He nodded, held out one hand. “Landon. You’re Brian?”
“I am.” Brian shook hands with him, hand firm and callused.
“Cool. How’s the ankle?”
“Better. Much better.” Brian wore two boots of the cowboy variety, so he must be getting around okay.
“Bien.” He kept the mare moving, walking her out. Landon could almost hear her in his head. She was happy to be home, she was hungry, she wanted to run a little.
He slipped up on her back, one hand in her mane. “Let’s go, honey. Gi-up.”
“What the fuck?” Brian shouted, but he wasn’t listening.
The mare took off, muscles working under him. She was fast, faster than most of Adam’s horses, compact and perfect in conformation, and her joy was a living thing. They moved together, flying, and he could hear her laughing with him. The wind threatened to knock off his gimme cap, they was going so good. They headed back around to the barn, slowing down, just enjoying the sun. The mare slowed to a trot, clopping along happily.
“Such a good girl. You feeling like you can settle now?” He figured she would, considering how her thoughts were all about chewing and dozing. Good girl.
He got her over to where three identical cowboys stood at the fence. They all stared at him like he had two heads, but Adam’s eyes had crinkled up like he was fixing to smile.
“She’s all walked out, y’all.”
“Yeah. I noticed.” Adam did chuckle then. “I’ll show you where to put her up.”
“Rock on.” He slid down, boots hitting the dirt.
Adam climbed over the fence and headed down with him, patting the mare’s neck. “She had a good run.”
“She did. That was fun.”
“Good. Brian was impressed with her speed.”
“Yeah? She’s smooth as all get out.” And he liked just running free.
“She is. Good girl.” Adam gave the mare another good scritch before showing Landon where to put her up. Twenty noses poked over stall doors, blowing and sniffing.
“Oh, y’all! Good afternoon! I be Landon, pleased.”
Adam laughed. “They ever talk back? I mean, I talk to them all the time.”
“All the time, but mostly to Sister.”
“Really?” He got a sideways glance. “Brian can hear them once in a while.”
That made him happy, bone-deep, almost as happy as Adam’s butt. “It’s a good hoodoo.”
“I guess so.” Adam glanced over his shoulder, then reeled Landon in for a kiss.
Oh. Oh, hell yes. He opened right up, stepping right into Adam’s space. That was just what he needed to shake off the dust of travel.
Adam’s hands landed on his butt, getting a double handful. Oh, that felt fine. His feet actually left the ground when Adam lifted him, and he wrapped his arms around Adam’s neck. They walked over about three steps, then Adam leaned against a post, bracing them, giving him plenty of stability.
So damned strong.
All his, too.
He couldn’t help grinning, smiling against Adam’s lips. Damn, he was having fun.
“What’s funny?” Adam asked.
