Page 27

Humphrey was in the lead, and by that, I meant Hawk was barely steering. Humphrey had spent plenty of time over here in the past year and he knew where to go as soon as Hawk pointed him in the right direction. Ramona was right behind him, just as infatuated with Humphrey as Carter was with Hawk. And bringing up the rear, mane flowing like a shampoo commercial, was Nelson. Wren sat atop the gelding as though he was king of the world.

He looked damn good up there too.

The beanie hiding his curls and the dark aviators were a nice touch. Combined with the oversized flannel jacket that looked like one of Dad’s, Wren was barely recognizable. If I didn’t know who I was looking at, I’d never have guessed it was international country music superstar Wren Paxton.

“Hello, gents,” I greeted, reaching up to pat Humphrey’s velvety nose when the gelding stretched his neck in my direction. “Nelson was ready for a ride, hm?”

Wren’s grin was like sunshine personified. “He’s such a good boy.”

“Now that he has manners,” Hawk muttered, gaze fixed on the riders in the arena. “That’s barely a lope.”

I snorted a laugh, and Humphrey echoed the sound. I didn’t bother to offer a correction. The guests were having fun, and they’d do this again before they went home. It didn’t have to be perfect, as long as they were learning.

“This looks like fun.” Carter was watching the guests with an interested expression.

I walked to the rail and waved an arm. When Mallory looked over, I called, “Anyone have a problem with a few more riders joining you?”

“The more the merrier!” She shouted with a laugh, the sentiment echoed by several others. One horse gave a little start, sidestepping quickly, but the rider had it under control. I watched for a second to make sure it was good, then turned back to my brother, his boyfriend, and my best friend.

“Go join in. You’ll figure out the pattern.”

Carter didn’t need more encouragement, walking Ramona on the outside of the arena until he reached the starting point and joined the back of the line. Wren moved Nelson in that direction, before pulling back on the reins. Nelson stopped hard, and Wren patted his neck.

“Me too?” he asked and I was about to answer but then realized he wasn’t asking me. Hawk nodded.

“You’ve got the skills and he needs the practice. Just go last and make sure everyone is out in case he spooks.”

The sentence was barely done before Wren was off, and Hawk and I watched him go. Then Hawk dismounted, loosened Humphrey’s girth, removed the bit from the combo bridle he was using, and led the horse to a nearby patch of grass. There wasn’t much, but Humphrey could graze there comfortably for a bit. Once Hawk secured the reins, he joined me at the rail.

In silence, the two of us watched another guest go through the course. Robert was a little cocky, a little overconfident, and his mare knew it. She made him work for the figure eight and only when he started working with her instead of against her, did she comply. Important lesson right there. I hoped it stuck.

“Sky Spotted Horse,” Hawk said, out of the blue.

“Water striped tiger,” I responded.

Hawk turned his head very slowly to give me a glare. It was all I could do to keep my face innocent instead of cracking up. I made my eyes big, which only made Hawk narrow his own. I did laugh then.

“I thought we were saying random words.”

“Jarhead,” Hawk muttered and it took me a second to realize that the term didn’t punch me in the gut. That was progress. Even a few weeks ago, anything that reminded me of the Corps sent a tendril of unease through me. I took a breath and let it out.

“So?”

“Sky’s the one you want.”

I waited for him to expound. He did not. I shouldn’t have been surprised. Hawk sometimes spoke as though he was being charged by the word, and since it made total sense in his head, he didn’t feel the need to elaborate. But some of the guests had urged Carter up the line, and as he entered the arena, I knew I would have to wait to get my explanation. Hawk was all but holding his breath as we watched Carter, slowly and surely work through the course. Not that he wasn’t capable. After all this time, with Hawk as his partner, he was a good rider. And he and Ramona had been together from the start. But this was the love of my brother’s life, and Hawk would be vigilant until Carter was done.

He had to back through the V-poles twice before he got it right, and Ramona didn’t want to stop in the box, so he repeated that, but otherwise, his run was flawless. Cheers went up, not too loud, and Carter took a bow from the saddle.

Only when Carter exited the arena did I poke Hawk. Literally, with my elbow and right into his ribs. Hawk grunted and punched me in the shoulder.

“Sky’s a trainer, with equine therapy experience, and she’s not an asshole.” Hawk moved down the rail a bit, not because he was afraid I would hit him again, but because Carter was headed this way. “I just found out she’s looking for a change.”

My heartbeat picked up, the prospect exciting me. If Hawk was recommending someone in particular, I’d give them the most consideration. I’d gotten a few enquiries from the feelers he’d put out, but I hadn’t really gone through them yet.

“She’s the one?” I asked, even though it was unnecessary.

“Yep.” Hawk left me standing there to meet Carter as he rounded the edge of the arena. “Good job, baby. You too, Carter.”