Back in the saddle again...

[rein_it_in]

"Never underestimate the power of passion."
Eve SawyerJansen was fast asleep-and soundly for a change, dinner was simmering in the crock-pot on the counter, laundry had been folded and put away, the books had been balanced. Anrai sat in the bedroom reading one of his books and Laine slipped out onto the back porch before tugging on her worn in,

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[thehorseman]

Quietly as Laine tried to leave, Anraí heard the door and left his book to look out a window. Spotting Laine pulling on her boots, he grinned. No doubt about where his wild woman was going, and certainly no doubt about what she planned to do once she got there.

Time to put his plan into action.

Humming cheerfully-- he would have whistled, but that might wake the babe --he assembled an assortment of items in their bedroom. Some were practical, like the ibuprofen next to a glass of water and the heating pad. Others were less so, like the array of sweetly scented massage oils, the aromatic candle and the bottle of one of his wife's favorite red wines, with two glasses standing at the ready. Once everything was in place, the Irishman smiled in satisfaction before going to check on his daughter.

In addition to all her other pregnancy discomforts, Laine had given up her passion for riding for months in order to carry and bear their daughter safely. Anraí figured the least he could do was minimize the painful consequences of her return to horseback. With a glass of wine, a long rubdown and a touch of his healing magic, he wouldn't have any problem doing just that.

[rein_it_in]

"Anrai...what the hell is all of this stuff doin' in here?" When Laine returned to the house, tired, hot and sweaty, her mind set on taking a shower only to be assaulted with what looked to be a mess of clutter in the normally tidy bedroom, she wanted to box someone's ears. It wasn't as if she didn't already have enough to do without walking around behind her husband, who should know better, and pick up his messes.

She picked up pain-reliever to place it back in the medicine cabinet and the glasses (all three of them) to take back down stairs and put them in the sink. "Did you decide to have a party up in here while I was outside?"

That was exasperation not amusement in her voice.

[thehorseman]

"No." One of Anraí's eyebrows arched, but his voice stayed mild. Retrieving the glasses, he set them back where they were. "This is all for you, a chroi, so I can give you a rubdown after dinner."

He considered retrieving the pill bottle, then decided to take some downstairs for Laine to take with dinner. "I wanted to make sure you'd be as comfortable as possible after your first ride in months."

[rein_it_in]

"I'm fine, you damned fool. It ain't like I forgot how to ride, I had a baby." Her pointed look says 'don't even talk to me about uncomfortable.'

Not being able to stand the feel of sweaty clothes sticking to her any longer, Laine starts to peel out of her shirt. "And I'm not one of the horses, go give them a rub down."

There were times when she really found him insufferable. And insulting. She knew full well that her husband would never suffer the indignities of saddle soreness--hell, the son of a bitch didn't even need a saddle or a horse to ride. It grated in ways she couldn't even put words to. "I know how long it's been since I've rode."

The fact that she's already sore as hell wasn't helping her snappish attitude.