Page 92 of The Moment They Can't Forget

“So we’re just going to talk and walk toward him, JD,” Zoe said.

“Luckily I know how to do both of those,” he muttered, shooting the spectators who were now lined up at the fence watching a glare. Every one of them raised a hand and shooed him on.

“I’m sure one of them would be better qualified.”

“Probably, but Roman is going to be your horse. So stop whining.”

“You sounded just like Sawyer then.”

The horse didn’t move as they approached but was clearly nervous as he stamped a large, I-could-destroy-you hoof on the ground. Looking around, he noted the paddock barely had any grass. The horse must be starving.

“He’s just going to run when we get near him,” JD said as they moved closer.

“I want you to stop when I tell you, and I’ll walk up to him. He misses Mrs. Stubbs, and my guess is he’ll react way better to me than he will to you. I’ll approach.”

“It’s Potato all over again, and you going near that beast alone is not happening. He could hurt you,” JD gritted out.

“He’s likely to hurt you first. I don’t need you to protect me, JD.”

“Your brothers will kill me if I let anything happen to you,” he said, telling her that instead of what he really wanted to say, which was he couldn’t stand the thought of anything happening to her.

“I’ve been dealing with volatile men all my life.”

“He’s a horse.”

“Same thing.”

JD snorted. “I’m telling them that.”

She stopped and held out her hand for the head-collar and leading rein. He reluctantly gave it to her.

“Stay,” she said.

“I’m not a horse,” he muttered.

“Be a good boy and stay, and I’ll give you a treat.”

“I know what treat I’d like,” he said under his breath, but she didn’t hear or didn’t respond. He wasn’t sure which.

He then watched her walk away from him toward the horse, who was snorting now. JD had to admit he was beautiful. His coat was covered in mud, and he needed a good groom, but he was a big, proud animal. He hoped Roman would allow them to help him.

He’d never owned a horse, but there was a first time for everything, and he realized he wanted this amazing creature to be his. Even if he didn’t know how to ride.

“Hey there, big boy,” Zoe said in a sweet voice like she’d used on his donkey. “There now, baby, no one wants to hurt you,” she crooned.

He tensed as the horse stomped a large hoof again. He could reach her in seconds if he needed to.

“Oh, now there is no need for that. You and me, we’re going to be friends, just you see,” Zoe continued. “I know your owner died, and I’m real sorry about that, but we want to help you, Roman.”

The horse’s ears were twitching as he listened to her. Zoe stopped a few feet away and just talked.

“I know what it’s like to be hurt, Roman. To have your trust broken.”

Who had hurt her?JD wanted to find them and destroy them. He inched closer.

“It takes time to trust again, boy, but you have to sometime.”

Had she come back to Lyntacky because someone hurt her?

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