CHAOS AT THE RANCH
Ashley, Xander, Chris, Jake, Dave, and Dave's girlfriend all piled into a car parked outside a countryside apartment. Adrenaline was pumping through their veins as they had just buried the body of a farmer in a field. Ashley was forced to sit on top of Xander's lap in the car, while Jake took the wheel.
"How's your hand, Chris?" Ashley asked.
"Damn, I can finally feel my fingers," Chris exclaimed as he stretched his right hand.
"Jake, step on the gas and take us to my father's mansion," Ashley declared. But before Jake could do that, they heard a loud noise, and all the animals on the farm next to the apartment started running away, including the horses in their stables.
"Shit, we have to stop them," Ashley screamed. "Those horses alone are worth a fortune!"
Before they could respond, Ashley stepped out of the car. The group followed her, apprehensive about what they would find. The sound of the animals running and the sight of the horses bolting from their stables made their hearts race. Jake had barely turned off the engine before an explosion rocked the ground beneath them, sending them all stumbling to the ground.
Smoke and debris filled the air as they coughed and struggled to regain their footing. The smell of gasoline and burning rubber was overwhelming. It was chaos. Amidst the chaos, Xander saw a horse charging straight towards Ashley.
"Watch out!" Xander shouted. Without hesitation, he rolled to the ground, pulling her with him and away from the horse's path. At that moment, their lips touched, and Xander was compelled to kiss her. But Ashley quickly regained her senses and pushed him away, annoyed by the distraction.
"I'm sorry," Xander said. "I just couldn't resist."
Dave's voice cut through the commotion. "We don't have time for this. We need to figure out what's going on and get out of here."
"What the hell was that?" Chris yelled.
"Fuck, that was the car!" Jake responded.
"That means that asshole tried to kill us," Ashley replied.
They all got up, and Ashley led them to the stables. "We have to stop those horses from running away," she said.
The group was on a ranch, surrounded by greenery and a gentle breeze. The sun was shining brightly, casting a golden glow over the entire scene. The sound of clucking and bleating filled the air as Chris and Dave's girlfriend chased after the hens, and Jake ran after the goats. Dave was trying to keep the big cows from running away, coaxing them into the barn. Ashley and Xander, on the other hand, were carrying lassos, trying to catch the horses.
Ashley was the star of the group, having successfully put five horses back in their stables. Xander was struggling with a stubborn horse, attempting to lasso it, while Ashley watched with amusement.
"Need some help?" Ashley asked Xander, noticing his difficulty.
"No, I can handle it," Xander replied, determined to do it himself.
But after a few unsuccessful attempts, Ashley climbed onto the stubborn horse, stroking it and whispering to it, calming it down. Xander was surprised by her skill and couldn't help but wonder what the Mafia queen couldn’t do. He couldn't help but imagine her wearing a cowgirl hat, looking beautiful.
"Have you ever ridden a horse before?" Ashley mocked him, noticing his embarrassment.
"No," Xander replied, feeling a little embarrassed.
"Well, today is your lucky day," Ashley said with a grin. "Climb on."
Xander struggled to climb onto the horse, but with Ashley's help, he managed to get on. She warned him that the horse could sense his fear, causing him to feel a little nervous. As they rode together, Ashley gave him instructions on how to ride, but Xander was lost in her. He nuzzled her head and cuddled her, happy to be so close to her.
The rest of the group had finished their tasks and were watching Ashley and Xander. They were all impressed with Ashley's horse-riding skills, but Jake seemed to be the only one bothered by the two of them riding together.
"Can you believe this?" Jake whispered to Chris. "It's like they're on a date or something."
Chris rolled his eyes. "Leave them alone, man. They're just having fun."
But Jake couldn't help but feel a little jealous. He had been trying to get Ashley's attention for months, but she seemed to be more interested in Xander.
Meanwhile, Ashley and Xander continued to ride together, enjoying the beautiful scenery and each other's company. The warmth of the sun and the gentle breeze made it the perfect day for horseback riding. As they rode, Ashley couldn't help but feel a little giddy. She had always been attracted to Xander's carefree spirit and sense of humor, but she tried to hide it.
"You're doing great," Ashley said, turning to smile at Xander. "I knew you had it in you."
Xander grinned back, feeling proud of his accomplishment. "Thanks to you, I might actually become a cowboy one day."
Ashley laughed. "I think you might need a little more practice before that happens."
Xander smiled and wrapped his arms around her waist, feeling grateful for this moment. He knew it was just a simple horseback ride, but it felt like so much more.
Ashley and Xander returned to the rest of the group and dismounted the horse. Jake and Chris were waiting for them, looking worried.
"Come on! Are you guys going to ignore the problem at hand?" Jake said in a hushed voice.
"What problem?" Ashley asked, sensing the fear in his voice.
"The car exploded," Chris said gravely. "And we're stranded again."
Ashley sighed in frustration. "Great, just what we needed. How are we going to get out of here now?"
Xander spoke up. "I have an idea. Why don't you ride the horse to your father's mansion and get some help? We can all wait here."
Ashley shook her head. "Riding a horse on a busy street full of cars is illegal. We can't risk it."
"We'll figure something out," Jake said, trying to reassure her.
But Ashley was too tired and sleepy to worry about it. "Let's just stay here for the night. We can figure it out tomorrow."
"Oh, right," Chris added. "We don't have any food or money since we were robbed."
"Damn it, I almost forgot about that," Ashley lamented, running her hand through her hair.
