Authors: J. P. Kennedy
Cassie knew when she was beaten and gave in grudgingly adding, ‘Ok Marco you win, but no galloping I mean it.’
‘Vai, Diavolo, vai’ shouted Marco in response and slapping his horses neck they took off kicking up clouds of dust. Bastard, thought Cassie before she screamed as Stella took off after Diavolo, determined to race him to the finish. Cassie’s heart beat sky rocketed and she held on to the reins and the pommel in a death grip as Stella flew into a gallop, her neat hooves eating the ground up as she sort to gain a lead on Diavolo. Cassie wasn’t aware of much apart from her fright but in some part of her terrified brain she realized that galloping on a horses back was easier than it looked. But just as quickly she realized that stopping might be harder than it looked as well. She clung on as Stella came close to Diavolo, but sensing this, the big horse simply turned on the turbo jets and took off, thundering away ahead of them until he came to a screeching halt with a whooping Marco, both of them lathered up and way out of control. Cassie pulled on Stella’s reins but she really didn’t have to as the well schooled horse simply slowed before the stable entrance, making a neat half turn and coming to a complete stop next to Diavolo, as if to say, this is the ladylike way to do things you silly great beast. Which is exactly how Cassie felt although she now started to verbalize her feelings and was rewarded with Marco rolling around on his saddle laughing like a drain. Clearly he has lost his mind thought a maddened Cassie. I wish I had a whip, because I would give him a good lashing right now. She was still glaring at him with eyes like daggers when Guido walked out into the yard and greeted them, taking her reins and helping her to dismount. Once again, on terra firma, her legs felt like jelly and she had to stand still for a few seconds until they began to feel like normal legs again. No so Marco. Still laughing at her, he swung his leg over Diavolo and dismounted like a jockey. Smart-ass fumed Cassie as he casually took Diavolo’s rein and led him towards the giant water trough in the corner. The next minute, to Cassie’s utter amazement and complete joy, Diavolo’s head dropped down and his big nose swung up bunting Marco in the backside and sending him flying through the air head first into the trough. The big horse snorted and Cassie could swear he was laughing at Marco as he emerged, spluttering and coughing from the depths of the trough. Cassie was hooting with laughter, jumping up and down like an idiot, pointing at Marco as tears ran down her cheeks, delighted that he had been given his just desserts by his own horse. It was a beautiful moment and Cassie wished that she had a camera on her. What a keepsake that would make she thought as Marco slowly climbed out of the trough shaking his head like a dog to get the water out of his eyes. Guido raced over with an old towel, trying not to laugh as Marco stepped out of the high trough one sodden boot at a time. He took the towel and wiped his face slowly, never taking his gaze off Cassie, who suddenly realized she was the only one still laughing. She stopped and coughed slightly.
‘Oh c’mon Marco, you’ve got to admit that was hilarious. ‘Diavolo’s my man,’ she said slapping the horse’s big strong neck in a parody high five. He did seem very pleased with himself she thought. I didn’t know horses had a sense of humor.
‘Very funny Cassandra, Diavolo will take advantage of me when he gets the chance which is not very often. But what is not amusing is your hilarity at my situation. I could have been injured,’ he said and Cassie recognized the voice of wounded male pride. Oops she thought, Mr Cool has been made to look the fool and he doesn’t like it one bit. She tried to stifle another giggle as Marco pulled off his boots and more water flooded out of them. Guido took the boots and went back inside the tack room muttering something in Italian, probably about trying to dry them thought Cassie. Good luck, they looked ruined to me. Meanwhile Marco had stripped off his shirt and was trying to wring the excess water out of it without much success and he finally threw it over the hitching post in disgust and strode over to her. Cassie could see the look in his eyes and she backed away slowly, not at all sure how to take this.
‘Cassandra, you may have had the last laugh today’ he said softly, with a steely undertone, ‘but remember, paybacks are hell.’ He smiled wickedly and Cassie felt herself growing very annoyed all over again.
‘Hello, earth to Marco, have you had a humor bypass this morning, or are you really as up yourself as you sound?’ She added. Marco looked momentarily confused. Maybe he doesn’t have access to an urban dictionary she thought. Good. She had to have some advantages over him.
