Page 17 of Adored
That was exactly what Poe did with him as he was in therapy.
“Tell me about your brother,” he said. “It will help you heal,” he offered.
Gamble was right, and Poe knew it. So, he shared with him.
As a couple.
“I remember one time, Diablo was young. We’re talking a year old, and spicy as hell. Hemmingway was in from his tour, and was standing by the pond. Diablo came running at him, and he thought he’d stop in time.”
Gamble listened.
“He rammed right into him with his awkwardly large head that hadn’t had given his body time to grow into it yet.”
“What happened?”
Poe laughed.
“The demon horse knocked him right into the water, and straight into the muck. He was covered, and pissed,” he said, laughing. “He chased Diablo down, and that became their thing. He’d knock him into the water, and then take off so that they’d play chase.”
Gamble laughed.
“I love that horse. Thank you for giving him to me. He’s my spirit animal.”
Poe shook his head.
“I’m not sure if that’s good or bad, Gamble, Mate, because he’s wicked as the day is long and so much trouble,” he admitted.
Gamble grinned at him, mischievously, and it made Poe’s heart skip in his chest.
This man was wicked and wild—and he found that really sexy.
So maybe that was a good thing.
“You’re trouble, Gamble. Serious trouble, and I’m well aware of it.”
He laughed.
“That’s my name. Arthur Trouble Doyle,” he teased. “I’m consistent—if anything.”
Yes, yes, he was, and honestly, Poe loved him for it too. This man was what gave him life back. Poe had learned to love again, and to find joy through Gamble’s antics. It was the little things like a mischievous grin, or a laugh that he never expected.
It was beautiful.
As they walked out the back of the stable, there were trees and an orchard not far away. It was fall in the UK, and the weather was beautiful.
“That way is the river and orchard. There are riding trails,” he said.
Gamble had an idea.
A good one.
“Hear me out, Poe, but maybe we should ride,” he stated. “It’s a good way to honor your parents since they loved to ride.”
Yeah, except for one thing.
Poe couldn’t.
“I don’t have a horse here. They were all killed. They killed them all.”
