Within thirty seconds, she's snoring.
"Out like a light," Grace says, smiling. "Last few days have been a lot for her."
I pull her close, kiss the top of her head. "Last few days have been a lot for all of us."
Grace leans into me, and we stand there for a moment, just watching her dog sleep peacefully.
Safe. Home. Loved.
Then Grace looks up at me. "Can we go for a ride?"
I tense immediately. "A ride where?"
"The horses. Out on the ranch." She sees my expression and adds quickly, "I just—I need to clear my head. Need some space. Some air. After being in that cage, I need to feel... free."
Every instinct I have is screaming to keep her close, keep her protected, lock her away somewhere safe where nothing can hurt her.
But I see it in her eyes—the need.
The desperation.
"Okay," I say. "But I'm coming with you."
She smiles, relieved. "I wouldn't want it any other way."
By the time we get to the barn, my body is screaming.
I want to go flop down in bed with her, but who am I to deny my wife?
I saddle two horses—my big black stallion, Diablo, and a gentler chestnut mare named Honey for Grace.
Grace watches me work, and I'm hyperaware of her eyes on me.
The way I move, the competence I have with the horses, the ease.
"You're good at this," she observes.
"Grew up on a ranch. Before the MC. Old habits."
"You still haven’t told me a lot about it."
"Lots you don't know about me yet." I tighten Diablo's girth, check the stirrups. "We've got time to learn."
"Forever," Grace says softly.
I help her mount Honey, and then I'm on Diablo, and we're riding out onto the land.
The late afternoon sun is golden, perfect, painting everything in shades of amber and rust.
Texas landscape stretching for miles—mesquite trees, cattle in the distance, open sky that goes on forever.
Grace looks beautiful on horseback.
Hair loose, face turned up to the sun, breathing deep.
This is what she needed.
Space. Freedom. The opposite of that cage.
