Page 75 of Gotta Dig Deep
Chapter Twenty
Horse
Standing in the shed next to the mangled bike, Horse plotted in his head about the best place to begin. He’d sent a picture to Medric, receiving back aWTFtext, then a series of messages with links to the same junkyards they’d utilized the first time he’d rebuilt the bike. Seeing the old man’s investment in him made Horse grin.
In the near distance, a truck’s engine growled as it downshifted, turning cautiously into the ranch’s driveway. Horse made his way outside fighting a smile, because he knew who it would be and what they were bringing. He got halfway to the house before Glenna came through the kitchen door, Shamu at her heels. She glanced at the truck a dozen times before she came to a stop next to where Horse stood.
He didn’t move or offer Reggie anything other than a cool nod when the man climbed out of the truck’s cab, shoving his hands into a pair of gloves. Glenna had stiffened when she’d recognized Reggie, and now turned to Horse with a question on her face.
“What’s he doing here?” Hurt flashed across her expression, quickly suppressed, and Horse knew the shambles of their long-time friendship still bothered her. “Do you know?”
“I do.” He grinned wider at her as a thunk came from the back of the trailer Cooter was pulling. “Why don’t you go see.” Reaching out, he gave Glenna a tiny shove, then thought better of it and hauled her back by her hand to kiss her soundly. After making sure she was steady on her feet, he planted a hand at the small of her back. “Come on, darlin’. Let’s take a look.”
Reggie nodded at him as they rounded the side of the trailer, walking up a ramp he’d already lowered. He disappeared inside as a low nickering came from inside and Glenna cocked her head, listening.
The first horse Reggie unloaded backed out slowly, head down as it carefully navigated the ramp. Once its feet were on the ground, the head came up and the horse pranced in place, dancing on its hooves, mane snapping in the wind.
“Oh my God,” she said reverently, automatically taking the lead Reggie held out her direction. “Oh my God,” she repeated as she stroked a hand up the horse’s neck. “This is Golden.”
Reggie grunted as he trudged back up the ramp and Glenna led the horse to the side, making way for the next horse to be unloaded. This one was just as excited to see Glenna, head held out to the side as it backed down the ramp, nickering with joy.
“Mildred,” Glenna whispered, reaching for this lead rope without prompting. “She’s here.” Lifting the hand holding the rope, she rubbed the horse’s face roughly, the mare leaning into the touch with clear pleasure. “She looks good.”
Reggie was almost back with the third horse now, this time turning the animal in the back of the trailer and taking a straightforward path to the ground. “And here’s Namby.” He paused a few feet away from Glenna. “I’ve got two more at home, your geldings, if you decide you want them back too.” Looking at Horse, he glowered, then sighed. “It’s a nice thing he did for you here. Something I should have done long ago.”
“Come on up,” Horse said softly, not wanting to break the mood with any kind of a response to Reggie. The man was right, he should have fucking done the right thing as soon as possible after Penn died. Horse wasn’t arrogant enough to think he was the first person she’d talked to, and it only made sense she’d have discussed it with her closest friend. “Let’s go to the stables.”
“How?” Glenna gave the leads a tug, positioning a horse on either side of her, her movements effortless. “Why?”
“Because.” He reached out a hand and stroked down the sloping shoulder of the horse nearest him. “Seemed the right place for them was right here, and Reggie was a big help in making it happen.” He’d let Reggie decide if he wanted to fess up about already having the horses, but Horse didn’t need to throw him under the bus.
He slid open the stable door and pointed. “Which horse goes in each?”
The question was moot, because the horses clearly remembered their home, each of them angling towards a stall. It was the work of minutes for Glenna and Reggie to settle them, removing halters and leads and hanging those on hooks Horse had installed on the outside of the stall walls. He’d taken every suggestion Reggie and the feed store owner had offered, so these were flush to the wall, inset so the hooks weren’t a danger to the animals.
Glenna started a silent inspection, starting with the hooks and moving inside one of the stalls to review the watering system Horse had installed, the molded plastic corner feed bins, and hanging hay mangers, already stuffed with flakes from bales delivered two days ago. What she couldn’t see were the pads in one of the far back stalls, waiting to be installed underneath the bedding, or the beam hooks ready for balls to be hung. He’d gotten a ton of shit done, but a few details were just out of reach in the time available.
She patted the horse she’d called Golden a final time, whispering to it as she buried her face against his cheek. Horse saw her shoulders shuddering and had a brief debate with himself, but she broke away before he could make up his mind, turning back to him with wet cheeks.
“You did this.” It wasn’t accusatory, just a statement of fact, and he held back his smile as he nodded. “You did this,” she repeated, softer, pulling the stall door latched behind her. The horse came to the opening and leaned over, lipping at her hair. “Horse, you did this for me.”
“No, baby. I did this for me. Because I want to see you happy. Want to be the one to make you happy. For the rest of our lives, it’ll be the biggest pleasure for me to make you happy.” Horse held out his hands, arms spread wide, aware and uncaring of their audience standing near the stable door. “Come here, darlin’. Let me love you.”
She flew to him, hitting so hard he had to go back a step, steadying them both with a shout of laughter. He lifted and her legs wrapped around him, arms tight around his neck. She peppered his face with kisses, a few of them hitting the mark of his mouth. Not enough of them, so he slipped a hand up the back of her neck, taking a handful of her hair as he took over. Angling their mouths together, he nipped at her bottom lip, sliding his tongue along hers, loving the stuttering gasp drawn from her throat when he did.
I’d do anything to hear that every day. Rest of my life, here in my arms.
A throat clearing behind them had Glenna pulling back, cheeks flaming red as she looked over Horse’s shoulder.
“I’m gonna get outta here. Let you get them settled. I’ve got some feed in the trailer. I’ll just leave it by the stoop.”
Glenna was wiggling now so Horse let her slide down, slowing her travel when her belly grazed his cock just to hear her gasp again.
“Cooter, I don’t know what to say.” She crossed to him in long steps and pulled him into a short hug. “Thank you. I didn’t know where to even start looking.” Reggie held her delicately, tentative in his embrace of the woman he’d claimed to love.
His guilty expression when she pulled back should have given Reggie away, but Glenna didn’t recognize it. She kept her hands on the man’s arms, and repeated, “Thank you.”
“Happy things worked out the way they did.” Reggie broke free from her hold and advanced to where Horse stood. Shoving out a hand, Reggie met his eyes and all Horse saw now was deep regret. No more anger, no jealousy, just a sadness over how he’d extended the suffering of his best friend. “You’re a good man, Graeme.”
