Page 14 of The Wounded Warrior

“Me, that’s who.” He cut off a bit of apple with his pocketknife, then held it out, palm flat.

The yearling’s lips were soft as satin, tickling the shit out of his palm. He managed not to laugh or slap, then he rubbed Tom-Tom’s nose.

He could feel the tension of the day letting go, simply lifting off him like he was shaking off a mood. Like a dog coming in from the rain. He chuckled, and more long noses appeared, Lula and Fayla and Robbie.

One by one, he visited with them, getting them used to human touch and letting himself enjoy the simple act of taking care of something. They didn’t care if he was oddly shaped or awkward. They listened to his voice, nibbled at his shirt. This. This was therapy.

“I keep telling Avery that this is the way to go. I’m so tired of the wires and pulleys and weights and shit, guys. I swear.”

Fayla nipped at his ear, but he didn’t scold her. She deserved her apple. “I know, right? All you guys need is what you need.”

He reached up and rubbed Fayla’s ears, feeling the muscles in his lower back creak and protest. The stretch made him want to cry out, but he held it back. The horses made Luke hyperaware that he wasn’t the only one there.

She bobbed her head, pulling at him, helping him move and stretch.

“Such a sweet girl,” Luke murmured, laughing when she nibbled his chin.

God, it felt so good to laugh. Luke did it so rarely. This was a good place. A place a veteran like him could find a balm for his soul.

Maybe Matt would let a couple of Avery’s other PT patients come by.

Oh, wouldn’t that be something?Was that stupid? Maybe it was, but it couldn’t hurt to talk to his twin. Matt wanted to help him, for sure.

Matt came into the barn, searching the dark corners for him. “You okay, Lu?”

Sensitive fuck.

“I’m better. Therapy sucked today. This is good, though.”

“This is good a lot of the time.”

“It is.” Luke hesitated. “Do you think I could have a couple guys over? Maybe with my therapist?”

“Of course.” Matt blinked at him, owlish as all get out. “This is your home, Luke. You bring whoever you’d like.”

“Well, I meant to work with the horses, and those are yours. I think it would be good for Jake. Maybe Robbie.”

Matt shot him a curious look. “You can, sure. I mean, I trust you not to let the babies get hurt.”

“Cool. I would want you around to supervise, but Avery grew up on a ranch, too. I think—Well, maybe it’s stupid, but it’s calming. Working with the horses.”

“You think? I remember when you were a kid, you hated it, hated being here.” Matt headed into the stables, loving on one horse after another. “I’m tickled to hear you don’t hate it now.”

“I don’t.” Luke shrugged, wheeling down the line with relative ease now that his arms weren’t screaming at him. “I guess I thought I wanted something else back then.”

“Well, sure. You… I mean, I’m just a broke-dick cowboy running horses and trying to keep Momma and Preacher on their land.”

“Bullshit.” Luke reached over to pinch Matt’s leg. “You’re my hero.”

“No pinching, asshat.” Matt’s cheeks went all pink.

God, Luke was proud of him for working so hard to make this ranch a good, solid place. “You asked for it.”

“I just… I wanted you to know that I’m glad you’re here. I missed you something fierce.”

“You getting all maudlin on me?” That was Luke’s way of saying ‘I love you, too’. “I’m starving, man. What are we having?”

“I was thinking we could have chicken and veggies on the grill. There’s a cherry pie from Brookshires in the freezer.”

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