It had been an emotional morning, but the horses were all put away and things were settling down. After a quick lunch of pepperoni rolls and cola, Ivy felt that it was time for a little excursion. She couldn’t let Kivi leave without showing her what she’d found.

“You’re being mysterious again,” Kivi grumbled as they climbed onto the four-wheelers.

“Yes, I am,” Ivy replied firmly. “You’re the one who told me I should explore beyond the boundaries of my pastureland. Twenty acres cultivated, and the rest an enigma.’ They set off down a stone dust path, in the opposite direction of the stable. Kivi had to duck under branches after a while, as the path got narrower and eventually decayed into slightly muddy earth. The air was fragrant with early wildflowers, forsythia, redbud, honeysuckle, and a hint of something that she didn’t recognize.

The tangle of foliage grew wilder and thicker in this part of the forest. Ivy motioned Kivi to stop, then dismounted the machine. Her eyes were bright with excitement, and Kivi could see that she had a backpack in her hand. She had brought supplies.

Motioning her friend forward, she ducked into the thicket. Large mounds of greenery loomed in the forest ahead. Ivy approached one, then held aside some greenery to expose an opening.

“No snakes or creepy crawlies, I promise. I cleaned up a little because I knew I wanted to show you this!”

“As if snakes and creepy crawlies ever stopped me. You don’t grow up on a ranch afraid of snakes. Michael liked to try to scare me with bugs and shit. I have a passing dislike of Mothra, but that’s about it.” With that she ducked through the opening Ivy had gone through.

“I know, but neither of us are fond of venomous things, the last time I checked. The snakes out here are brutal.” The light grew instead of diminishing as they walked inside. Kivi could see peeling stucco walls amidst the leaves. Then an arch, and a groined ceiling covered in tilework. Even decayed, it was lovely, blue, green, and white, with irises and bluebells. Steam rose from a mossy depression in the center, a set of stone steps leading into its depths.

“There used to be a health spa on this property in the 1800’s. It’s been long-forgotten, but I guess I’ve found the hot spring.”

“Oh my god. This is delightful!” Kivi peered into the water and judging it clean enough, she shirked her outerwear and clothes and climbed in in her bralette and panties. Under all the rough clothes, the fact that they matched was an oddity. “I will be coming to visit more. Between the spring and stunning horses, you might even catch me down for a show just to watch. Do you still want to ride at all?” She groaned as the water enveloped her.

Ivy pulled her clothes off and slipped in. “I came in with a skimmer to clean up a bit last week. I want to clean up a bit more so that I can see what’s left of the tile.” Ivy pulled a bottle of wine out of the back pack. “We’ll have to do without glasses, but it wouldn’t be the first time.”

“Cluck cluck” Kivi giggled as she waited her turn with the bottle. Ivy burst into titters. Drinking again.

Ivy took a quick swig and handed the bottle over. “I’m actually dying to get on one of these horses. They just looked so tired after their trip across the world. Maybe tomorrow they’ll be rested and we can have a trail ride.”

Light filtered through a half-intact stained glass cupola above them. vines dangling down above the water. The two women sat until their sore muscles loosened. They never seemed to run out of things to talk about, and that to Ivy was almost as wondrous as her new arrivals. Eventually, the topic came around again to horses.

“When we get back I’ll show you my Thoroughbred. He was bred for jumping, but he’s almost as lean as a racehorse.”

Kivi raised a brow. “Nice gelding?”

Ivy groaned and splashed Kivi with water. “NO, dammit. More testes. Why do I do this to myself?” She sighed. “Went to a horse show last week to look for some OTTB girls for him, and met this Thoroughbred guy. He has a few mares that he’s training for showjumping. Even asked me out to dinner at a fancy restaurant.

“Smooth,” said Kivi, half mocking.

“Oh, yeah. Smelled nice, dressed nice, pretty manners. And then he introduced himself.” Ivy looked at Kivi nervously out of the corner of her eye. “Introduced himself as Tadgh Barclay.”

Kivi just stared as the name registered. “Tadgh? He’s going by Tadgh now, Ronin no more. Evelyn had told me that his baby sister had done him some good.”

“Of course I went to dinner with him. I wanted to see those horses. Ordered the most expensive thing I could find on the menu, too.”

“I’ll be damned if you’re not just full of fuckin bombshells this weekend.” Kivi inhaled deeply “I’m not even sure what to say, except be careful. Ain’t no care what he does as long as it doesn’t hurt my friend. I might lose my shit on him then.” Kivi’s brows knitted “He’s smooth as butter, for sure.”

“Well, he may not be much of a stud, but he produces nice get.”