Page 78 of The Luminosity of Loriana Harper

“Life is only as complex as you make it.” She beckoned him out, and he followed. After she closed the door, she pointed to the stable at the far side of the massive riding ring. “There are always cats.”

“Like Plato,” he joked.

She glanced up at him with amusement. “Yes, he’s a little scamp.”

“Not so little.”

“True. And you’ve heard about Ari, the cat who resides at The Owl’s Nest.”

“The bookstore. Yes, I’ve heard.”

“Well, one of my sisters works there. Sunshine. You, uh, won’t have any problems recognizing her.”

Mitch slowed his steps. “You, Kennedy, and Sunshine? That sounds like a lot.”

She laughed. A genuine belly laugh. “Oh, that’s nothing. There’s Zephyra the vet, Torah the dog trainer, Spring the aspiring journalist, as well as Autumn and Summer—the twins. They’re still in high school, but a force to be reckoned with. Graduating soon. I think Autumnmightgo into social work. Summer’s a free spirit like Spring, so hard to say which direction she’ll take.”

Mitch cocked his head. “Eight sisters? There are…eight sisters.” He whistled. “I was an only child, so that thought overwhelms me.”

Another laugh as she opened the stable door. “Family gatherings are chaos. My dad’s a long-haul pilot. I swear he takes extra shifts for the peace of flying. My mother, Moonshine, has taken on the eight of us with gusto. That being said, I think she’s about ready to retire parenting duties. They’ve got a property up near 100 Mile House. Once the twins graduate, my parents plan on escaping the city once and for all. I’m not sure their cabin has internet.”

He couldn’t tell if she was teasing or not.

“These are our horses.”

The smell hit him. Hay, he assumed. He was taken aback for a moment.

“You okay?”

He met Rainbow’s gaze. “I’ve, uh, never been in a stable before. Or been this close to a horse.”

And he was still a good ten feet away.

Again, she looped her arm through his. “Well, come meet our girls.” She pointed as she went. “Sienna, Briar, Fallon, and Sugar. They’re all retired show horses.” She approached one horse. “They’re all incredibly docile, but Sugar here is the smallest.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a sugar cube. “For her name’s sake. You want to try?”

He stared at the object. If he took it, the horse’s mouth would be near his hand. Rainbow engendered trust—and no one had ever sued the ranch—but he still wondered about the sanity of doing this.

In for a penny…It’d make a good anecdote to tell Loriana tonight over dinner. He took the cube.

“Hold it on your palm.”

He did. A moment later, a giant mouth pressed to his hand, and a tongue swiped the cube. He should’ve been grossed out, but he was fascinated. “Can I do that again?”

Rainbow laughed. “Sure, all the girls can have one. Let’s go see Briar.”

Just before he stepped away, Sugar nuzzled against him.

Startled, he almost stepped back. Then, in a moment of pure insanity, he stepped toward her. Gently, he ran his hand down her snout.

She nudged him gently.

“That girl senses a kindred spirit.”

He met Rainbow’s gaze.

She shrugged. “They’re empathetic. They sense when someone’s hurting.” She held up her hands. “Now, I’m not saying you’re hurting. Just that you might have something on your mind and here’s a good place to work that out. Being around the horses sort of soothes. As does Tiffany.” Again, she petted the comfort dog. “Shall we feed the others?”

Is my turmoil that obvious?

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