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Many know Gretchen for her hunting business, as it’s the first thing most gardeners learn about her. Other city-oriented islanders would recognize her for her appearance in several popular fashion magazines.
But how many people could say they knew Gretchen rode Horstachios for fun?
Just a short way outside of the village was a stable with one older Horstachio of the green variant, whom Gretchen was making her way to visit on this pleasant summer afternoon.
She took a few strands of its hair, carefully working to remove the knots in the paper. “Hey, old gal,” Gretchen greeted warmly. “Down for another ride?”
The Horstachio gave a pleased whinny in response, lighting clopping its hooves on the stable’s wooden floor.
Gretchen opened up the gate to get in and prep her ride with the proper gear, when—
“That’s yours!?”
Gretchen popped her head out from behind the stable wall to see Fannie in utter disbelief, mailbox jaw agape at the sight. “Oh, hey, Fannie,” Gretchen waved. “Yeah, she’s mine. Her name’s Crispin. Got her when I was just a little girl.”
“No freaking way you’ve kept this a secret from ol’ me!” Fannie approached Crispin, who excitedly neighed in anticipation. Fannie pet the side of its face, eyes brightening. “I hope you don’t mind that I’ve befriended her already.”
“Not at all,” Gretchen affirmed. “She needs the company. I don’t take her out as much as I should.”
“What!? You mean you have a Horstachio you can ride any time and just… don’t?”
Gretchen shrugged. “I’m a busy woman, Fannie.”
“So am I, but— still, Gretch! I’m sooo jealous!”
“I mean…” Gretchen looked over at Crispin, who was busy nuzzling up to Fannie. “Why don’t you just come with me?”
“Bwuh— huh!?” Fannie sputtered. “I get to ride on this beaut today!?”
“I mean, you don’t have to,” Gretchen shrugged, failing to contain the smirk forming on her face.
Fannie went up to Gretchen and placed her hands on Gretchen’s shoulders. “I want to! I want to go Horstachio-back riding with you! Please, please, oh pretty please!”
Gretchen let out a soft chuckle. “Alright, alright, calm your Horstachios. Let me get her out in the open first.”
She took Crispin by her lead and walked her out just in front of the stable. Fannie closed the door behind them, her eyes never leaving the gorgeous green piñata in front of her.
Gretchen extended a hand out to Fannie. “Mind if I help you up?”
Fannie nodded, taking Gretchen’s hand before being led over to Crispin’s side.
“Put one foot in the stirrup, then swing the other leg over,” Gretchen instructed.
Fannie complied, and as she got her first foot in, Gretchen moved to hold Fannie’s back and waist, supporting her as she tried to kick up and failed, instead tumbling straight into Gretchen’s arms.
“Good thing I was here, huh?” Gretchen chuckled. “Don’t worry, how about I go first and pull you up?”
Fannie nodded with a whimper, then could only watch in awe as Gretchen effortlessly mounted the Horstachio.
Gretchen bent down, extending her hand once more. “You want to try leading, or should I take the reins?”
“I can take the—” Fannie thought for a moment, seeming to cringe at the idea of piloting a Horstachio she couldn’t even properly get onto in the first place. “Actually, uh, maybe I watch you lead this time!”
“Fine by me.”
Fannie grabbed Gretchen’s hand and put a foot in the stirrup. This time, when she kicked over, Gretchen pulled her in closer, making sure Fannie could get a bit more height this time. As Fannie finally got herself hoisted up on the horse, she wrapped her arms around Gretchen’s waist, earning a flush in Gretchen’s face that hid behind her mask.
Gretchen cleared her throat. “So, you ready to ride?”
“As much as a gal can be!” Fannie replied, the smile on her face translated into how sing-songy her tone was.
Gretchen squeezed her legs, signalling for Crispin to start trotting along away from the village and off to one of the nearby trails. Once they were far enough away from any buildings, Gretchen tapped her heel lightly on Crispin’s side, which signalled for her to speed into a gallop.
Fannie’s arms tightened around Gretchen’s waist as she burrowed the side of her mask closer into Gretchen’s back.
The two rode for a while, taking in the nature of the island together. Every so often, Fannie would giggle or cheer about how fun the experience was.
Honestly, to Gretchen, it was always so cute seeing how excited Fannie got about things Gretchen otherwise wrote off as typical or mundane. Fannie was a big reason Gretchen wanted to start appreciating the smaller moments in life.
This moment would be one of those she would want to cherish.
“Were you always this excited about Horstachios, or is this just a spur of the moment deal?” Gretchen asked.
“Hm?” Fannie’s head perked up, leaving the cool air to brush against Gretchen’s upper back once more. “Oh, I’ve always loved Horstachios! I used to doodle them eeeverywhere in every notepad I owned!” She giggled. “I guess it makes sense I’d end up dating a Horstachio-back rider. Ooh— maybe that means the island fated us together?”
Gretchen stifled a laugh. “Whatever it was, I guess it’s a good thing you asked me out. Or whatever that stunt was with the secret love letters.”
Fannie huffed, lightly shoving Gretchen forward. “You’re so embarrassing! I thought it was cute!”
“It was,” Gretchen defended, “and it also worked, didn’t it? I wouldn’t have said yes if I didn’t respect the effort.”
“I suppose that’s true…” Fannie rested her head on Gretchen’s back once more. “I guess getting you was the more important thing in the end.”
“You guess?”
“Ugh, you know what I meant, goofball!”
Gretchen laughed. “Yeah, I know, I know.”
A few moments of silence laid over the two as Crispin led them through a forest, riding alongside the bank of a river. The sun started to descend in the sky, reflecting rays of light across the ripples of water.
Fannie sighed, her fingers tracing across Gretchen’s stomach. “This is exactly as romantic as I pictured it, you know.”
Gretchen’s face flushed, her hands gripping the reins tightly. “Something out of one of your romance novels?”
“Or one of those cute romance movies! You’re my knight in shining armor, I’m the princess, and we’re riding off into the sunset to live happily ever after.”
Gretchen hummed in response. Happily ever after? Her and Fannie? The thought made her heart skip a beat.
“I guess that is what we are, yeah,” she replied. “Will we have little cartoony piñatas singing at our wedding, then?”
Fannie snickered. “Please, oh my goodness, that’d be sooo precious if you could actually do that!”
“I’ll have to keep note of that, then. Maybe we’ll make a miracle happen.”
Gretchen looked up at the sky and its warm hues, a smile on her face.
When it started to get a bit darker, Gretchen turned Crispin around and brought everyone back to the stable. She hopped off first, then spotted Fannie as she did the same.
“Hey, Gretch?” Fannie asked, voice low and soft.
“Hm?” Gretchen asked. “Everything alright?”
“Just wanna say thanks! For, uh, letting me do this with you.” Fannie’s leg twisted around shyly as she fumbled with her hands. “Can we try to do this more often?”
Gretchen smiled and walked up to Fannie, planting a kiss on her cheek.
“Anything for my princess.”