When we got there, Percy was petting a goat while looking confused at how that had happened, and Ryker was explaining to a pony that he didn’t have treats. Theo thrust a few pieces of carrot at him.
“Dad? You need to keep your palm flat if you don’t want your fingers eaten,” Rey advised.
Murray leaned against one empty stall’s closed door, and his eyebrows jumped minutely when he first saw Madden.
I might’ve been feeling a bit evil, because I walked closer to him. “Murray, meet Madden.”
Madden gave one look at the bodyguard, and I could tell he knew instantly what the man was. Then again, Madden would have needed to become pretty damned adept at spotting danger, so I wasn’t surprised when he immediately dismissed Murray as potentially not safe and thus insignificant.
He up nodded to Murray, then went to his sister.
Murray followed him with his gaze. Then, very quietly for only me to hear, he asked, “What is this? Cradle robbers unite?”
I snorted. “Hardly. But I just found out your weakness.”
Murray snorted, too, then shook his head. “I hardly hide it in…polite company.”
By which he didn’t mean “polite” but “queer” instead. I could tell.
“Legal though, I hope,” I murmured.
He looked instantly affronted. “Oh, I’m not that depraved. There are limits to my law-breaking.”
“Well, just so you know, he’s still seventeen.”
Before Murray could answer, Rey noticed us and smiled so widely it made my heart swell.
“Congrats, by the way,” Murray said in a low tone. “He’s an awesome guy. Fits here much better than back in Brooklyn for sure.”
“Do you think he’ll be in any danger? Ryker said he’d send you here if there was something like that going on in the future.”
Murray shrugged. “I doubt it, but if there’s even a hint of a possibility, I’ll be here on the next possible flight.”
“Good.” I shuffled over to the next stall to pet the horse who was peering over the door. “I’m confident that I can deal with whatever, but we don’t have firearms on the premises other than one old hunting rifle for any emergencies with the horses.”
Murray looked confused, but then understanding filled his expression. “Right.”
“Never had to use it, but Ruth, Lake’s aunt, was adamant that we have one just in case. She’d seen some shit and apparently so has Lake.” I’d heard the story of Lake’s first horse and it was tragic as fuck.
“If you need one, let me know.”
I considered it. “If you need to come back here, then bring an extra.”
Murray held out a hand and we shook on it.
“An extra what?” Rey asked, sidling up to me and burrowing under my arm.
“A leather jacket,” Murray said, gesturing at himself. “Don’t you think this one is cool?”
Rey rolled his eyes in a way that told me this was an old conversation.
“Yeah, yeah. You and your bad boy image.”
“So, Rey, where can Murray carry your stuff?” Ryker asked, walking closer.
Murray made a face, but it was playful. It was obvious Ryker, Murray, and Percy were close and had worked together for a long time. There was camaraderie between them that I could easily recognize.
“My room is upstairs, so…” He looked at me and I instantly knew what he needed.
