Page 27 of Need Me
Chapter 7
Walkingto the barn hand-in-hand with Robert filled Brooke with a simple happiness. He’d taken her hand as soon as they’d stepped out of the house. It took her back to her adolescence when she’d done the same sort of thing with herboyfriends.
Not many men seemed to want to hold hands much anymore, but she was quickly coming to see that Robert enjoyed the casual physical contact. Looking at his profile as they walked, Brooke had a sudden moment ofjadedness.
Was he too good to be true? So far, she hadn’t found anything negative about Robert, and it made her slightly nervous. Then she chided herself for letting her former suspicious nature surface, even for a fewmoments.
As they entered the barn, the various animals greeted them. Robert introduced her to Precious, but Brooke hung back alittle.
Robert’s eyes filled with concern. “What’swrong?”
Brooke folded her arms. “I feel so silly, but I’ve never been close to many horses. Emily, Tyler—everyone has tried to get me to learn to ride, but they scareme.”
Gently, Robert dislodged one of her hands from where she had it tucked against her side. “Come here. I promise that Precious won’t hurtyou.”
Brooke bit her bottom lip in indecision, but his earnest expression convinced her to take a chance. “Okay.”
She was confused when he led her over to a large plastic garbage can and opened thelid.
“This is Precious and Cletus’ sweet feed.” He scooped up some with his hand and held it out to her. “Smellthat.”
Brooke sniffed it, surprised that it smelled so good. “Yum.”
Robert said, “I love the smell of it. Here, take this. You’re going to feedPrecious.”
Startled, she shook her head. “No. She’ll biteme.”
“I promise that she won’t. Don’t be achicken.”
She glowered at him, but he just smiled back. “Fine. I’ll feedher.”
“Attagirl.” He gave her the grain and took her back over to Precious, whose ears were pricked all the way forward. “Hold your hand flat, like this. That way, she won’t accidently catch you. If a horse bites you while you’re feeding it, it almost always means that you weren’t holding the treat right. Precious is a good girl with greatmanners.”
Brooke swallowed hard as she looked into Precious’ large, dark eyes. “Okay. Hi, Precious. You’re a pretty girl.” Battling her fear, she flattened her hand out and extended it to the horse. “Please don’t eat myhand.”
She closed her eyes tight and prepared for the worst. Gentle sensations on her palm made her open her eyes and she watched Precious delicately lip the treat off herhand.
A smile crossed her face. “Her whiskerstickle.”
“Yeah.” Robert stroked the mare’s neck as she munched on hertreat.
When the snack was gone, Brooke grew bolder and pet Precious’ face and felt her muzzle. “It’s so soft. Like velvet.” The horse nudged her and Brooke backed off alittle.
“That just means that she likes you,” Robert said. “That and she’s coaxing for morefeed.”
Brooke came back and pet Precious. “Can I give hermore?”
“Another handful won’t hurt her, but no more than that. Too much sweet feed will fatten horses up,” hereplied.
Excited, Brooke hurried over to the feed barrel and grabbed another handful. Returning to Precious, she offered it to her. Precious quickly took the feed. Brooke giggled, feeling like a kid at a pettingzoo.
A loud bray to her right made herjump.
Robert laughed. “Cletus is feeling left out. You have to give him somenow.”
Brooke almost ran back to thebarrel.
“Put a little in the scooper. It’ll be easier tocarry.”
