The words still felt natural, even if she wasn’t my girl anymore.
I was walking back toward the warehouse just as Wren stepped outside.
“Hey,” she said, “I was looking for you.”
“Really? Did you make another lasagna?” I asked, my voice teasing.
“No. I was just going to let you know that all those files are done and the bills are set up on bill pay, so your office is officially running smoothly.”
I nodded. “All that in a couple weeks, huh?”
“I was determined to get things organized,” she said, glancing around. “Where are you coming from?”
“The barn. Come on, I want to show you something.” I walked back toward the barn, and she soon caught up with me.
“I thought I heard someone pull up out here. Did you get the new horse that you asked me to get the stall ready for?” Her hand grazed mine as it swung beside me.
“I did. I think you’re going to love him.”
“Is he young?” she asked when we stepped in the barn and walked down toward the last stall.
“No. But he’s special.” I came to a stop, and Wren glanced inside, and it was as if time came to a stop.
She didn’t speak, but a few shallow gasps escaped her as she yanked the door open.
“What is happening? Wrax?” Her voice broke on a sob as Wrax let out some loud whinnies and she buried her face in his neck. He literally stretched his large head across her back as if wrapping her in a hug.
She was sobbing, and he was making all sorts of noises that sounded like something between a cry and a squeal.
Her arms were wrapped around his neck, and she stood there crying before turning around to look at me. “How is he here?”
“I found him and brought him home,” I said, just as Wren dropped down to sit, and Wrax didn’t hesitate. He was on the ground as well, his head pressed against her chest, as they both just let all the emotion out.
I stepped away for a few minutes to check on Honey and give them a moment, as the sound of their cries felt personal.
It was impossible to miss the emotion coming from both of them.
Wren wasn’t someone who broke down often, and I knew she’d been holding in a lot.
I stood a few feet from the stall, holding the wall, as if I could feel their pain.
Because it sure as hell felt like I could.
I waited a little longer before things quieted a bit, then walked back toward the stall. I stepped inside and bent down to look at her.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded, tears streaming down her face. “Why do you make it so hard to hate you, Axel Chadwick?”
I laughed as I dropped down beside her, my back resting against the wall of the stall. I stroked Wrax along the bridge of his nose.
He blew out a few puffs from his nose to let us know he was happy. His eyes were closed, and he just kept moving his head back and forth across her lap.
These two had an unbreakable bond, and when they were out there riding together, it was pure magic.
“Maybe it’s time we stop hating each other, huh?” I asked.
She looked up, swiping at the tears streaming down her pretty face, and she nodded. “I don’t want to hate you.”
