Page 7 of Tangled Passion

Trey watched Madelyn stop and take a few breaths from her exercise. Her dark red hair looked almost black in the shade, but the color came alive when the sun hit it. She had it pulled back into a low ponytail.

“She’s coming this way. I’ll introduce you.”

Every step closer she came, Trey felt his body tighten further. He saw her pause when she caught sight of his brother. He didn’t like the apprehension or sadness that filled her face before she tried to move around them.

“Madelyn, wait,” Garrett said.

The woman stiffened but made her way to stand in front of the brothers. Trey was surprised at how tiny she was. The topof her head was even with his shoulders.

“Madelyn, I’d like to introduce you to my brother, Trey.”

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Madelyn’s stomach tightened as she turned to Trey, expecting the same treatment Garrett had given her. She relaxed a bit when she caught the gentle smile on his face and the hand he held out to her.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Walsh.”

Trey took her hand. “Please call me Trey.”

She cleared her throat. “I will. Well, I think I’ll head in for a bit.”

“Do you like horses?” Trey asked her.

“Yes, I do.”

“Come with us. I just brought some new ones back, and there is one I think you’ll love.”

Madelyn’s gaze sprang to Garrett’s. “Oh, no. I shouldn’t.”

She was shocked when Garrett grabbed her hand and started pulling her toward one of the barns.

“Garrett, what are you doing?” she said as she tried to dig in her heels.

“Showing you a horse.”

He was confusing her. He didn’t like her but was demanding she spend time with them. Maybe his brother is making him somehow, she thought.

“Listen, you don’t have to go with me…”

Garrett stopped abruptly, turned to her, and lifted her face up with a finger under her chin. “I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t want to.”

“Not unless your brother is making you for some reason.”

Trey snorted. “Not even then. Garrett is a stubborn jackass, but he has a lot of good qualities.”

“Oh, really?” she asked sarcastically.

Trey chuckled when Garrett growled and started pulling her along again.

Trey walked into the barn, down the aisle, and then stopped in front of one of the stalls. “Here she is.”

Madelyn moved to stand next to him and gasped. “Oh, my. She’s beautiful.” The horse was young and had long legs, like a thoroughbred. Her coat was black, as was her tail and mane. Her only other color was a white strip down her nose.

“She’s three and still needs to be broken in and trained. I’m planning on starting that in the next day or so. Would you want to help me?”

Madelyn jerked her gaze to Trey. “What? I’ve never done that before.”

“That’s okay. I’ll be there the whole time.”

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