Page 122 of Adored
They were going to the cemetery.
As they approached, the gates were open, and Gamble knew that wasn’t supposed to be the case. They’d closed them when they’d left earlier today.
Without an iota of hesitation, Diablo rode through them, and he slid to a stop by that one particular grave.
The stallion went up on his back legs, and Gamble managed to stay on him by some act of luck—or that Diablo wasn’t trying to toss him off to break his neck.
“Jolly good ride,” a voice said.
Oof.
Too soon.
Speaking of broken necks…
Getting down, Gamble stayed beside Diablo even as the horse wanted to walk to his old owner.
“Stay,” he said, running his hands over his flank to keep him nearby.
Hemmingway laughed.
“I’ve missed seeing him run,” he admitted. “I nearly broke my neck a good fifty times on that magnificent beast.”
Umm…
That was kinda ironic since Hemmingway had ultimately broken his neck.
“Hemmingway?” he asked, making sure.
The man smiled.
God.
He looked so much like his brother. They had the same crinkle around their eyes, dimple in opposite cheeks, and both men had baby-blue coloring too.
Gamble loved Poe’s eyes, but somehow, he didn’t have the same reaction to this man—even though he was his identical twin.
Poe was the one he craved.
The heart knew, clearly.
“Yes, Mate, it’s me, and I’m well aware that you’re my brother’s lover. That’s such a tacky word,” he stated.
Yeah, well, tell him about it.
“I hope to make it husband soon enough,” he admitted. “If he’ll marry me.”
Hemmingway moved around, heading for his grave.
“Oh, he will. You’re his Prince Charming. I’ve been watching my brother. He’s never looked happier in all of his life, and I knew him best.”
That was good to know.
As for the two men, the voices were different, but the vessel…well, the painting didn’t exaggerate. They were most definitely identical from the walk to their freckles.
“I don’t know if I’m dreaming.”
Hemmingway sat on his tombstone, his legs dangling over the side covering his name.
