Page 18 of Bleeding Blackheart

It’s working. My feminine ways are working. Such a typical man.

His clear blue eyes sear into mine, and he chuckles deeply. “If you think that I don’t know what you’re trying to do, Montana, you’re a goddamn idiot. You’re smarter than that. Keep playing with fire, and you will burn up in flames quickly.”

A chill runs throughout my entire body when his smile drops, and I give him my back, finishing up the dinner.

My eyes water, and I push away my tears, not wanting him to see how upset and unhappy I am.

After I get the vegetables out the oven, I finish the steaks and plate everything. Blackheart waits patiently while I set the table, and when I do, he looks at both plates. He has the bigger piece of steak, and after comparing the two, he switches his plate with mine. “Eat every last bit. You won’t outrun your father if you’re malnourished.”

There’s that hint of humanity again. Just a hint of the real man in there capable of feeling. I feel physical pain looking at him. I’m almost terrified to know what horrible things he’s been through to make him ice-cold.

We eat together in silence, and once he cleans his plate, he huffs at me. “It was good.”

I nod in thanks and finish my plate, and when I’m done, he clears the table.

Looking down at me, he rubs his bare chin. “Get some socks and put your boots on. But don’t change.”

Of course, he’d want me to keep this slutty outfit on. “Where are we going?”

Rolling his eyes, he crosses his arms. “The stables. You’re gonna help me feed the horses.”

I walk beside Blackheart with my wavy hair blowing in the wind while we head to the stables behind the house. It shouldn’t excite me to be out here with him, but after the shitty week that I’ve had, I’m thrilled to get some fresh air and see his animals.

I used to have horses. Well, my father did, but I took care of them like they were mine. That was before he sold them to pay his debts.

I remember going to horse shows with my dad when I was a kid. I got to compete in some too, and the most proud of me he ever was was when I’d place first. But with no horse anymore, I couldn’t pursue it as a career path. And when I didn’t want to follow in his footsteps is when he decided I was no longer his daughter.

Blackheart stops a few feet away from the stables and looks down at me. His long, brown hair blows in the wind, and his eyes glow under the deep sunset. “You familiar with horses?”

I nod my head eagerly, not wanting to upset him and wanting to see the animals. “Yes. Very much so.”

I swear I almost see a hint of a smile before it’s pushed back under the surface. He leads me through the shelterand shows me where he keeps the food stored. “Give all the girls some hay to start, and then I want the girls eating a blend of barley and oats. I’ll give ‘em water.”

“What about the boys?”

He smirks. “There aren’t any.”

At first glance, I would’ve never guessed that Blackheart would have female horses. He just so masculine and aggressive. But the more I think about it, the more it makes sense. A group of girls for him to dominate who love him is exactly the type of thing he would like. And, they may be the only reason he has any hint of humanity left in him.

We work together silently and quickly, and I start at stall number one. I don’t know what the horses are named, but this first one is a black beauty. She’s gentle and sweet, and she eats quickly. I can’t stop myself from rubbing her nose. I scratch her ears and plant a kiss on the top of her muzzle when she puts her head on my shoulder. “Good girl.”

Blackheart looks up at me angrily, but he doesn’t say a word while I pet his horse. I make my way down the line, getting to know the girls who all seem to like a little love. And when I get to stall ten is when I meet the most quiet girl.

She’s pure white and shy. Pretty brown eyes. I talk to her softly, trying to get her to come up to me, and she does.

This girl doesn’t look beaten, but she looks broken. She puts her nose up to mine, and I wrap my arms around her. It’s risky having my face this close to a horse I don’t know, but she’s gentle. I know she won’t hurt me.

“You’re so pretty,” I whisper to her, giving her the praise I sense she’s longing for. I keep my arms around her, stepping closer when she drops her head over my shoulder, and I don’t even realize we’re not alone until I feel someone watching me. I turn around and see Blackheart just standing there, staring with his shotgun. I pull away quickly and exit the stall, standing nearby it.

I’m just about to apologize for overstepping when he points at her with his finger. “This is Violet.”

I glance between him and the horse, and they stare each other down like two people who used to know each other but don’t anymore. When I look back at her, she steps a little closer to me, and I go back to her, giving her nose another rub. “How long have you had her?”

He sighs and stares at her like he can’t stand to look at her. “Too long.”

I open my mouth to press for more, but before I can, he leads me down the line, introducing me to the other girls. It’s when we get back to stall number one that I realize which one is his favorite. “This is Willow.” He doesn’t look at me, but he grins at her like she’s a cherub. She gives himthe same love she gave me and then some. He’s so calm with her, and for a split second I feel like I’m in the twilight zone.

For a moment it feels like we’re friends. Or like we could be. He looks between me and her, telling me about how he got her. He tells me how his sweet little mare can fetch and jump, and that he’s won a barrel race or two with her. His smile never leaves his face the entire time he tells me about her, and he takes me to a private area where he keeps some fruit stored and gives me some strawberries to feed her. Apparently they’re her favorite.

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