Page 129 of Assassin

“Not royalty?”

He shrugged.

“It was a title. It’s not who my family is. If you walked up to my mother on her farm, you’d think she was actually the person who tends the animals. She walks in more horse shit than anyone I know.”

Again, that was surprising.

British and a Duke?

Really?

“As for my father, he’s this stodgy old fellow who likes to tell tales of riding horses way too fast, and stealing the hearts of the ladies. In front of my mother. He pokes her, and she rallies back, telling him he can’t get his ass into a saddle alone anymore or that she only married him because how his hind end looked in polo pants.”

Gamble listened.

Yeah, he was learning a lot.

What made him most comfortable was that he didn’t feel like he wasn’t safe. This was a pretty calming place where the demons weren’t chasing him down.

Thank God.

“How much land is there to ride?” he asked.

“A little over fifty acres. Some is swamp, but for the most part, it’s flat land. The horses know were they can go and can’t go.”

Poe touched his arm.

“You know that this was a session, right?” he asked. “And that they don’t have to be traumatizing. It’s about opening up, and getting it off your chest.”

Gamble nodded.

“I know. This is also where you tell me it’s not my fault, and I need to let it go.”

He stopped him.

“Actually, no. That’s not how I run my sessions. Ever take your shirt off, meditate, and do some yoga to center yourself?”

He stared at him.

Then, looked around. When he focused on Poe, he pulled up his other sleeve and there was a Marine flag and tags.

“Sir, you might be confused. I’m a Marine. We don’t meditate with our shirt off. I’m not into pina coladas and munching granola. I like beer, a steak, and a run.”

It made Poe laugh.

“Oh, you’re a funny one, Mr. Holloway. Let’s just say that your time here won’t be like any other place you’ve been,” he said. “That I can promise. Oh, and you will love granola for breakfast. I make my own.”

Gamble was realizing that this was an odd place. The demons hadn’t shown up yet.

As for the granola…

They’d see about that.

“Shall we go in, meditate, and work on downward dog?” Poe asked.

He stared at him.

“As long as you don’t try to tell me my heart will heal, I’ll love another woman again, and I’ll go on to have more kids. That’s never going to happen.”

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