Nathaniel
“MOVE, PISTOL!”
I knew that he was trying to be loving but I wasn’t in the mood.
Animals could sense tension and since I was frustrated as hell, Pistol was trying to make me feel better.
I’d come out this way thinking I would be able to take my mind off of what was going on but I’d just stood at the fence staring off in the distance.
Pistol and Riot had left me alone initially, but something in the air had them coming over to me.
At first, I thought it was because of the apples I had in my pockets for them but they’d gobbled them up and still waited on me.
Ignoring them didn’t work because they both kept nudging me like they wanted me to talk to them.
It was annoying as hell to be so close that your animals knew you well.
It had been a week since I’d had dinner with the family and nothing had progressed.
I mean shit was normal but I wanted something else to give.
I knew my time was running out before I would have to give all my focus to training.
Riot was a horse that hadn’t been wanted by the same breeder I’d gotten Pistol from.
He was wilder than Pistol, a trait I valued but others didn’t, and I got him cheap because his pedigree couldn’t be established.
His breeder relayed that his sire might’ve been a wild horse because his mare had gotten loose and came back pregnant.
Of course my trouble horse resulted from a one-night stand but I loved his wild ass.
I hoped he would be ready for competition at some point but he wasn’t there yet.
Pistol kept his big ass head resting on mine like he was a damn Shih tzu instead of the massive beast that he was. His ass was really nuzzling my head like he was attempting to comfort me.
“Do I need to give you two a moment?”
My head turned and I saw Yzzy walking closer to where we were. I’d asked her to come over because Riot’s mean ass had been unnecessarily meaner the last few days. Yzzy was the only person I trusted with my horses but I’d forgotten that she was supposed to be here today.
“Nah, he’s just acting like a big damn baby.” I pushed Pistol again but he kept close this time just moving his head to my shoulder. I gave up because I was tired of fighting him.
Yzzy stopped in front of me with her brows raised. She was wearing denims and boots with a scrub top on. I bent down to hug her before letting her get to work.
“Pistol is the most dog-like horse I think I’ve ever seen in my life.”
I rubbed the side of his face because he wasn’t going anywhere and I needed the connection. Charmy wasn’t icing me out it was my own expectations and my cowardice at not confronting the situation had on that had me all emotional.
“He is. But he’s a good boy.”
“He’s being this clingy and he’s not the one you want me to check out?”
“Nah, look at Riot’s ass. He’s over there all forlorn like he lost his best friend.”
Yzzy studied Riot before pushing me in the shoulder. Pistol neighed at her like he wanted smoke and I shoulder checked him because his ass knew better. “Aye, stop that shit, Pistol! That’s family.”
“You’re upset because your damn horse is calm?” Yzzy looked at me like I was wasting her time but she was going to hear me out for now.
“Hell, yeah. You know he’s a little asshole. Him over there looking like a normal ass horse is stressing me out.”
“Is he eating?”
“Yeah.”
“Shitting?”
“Yes, Dr. Briggs I know how to look for signs of colic in my horses.”
She laughed before her eyes went back to Riot. “I’m not an expert on it but there was an article going around a while back about getting deeper cleanings for your horses. Especially the ones that you haven’t gelded.”
Maybe I was overthinking it but I didn’t like the idea of just cutting off an animal’s nuts for fun.
I’d much rather them stud with a female and learn to trust me more than to castrate them to make them docile.
It was too much like what had been done to my African and Native ancestors and I wasn’t about that.
Yzzy knew my horses were treated like the athletes they were, so I didn’t know why she was talking about cleaning them. “What do you mean get him cleaned? I groom the fuck outta my animals, Yzzy.”
“Watch yaself cussin’ at her.” Samp appeared out of nowhere like the boogie man as soon as he thought anyone wasn’t treating Yzzy like a Disney princess.
“I’m not cussin’ at her but she think my horses are dirty.”
She folded her arms and cocked her neck to the side ready to lay into me. Yzzy looked annoyed as fuck and I had to wonder what was making her so damn grumpy. “If you would calm your temperamental ass down I would explain what I mean.”
I scrunched my face up ready to be smart but the look she gave me said she wasn’t in the mood to play with me today. “Go ahead.”
“Aye, I will toss your ass over this fence being snippy with my damn wife, Bucky.”