‘You think I am filled with my own importance? That I am a pompous ass?’ he said evenly, his green eyes blazing. No translation needed I guess thought Cassie.
‘Hm’ she said, her lips pursing thoughtfully, ‘well not really the last part but certainly the first part, although ‘pompous ass’ is really good’ she said, grinning at him. Suddenly his arms were around her waist and he pulled her close, her face looking down into hers.
‘Ah, Cassandra, you feel so good’ he said soaking her front with his dripping torso.
‘Let me go Marco, you’re making me all wet’ yelled Cassie, but he hugged her tighter.
‘Oh look, your tee shirt is all wet and what do we have here?’ he said peering down at her nipples, which were stiff with attention and straining through the damp cloth. ‘Pompous ass or not you certainly seem to like me’ he added softly, his lips closing over hers sensuously. Cassie’s closed her eyes and seemed to relax into his embrace but then she put her hands on his shoulders and shoved him away, delighted to see the surprise on his face.
‘Tit for tat, excuse the pun’ she said, ‘I have had quite enough of your shenanigans this morning.’ Guido came back out into the yard, his car keys in hand. He said something rapidly in Italian to Marco, and then, pausing, said to Cassie ‘Signorina, would you like to me to drive you to your villa on my way? Marco needs to hose down the horses and will be some time.’ He smiled and winked at her.
‘Who is the boss around here,’ said Marco, with mock severity, his arms raised out wide.
‘Thank you Guido, that’s very kind, I wouldn’t like to keep Marco from his chores.’ said Cassie, laughing and walking with Guido to his truck.
Round two to me she thought as they rumbled off down the road, Cassie turning to wave to Marco, who looked a more than a little peeved standing barefoot in his sodden jodhpurs in the stable yard, two hungry and thirsty horses by his side.
Guido dropped Cassie off at the villa and drove away with a toot and a wave. It had been hard to hear anything over the trucks noisy engine so they had driven the short distance in companionable silence and Cassie was glad of this. She didn’t know how much Guido had seen of she and Marco together at the stable and she really didn’t want to know either.
Walking through the open French doors into the villa she heard laughter and followed the noise out to the pool. Liz and Kat had lined up three of the loungers side by side and were sunbathing, books and fizzy water bottles by their sides.
‘Morning gorgeous, how did it go?’ said Liz, taking off her huge sunhat and squinting at Cassie.
‘Hi Cass, how’s the head?’ said Kat. She had her hair wrapped up in a pink flowery turban, which seemed to match her bikini. Bright pink lipstick and huge sunglasses completed the look.
‘Buon giorno ladies’ said Cassie trying to imitate Marco’s voice and failing badly. ‘Feeling a lot better now thanks’ she added, ‘although I thought my head was going to fall off when I woke up this morning.’
‘Ditto’ said Kat, ‘it’s your fault for bringing out the limoncello Cassie. That stuff is poison.’
‘As I recall Kat’ said Cassie laughing, ‘it was when you started dancing to Abba and yelled ‘keep it coming’ that I brought out the damned limoncello. We had finished the wine remember?’
‘I only ever dance to Abba when I am tipsy’ qualified Kat.
‘So, give us all the gory details,’ said Liz, returning to her prone position. She was wearing a strapless black one piece that hugged her curves.
‘Well’ said Cassie, drawing out the word slowly, ‘my horses name was Stella and she was lovely and gentle and the countryside is gorgeous. I also learnt that the olive oil produced here on the estate is certified organic and the grapes are the Nero D’avola variety and produce a very drinkable vino.’
‘Fascinating’ said Liz, ‘but we are completely uninterested in the scenic details, or the name of your ride, unless his name is Marco that is.’ Kat squealed with laughter.
‘Remind me about the provenance of the vino this evening will you’ added Liz ‘it’s too early to be talking about wine.’
‘Get on with it Cassie, give us the dirt’ encouraged Kat.
‘Get your minds out of the gutter girls, I hardly know the guy’ said Cassie realizing as she said it that this was completely true. Oh dear, she thought, what on earth was I thinking? I just can’t tell Liz and Kat yet.
‘Well, he sure seems interested in you,’ said Liz, ‘Kat and I have not received an invitation to go on a personal guided tour of the estate with the gorgeous Marco.’
