Chapter 24
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A long, needy whinny cuts through the air, and I slowly release Anna’s waist before stepping back and looking at the second pen on my right. A familiar set of brown eyes dredges up a decade of memories I’ve long since hidden away.
I haven’t been in the stable since the last time I was home months ago, but it’s been much, much longer since I’ve spent any real time in it.
Panic claws at my throat as I hold Sky’s stare and consider shackling myself to the wall to keep from going over to her like I ache to do.
The recognition in her eyes is a sledgehammer to my gut.
She waves her head side to side, whinnying again, louder this time. Her golden mane flies with the movement, and my fingers begin to shake, the only physical sign that I’m struggling to restrain myself. Grief hits me in a wave that dares to sweep my feet out from beneath me.
“Oh, you’re so pretty,” Anna coos, stepping up to Sky’s gate and resting her hands on top of it. “Can I pet her?”
“Yeah.” The word is sticky. I clear my throat and bring back up the wall I’ve let down. “Her name’s Sky.”
Anna focuses all her attention on my horse but doesn’t make a move toward her. It strikes me then that she’s waiting for proper instructions. This is a first for her, idiot.
“Extend your arm to her and let her smell the back of your hand,” I say.
She does, and it takes Sky less than a breath to decide Anna’s a worthy friend.
Sky presses her white-striped nose into Anna’s palm, and her following laugh is nothing short of giddy.
Something tugs at my chest as I witness the automatic ease between the two of them, but I continue to keep my distance.
“Hi, Sky. You’re a sweetie, aren’t you? Yes, you are,” Anna murmurs to the horse, continuing to let Sky rub her muzzle into her hand.
I drift toward to her, unable to ignore the comfort that appears when she’s close. “You can scratch her neck.”
“Will you show me where?” she asks.
It isn’t a completely innocent question. Anna’s too observant to have missed the way I haven’t gotten as close to Sky as she has or why I haven’t made a move to touch her when clearly, she wants me to.
I can’t speak past the rock in my throat.
Instead, I lean into Anna’s body and lift my arm alongside hers, watching as Sky steps as close to the gate as she can and greedily shoves her face toward us.
Anna giggles at the touch, and then I’m taking her hand and resting it on Sky’s neck, just below her bright blond mane.
My hand is so much bigger than hers, and as I press it against the thick muscle, my fingers reach further, brushing soft, short hair.
Dropping my chin to rest on the crown of Anna’s head, I inhale deeply, shutting my eyes.
I guide Anna’s hand down Sky’s tan-coloured neck, repeating the motion over and over until it stops feeling so foreign to the both of us.
When I feel the thin, silky hairs of her mane tickle the top of my hand, I open my eyes to see that Sky’s turned her head to give us more access.
She’s always been greedy for affection, but after months without seeing me, I can only imagine that need has multiplied.
“She’s yours, isn’t she?” Anna asks softly.
A curt nod. “Since I was fourteen.”
“I wanted a horse when I was little, but it wasn’t exactly possible in the city.”
I’m grateful for the small change in topic. “Your parents never put you in lessons or anythin’? I’m sure there were a few places you could have gone around Vancouver.”
A pause. “I’m actually allergic to most animals, dogs and cats especially, but my parents didn’t want to risk horses either.”
“You’re allergic to animals, and you insisted I take you here?” I jerk my head back and try to pull her away from Sky, but the stubborn woman shakes her head and plants her feet to the ground.
“Oh, relax. I got more allergy tests done a few years back, and most animals are fine—including horses. Even if they weren’t, I only get an itchy rash when I come into contact with them. It’s nothing too serious,” she explains. “Are you allergic to anything?”
Her confidence allows me to begin to relax. “No. At least not that I know of.”
Sky whinnies again before butting her nose against our hands and moving back a few steps. I stifle a laugh at her obvious attitude and take Anna’s hand in mine, holding it at her side.
I meet Sky’s stare and shake my head. “We’re not coming in today.”
If horses could roll their eyes, she would have. The breath she blows before stomping her front hoof into the hay is just as bad.
“Has she always been so sassy?” Anna asks, grinning at her.
“From the moment I got her as a foal.”
