Australia - 3

Instructions

-Ryder- Mitchel and I walked into the house. We find Lauren asleep on the couch. Of course, Mitchel doesn't want to wake her, so we changed dinner plans and started making mountain pies. A pizza one for me, and a pork one for Mitchel. We left some of the supplies out in case Lauren wakes up and we decide to sit in the silence of the wilds. Moo's and chirps were heard as we sat there, as well as a couple of coyote howls. No matter how much I hate the heat, it's times like these that remind me why I stay with Mitchel. It's not just because of his generosity to give me a place to stay, but because I love it out here. I can't imagine a life without at least an hour in the wilderness. The peace is quickly interrupted though, when Lauren comes outside. The fire casts warm light onto her squinting eyes. She stifles a yawn and sits on the ground next to Mitchel. "What are you guys eating?" She asks, eyeing my pizza mountain pie. "Mountain pies. Want one?" Mitchel asks back. "What is a mountain pie?" It's eerie how similar the two sound. "A baked sandwich or pie with different food inside. Dessert ones can have cherries or chocolate, while savory ones can be like pizza or, like mine, pork and cheese." Lauren perks up when she hears the word pizza. "Can I have a pizza one?" She asks. "Sure. Ryder?" I know what he's asking. "Yup." I reply. I make the best pizza mountain pies throughout Australia, or I try to. I grab one of the mountain pie makers and line croissant dough on both sides. I put sauce and cheese in the middle, with oregano and rosemary, before closing the contraption and putting it into the fire. "It should be ready in 10." I tell Lauren. -Lauren- Ryder gives me the pizza sandwich and I bite into it. Warm sauce filled my mouth, and mozzarella cheese filled my taste buds. I moaned. It was so delicious. "Sooooo gooood." I say, food still in my mouth. My dad and Ryder laugh. "How have you never had a mountain pie before?" Ryder asks. I swallow and respond: "My mom never set up campfires, so why would I have had one. She also never really cooked, so... yeah." "Have you ever had s'mores?" Ryder asks. "I've heard of them... but never tried one." I mumble, slightly embarrassed. S'mores are one of those things that people assume you've had, but my mom never cared for the outdoors, so I never did either. I will admit though, the warmth of the fire and the cool breeze coming from behind me feel nice. The night passed fast, and soon I found myself waking up the next morning. I hadn't put my PJs on, they lay in a pile at the foot of my bed. My hair--and clothes-- smell like smoke and sugar. I take a quick shower before putting on jeans and a blue t-shirt. When I walk downstairs, I find cold eggs and bacon on the counter for me with a note. Lauren, You'll need to start waking up earlier. Me and Ryder are out working, eat your food and put your boots on. -Dad I sigh. I guess I'll have to do some work around here. I quickly eat my cold food and head out back. I see a large barn I hadn't noticed yesterday, and go there first. I sure hope Dad is in here. Inside, horses neigh and cows moo. This is more of a farm than I realized. "Dad?" I call. No response. Then, "Lauren?" Not Dad, Ryder. "Where's my dad?" I ask, looking around the barn for Ryder. "He's out checking on the cattle." He says as he steps out a horse stall. "Your job today is to learn how to ride." He says with a smile. "Ride? Ride what? "Horses." His grin gets even bigger when he sees the fear on my face. I never thought I would ever ride a horse. "This is Moonshine," he says, gesturing to a silver horse with dark spots splattered across its body. "She has a good temperament, good for learning how to ride. I'll show you how to saddle her." Ryder shows me how to saddle a horse, then guides me onto Moonshine. Slowly, I control Moonshine out the barn, with Ryder's help, of course. It feels weird to be on top of a creature like this. Throughout the next two weeks, Ryder shows me how to ride a horse, and I help around the house, cleaning the different rooms or making dinner, though I'm still learning how to cook. I miss home less and less, and my dad and I have grown closer. Apparently, he doesn't like coffee, so he is always drinking tea, and he favors rock music over pop. It's funny, cause I'm the complete opposite. I live for coffee and pop music. -Ryder- It's weird having another person around. Especially so since the person is a girl. Lauren is nice enough, though we don't talk much. She mostly spends her time reading. My phone rings and I pick up. "Ryder, who's calling?" I say automatically. "Ryd, you've gotta come to this party tonight! We haven't seen you all summer." Pat, the guy on the phone and my friend, whines. "Can't." "Yeah can. I already called Mitch. It's at the Frissals. 9pm." Pat hangs up the phone, and I go downstairs. "Mitchel?" I call. No response. "MITCHEL!" I try again.