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Summer Temptations
Summary: Mattie’s not the too trusting type. Being betrayed by her father and her once best friend, she doesn’t trust too many people. So what happens when she meets Davin Baker, a handsome twenty-three year old with a very dark past. Will she be pulled into his drama? Or will she find out his secret and wind up dead like his last lady friend?
Warning- Will contain mature themes and suggested violence!
Chapter One:
‘Some people are quite rude!’ Mattie thought severely as she raised the pitchfork and shoveled a pile of hay into a wheelbarrow. Several men stood at the first stall, laughing and pointing down towards her. Well, all of them except for one of the boys, as she would call them. She shoved another fork-full over the stall and pushed back a strand of her long blonde hair away from her eyes. The guys snorted again and one went as far as to throw a rock at her head.
“Will you stop!” she finally rapped out, her normally quiet voice echoing loudly in the closed quarters. The four guys watched as she stabbed the fork into the mess and stepped out, placing her graceful, long hands on her hips. They stared at her hard for a few moments before they realized they were about to be yelled at again as she walked forward slowly.
She snickered, watching the four guys scramble out of the barn. It was the one of few places where she could be alone without the campers. She loved being around the other campers, helping them learn how to ride but the guys often gave her a rough time because she was a woman. Well, not a woman yet, just a little past eighteen, she needed a job badly when her father skipped town.
“Giving you a hard time again, eh?” a warm sounding voice said from behind her. She turned quickly only to narrow her ice blue eyes at the intruder. She then sighed and blew back another loose strand of hair. He chuckled again and came closer.
“Davin, please don’t scare me like that! Granted I’ve had plenty in my life, I’d like to live to see twenty-one!” they both laughed at her joke. Davin Baker was one of the older counselors in the program; at twenty-three he was lean, tall and certainly handsome. But he was an untouchable, one part of a higher social class and defiantly very wealthy. She, on the other hand, was in the lower social status, only middle-class or a little bit lower. She also was one of the types to suddenly pack up and move on.
“So, how are the horses coming along this bright morning?” Davin asked, leaning against the wooden stall door. She laughed as she made her way towards the tall man, grabbing the pitchfork along the way.
“The horses are great this morning! Lovely and springy, well, except for one.” she reminded herself that she’d have to go into the city to get some herbs and tack for more horses.
“Oh?” Davin raised an eyebrow and waited for her to explain. While she had her back towards him, she had a feeling he raised his eyebrow and was waiting for her to explain. She took a deep breath before speaking.
“Do you know Coco Bean? Well, Mr. Sunshine over there got caught in the adjoining barbed wire fence and caught up his hind legs rather good. The scrapes aren’t too deep but they’re just enough to where an infection could burrow in.” she spoke quickly, wondering if he even heard past the first sentence. She glanced back to find him at Bean’s stall, patting the gelding over and glancing at the two injured legs.
“What herbs are you using for him?” Davin asked, rubbing his right temple. Mattie nearly laughed as she came out of the stall and picked up the wheelbarrow.
“If you really want to know, I’m going into town after I get cleaned up. Maybe you’d like to come, eh?” she said, trying to keep the excitement out of her voice. To her surprise, he nodded and walked down to the other end of the barn and outside.
As she pushed by the other horses, they called to her with their whinnies and she couldn’t help but laugh. Being in love with horses ever since she was younger, she couldn’t imagine a more perfect job than this.
Rubbing a soft cotton towel over her body and relished the feeling for just a moment before hopping around her tiny cabin room, grabbing a fresh change of clothes. She yanked up her flare, boot cut jeans and pulled on a sleeveless v-line light blue top. Then she bounded over to the mirror and stared at herself for a moment. She wasn’t too fat, but she wasn’t super thin either. Growing up in a proper, classy house with less money than she thought, she kept the weight off greatly. But at that moment she wished she could’ve added a slight bit weight on so she wasn’t so flat. Giving a small sigh, she caught her hair up into a bun, holding it together with her mother’s two pearl sticks. They were the only thing she managed to save the night her father got drunk and threw out everything that used to be her mother’s.
She took a look at her digital clock and rushed out of her cabin, only taking a few moments to grab her purse. Taking long strides down the gravel drive, Davin stood at the end, leaning against the rear of his Ford F-150. She waved and he returned her wave happily.
“Hey! Sorry I took so long!” she called out, as she got closer. She noticed he was laughing so it didn’t concern her too much. He started towards the driver side when she reached the other side and bounded up after quickly throwing open the dark blue door. He climbed up in a hurry and started up the truck, letting it idle roughly a moment before shifting gears. She glanced down at his hand as they rumbled down the long drive and past the other working counselors.
“So, what all do you plan on getting in town?” he asked, breaking the silence as best as he could. She thought for a couple moments before pulling a crinkled piece of paper with stuff scribbled on it. He held back his laughter as she glanced over the paper.
“Hmm.. I have to get some Aspen for Pepper. Some Larch for Danny. Probably some more Star of Bethlehem for all the horses. I also need Mimulus for Clover and Sugar. And three more bottles of Rescue Remedy.” she listed everything down, trying to remember what horses she had to get the herbs for. Davin nearly laughed again, seeing her list things down for the horses was funny but in a way, protecting them from any harm.
