Page 23 of Beneath the Flames
Rytsar grinned, “But you are married to one.”
Sir rolled his eyes. “Do you seriously need me to teach you a lesson in respect?”
Snorting, Rytsar said, “I would like to see you try, comrade.”
Brie gazed tenderly at both men, loving their brotherly banter. She smiled as a feeling of contentment washed over her.
Sir took Antony from Rytsar when he began to fuss, and their little boy immediately quieted down. Sir leaned against the railing while he held his son, gazing at the ocean with a far-off look as the breeze teased his hair.
Brie wondered if Sir was thinking about his childhood and sailing with his own father. And then she caught something that gave her goosebumps.
Antony had lifted his head and was staring out at the ocean with the same expression on his sweet baby face, their profiles almost perfect mirrors of one another.
Father and son. Son and grandson. It was proof that the seeds Alonzo planted years ago continued to live on.
Brie glanced back at Rytsar, then smiled as she watched him tickle Hope’s stomach. Her daughter’s trills of joyous laughter filled the air.
If only this moment could last forever, she thought with a sigh.
Pretty Horses
The boat landed at a port in Baja California, Mexico, where a vehicle was waiting for them. Brie was curious about where they were headed when the driver drove east and they wound their way up some mountainous hills.
Rytsar couldn’t stop smiling at Brie during the drive. “I knowmoye solntsewill love this, but I suspect you may love it even more.”
“Just a hint?” she begged him. “You know how I am about surprises.”
He raised an eyebrow, answering with a wicked smirk, “I do.”
“Patience, babygirl,” Sir commanded, patting her knee.
Brie glanced down, sighing because she had a severe lack of it. It made her seriously wonder if patience was something she would ever master.
The driver finally turned down a long driveway toward a cluster of buildings. Hope began slapping thewindow excitedly, squealing when she saw all the different horses. “Horseys, Papa! Horseys!”
Sir smiled, kissing her on the head. “Yes, little angel, lots of horses.”
When they pulled up to a large ranch house, Brie turned to Rytsar. “Is this a dude ranch?”
“Nyet,” he chuckled. “This is a safe haven for abused and neglected horses.”
Brie looked at him questioningly, surprised and touched to hear it.
Rytsar got out of the car and held out his hand to Brie as he explained, “They rehabilitate them so they can become working members of the ranch.” He gestured to the expansive acreage dotted with large outbuildings. “But to keep the ranch running, they depend on the donations of others.”
Brie scanned the rolling hills and was impressed when she counted over thirty horses. “Wow, this place is amazing!”
She jumped, startled by a loud snort at her feet. When she looked down, she was surprised to see a large pig sniffing at her feet. He looked up at her, wiggling his tail excitedly.
“Piggy!” Hope cried.
“Don’t mind Nacho,” someone called. “He likes to greet all of our guests.”
Brie looked up to see an attractive woman emerging from the ranch house, her brown hair bound up in a ponytail. She was dressed in dusty blue jeans and muddy cowboy boots.
Brie instantly responded to the woman’s pleasantsmile and easy demeanor as she walked up to Rytsar and held out her hand. “SeñorDurov, I presume.”
“Da,” he answered, shaking her hand.