“Leave him alone, Samp, he’s frustrated and he’s worried.
I’m sure that all parents would be the same way when their kids are sick.
Calm down.” She put a hand on Sampson’s arm which normally did the trick but he was still frowning like I pissed him off.
How she went from being snippy to defending me was crazy.
I’m glad she ain’t want to see us out here tearin’ shit up because we definitely would.
I had to check my attitude because Yzzy wasn’t the cause of my problems. Taking them out on her wasn’t right and I let her know that. “I’m sorry, Yzzy, but you’re right. I am worried about what’s going on with him.”
“I think he might have a bean.”
“A bean? What is that?” Sampson’s know it all ass was now in the mix asking question when he was just threatening me.
“It’s when he gets groomed but he doesn’t have his sheath cleaned.”
“His sheath? I clean them well.” I wasn’t one of these weird niggas who thought touching any part of an animal made you gay or into weird shit.
The folks around here who had horses for generations knew it was part of caring for your animal.
Since I never shied away from it I was unsure of how she thought their dicks were the problem.
“But a sheath cleaning is different and a little more intricate than I’m sure you’re looking at.” She leaned against the fence observing Riot as though she could tell from behavior alone that was the issue.
“I would feel if he had an obstruction in there when I bathe him, Yz.”
“Not all the time. You said that his attitude was grumpy and he suddenly doesn’t want to be ridden. If you had a something that felt like a rock in your foreskin wouldn’t you be pissed.”
I threw my hands up which had Pistol neighing again to cosign my actions. “That’s not even a question I’m going to answer with your big ass bear looking husband hovering next to me.”
“Smart man.”
“So how do I do this?”
“You don’t. Schedule somebody and have them do it.” I thought for sure we were about to tackle this shit now to give me something to focus on.
“You can’t—”
“She ain’t getting no where near the hind parts of a horse that’s acting out.
That’s a recipe for him to be skittish and I’m not about to risk it.
” Sampson stepped up and didn’t even give Yzzy a chance to talk.
They shared a look and I just knew he was about to get cussed out.
I hopped up on the fence next to Pistol’s ass so that I could see the fireworks. But they never came.
“He’s right. You know I’d be the first person to tell him to leave me alone and let me do my job but I can’t.
The crouching would have me too vulnerable and horses can be finicky when it comes to being around people when they’re upset.
Hence the reason why he won’t let you ride him despite you being one of the few people he can tolerate. ”
I couldn’t argue with her logic because her safety was more important to me than getting out of a foul mood. “There’s that one chick that does it for some of the people on the circuit but I never thought I needed it.”
Yzzy leaned back against Samp and he wrapped an arm around her waist. “Call her. I’m sure she’ll make an exception for you.”
“Why you say it like that?”
“Because, Nate, it’s you. Anyone would be happy to have their name on your horse because of your success.”
Not where I thought she was going with her statement but I’m happy that’s where we ended up. “Oh yeah, that’s true.”
I’d given her too much credit because she immediately said, “And she probably wants to fuck you, too.”
Her and Samp laughed at my expense and I was ready for them to go. “That’s blunt as hell, Yz.”
“But I’m not wrong. I observe everything especially when it comes to this family. I could tell you who has been gunning for what man on this ranch for the last three years.”
“How do you know so much?”
“Because your brother was somewhat taken and I was just seen as the help. People have no issues talking around me like I don’t matter. The staff always know the secrets, Nate.” She shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal but now my ass wanted to be nosy.
“Show me who calls you the staff on the property that bears the last name that you proudly wear.” Samp was getting annoyed and I was proud at how he was coming behind his wife.
Completely overboard and unnecessary but I’m sure those were the kind of grand gestures that helped him bag Yz in the first place.
“And there goes the big bad wolf.”
Sampson looked at me like he forgot I was even there despite their asses being at my damn house. “I went from a bear to a fucking wolf. Pick a predator, Bucky.”
“I’m not falling into that trap with you, Samp. I’m going to find this girl’s information—”
“It’s Alesha Martin.”
I shouldn’t have been surprised that she knew who the expert was with this. “Who don’t you know, Yzzy?”
“You seem to forget I had to know a lot of people around here. Stop irritating me, Nate.”
“Yeah, leave her alone, Nate.”