y/N or not." 

"It's fine with me." You mumbled softly, blushing still. Not wanting to ruin the fun.  

"We're almost there, so if you're sure..." Mush drew out the last word. You nodded softly. 

"Hold on." He whispered to you, turning back and shooting you a slight grin, before urging Jupiter into a gallop again. 

And as you shut your eyes, you felt a small smile come over your face despite your tightening arms. You would definitely have to get used to this. 

But you were pretty sure it wouldn't be too hard.