Page 89 of Grady

“Yes, it is. Come on, let’s go inside.”

“Okay.” She opened her door and joined him at the front of the truck.

After letting their eyes adjust, Savannah smiled.

“It smells amazing here. Manure and all.”

“That sweet smell is from the haybales stacked against the wall.” Grady pointed toward them.

He then led her to his office and opened the door, gesturing for her to go inside.

“This is my office. Maverick’s is located in the other barn to the left of this one. The third barn is where Steve and John’s office is, and also holds all the feed, straw, and additional hay. Come with me, I’ll introduce you to Onyx.”

“Your horse, right?” Savannah repeated.

“Yes, ma’am. Don’t worry, he’s very friendly.”

As they approached his stall, Savannah gasped at the sight of the large black horse.

“I can see why you named him Onyx.”

“Yep, not a spot of any other color on him.”

She reached out her hand to caress the horse’s nose, and he playfully blew into it causing her to laugh.

“How would you like to go for a ride?” Grady asked.

“On a horse?” she asked in a shocked tone.

“Unless you want to ride me,” he teased. “But for now, yes, a horse.”

“I don’t know...”

“You can ride with me.”

“I’m not sure...”

“Don’t worry, I promise I won’t let anything happen to you. Onyx is as calm as they come; not even a bomb could make him move if he didn’t want to. He has stopped in the middle of a pasture refusing to go anywhere, no matter how much I tried to make him go. He can be stubborn, unless wolves are around.”

“Wolves?”

“Hell, I knew the minute I said it, I shouldn’t have. Even if there are, they won’t bother us. The only time they would is in the winter when their food source is low or they have pups, but the fence is electrified now. Before it was, Onyx and I had to outrun them last winter.”

“Oh, my God. I would have been terrified. I’m so glad nothing happened to you or Onyx.”

“Yeah, me too. I’ll tell you about it sometime, but for today, let’s go for a ride. I’d protect you with my life, Savannah. You have to know that.”

Savannah chewed on her bottom lip before finally agreeing. “I do. Okay, but please don’t let me fall off.”

“I would never do that.” He reassured her. “Wait here, I’ll get the tack.” Grady retrieved a blanket and saddle from the tack room before returning to put them on Onyx’s back.

After saddling the horse, he entered a room, and returned with a rifle, and put it into the sheath mounted next to the saddle.

“Why are you taking that?”

“Because we could see some wildlife—”

“You won’t shoot it, will you?”

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