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Follow Your Heart

T H R E E

Nichole hopped off the porch and started for the stables with the ranch dog, Charlie, following close behind her. He knew she was going for a ride and he wanted to come along. She laughed at how he ran around her, excited for an adventure. She knelt down to give him a cuddle and a scratch behind his ears, just as Harry and Gemma caught up with her. She looked up, her eyes catching Harry’s. He could see the mischief in her eyes when she said,

“Alright Charlie, you can come with us. I may need your help with these two.”

“Hey! I’m a lot better than I was the first time you took me out, miss. Rude. Its him you need to look after, not me.” Nichole just laughed as she stood up, brushing the dirt off her knees.

“Heeeyyy. I’ll be fine. You have such faith in me, Jesus.” Nichole reached up and turned the cap on his head around so the bill of it was in front, not the back.

“You will thank me later, trust me.” Then she placed the hat she was holding in her hand on her head grabbing Gemma’s arm, pulling her towards the stable. “C’mon y’all, let’s do this.”

~*~*~*~

After a half hour of teaching Harry how to saddle his horse, convincing him that he wasn’t going to hurt her, but he would hurt himself if he didn’t tighten it up, and couple of failed attempts before he got himself in the saddle with Gemma laughing at her brother the entire time, they finally got out on the trail. Gemma trailed behind them with Charlie bringing up the rear as Nichole quietly instructed Harry how to control the direction and the speed of his horse.

Harry decided he had enough instruction and started to move ahead of the girls. He needed to get some distance between him and Nichole. Her perfume surrounded him and he couldn’t keep his eyes off her tanned arms and her jean covered thighs. He was lost in very inappropriate thoughts when his horse reared back a bit and he almost fell. Nichole was suddenly beside him, her hand reaching for the reins and speaking soothingly to the horse.

“Whoa girl…shh.” She turned to Harry, giving him a look that he couldn’t decide was concerned or scolding. “You alright? You pulled a little too tight, darlin’. Gently pull in the direction you want to go in. She’s an old gal that’s been around the track a few times. She knows what to do; you just have to guide her.”

“I’m fine. Sorry. Is she ok?” He asked, concerned for the animal. Nichole petted his horse, stroking her mane softly.

“She’s good, aren’t you, girl?” You pulled back to hard, almost like putting on the breaks in a car at the last minute. This one, she just needs a little nudge.”

They spent the next couple hours out on the ranch with Nichole pointing out interesting things to them. Harry had hoped Nichole wouldn’t need to come save him again, but unfortunately she did, more than once. Gemma was doubled over her saddle laughing as Nichole and Buster had to catch up with Harry because me “might have” nudged his horse a bit too hard and she took off running.When she caught up with them Harry was obviously flustered and Nichole was trying not to laugh at him.

“Harry, darlin’ you aren’t going to learn this in a day. Just relax and try to enjoy yourself. And let old Grace to her job, ok?” About then Carolyn drove past them, waving out the window of the old pickup.

“Oh, lunch time. Come on, we need a break anyway.”

It didn’t take long to catch up with Carolyn, who had stopped where Jimmy, Dylan, and their two hands had been moving cattle from one pasture to another.

“I thought y’all would be near here.” Carolyn said pulling out the food she’d prepared for everyone.

Harry and Nichole sat up on the tailgate of Jimmy’s truck quietly, eating lunch while Gemma sat with Nichole’s family. They were all laughing so Harry was certain that Gemma was embarrassing him by telling them all about his mishaps on the trail.

“Thank you, Nichole.”

“For what?”

“Well, it’s pretty well known how clumsy I am, so thanks for keeping me from breaking a limb today.” She placed her hand over his, smiling at him.

“Harry, I was riding before I could walk. For your first time, you haven’t done to bad.” Then her eyes turned mischievous again, “Besides, I had to save you. I do not need the wrath of the entire One Direction fandom falling coming down on me because I let their crown prince break his ass.”

“Oi! I’m not the Crown Prince,” Harry said, putting the cap back on his head and hopping off the tailgate, “I’m the King, baby.” Nichole just laughed and kicked her foot out at him, her boot connecting with his backside lightly.

~*~*~*~

It was 2am and Harry was still up, staring at his phone, trying to focus on emails and texts from the guys. Gemma was sound asleep in the bed on the other side of the room. Harry had developed a bit of insomnia from spending so much of the past five years mostly in hotels and never really knowing what time zone he was in. He got his best sleep when he was home, in his mother’s house. He supposed it was just comforting, and he didn’t have to be on his guard there. He could really just relax. And his mind kept wondering to the ride Nichole took him on.It was embarrassing to have to be rescued by her so many times, but it was still a fun day. He made a promise to himself to get better before next time.