“Huh. I bet that was good for you.” She smirks at Sky. “You’re probably half-responsible for his good manners.”
My mouth curves ever so slightly. “You’re probably right.”
Realizing she’s not going to get what she wants, Sky comes back, hanging her head over the gate for us to pet. Anna takes advantage of the chance, but I put my hands in my pockets.
I’m not ready to touch my horse again yet. Just once was more than enough to unravel every defense I’d spent years putting in place.
“Let me introduce you to the foals. You can spoil Sky with more affection later.”
Anna glances over her shoulder, and whatever she sees on my face has her agreeing without pause. With a soft parting pat on the neck, she says goodbye to Sky and follows me toward the open door leading to the outdoor pen.
We pass both empty stalls and ones with horses inside.
Most of the stalls inside the stable are for new moms with their foals and the work horses we need kept close.
The rest are out in the field behind the stable, able to roam wherever and whenever they please.
Kip’s stall is the one beside Sky’s, his reins and coat missing from the hook on his gate as opposed to the ones hung on Sky’s.
Grandpa tried to tell me all about Sky when I got back, but I ignored him, and suddenly, I’m wishing I hadn’t. Too many questions linger in my head, from how often she’s been ridden since I’ve been gone to who’s been mucking her stall.
I’ve neglected her over the past decade—long before I took off to Nashville—and I’ll never forgive myself for that, even if it still hurts too much to make it right.
She deserves better than me, but she’s mine.
“Do I do the same things with these horses that I did with Sky?” she asks.
“Pretty much. Start with the mares and then go to the foals. If they’ll even pay you any mind. These two have been serious pains in the asses these past few weeks.”
She snorts. “They’re foals, not human toddlers.”
“They may not be pitchin’ fits, but they’re just as rambunctious. Steph has been telling anyone who will listen about these two specifically. They were birthed nearly one after the other last spring and have been inseparable since. Their energy is unmatched, hence the chasing earlier,” I explain.
Anna’s steps falter, her next words sharp despite her effort to appear unbothered. “Who’s Steph?”
It’s an effort not to appear smug at her jealousy. “The ranch employs two horse trainers. Steph is one, and Randy is the other.”
She nods. “That makes sense.”
“Would you like a full list of employees, sweetheart? I can name all the women for you,” I purr.
She scowls and swats at my arm. “You’re an ass.”
“Yet you like me enough to get jealous.”
“Nobody said anything about jealousy. I certainly didn’t.”
“You didn’t need to. It was all in the tone.”
Her brows fly up. “The tone? Well then, read the tone in this, Cowboy?—”
Whether it be from seeing her connect with Sky, or wearing those damn boots like she was born to, or even just every moment spent with her over the past few weeks combined, something gives inside of me.
Before she can finish ripping me a new one the way only she seems able to, I’m turning her to face me and taking her cheeks in my hands, placing my mouth on hers.
She stands frozen for a heartbeat, but then she thaws for me. Leaning up on her toes, she parts her lips, and I groan at my first taste of her. Soft and sweet, like cotton candy without the stomach ache.
I drift a hand behind her ear and thread my fingers through her hair, using the hold to tip her head back further and deepen the kiss. She swipes her tongue along my bottom lip, and I let her explore, close to begging her to do whatever she wishes with me.
Our toes touch, both of us having drifted closer as if pulled by an invisible string.
We’re flush together, and the rapid rise and fall of her chest has me throbbing behind the zipper of my jeans.
I’m breathing just as frantically as she is, but fuck if I’m willing to end the kiss so soon because of it.
In this moment, it doesn’t matter that this isn’t forever. Not when the right now is so damn good.
Her hands find the front of my jacket, taking two fistfuls of it and using it for leverage so she doesn’t lose balance. I know I need to pull back, but it takes every ounce of willpower to do it.
Dragging the tip of my nose up the length of hers, I inhale the sweet scent of her perfume. She pants against my lips, and I do the same.
“Better?” I murmur.
“Better?” she echoes.
“Are you still jealous?”
Her eyes snap open, and I chuckle when they roll. “You couldn’t help yourself, could you?”
“When it comes to you, that’s the one thing I can’t seem to do.”