Page 37 of The Way Back Home
Teagan glanced back at the house, then at him. “This is what you were talking about when you said having me along would take some of the heat off you, isn’t it? I’m not just a diversion. You want them to think we’re seeing each other.”
He addedperceptiveto his growing list ofTeagan’s admirable traits.
“Yes,” he confirmed. “But that’s not the only reason.”
“Oh? Why else?—”
Noah cut her off before she could finish. She wouldn’t like the answer. He wasn’t sure he did either. “Come on,” he said, pulling her toward the back of the house. “I wasn’t kidding about getting a tree.”
The stables were located about a hundred yards beyond the main house, attached to a huge barn that was three stories high. Six well-kept stalls lined the leftmost wall, only three of which were currently occupied. On the right side, Alex and Adam were attaching the last bindings to an old-fashioned white wooden sled, big enough to hold several people.
“Is that … a one-horse open sleigh?” Teagan gasped, gaping wide-eyed at the hard-carved sled.
“Two-horse actually,” Noah told her proudly. “My grandfather was a master craftsman. It’s rare we have enough snow on Christmas to use it. The kids love it.”
“I bet,” Teagan murmured, running her hands along the intricate, detailed carvings. “It’s beautiful.”
Eli came around from the back, leading a large white mare with a tawny-colored mane toward the front harness. As Noah had hoped, Teagan was drawn to her instantly, stroking the animal’s neck. The horse dipped her head and nuzzled Teagan, snorting softly.
“I think she likes you,” said Eli, smiling.
Daniel came around from the far stall, shaking his head. “Sorry, guys. I don’t think Chester’s up for it tonight. We’ll have to go with Aspen.”
“Mom mentioned he hasn’t been himself lately,” Noah said. “What’s going on?”
“The vet thinks it might be age-related arthritis.”
“Let Teagan meet him,” Noah suggested. “Mona calls her a horse whisperer.”
Daniel looked doubtful but nodded. Teagan followed quietly. So quietly that Daniel jumped back a step when he turned around and found her right there behind him.
Noah chuckled knowingly. “Yeah, she does that.”
Daniel smiled. “You’d think we’d be used to that with Alex skulking around, except he’s a little harder to miss.”
The fourteen-hand chestnut roan with a dark black mane turned its soulful brown eyes toward Teagan and pawed the ground.
“Careful,” Eli warned.
“Hello, handsome boy,” Teagan murmured.
The horse’s ears twitched.
“Can I come in there with you?” she asked.
Chester nickered and backed up a step.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Daniel said, but Teagan ignored him.
He looked toward Noah for support. Noah simply shook his head and mouthed the word,Watch.
Teagan eased onto the stall gate in a smooth, graceful move, keeping her body weight on her right leg, and perched on the beam, eye level with the roan. She began stroking his nose, whispering words too quiet to hear. Noah saw the shift—the roan’s ears flicked, and he leaned into her touch.
“Adam”—Eli spoke in a low tone—“you’ve got to see this.”
Chester lowered his head, pressing it against Teagan’s chest. She continued to run her hands along his neck, adding gentle scratches behind his ears. The animal snorted, and it sounded like a heavy sigh. The next moment, she’d swung herself onto his back.
“Holy shit,” Adam murmured, while Noah looked on with something like pride.
