“I, uh...” What the hell was I supposed to say?
Thankfully, Jeri came from the barn with a small horse on a leash behind him. I was covered in dirt from crawling through the garden on my hands and knees, but seeing Jeri’s big grin beaming in my direction made my heart skip a beat.
Gayle stood from her little garden cart. “You got a halter on him. He looks like he’s comin’ along, Jer.”
Jericho grinned and led the little horse closer. He extended his hand for me to stand, so I did. “Babe, this is Thunder. He’s a little bratty, but he’s going to be a fantastic stud, just like me.”
His mother laughed and grabbed the basket with the vegetables before she headed to the house. Seeing Jeri in his full cowboy regalia had my dick coming to life in an instant.
Jeri took my hand and helped me step over the various plants in the garden until I was on the other side of the marigolds that she’d edged the spot with to repel insects and other pests. Who knew that was a thing?
Jeri stared at my dirty hands and jeans, smirking before he spoke. “You been gardening with Mom?” He was trying not to laugh, the jackass.
“Haha. Who’s this?” I pointed to the little horse.
“This is Thunder. He’s a colt now, but he’ll grow to be pretty big, based on his dam and sire, and I’m planning to use him as breeding stock. I’m sure I’ll get some fantastic foals out of him and the right mare. His mother is a grand champion dressage and jumper, and his father is a high-priced quarter horse stud.The mare’s owner is giving him to me for the board, and I’m planning to make the most of it.
“Now, pet him. He won’t bite. He’s going to be amazing...just like you.”
I damn near swallowed my tongue.Iwasn’t amazing. Why did Jeri think I was? God, I really didn’t want to pull at that thread too hard.
“Would someone really castrate him?” I was trying not to think about my own nuts because that would fucking hurt.
When I looked at the beautiful small horse nipping at the grass in the yard next to my foot, I could picture him as a sleek, strong steed. The idea of Jericho riding Thunder with abandon—and without a shirt—across the field was a beautiful vision that nearly took my breath.
Jeri chuckled. “Well, some might do it because he might not have the bloodlines they’re looking for, but I wouldn’t. My future’s tied up in him. I’m going to make him the cornerstone of a breeding program my dad always dreamed of having here at the farm. I know I can make something pretty damn great with some effort, just like Dad would have wanted.”
“You’re going to start a breeding program because your parents wanted it or because you want it? I mean, I’m not sure what that encompasses, but it sounds as though it could be a lot of work and expense. Please bear in mind, I know nothing about horses, but if it’s something you want, I’m sure you’ll make it happen.”
I sounded skeptical, and he didn’t deserve my dark-clouded attitude. If it was something he wanted, I wished him well, but if he was only doing it because his late father had wanted to do it, that might be a recipe for disaster.
Maybe my own shitty attitude toward my father was the driver behind my cynical response. I didn’t want to project my animus for my family onto Jericho.
Jericho grinned. “Dad and I talked about it before I went into the Army, but while I was deployed, I planned it all out up here.” He tapped his temple. “I’ll teach you everything there is to know. Grab his halter, will ya? Let’s go to the barn. His momma’s gonna be missing him.”
Before I could respond, the little horse nudged my back, which was new. I’d never had a horse touch me in any way. Since I had no idea what to do, Jeri handed me the rope and took my hand. “Will you let me teach you how to give a horse a bath?”
I gripped the rope and followed Jeri to the barn. There was a concrete pad by the door with a hose and a hitching post, like I’d seen in old Westerns.
“So, this is a lead rope. It’s okay if it gets wet, but a bridle is made of leather, and you don’t want to get it wet,” Jeri explained.
He seemed to be a little concerned about whether I was paying attention to his explanation, but he had no reason to be. I was more than willing to learn anything he wanted to teach me.
Jeri brought me a pair of rubber boots from the barn, instructing me to tuck my jeans into them. They were way too big, but I could make them work. After I slid my feet inside, I set to work giving a small horse a bath.
Much to my surprise, the little guy seemed to like the cold water and the thorough brushing that Jeri guided me to give him. I sprayed the soap over the horse’s back and then used the sponge to wash him.
“Look at you. You’re a natural.” Jeri stepped back and leaned against the side of the barn while I shampooed the biggest animal I’d ever been around, who wasn’t nearly as big as his mother.
The little guy just flinched a time or two as I scrubbed, but he didn’t move. At one point, he closed his eyes and let me shampoo his mane.
Once I rinsed him off, Jeri handed me a special towel to dry him. Next came a comb and leave-in conditioner for his mane and tail. When I finished, Thunder shuddered, sending water drops all over me.
“Thunder, dude, that’s rude,” Jeri said as he took off his T-shirt and used it to wipe my face. When I glanced at his muscular chest, I nearly choked on my tongue.
We’d been sleeping together in his bed, both of us in shorts and T-shirts, and all we’d done was hold hands or cuddle a little. It was puritanical at best. Would I be an asshole if I wanted more?
We weren’t walking down an aisle, as his mother had teased him when we arrived at the farm. I’d stood in the hall to hear how the two of them interacted, and I had to cover my mouth to keep from laughing out loud when he gasped and asked his mother what I’d said about us getting married. Miss Gayle had a great sense of humor.
