They must have seen all of that across my face, and both men snorted.
“I’m the youngest offivebrothers,” Jagger said.“And I basically still live with all of them.I’m as co-dependent as they come.”
Maverick snorted again.“Youngest of three brothers here.One’s a massive asshole though.Don’t speak to that fucker.”
“By co-dependent,” Jagger added, “I mean, we help each other.Why suffer alone when you have willing hands to help?And we’re willing hands.We depend on each other because we’redependable.I look after my nieces and nephews because that’s what family does.Because that’s what you do for people you care about.For people who need help.”His brows lifted a little, as if to ask me, “Now do you get it?”
“Put us in, coach,” Maverick said with a grin.“Also, can I meet the baby horse?”
So this was the island taking care of its own, huh?People showing up on my doorstep—doing the pop-in—and demanding I let them help me?
Rolling my eyes, but unable to hide a smile, I tilted my head toward the barn.“Come on then.”
“Yes,” Maverick said, doing a little fist pump.
They followed me into the barn, Portia right along beside me, and Maverick gasped a little when he saw all the curious horse’s heads hanging over their stall doors.“I fucking love horses.”
“We just let Midnight outside for the first time today,” I said.“Kept him separated from the others, but they all seemed very interested.”
“Danica mentioned something about the surrogate and an anti-social horse you had here snuggling?”Jagger asked.
“Si.We think they may have known each other before.I am thinking about allowing him into the pen with her and Midnight, maybe tomorrow.”
We reached Raven and Midnight’s stall and I opened the door, holding it ajar for the two men to step through.They approached Raven the way you’re supposed to approach a horse.From the side, slowly, and with your hand out so they can sniff you.
She was such a good, docile girl though, that she had no reservations about them petting her.Or allowing them to pet and interact with Midnight.
“He’s a feisty little dude, huh?”Maverick remarked, having slid down to his knees in the straw to get closer to Midnight.The foal was sniffing Maverick and had shoved his nose into Maverick’s open jacket.Maverick ruffled the foal’s short mane, laughing.
“He is strong and full of spirit.He will be a good horse.”
“So,” Jagger said, turning to me, “let’s take a look at your security setup.I know you have Cameron Arendelle sourcing your gate material.That’s great.But I’m sure there are other things too that we can do to fortify this place better.”
The way both men regarded me so earnestly and openly was something I wasn’t at all used to.They were here to help.With zero strings attached.No expectations.No ulterior motives.Emotion caught sharply in my throat and I tried to clear it, having to avert my gaze from them for a moment.
A big, meaty hand landed on my shoulder and gave it a squeeze.“Let’s have a beer while we wander around, huh?”Jagger said, stepping back out of the stall to grab the twelve-pack and opening it up.He handed me one, and I cracked the cap, still unable to speak.
Maverick accepted one too, and together, the three of us clinked our bottles together.“Salute,” I said.
“Salute,” they both echoed.
Then we sipped our beer.Damn, it was good.I normally drank wine, but once in a while, I enjoyed an ice-cold bottle of beer, and this one was exceptional.
“Shall we wander?”Jagger asked.
“Si.” I closed up Raven and Midnight’s stall and led my unexpected guests around the property.As we wandered, we accumulated a bit of an entourage.Portia, of course.But then Piñata joined in, continuously trying to steal the case of beer from Jagger’s hand, as well as Blodyn—the Welsh pony—and Olive, the Irish donkey who tries to mother everyone—including people.The goats skittered along the fence line following us too until we moved past them.
“Beautiful chunk of land you have here, man,” Maverick said.“No wonder that twat cousin of your wife’s wants it.”He shook his head, then tipped up his second beer to his lips.We were all leaning against the fence, staring out at the water, after having done a thorough walkabout of the property.
“So, I definitely think you need at least another half-dozen or more cameras,” Jagger said.“One at the top of the driveway.One at the gate.One pointing down at the beach and the trail that comes up from it.Because anybody with beach access can get up here, right?The beach is public land.That little shithead next-door could have come up from the beach.”
“He came from the woods,” I replied, pointing toward the trees that separated my property from that of The Assholes.
“Right.Which is another thing.We need to beef up that fence.If Piñata here got through, he can do it again.We need higher posts, stronger wire, and I’d even suggest electrifying the top or barbed wire as an additional deterrent.At least along that side.”
“You want to electrify a child?”Maverick asked, his grin telling me that he was okay with the idea of giving little Clyde a bit of a zap, but he was just taking the piss out of Jagger.
Jagger shrugged a big shoulder.“Hey, if he decides to scale a fence to trespass, then he runs the risk of getting his balls fried.”