“You really love those horses,” Davin said quietly, gripping the large steering wheel tighter. She nodded her agreement. Those horses were the only things she cared for since her life went downhill and they were the only animals that could comfort her the way she needed.
Davin knew what had happened before she came to Camp Waters. She seemed to have nowhere to go and they desperately needed a horse rider and teacher to help the campers. He sensed things were getting tense so he broke the silence again.
“What does Pepper look like again? I swear there’s another horse just like that little monster!” Davin chuckled, remembering the first time he met the feisty stallion and the stupid horse clamped down on his forearm rather hard and left dark bruises for two weeks after.
“Pepper would be the 16.5 hand Buckskin pony with a half black, half white tail and all black mane.” Mattie replied, closing her eyes to think real quickly.
“He would also be the one…”
“Who bite you the first day you arrived.” Mattie finished. Davin nodded and turned his eyes back towards the road.
“You certainly know enough about horses.” he commented absently, trying to gather his rumbling thoughts and calm himself. She burst out laughing so hard that he could see out of the corner of his eyes, tears were pooling in her eyes.
“Yes! Yes, of course I know my horses! I’ve been around them for my whole life and can’t imagine doing anything other than this.” with that he joined in laughing and the truck slowly drifted off towards the shoulder.
The Feed and Tack came into view and both slowly stopped laughing. Davin looked around, noticing that the tiny town was pretty deserted and hardly any cars were on the road. He shifted the gears down and turned the truck into one of the parking spaces.
“Is it normally this dead?” he asked, pointing towards everything. Mattie just nodded, unbuckling her seatbelt and hopping onto the dirt parking lot.
“Yeah, it’s basically like this most of the day. Most of the locals go to the city about forty miles from here since there’s more stores and stuff.” she stated, hopping over the tall curb and making her way towards the glass door. Davin followed after her quickly and was soon hit by a blast of cold air. He nearly sighed with relief and closed his eyes for just a second and opened them to find Mattie on the other end of the store all ready.
She loved going into any tack stores. The smell of the crisp, clean leather always tickled her nose, the smell of the feed even made her smile. And since she was a good friend with the owner, she knew what items she could get cheap and what she could take home for free. She didn’t mind him doing that at all because when she was younger, she got to know him real well. She treated the owner like her second father and it pleased the old man beyond words. She loved the man beyond words because he always understood and shared her love of horses as well. She bounded over to his counter and instantly was greeted by his loud, booming voice and she leaned over the edge and hugged him.
“Whatcha in here for today?”
“I’m in for some herbs and possibly some tack, Mr. J.” she replied, giving him a wide smile and clapped her hands together. He laughed and came around the other side.
“If you don’t know where the stuff is now, then you’re really forgetful!” he joked before she took off to the counter on the right side. Davin watched as she looked around for her things she needed.
“Who are you? Never seen you in here before.” Mr. J said, staring at Davin. Davin froze under the old man’s stare.
“Name’s Davin Baker,” he finally said, extending his hand forward. Mr. J watched him like a hawk as both shook their hands. Davin and Mr. J stared each other down for a couple minutes before either of them spoke.
“That girl’s been through a lot. Hurt her in any way and I’ll make sure to snap your neck in two.” Mr. J said in a threatening voice. Davin felt himself start sweating a bit more suddenly and to his relief Mattie came bounding over towards them.
“Ok, I have everything now!” she called in her cheery voice. Both men waved their hands towards her as they glared at each other. Mattie clapped her hands and both dropped their gazes to turn to her. One hand on her hip, the other holding a heavy looking basket, she did her best to glare at the two.
“No fighting,” she said, wagging her occupied finger as best as she could. Both laughed and Davin gently wrestled the basket out of her arms.
“This everything?” Both asked at the same time. She nodded and hurried back to the counter. Davin nearly laughed as she nearly jumped up and down with joy. Not paying any attention, he leaned against the counter and faintly heard that she’d come back to get the tack later on that week. And then a shrill shrieking shook him from his thoughts.
“You’re selling him!” her voice raised a couple more notches. He turned to see Mr. J nodding his head and then Mattie’s large eyes with tears glistening in them. He raised his eyebrow and she pointed to a sign posted on the bulletin board about a black horse being up for sell. He sighed and smacked his forehead and turned to Mr. J.
“How much?” he asked, reaching for his back pocket for his checkbook. Mr. J smirked and reveled his yellowing teeth.
“The horse is for sell for 2 grand. No less, he’s a purebred horse and I could get more but I’m lowering the price just for her.” Davin nearly groaned with Mr. J’s attitude towards him.
“I’ll give you what you’re asking,” he said but he was thinking what the hell was he getting into. Both smiled wide and Davin knew he’d pay for this later.
“Hey,” Davin said, tapping her thigh. She startled and gave him a wide eyed stare for a moment before unbuckling again. Both slid out of the rather hot truck and separated. But as Davin watched her make her way towards the barn, he called after her. She turned, a long strand of hair falling out of the bun. He took long strides and reached her side quickly.
“You forgot something,” he whispered, leaning forward and brushing his lips against hers for a second before pressing his to hers gently. Then he pulled back and rushed off towards the mess hall, leaving her standing there, her fingers touching her bottom lip.
Author’s Notes: Yeah, I know I’m starting a new story but I got an idea for this one. This one, after this chapter will start to contain more romance and some mystery/slightly graphic parts. This is a warning, just like at the beginning.
