[Past] Salt Water and Sandwiches

Colt grinned to himself at hearing her laugh. Not a fake one either. Not one she’d feign in the company of others. Ruth had always rubbed it in his face, he deserved a little shit now and again. Now as they made their way through the tree’s and she relaxed into him, Colt let his chin rest against her shoulder, giving her an extra squeeze as she spoke. Good. Warm and safe is how you should feel all the time.

He’d straighten up once the path levelled out onto the established road of the Imperial Highway, not one of the stone or cobbled parts though patches remained in places, unclaimed by local residents repurposing the stone for crafting their homes or barns. His grip over her remained firm, tightening for the first few strides of Bessie’s trot to full speed, loosening enough to let her enjoy the change in speed. Even as her arms raised out, Colt merely adjusted, half-eyeing her with a grin while keeping watch on the path ahead. He trusted his mount, but it only took a rogue bird or fallen wall to leap out at the last minute.

Colt laughed, his head tossing back a second as she whooped, her arms spreading, fingertips feeling the air rush past, through her hair, and catching the tails of her dress to whip around. He laughed most of the way, joining in on crying out with excitement and encouraging Bessie until he felt the mare had shrunk enough distance for the trio. His legs pressed against the horse, ass planting itself firmly in the saddle to slow her down before drawing back gently on the reins.

Wooo, there Bess. That’s a girl, a hand shifting to pat the mare just as Mina sank back into him, pressing her lips to his neck. Colt shuddered, his arm acting instinctively to squeeze her with a snicker. God she made him giddy. Limbs jerked with an awkward, shy twitch, but he’d nuzzle the crook of her neck with his nose. Ach, not even the best bit yet, Mina. You wanna close your eyes, or you wanna see it as it comes? Their pace back down to a gentle walk and they’d be reaching a point where the sea would come into view, the rocky cliffs and the secret coves of beaches where they’d explore soon enough.

You pick us a spot, yeah? Which road you want us to take? He’d point to a few branching off, naming each destination as he went. Cullen, wee fishing village, got a beach too. Spey Bay, sandy beach and nothin’ but gulls, or… Rose-isle, bigger one, but she got dunes and shit. Shit, did she know what they were? Eh, dunes just these big… um… hills of sand. You can hide in ‘em.