Page 87 of Sugar
“Pilfering. Kleptomania. Sticky fingers.”
Humor dances in his eyes. “What do you think we should do about that?”
I shrug. “Hell if I know. I’m the one with the problem.”
“Keep it.”
“I’m not sure that actually solves my impulse to loot treasure from your bedroom, but?—”
“Always so fucking stubborn,” he mutters under his breath. “I’ll leave you two divas to it. Headed to the office if you need anything. Should be wrapping up soon.”
My heart clenches as he turns away. I’m not sure where the feeling comes from. “I won’t,” I call out. “But thanks!”
The crown of his hat twists as he shakes his head, marching back out into the warm afternoon sun.
I findWells again after cleaning out the rest of the syringes and putting everything back where it came from, and ask him what I can do next. If he’s bothered to have become responsible for showing me the ropes, he doesn’t show it. He actually seems to enjoy it. Like maybe spending time with his older brother’s new mail-order bride seems like it might just be worth his time.
Wells explains that they feed most of the horses twice a day, and that it’s about time to prep for the second feeding. There’s a whole separate binder for this, outlining which horses eat pellets and which eat Bermuda hay and how much. Like before, Wells oversees for the first few stalls, watching me measure outportions into a wheelbarrow before taking them to each horse. And then he leaves me to it.
I have to admit, the work is rewarding. There’s something about getting face time with each one of them, of giving them what they need to thrive, that feels purposeful. By the time I’m done there’s sweat beading down my temple and I’m hungry enough to be a little nauseous, but I feel content in a way I haven’t felt in weeks.Months, even.
Outside, Wells is at the fence of the closest corral, watching Rhett lead the golden mare on a long lead inside.
“I saw Kasey out with her earlier,” I say leaning against the fence.
Wells nods. “Normally we’d only pull her once a day, but since she let Kasey in the saddle, Rhett wants to see if he can push that good behavior further.”
“He wants to see if she’ll let him on her too?”
He nods again.
“Does she have a name yet?”
“Kasey started calling her Sugar a couple days ago. It’s not on any paperwork yet, but it seems to be sticking.”
My heart rockets up to my throat.
We both watch as Rhett leads her around the outer perimeter of the fence line, working her into a light trot. I pay close attention to the way he keeps focus on her eyes and body, looking for any signals she might give him. He talks to her too, a low murmuring that I can’t make out. It hums on the breeze.
“I can see why you guys do this,” I say.
Wells grins. “It’s not easy. Some days can be pretty bleak. But . . . yeah. Today’s a good one.”
Rhett stops the mare in the center of the corral and gives her a small, affectionate neck rub. I feel a warm hand press into the small of my back, and look up to find Kasey next to me, eyes on his brother. “Think she’ll let him on?” I ask him quietly.
His lips curve into the barest hint of a smile, but he keeps his gaze forward. I turn to watch just as Rhett tucks the toe of his boot into a stirrup. And then he’s rising, swinging a leg over the mare’s back before he drops his weight into the saddle.
I feel myself holding my breath.
The mare takes a step backward, head rising. And then another step back. Rhett clicks his tongue and gives her a light tap of his heels against her belly, and she takes off in a beautiful trot.
“She’s so strong,” I say, pride bursting through me as I watch her transition into a gallop with her head held high.
“She is,” Kasey agrees. “And so fucking beautiful.”
I turn to look at him, finding his gaze already on me.
Everything around us disappears. “Stop,” I say.
