"I'm competitive, and I want to beat my brothers," he admitted.
I looked over at the horses, the beginnings of an idea forming. Garrett unsaddled them, and I found brushes and hoof picks.
"They seem happy in their new home," I said as I brushed my horse.
"Come by and ride anytime," Garrett said seriously.
I grabbed his crotch. "Oh, I plan to ride quite often."
Before we could become too distracted, there was chattering and yelling outside.
"I want to see! I want to see!"
"Don't scare them," Garrett said to his little brothers as they ran into the stable. The horses snorted and stamped.
"Can we feed them?" Arlo asked.
"Maybe just some carrots."
* * *
I leftthe Svenssons after helping the kids feed the horses. The large animals seemed pleased to be the center of treats and attention.
"Where are you off to?" Garrett asked.
"I have to think about our winning Halloween costumes. Also, I have some videos to edit. I can't just hang around here all day."
"You could," Garrett said with a heavy kiss.
Breathless, I had to push him away before I changed my mind. I didn't want him to think I was a gold digger, just trying to ingratiate myself with his family. Bronwyn's words had hurt more than I cared to admit. Even if Garrett said he didn't mean it, hehadsaid I wasn't really the type of woman he had envisioned himself with.
* * *
Morticia and Lilithwere in the carriage house behind the old Victorian mansion.
Covering my eyes, I waited until Morticia had finished welding a sculpture of some sort of monster before approaching her.
"I have an art project for you."
"Are we going to lock Bronwyn in a cage? Or maybe one of those iron masks so we don't have to hear her insult you every other minute."
"I don't think we can just lock people up," I said.
"You can if you try hard enough," Lilith replied, her eyes black and intense.
"I need Halloween costumes for Garrett and me."
"Hmm," Morticia said as I described it and sketched it out. "You actually came up with something intriguing."
"I think we can manage that. It's definitely creepy."
Lilith rubbed her hands together. "Deliciously creepy."
"Leave everything to us," Morticia promised.
I was feeling very relaxed and satisfied after the horseback riding and the other riding.
A bath was in order. I loved the old claw-foot tub in the downstairs bathroom. As much as Morticia and Lilith insisted on their various herb concoctions to use in the water, I wanted a good old-fashioned bath bomb. I had been saving a Halloween-themed one for a special occasion. Fizzing, it turned the water bright orange. I stepped into the tub, sinking up to my neck, tipping my head back and closing my eyes. I had classic Halloween movies playing on my laptop. The old-timey voices murmured in the background as I stretched out in the water.
