Page 50 of The Way Back Home
“The horses love her,” Noah said, feeling an odd rush of pride in Teagan.
“They’re not the only ones, from where I’m standing.”
Then his father turned away and walked back to the house.
Noah shook his head and resumed his trek toward the stables. Surely, the old man wasn’t talking about him.
He paused as he neared the opening and heard a melodic hum coming from within. Teagan was singing to the horses, a low, sweet piece, meant to calm and soothe.
Apparently, it worked. A peek around the open doors showed the animals were as enchanted by the sound as he was.
Noah watched as she brushed and stroked, patted and nuzzled. Her expression was as close to happy as he’d seen her. Her features were relaxed, her body free of the tension and wariness it usually held.
She was working on Minx. Noah swore the grumpybeast was smitten with her, the way he edged closer, subtly nudging for more of her attention.
Noah refused to acknowledge any parallels between the horse’s behavior around Teagan and his own, even if he was reluctantly willing to admit that something about Teagan soothed him too. When she was around, he didn’t think about his own problems as much. His focus, blatantly or otherwise, was on her. Like this powerful urge to protect her and provide a safe space to recover and heal. To give her a memorable Christmas experience. To discover ways to put that relaxed, content expression on her face himself.
Maybe that was the gift his father was talking about. Her ability to draw people—and animals—out of their own hells, if only for a little while.
The truth was, he liked having her around. The thought of taking her into Saughannock tomorrow and letting her walk away made his chest ache.
Noah quietly backed away from the door, then set forward again. This time, he didn’t attempt to quiet his footsteps. He even whistled, broadcasting his approach.
As expected, the low hum of Teagan’s voice went silent by the time he reached the opening.
“He likes you,” Noah said.
Teagan’s smile was small but genuine. “I like him too.”
Noah didnotfeel a pang of jealousy at the obvious affection in her voice.
“How’s your shoulder holding up? Your ankle? Your back?”
She turned her attention back to the horse. “I’m fine.”
He snorted at that and moved forward, taking the brush out of her hand. “Enough. You’re going to exacerbate your injuries.”
“Is that your professional opinion?”
“As a matter of fact, it is.”
It was her turn to scoff. “I’m not one to sit around and do nothing.”
“Who said anything about doing nothing?”
She waved a hand in the general direction of the house. “I’m not one for socializing either.”
That made two of them. He loved his family, but he wasn’t up for spending the day with sugared-up kids and well-intentioned but meddling siblings either. Besides, his mission was to keep Teagan occupied and away from Kinsey and anyone else who might drop in for the holidays and recognize her.
“What about snowmobiling?” he asked. “Think you could handle that?”
Her eyes lit up, then dimmed almost immediately. “What about exacerbating my injuries?”
He shrugged. “You’ll just have to ride with me.”
He turned and walked away, smiling to himself when she grabbed her coat and followed a moment later.
“How many are going?”
