Chapter 0038


    We drive a little down thene, over a slight rise, and then a barnes into sight. A beautiful barn,


    really, immactely cared for and painted in shades of gray. Three little gables peak out of the roof and


    two little cups crown it, weathervanes at their peeks.


    “Oh!” I say,pletely charmed by the sight. But then I see the real draw. In a series of pastures


    beyond the barn, my eyes can just barely see a group of horses grazing in the afternoon light.


    “Oh!” I say, louder this time, far more thrilled. “Is this a stable?!”


    Kentughs as he turns the car into a parking spot next to the barn. “I thought you’d like it,” he says


    seriously. “One look at you and anyone could tell you grew up dreaming of horses.”


    I nod fervently, scrambling to unbuckle my seatbelt and open the door at once. “Can we see them?!” I


    ask, my words falling over each other in my hurry. “Can I feed them? Do they have any foals?!”


    Heughs at me as I almost fall out of the car, climbing calmly out himself. Before I can dash into the


    barn, he holds out an arm to stop me. “Let me take the lead here, all right, Fay?”


    I look up at him, shining with joy, and nod. I quickly look back towards the entrance but then do a


    double-take, looking back at his face, which is somehow…gentler? Kinder?


    We both pause, taking each other in, distracted. But then he blinks, walking calmly into the barn. I


    follow closely at his heels.


    “Sir!” someone says – a young man with sandy hair down to his shoulders. He’s dressed almost like a


    cowboy, with jeans tucked into western boots and a button-down id shirt. He gives me a happy nod


    and then turns his attention back to Kent. “He’s all ready for you, gentle as can be. A real beauty.”


    Kent nods to the man and looks beyond him. “Well, I’m ready if you are.”


    The man bobs his head and the three of us walk through the stable to thest stall on the right, which


    the groom pulls open. Kent walks up to the open door and leans on the far side of it, nodding into the


    stall.


    “What do you think, Fay?” he asks.


    Slowly, so excited I can barely breathe, I peak around the corner of the stall to see the most gorgeous


    thing I’ve ever set eyes on in my life.


    “Oh,” I say again, though this time it’s barely a breath of air puffing out of my lips as I take another step


    forward and cover my mouth with my fingertips, just staring at him.


    A beautiful blood bay gelding stands in front of me, an Arabian by the arch of his neck and the height at


    which he holds his tail. The horse gently paws at the shavings of his stall, looking over at us curiously.


    My eyes sweep over him, his glossy mane, his wide and gentle eye. And immediately, I know it. I’m in


    love.


    “Can I…” I say, ncing over at Kent. “Can I go in? Can I touch him?”


    Kentughs and nods at me. Beyond him, I can see that the groom is equally pleased. I turn quickly


    back to the horse, taking a gentle step forward. The skin on his shoulder twitches a little, but otherwise


    he does not balk as I walk towards him.


    I hold out a hand towards his nose, palm up, and he gently lips my palm, saying hello, checking to see


    if I have a snack. Slowly, I raise my other hand to run over the rich ze that runs down his face,


    stepping close to run a hand over his velvety neck.


    “Do you like him?” Kent asks, behind me.


    I turn back and re at him a little. What a stupid question. Then I turn back to the beautiful horse as I


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    stroke his silky mane.


    “I thought you might,” Kent says,ughing. Then he pauses. “I’m rarely wrong in my choice of presents.


    Never, really.”


    I freeze at his words. What –


    Did he mean –


    Slowly, I turn back to him and see him smile at my shock.


    “He’s yours, Fay,” Kent says to me. “If you want him.”


    I embarrass myself then by bursting into tears.


    Kent nods to the groom, who quickly disappears. Then,ughing at me a little, Kent joins me in the


    stall. He, too, raises a hand for the horse to inspect before stroking the animal’s nose .


    “Who knew,” Kent says, looking at the horse. “Here I was trying to cheer you up, and all I’ve done is


    make you cry.” He smiles down at me. “Guess I’ll have to send him back to where he came from.”


    “Don’t you dare,” I growl at him, giving him a little shove away from my horse. Then, I bite my lip.


    “Really?” I ask, looking up at Kent. “He’s mine?”


    Kent shrugs. “This whole stable is mine, full of horses. What’s the harm in you having just one?”


    “And I cane and see him?” I ask, desperate for it, hungry with anticipation.


    “Under guard,” he says, looking at me seriously. “Yes, you cane every day, if you want.”