‘Yes, well I would be happy for you to take my place next time,’ said Cassie.
‘Thanks but no thanks’ said Kat ‘horse riding is just not my thing but I do enjoy going to the races for spring carnival every year.’
‘That’s called gambling Kat’ said Liz
‘Well, whatever, it’s a great excuse to get dressed up, drink champers and wear a hat’ Kat replied.
‘Actually, what are you wearing Cassie? Are those jodhpurs, said Liz lifting her hat once more and peering over at Cassie, who was now stretched out fully on the lounger, her eyes closing.
‘They’ve got all the kit at the stables,’ said Cassie quickly, ‘boots as well. I really looked the part, shame about the riding.’ Her tee shirt had dried quickly in the sun and she hoped she had deflected their attention enough that they could now leave the subject of Marco alone. It was not to be.
‘How does he sit in a saddle Cass? I bet he looks hot,’ said Kat.
‘He’s a very experienced rider and Diavolo, his horse is gorgeous’ said Cassie ‘I don’t know about looking hot thought’ she lied.
‘Hey girl, who do you think you are trying to fool here?’ said Liz ‘I know that tone of voice and I think you might be just the tiny bit interested in the Sicilian Stallion. Am I right?’ Damn, thought Cassie, Liz could always see through her.
‘Okay, yes, he is hot, does that satisfy you?’ said Cassie a little exasperated. She was feeling drowsy now from everything she done since her early start this morning. The jet lag and the late night, not to mention her time with Marco, had exhausted her and right now she just wanted to doze in the sun for a little while. Must put a bikini on she thought, dragging herself off the lounger.
‘Good, we’ve cleared that up’ laughed Liz. ‘It’s about time you had a little fun Cassie, you have been brooding about Rick for nearly a year and it’s time to get over the creep. Onwards and upwards as they say.’
‘A holiday romance will do you good’ agreed Kat. ‘If I wasn’t so enthralled Mr Berkley, I must just be encouraged to check out the local scene myself’ she added.
‘Ah yes, the mysterious Mr Berkley, you must tell me more Kat’ Cassie heard Liz say as she left them to it and walked back inside to her bedroom to change.
She rummaged through her case until she found the new bikini she had bought especially for this trip. It was black with tiny gold sequins sewn around the edge of the bra cups and with the same trim around the top part of the tiny bottoms. Turning around she inspected her rear in the full-length mirror. Not bad, she thought. Lunges and squats were her least favorite exercise, but she had to admit, they worked. Now I just need a tan to get rid of the winter white skin she thought, grabbing a large towel and her sunblock from the bathroom.
Wandering back out onto the terrace she heard Kat and Liz still discussing Kat’s new love interest.
‘What is his first name, or is he just simply Mr Berkley to one and all?’ asked Liz impatiently.
‘His first name is Peter, but he prefers me to call him Mr Berkley in the bedroom’ admitted Kat with a giggle.
‘Oh kinky’ responded Liz ‘and what else turns Mr Berkley on in the sack pray tell?’ she added.
‘Well’ said Kat slowly ‘he likes me to wear stilettos, black patent, with red soles and a top hat.’
‘Nothing else?’ said Liz quizzically
‘No, that’s it. He just really likes top hats and sexy heels,’ she laughed, ‘which is great because you know how I love to wear hats.’
‘A match made in heaven then,’ said Liz, turning to Cassie as she arranged herself on the lounger.
‘Indeed,’ said Cassie ‘where did you meet him?’
‘At the opera a few months ago. I literally bumped into him in the foyer in the interval because I wasn’t wearing my contacts,’ said Kat ‘we got talking after that and he bought me a glass of champagne and then we agreed to meet again at the end of the performance in the foyer and then he asked if he could have my number. He’s wonderful,’ added Kat in a gooey kind of voice.
‘Oh, someone has got it bad,’ said Liz. ‘Tell me, what does the adorable Mr Berkley do for a crust when he is not attending operas?’
‘He’s a dentist,’ said Kat ‘but he specializes in cosmetic dental work, you know, veneers and things.’
‘Handy then,’ said Cassie ‘if you ever knock your teeth out.’