“Hey there gorgeous," I say, getting fresh and planting a kiss on its nose. “Aren’t you quite the handsome devil.”
I duck a peek to confirm that handsome is an appropriate descriptor, and he lets out a snort of agreement. I chuckle and start to run my fingers up and down both sides of his neck. He brings his head down level with my chest and leans into me.
“Oh, you like that do you, some good scratches.”
The clop of hooves fills the air and Sabin reappears outside the door leading another horse.
“It’s good to know your spell affects males of all species and not just casters," Sabin teases me, gesturing to the horse cuddles I’m currently receiving.
I wag my brows. “Careful Captain, or you might be next.”
Sabin mumbles something under his breath, but I don’t catch it.
“Follow me.”
He jerks his chin toward the entrance and starts leading his horse away. With Sabin’s help, I coax my huge horse out of his stall, grateful that he’s a good listener because we both know he could take me out if he wanted to.
My horse’s huge frame is wrapped in a stunning dark gray color, with light gray dappling on his front legs and butt. His mane and tail are a beautiful contrasting white-gray. He looks so unique and regal.
“What’s his name?” I ask, awe clear in my voice.
“That’s Darcy," Sabin calls over his shoulder, as we round the front of the stables. “And this is Bennet.”
His voice has the same fondness that I heard when he was talking to Darcy earlier, and I catch a curious blush that creeps into his cheeks. He shows me how to brush the horses and then disappears to get theirtack.I brush Darcy and then Bennet as Sabin makes several trips back and forth to get everything we need to ride.
Bennet is just slightly smaller than Darcy but not by much. Where Darcy is dark, Bennet is light making them opposites in a way. She’s light gray everywhere with dark spots all over, except her face. Her hair is black, and she has black stocking-like marks on all of her legs.
I trace the patterns in Bennet’s fur with my eyes, as I stroke long lengths down her sides and back. I freeze when it dawns on me why the names sound so familiar. Mr. DarcyandMs. Bennet. I laugh, their owner must be aPride and Prejudicefan.
“No one cares that we’re taking these horses?” I ask as Sabin starts to organize everything he’s brought out to put on the horses.
“They’re mine. I board them here.”
I jerk my head in Sabin’s direction, completely shocked at his revelation. Sabin is thePride and Prejudicefan?
He gets Darcy kitted up and talks me through everything that he’s doing and why. He helps me climb up on Darcy’s back, and I get a quick crash course on how to handle him. I run my fingers through Darcy’s mane and watch as Sabin hooks a rope to Darcy’s halter. He walks us into a paddock and gives the rope in his hand some slack.
“Alright Vinna, I’m going to have you and Darcy ride for a bit in here so you both can get used to each other. I’ll help you get a feel for some different speeds on him, but if it’s too much too fast, just pull on the reins, and he’ll stop. Okay?”
I nod my head, and Sabin teaches me how to click my tongue just right to make Darcy move. His gait is smooth and slow, and it’s surprisingly easy to get comfortable up on the back of this giant gray Andalusian.
“Tell me about how you came to be the proud owner of these two beautiful horses?”
Sabin shrugs. “Some people save up for a car or something like that, but I saved up for these guys. I bought Darcy first when I was twenty, and then Bennet a year later. I’ve always loved animals in general but especially horses, and I always knew I wanted a pair.”
“Did you name them or is that pure coincidence?”
A blush creeps up his neck, and it tells me everything I need to know.
“You’re a romantic!” I exclaim, my voice laced with shock and accusation.
“Don’t say it like it’s something dirty," he scoffs. “Is it so hard to believe?”
I stare at him thoughtfully and mull over that question. I have my opinions about Sabin and how he acts, but I haven’t the slightest clue about thewhybehind what he does. I have no idea what makes him who he is. I think about that and realize that it changes the lens that I see Sabin through in a surprising way.
“I don’treallyknow you. So, no, it isn’t hard to believe," I admit. “Solve the mystery then and tell me about yourself, Sabin Gamull.”
I pat myself on the back for remembering his last name, then lean over and actually pat Darcy on his neck.
