off?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“Not yet, anyway. It’s only ten thirty in the morning. I still have time.”
Had he just made a little . . . joke?
He started off in the direction of the barn.
Lyndie fell into step beside him. She could clearly sense the mass of his body next to hers—the weight of him, his size, the solidity and power in his muscles.
It came back to her forcefully, how many times they’d walked just like this as children, next to each other. Day after day. Year after year. She’d always hurried along beside him, chattering about their next adventure. She’d convinced him once that it was up to the two of them to find the Dunham family’s lost cat. Another time, she’d insisted that they ride their bikes to the tire swing hanging from the old pecan tree to make sure that trolls hadn’t taken up residence.
Jake had always listened to her respectfully, had always done hisbest to support her strange plans. The simple pleasure of walking next to him again the way she once had caused a lump of tenderness to form in her throat.
“What’s the long answer?” he asked, staring straight ahead. “You’ve told me the short answer. I want to know the long.”
She drew in a big breath, trying to think where to start. “Silver Leaf strikes me as a regal horse. There are horses who work their way up and take on a regal air once they’ve won a lot of races. In Silver Leaf’s case, it seems that he was born regal. If he’s treated that way first, he may respond by winning races.”
His chiseled features hardened with skepticism.
“He’s dignified,” she said. “He treats everyone politely.”
“He’s well behaved.”
“But I’ve only seen him display what I’d classify as true affection to Blackberry and to Zoe. Zoe told me she’s been his groom ever since he came into training.”
“Yes.”
“He loves her.” Love was love, rare and wonderful in all its forms. “What about Blackberry? How long has she been stabled beside Silver Leaf?”
“More than two years. But Blackberry’s not running the way she used to. She’s had a solid career. I’m about to send her to the brood mare barn.”
“Is there any chance she can come with us when we move the horses to Lone Star Park? We can give her the stall next to Silver’s, and she can be his lead pony.” As lead pony, Blackberry would escort Silver to the starting gate before his races.
He frowned.
“We move Silver and some of the other horses to the track next week, yes?”
“Yes.”
“We’ll need to bring Blackberry and Zoe when we go.”
“Is that all?” he asked dryly.
“No. We’ll need to bring the rest of Silver Leaf’s home comforts. His favorite kind of hay, his blankets, et cetera.”
“Lyndie. You’d be better off with a different—”
“I will not be better off with a different trainer. I’m staying.”
He stopped and turned toward her. They’d neared the entrance of the barn.
“I don’t think Silver Leaf gives away his loyalty easily.” She drew herself up and strove to sound rational in an effort to temper her outlandish suggestions. “With Silver, it has to be earned.”
“He’s given me his loyalty.”
“I don’t think so. He’s merely polite to you the way he is to everyone.”
He pulled back his head, insulted. “I was there the night he was born.”
“No offense, but to Silver Leaf you’re the guy that stands at the rail. You’re not the one that bathes him and feeds him and talks to him constantly the way Zoe does. Also, you’re male. You can’t motivate him to run.”
His hazel eyes blazed with such ferocity that she couldn’t help but laugh. “Don’t feel bad, Jake. He’s not loyal to me yet, either, and I’ve spent days with him in his stall. I’m hoping to get there with him, but I’m not there yet.”
He crossed his arms over his muscular chest, the lunge line dangling from one hand.
“Your horse thrives on familiarity and routine,” she continued.
“No.”
“Good.”
“Not yet, anyway. It’s only ten thirty in the morning. I still have time.”
Had he just made a little . . . joke?
He started off in the direction of the barn.
Lyndie fell into step beside him. She could clearly sense the mass of his body next to hers—the weight of him, his size, the solidity and power in his muscles.
It came back to her forcefully, how many times they’d walked just like this as children, next to each other. Day after day. Year after year. She’d always hurried along beside him, chattering about their next adventure. She’d convinced him once that it was up to the two of them to find the Dunham family’s lost cat. Another time, she’d insisted that they ride their bikes to the tire swing hanging from the old pecan tree to make sure that trolls hadn’t taken up residence.
Jake had always listened to her respectfully, had always done hisbest to support her strange plans. The simple pleasure of walking next to him again the way she once had caused a lump of tenderness to form in her throat.
“What’s the long answer?” he asked, staring straight ahead. “You’ve told me the short answer. I want to know the long.”
She drew in a big breath, trying to think where to start. “Silver Leaf strikes me as a regal horse. There are horses who work their way up and take on a regal air once they’ve won a lot of races. In Silver Leaf’s case, it seems that he was born regal. If he’s treated that way first, he may respond by winning races.”
His chiseled features hardened with skepticism.
“He’s dignified,” she said. “He treats everyone politely.”
“He’s well behaved.”
“But I’ve only seen him display what I’d classify as true affection to Blackberry and to Zoe. Zoe told me she’s been his groom ever since he came into training.”
“Yes.”
“He loves her.” Love was love, rare and wonderful in all its forms. “What about Blackberry? How long has she been stabled beside Silver Leaf?”
“More than two years. But Blackberry’s not running the way she used to. She’s had a solid career. I’m about to send her to the brood mare barn.”
“Is there any chance she can come with us when we move the horses to Lone Star Park? We can give her the stall next to Silver’s, and she can be his lead pony.” As lead pony, Blackberry would escort Silver to the starting gate before his races.
He frowned.
“We move Silver and some of the other horses to the track next week, yes?”
“Yes.”
“We’ll need to bring Blackberry and Zoe when we go.”
“Is that all?” he asked dryly.
“No. We’ll need to bring the rest of Silver Leaf’s home comforts. His favorite kind of hay, his blankets, et cetera.”
“Lyndie. You’d be better off with a different—”
“I will not be better off with a different trainer. I’m staying.”
He stopped and turned toward her. They’d neared the entrance of the barn.
“I don’t think Silver Leaf gives away his loyalty easily.” She drew herself up and strove to sound rational in an effort to temper her outlandish suggestions. “With Silver, it has to be earned.”
“He’s given me his loyalty.”
“I don’t think so. He’s merely polite to you the way he is to everyone.”
He pulled back his head, insulted. “I was there the night he was born.”
“No offense, but to Silver Leaf you’re the guy that stands at the rail. You’re not the one that bathes him and feeds him and talks to him constantly the way Zoe does. Also, you’re male. You can’t motivate him to run.”
His hazel eyes blazed with such ferocity that she couldn’t help but laugh. “Don’t feel bad, Jake. He’s not loyal to me yet, either, and I’ve spent days with him in his stall. I’m hoping to get there with him, but I’m not there yet.”
He crossed his arms over his muscular chest, the lunge line dangling from one hand.
“Your horse thrives on familiarity and routine,” she continued.
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