It also didn’t help that Nichole’s house was eerily quiet. He’d gotten used to background noise of some kind, or lights coming in from the window, something. Out here, he could hear animals howling in the distance, cows, horses, owls. It was all very surreal. He’d definitely become accustomed to LA and London. He couldn’t help but wonder how Nichole was going to adjust to London. He tossed his phone down on the bed, giving up on doing anything. Deciding he needed a drink, he quietly opened the door, so as not to wake Gemma and made his way downstairs. There was a light on in the kitchen and he found Nichole standing in front of an open cupboard rummaging for something. She had her hair up in a messy bun and a long tie-dyed t shirt. As she reached up for something higher, he noticed she wasn't wearing shorts...just her knickers. He cleared his throat, letting her know he was in the room.

"Hells bells!" Nichole jumped back, pulling her shirt down quickly, "Harry, you scared ten years off me!" He couldn't help but smile, certain that her accent was going to be the death of him.

"Sorry, I didn't know you were in here. I just came for something to drink." Her eyes trailed over his bare chest, taking in the tattoos on his torso and arms that she’d only had glimpses of before. Suddenly she felt like there was a full charm of hummingbirds in her stomach and her face heating up. Harry noticed how quickly she turned her head away and he couldn’t help but grin.

"Trouble sleeping? Gemma said you had a problem with that. I was gonna make some tea, would you like a cup too? Chamomile helps me sleep."

"Sure, that'd be nice." Nichole pointed to the cupboard, motioning for him to get cups down as she filled the kettle. As she reached up to grab the tea his eyes were drawn to her again. She had a gorgeous ass, and nice toned legs. He blushed knowing he was wrong for looking at her like that, but well...it was an amazing view.

"Eyes up, Mr. Styles." Nichole said, catching him mid stare. She couldn’t stop herself from grinning at him, he looked so flustered. "Watch the kettle a moment; I'll go put some shorts on." And she slipped past him and went up the stairs quickly. About then the kettle whistled and he jumped. Turning back around laughing at himself, all he could think was Smooth, Styles...really smooth.

They took their tea out on the back porch, and sat quietly enjoying the view. Even in the dark, the bluebonnets were beautiful.

"I like to sit out here at night and just listen to the sounds," Nichole said, sipping her tea. Harry watched her just staring out into the night. She seemed so at peace. His heart started to break. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he was stealing her away from what she loved the most in the world.

"Will you miss this place a lot when you move?" he asked. She turned to him, her brown eyes shimmering, even in the dark he could see she wanted to cry thinking about leaving home. It took everything in him not to reach out and pull her into his arms.

"Of course I am going to miss home. Don't you miss home when you are gone?" She asked, rather bluntly.

"Yes, I suppose I do. I miss my mum and Robin, my dad, Gemma, my friends..."

"But you still go, and you do what you need to, because your family, your home...they will always be there for you." He just nodded at her. He knew his home would always be there.

"The work we are going to do, Harry. It's important. All my life, I have wanted to help people, people that didn't have what I had. Not just here in my home town, or in my country. I believe everyone deserves to live their best life. Deserves to have an education, a home, safe drinking water...children deserve to play and not worry about where their next meal is coming from. Parents shouldn't have to listen to their children cry from hunger. Or watch them die from simple diseases that could've been prevented with a simple immunization." The tears were rolling down her face now. The passion she felt was intense and he felt himself getting choked up as well. "So yes, I am going to miss home. I will miss this ranch and my family so very much. But my heart is telling me this is what I should be doing now. You and me, we have important work to do. My home will be here when I come back."

Notes

Why am I grinning at the idea of Harry trying to ride a horse for the first time. Of course, he could actually be very good at it, but I'm gonna go with the idea he doesn't have a clue.

Hope you are still loving the story. Feedback is love, ya'll <3

Comments

@Kammy.
I just think it’s hilarious that like everyone rips on him.

morrison_hotel morrison_hotel
12/30/18

@morrison_hotel
I’m sure he’s really a nice guy...I heard an interview where he said he was honored to represent H and that he took it very seriously and that H was an amazing human being... but someone has to be the bad guy

Kammy. Kammy.
12/30/18

@Kammy.
I do!
I’m sorry but I honestly love the digs at Jeff. Idk why I’m such a cunt about it. They make me laugh.

morrison_hotel morrison_hotel
12/29/18

@morrison_hotel
You like?

Kammy. Kammy.
12/29/18

❤️

morrison_hotel morrison_hotel
12/29/18