Page 128 of Assassin

“He’s beautiful.”

“Oh, and he knows it,” Poe said. “His biggest issue is he likes speed, like Diablo. They will race. If you’ve ever been on a runaway train with no seatbelt, that’s what it’s like riding them.”

He gave Gamble an apple, and he fed it to the horse. Then, he ran his hands over his neck.

“Want to brush him?” he asked.

“Can I?” Gamble asked.

“Absolutely. I have to do this every day. Maybe while you’re here, you can help me. It takes so long alone.”

“Okay,” he said, taking the brush.

“I’ll do Diablo because he’s just mean,” he said, pointing at the horse.

It neighed.

He let Gamble into the stall, and he brushed that horse down better than he did, and he didn’t show any exhaustion at all. It was clear that these horses HAD to be part of Gamble’s recovery.

“Last but not least, this is King. He created that menace, Diablo. He fathered him, and he’s just as spiteful as his son—but worse.”

Gamble was curious.

“Why do you keep them if they are difficult?” Gamble asked, trying to pet King, but he wasn’t having it.

“I like a challenge. I’ll break them in at some point. If you want to ride, you’re more than welcome to get on Honey. Like I said, she’s a sweetheart.”

He leaned down to scratch Rufus’ ear. The dog was following him everywhere.

“Thanks.”

“Do you think you can handle Honey?” Poe asked.

He nodded.

“Yeah, I do.”

Oh, this was going to be perfect.

He could tell.

The man was going to have a reason to live, and responsibilities to the horses.

Purpose.

“Feel free anytime. Honey will take you on a tour and then bring you right back. She is snack motivated. Just tell her it’s time for apples.”

She made some noise.

“See?” he said, feeding her one.

“Thanks,” he said. “You have a nice place, Doctor. It’s calm here.”

Yes, yes, it was.

That was for his own mental health.

“Poe, please. I’m not formal, and while we both know what my job is, most of the time, I’m just this man. I like to ride my horses, and make food. I’m simple.”

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