CHAPTER 14: RIDING INTO THE SUNSET

OLIVIA’S P.O.V

Yesterday was nice, last night was eventful. I laid in bed this Sunday morning, I didn’t care if I missed breakfast, it was already 10 am and it was only 3 more hours till lunch. I didn’t plan to wake up this late, but since I haven’t got any peaceful sleep since the night that I went to explore the North wing, I didn’t blame myself for sleeping in. It was the same reoccurring nightmare everything…the symbol, the song, Austin and my mother! It was weird yet I had no explanation for it.

But if Austin, Keith and Jake forbid me from going to the North Wing, then there is oblivious something there which they are hiding. This might also mean that the rumors are true or at least, partially true. Hold on, I don’t think so, Austin is kind of mean at times but I really can’t picture any of them murdering a person. They don’t look like killers at all…unless…what if I really did see a ghost the other night when I was by exploring the North Wing and what if that ghost/creature thing is what is killing but these three innocent brothers are getting blamed for it? I know that I am probably overthinking, but what if I am actually right about this?

A knock on the door made me get out of bed. “Keith?” I said pleasantly in surprise. “Good morning Liv, I hope that you don’t mind, I was worried about you so I came to check if you are alive,” he said. “Why wouldn’t I be?” I asked in suspicion. “Would you loosen up?” he laughed at me. “I’m sorry” I apologized, giving him a sad look. “It’s okay, anyway why didn’t you come down for breakfast this morning, I hope that you aren’t feeling unwell or anything?” he asked out of concern. “I’m feeling fine, was just exhausted so I overslept” I explained. “Oh, please accept my apologies if I disturbed you” his facial expression made me think that I made him feel bad and because of that I felt bad. “No, no, I was just getting out of bed anyway” I lied, trying to be convincing…honestly I would have spent another hour or so in bed, lost in my own thoughts. “Okay god, so what’s your plans for today?” Keith asked. “I actually haven’t thought about it as yet,” I said. “Riding” I finally heard Austin’s voice and it felt as if the sun just rose, it sent shivers down my spine and excited me at the same time. “Riding?” both Keith and I repeated. “Yes, it’s a nice sunny day. I decided that we should take the horses out for a ride” Austin explained, looking charming in his riding gear. “Oh, count me in!!!” Keith said with excitement. “I think that I would pass, I would rather stay indoors and read a book or something,” I said. “Oh no, you don’t have a choice! I’ll send one of the housekeepers up with your riding gear shortly” Austin said, before turning and walking away. “Why are you bossing me around?” I shouted at his back and instantly regretted it when he stopped in his tracks and slowly turned around. Keith blocked his eyes, too afraid to watch the scene that is about to take place. “Because I am the boss,” he said simply, before turning his back towards me again. “In the office, Yes. At home, No!!! Look here Mr. Hunter, let’s just get one thing straight, I am your secretary and will follow any order that you give me in the office, I won’t even question it. However, what I think you fail to understand is that I am a guest in your house at Stermyertina and you should not be ordering your guest around” I said, I was scared and brave at the same time. I was proud for standing up for myself yet I was also disappointed that I put myself in this situation, unaware of the consequence but knowing that they will definitely be consequences. He had a serious look on his face and I tried hard to hide the fear…I waited for him to react, but after a few seconds have passed I was horrified to see him burst out in laughter. “Oh aren’t you a cute little kitten? See you down at the stables straight after lunch! Your riding gear better be on and you better not be a minute late!” he said, turning around once again and walking away, leaving me with my jaw hanging.

“He just wants to spend time with you,” Keith said when I looked at him. “But why?” I asked. “Because he likes you,” Keith told me the answer that I wanted to hear. “Well, he has a very weird way of showing it” I shrugged. “Forgive him and give him some time. It isn’t easy for someone with a reputation like his to show love and do all those mushy things” Keith explained. “What reputation?” I was curious. “I need to go and get ready,” Keith said, ignoring my question.

………

“Fits you well,” Austin said when I met him at the stables. “I think that you mean, I look good” I smirked at him. “Ew,” he said, making me roll my eyes.

“Okay let’s go” Keith jumped on a white horse, while Austin jumped on a black one. There was another white one and a brown one, I thought that I had a choice between those two and started going towards the brown one. “Where do you think that you are going?” Austin asked. “I think I would like to ride the brown horse” I answered. “Did you ride before?” Austin asked. “As a child, yes” I answered. “Have you rode without any guidance and supervision?” he sounded concerned. “No, but you forced me to come here” I didn’t mean to show so much of attitude but I didn’t know how else to say it, to my surprise he just laughed. “Come here!” he ordered. “On your horse?” I asked. “Yes, we can ride together” he answered. Not wishing to defy him again and grabbing the opportunity to be close to him, I did as he said.

I felt his warm body against mine, his strong hands guiding my small ones and his breath on the back of my neck…we rode right until the sunset, I savored every moment knowing that this is the closest that I would get to heaven on Earth…