Page 64 of Haunted

Wow. I bet he breaks a lot of hearts.

“Morning.” Paul patted the horse’s mane. “This is Bailey. And once I’ve watched you put his saddle and cinch on, he’s all yours. I groomed him already. Toby says you’re okay with horses.”

Sol went over to Bailey and stroked his nose. “He’s a beauty. Is he an Andalusian?” The thick mane and tail spoke of the breed.

Paul beamed. “I’m impressed.”

Sol chuckled. “Not half as impressed as I am that I remembered the name. It’s been a while.” He guessed it was true what they said—knowledge never truly died. Everything stayed in the brain someplace.

He grabbed a blanket and saddle then walked Bailey outside where dawn hadn’t started yet. Paul stood by the paddock fence, watching as Sol got Bailey ready. He didn’t say anything, but his approving glances told Sol a lot.

Sol climbed the fence and mounted the horse. He walked Bailey around the paddock for ten minutes or so before breaking into a trot. Bailey was a gentle, responsive horse, and he couldn’t wait to pick up a little speed.

“I think you’re ready,” Paul told him.

“Any suggestions as to which direction I should take?”

“Head thataway. It’ll take you through the meadow to the creek. Just be careful in the forest, okay? We’ve had a few instances of wolves lately, not to mention bears.” Paul patted Bailey’s flank. “He doesn’t spook easily. But still, be careful. The sun won’t be up for another hour, so watch yourself.”

“Gotcha.” Sol thanked him and followed the direction Paul had indicated.

The meadow soon gave way to tall grass, and Sol nudged Bailey to go a little faster.

If I thought it was peaceful here last night when I arrived…

The quiet of the morning seeped into him, and a calm settled on him like a soft blanket. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been this relaxed. The first snatches of birdsong broke the silence, and his heart soared to hear it.

Liam would have loved this.

Sol had always meant to teach him how to ride, but Liam had admitted to being nervous around horses. It still amazed Sol how much their interests had diverged. Sol was a lover of the outdoors, whereas Liam was never happier than when he was listening to music, reading books, or watching a movie.

BDSM was what had bound them together—and later, love.

Sol hadn’t seen Liam coming, and when he fell, dear Lord he fell hard. But this past year he’d noticed the ache lessening. He could look at Liam’s photo and remember the good times, instead of recalling how it had all come to an end. He was single, but content to be so. He played at the club and he had private clients, some of whom he had sex with.

None of whom he was emotionally involved with.

It was a good life.

It would have been a great life with Liam.

As he rode, he debated what he was going to say to Butch. He knew why Butch was uncomfortable—hell, he felt the same way.

Neither of us want to remember what we were like.

Zeeb’s revelation added to the intrigue.Are Butch and Teague in a relationship?From the way Zeeb told it, Sol didn’t think that was likely, not if Butch labeled himself as straight.

Except how could he do that if he and Teague were fucking?

The questions were starting to pile up.

From someplace nearby came the sound of running water, and he followed it. The sound grew louder as he neared the edge of a forest, and he skirted around it. At last he reached the creek Paul had spoken of.

Except someone else had reached it before him.

Two horses stood side by side at the hitching post, a palomino and a black horse. There was no sign of their riders. Then he glanced across the creek and saw a log cabin.

It was an idyllic spot. Large boulders sat in the flowing water, providing steppingstones across. The cabin was small, with a front porch complete with Adirondack chairs. Sol strained to hear, but any sound from the cabin was drowned out by the creek.

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