“Reese..." Rachel tapped his arm. "Wake up Reese.” She had been awakened by his jerking body and mumbling noises that she couldn’t understand. He must be dreaming she thought as his eyes fluttered but didn’t quite open.
He could hear his name being called in the distance. He felt the cold wind blowing on his face and hands. Why must he chase her? Why did she run off like that? He had to know why Katherine was here and still calling his name. He shivered from the wind whipping through his clothes. He wanted to go back into the house but he couldn't, not until she came back to tell him why. He could still hear the horse’s hooves pounding the ground; even though they both were out of sight, he could feel the vibrations under his boots from her furiously strong horse. One last time he turned in the direction she had ridden and shouted her name.
“Katherine!”
The voice sounded distraught. Rachel didn't know what to make of it. Reese stopped moving and rolled over. She wasn’t able to wake him but now he seemed to be settled. Rachel looked at the clock. The red numbers told her it was 2:00. She shrugged her shoulders then turned on her side and fell back asleep.
“Good morning sunshine.” Reese said kissing Rachel on the nose. She stretched her arms above her head, opened her eyes and smiled.
“Good morning to you too; what time is it?”
“Early. I just can’t sleep anymore, so I fed the horses and made some coffee.” He looked at her with satisfied eyes, unbuttoned his shirt, removed it and crawled back into bed. “I can’t believe you're here in my bed.”
Rachel blushed. He put his arm under her head and pulled her close to his bare chest. She snuggled in placing her head on his chest. They were quiet for a few minutes.
Rachel started thinking. “But you’re okay with me being here, in your bed, right?”
He stroked her silky hair. “Oh, most definitely...I am having a hard time wrapping it around my mind but I am A-okay with it.”
“What do you mean...wrapping your mind around it?” she asked innocently.
“I was looking at you while you were sleeping and thinking about last night. It’s unbelievable that we've known each other our whole lives. We were best friends in high school, college and yet, here you are in my bed. And now we're lovers.” He kissed the top of her head.
“But we are still best friends, aren’t we? People can be best friends and lovers too, right?” This was important to Rachel and she hoped Reese would want it that way.
“I suppose that’s the part that’s hard for me to wrap my mind around. With Mel, we were lovers first and I guess she was my friend, at least in the beginning. But then friends are suppose to confide in each other, go to each other when there’s a problem, support each other and trust each other just like in a marriage. You know what I mean?” Rachel nodded that she understood.
“It was that way in the beginning with Mel; I thought I was her confidant, her partner, companion etc. But as time went on, we went in different directions. I even wondered a few times if she had a lover. She would get distant at times and wouldn’t open up to me. She would say she needed girl time then be out all night, coming in at dawn. I didn't understand why she couldn't talk to me about what was bothering her, unless it was me bothering her. Then I guess she would need an objective opinion.”
Rachel felt his chest cave in and sighed. “I’m sorry you had a relationship like that. I know it brings you down when you feel like you can’t even talk to the one person who’s suppose to love you, understand who you are and be there for you. But I do know what you mean about being friends in a marriage." She wanted the atmosphere to be lighthearted. "Plus friends usually have common interest so that makes it even more fun being lovers. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Before Reese could respond, Rachel grabbed his ribs and started tickling him. They rolled around in the bed wrestling until he was on top of her, holding her arms down and laughing. She tried to wiggle out of his clutches but it was useless. She was beautiful in the morning too he had decided and he wanted to make love to her again. Rachel knew what he wanted; she saw it in his eyes. Relaxing, she let him know he could have his way. Reese leaned his weight into her and started kissing her with an abandon obsession.
“One or two eggs?” Reese hollered from the kitchen while Rachel was getting dressed.
“Two, I’m famished." She said walking up the hallway. "Must be from all the exercise I’ve gotten in the past twelve hours.” She bit her lower lip, raised her eyebrows and snickered.
Reese turned to look at her leaning into the doorway. “Mmmmm…I must say, I do like the way you look in my shirt. It’s sexy.”
“Well, I didn’t exactly bring pajamas or a robe for this sleepover. That would have been presumptuous of me, don't you think? And besides, I know a man can’t resist a woman who’s wearing his shirt.” She kissed him on the cheek.
“So that’s why you wore Jessie’s shirt that night? Even though it wasn’t mine, it was still sexy on you.”
“See what I mean?” She said with a devious laugh as she buttered the toast.
He nodded yes to her question. “What would you like to do today?”
“Let’s go for a ride. I haven’t ridden these parts in a long time. How does that sound?”
“I never pass up a ride on a horse or anything else for that matter.” He gave her a wicked grin then slapped her on the butt.
“Ouch!” She punched him in the arm.
“Ouch. You got a pretty good punch there. Eggs are ready, are you?”
“For eggs, yes!” She put the toast on the plates and poured them both a cup of coffee.
They went to the living room sitting on the couch so Reese could watch the morning news. During the commercial Rachel remembered that he had yelled in his dream last night.
“Reese, who’s Katherine?”
“Huh? Katherine?” He shook his head. “I don’t know any Katherine. Why do you ask?”
“You called her name out in your sleep. Do you remember that?”
He took a bite of toast trying to remember if he even had a dream. “No I don’t. Must have been dreaming?”
“That's what I assumed. I tried to wake you but your body kept jerking and then you rolled over, after you called her name that is.”
“I don’t remember anything like that. But the name Katherine does seem familiar.”
Rachel finished her last bite of eggs. “Hmmm, guess we’ll never know. Do you have a jacket I can wear for the ride?” Reese smiled.
They both showered and while Rachel was dressing, Reese went outside to saddle the horses. He stopped when he noticed some tracks by the stable. That’s interesting, he said to himself. More tracks by the stable. And again, they look fresh. He bent down touching them. I just don’t get it. No one’s ridden since I did yesterday and I know Thunder didn't walk over here. These are deeper, like the horse took off in a run. I'm going to have to take some time and really look at this next time. Someone must be coming around but they don’t want me to see them. He went inside the stable. Rachel joined him shortly after he had saddled the second horse.