The Life of Viscount Downton [Book 1]

XLV

As they arrived at the stables, Mr. Lynch; Downton's stable hand, has already prepared the horses that they will be using for their ride. They all thanked him, as they all boarded their chosen rides

"Are you sure you can ride a horse, Miss Josephine?" Alex asks, a bit concerned for her

"Why? Do you doubt my horse riding skills?" Jo mocks him playfully, and raises an eyebrow

"N-No, I was just–"

"See you out there, milord"

Jo then playfully winks at him before she kicked the horse with her heels. Her horse then quickly speeds out of the stable, and ahead to the snowy path

Alex, on the other hand, didn't notice himself blushing furiously as he processed what had just happened

"Alex...?" Alfie then inquired cautiously "Are you al–"

"Hi-yah!" he then suddenly said, startling both his friends and this horse. His horse then sprints out of the stable as well, leaving the three young men all alone

"Should we...?" Vince slowly asks

Alfie nodded "Yes, I suppose we should"

"Lovers these days..." Richie muttered under his breath, shaking his head

The three of them then kicked their horses with their heels, making them gallop out to the snowy terrain to catch up with the couple

***

As soon as Alex finally sees Jo from a distance, he saw that she was already slowly galloping and not on the run anymore. He grins to himself, and slowed his horse down as well as he finally got to be beside her

"Finally," Jo said, and looks at him "Took you quite a while, Lord Downton"

"Remind me to never underestimate you, Miss Josephine" Alex grins playfully as he looks back at her. She laughs softly, and looks at the direction of the path once again

"We should do this more often," she then speaks after a short moment of silence "Horse-riding on the grounds"

"You prefer it than riding bikes and cars?" he inquired

"I do, actually" she smiles "Reminds me of when we use to go to Scotland during summer to my mother's side of the family"

"And they taught you how to ride a horse there?"

"Yes. It was lovely going there, that is...until mother died"

Alex then notices her slowly frowning upon mentioning it "I'm...sorry to hear about that" he said

"It's alright" Jo assures him "We may have not been in Scotland for a long while, but whenever I think of it...I always remember her"

"That's nice to hear" he smiles back sweetly at her "But if ever, would you love to visit Scotland again sometime soon?"

"I would, yes" she smiles again "I would love to visit them after a long while. And perhaps I could visit it with the entire Fellowship one day"

Alex smiles as he looks at the road's direction "We are already looking forward that day"

They then both heard the boys finally catching up behind them, making both of them laugh softly

"Took you three long enough" Jo teased

"We were already getting bored in waiting for all of you" Alex added, grinning playfully

"For the record, you two left us all alone!" Alfie looks at them, a little annoyed at their teasing