Chapter 276: Untamed
Of course, Clyde couldn’t just stay in the condo and let Micah run wild without him. The longer he stayed behind, the more his chest tightened, the more his thoughts wandered dangerously. After pacing for a few minutes, he snapped.
"Come on. We’re going," he said flatly.
"Damn!"
"Yes! Suckers! I won!"
"If you stayed one minute more! Ahh..."
Three voices answered at once. Clyde’s grim look cut them off immediately. If looks could kill, the trio would have been ground to dust on the spot.
Mason, Dylon, and Lin Heye dropped their heads sheepishly and followed him silently.
Clyde dragged those three useless friends to the horse range.
When they arrived, Clyde’s breath hitched.
There, across the sunlit field, was Micah, sitting gracefully atop Onyx. Wind swept through his silver hair as he rode freely, the strands catching golden sunlight like silk. He wore sleek black riding pants that hugged his slim legs, and tall boots completed the look. His crisp white riding shirt, partially unbuttoned at the top, clung lightly to his frame, tucked neatly into his belt. His entire attire looked sharp and elegant yet effortlessly wild.
He was radiant, laughing as Onyx picked up speed and galloped toward the wooden fence. Behind him, there was Dean, chasing him.
The way Micah moved with the horse, confident and fluid, then throwing teasing remarks at Dean, made Clyde’s jaw tighten.
His fingers curled into fists at his sides. The soft grin on Micah’s face, those flushed cheeks from the wind. All were directed at Dean. It was too much.
Micah looked too beautiful. Too free. Too seductive.
Clyde wanted to shield him from every single pair of eyes.
"Wow!" Dylon exclaimed, innocently loud. Not understanding he was poking the hornet’s nest. "This little brother rode your horse before you... Even Dean can’t handle him..."
Lin Heye and Mason gasped, dragging Dylon away quickly.
"Shut up!" Mason hissed, elbowing him. Even he knew he shouldn’t joke about it.
"Do you want to die?" Lin Heye whispered urgently.
Dylon blinked. "Huh? Why? I was just saying..."
"Shush!" Mason snapped.
Clyde ignored them, barely hearing the background noise. He could feel possessiveness crawling up his spine like vines wrapping around a tree. It filled his chest and curled tightly around his soul. It was ridiculous. He was jealous of Dean, his nephew. And even jealous of the horse. Onyx.
Micah finally spotted Clyde standing near the fence. He rode up, slowing Onyx to a light trot and gracefully swung down, boots landing with a muffled thump on the dirt. He took off his helmet. "Hey," Micah called, brushing his sweaty hair back with one gloved hand. "Why are you here? Didn’t I say..." he paused mid-sentence.
The look in Clyde’s eyes was too dark. Too intense.
Clyde blinked and moved his gaze from Micah. "I forgot to tell you... There is another trail. More secluded. Do you want to try it with me?" he said, voice tight.
Micah moistened his dry lips. "Okay..." he answered softly, voice suddenly hoarse.
He had a strange feeling as if he said no, something dangerous might happen.
"Come with me," Clyde said and turned, walking toward the change rooms.
Micah hesitated only a second, then grabbed Onyx’s reins and followed.
Clyde was quick. In just a few minutes, he returned, dressed in charcoal grey riding pants, a pale blue shirt with rolled sleeves and a black vest that outlined the lines of his waist and broad chest. He looked composed. Dangerous.
A groom quickly brought another horse, a deep brown stallion with a white blaze on its forehead.
Clyde looked at Micah, then nodded toward Onyx. "Do you want to change horses?"
Micah nodded without hesitation. He thought maybe Clyde was upset he had ridden Onyx without his permission. "Yeah, sure."
Micah mounted the brown horse obediently.
Clyde watched him with unreadable eyes, then mounted Onyx.
They rode out of the open range and onto a thinner trail leading up a gentle slope. As they rode further, the path widened again into a grassy meadow that stretched out like a hidden valley.
During the short ride, Clyde had calmed down. He began pointing out things in the landscape, types of fish in lakes, distant eagles circling above, easing the tension with calm conversation.
Micah’s frown loosened as he noticed Clyde had visibly turned to his usual self. For a second, he thought he had pushed too many of Clyde’s buttons today, making the man too angry. Was it too much to ride his horse? Or race with Dean? He didn’t know the answer, but Micah felt he was getting close to understanding Clyde’s mindset. Just a few more...
Micah looked around. "Wanna race?"
Clyde turned slightly in his saddle. "Without a bet?"
"Yeah. That’d be too boring."
"Whoever wins can ask for something from the loser," Clyde suggested.
Micah gave a single nod and then, without warning, clicked his tongue and galloped ahead.
Clyde followed, urging Onyx forward. Their horses galloped through the grass. Clyde caught up swiftly, passing Micah with ease before reaching the end of the meadow.
He reined Onyx to a stop, turning with a smug grin.
Micah pointed at him. "Not fair. Onyx is too brilliant."
"I let you have a head start. You obviously cheated." Clyde replied.
"Tsk." Micah clicked his tongue. "So what do you want?"
Clyde smirked. "I’ll let you know later. First, I want to show you something."
Micah huffed but he rode the horse beside him, pouting slightly. "Fine."
After a few minutes, the sound of rushing water filled the air. The trees parted to reveal a small cliffside opening, and there, hidden behind a layer of stones, was a crystal clear waterfall.
Micah jumped down, eyes wide with excitement. "Wow!"
Clyde dismounted as well, tying both horses’ reins to a low branch of a nearby tree.
Micah dashed toward the pool, boots kicking up soft leaves. "Is it clean?" he asked eagerly. "Can we drink it?"
Clyde replied. "It’s clean, but I don’t recommend it. With your weak stomach."
Micah laughed, carefree and boyish. His smile widened. "Okay."
Something wild sparkled in him. Without a second thought, he tugged off his jacket out of the blue. Then gloves. The vest. His shirt. Everything.
Before Clyde could open his mouth, Micah tossed his clothes aside and dove straight into the water with a splash.
Clyde stood there mortified.
Micah surfaced seconds later, silver hair plastered to his face, laughing. Water ran down his bare shoulder and chest, glistening under the sun. Then, he turned and swam like a fish in the small waterhole.