Page 69 of Kentucky Nights
“I wanted her to fall in love with me without the idea of knowing I’m fated to her. I don’t want to take her choice. That matters to me. I think the plan is working. She feels the pull, yeah, but it’s more. It’s more natural this way, without the idea of her knowing there’s an entity at play.”
“I admire that, I do, but you need to be realistic. You already smell of death to me, Kentucky. You reek of darkness. Death is near and closer than you think.”
“Okay, fine.” I toss the trimmer down and pick up the rasp, which smooths out the edges of the hoof. “I’m a little sore. The amount of blood she is giving me is not enough, not without being mated. I’m tired. My hips ache.” I sigh, dropping his leg to grab a horseshoe from the bin. I keep it full of premade shoes I’ve made him over the years. They are the perfect fit.
Next, I heat the iron, shoving it into the hearth. I need to get it hot first so Romeo becomes more comfortable with how the shoes fit. Hot shoes help with the durability and fit of the iron itself.
“I knew it.”
“I’ll be fine. And you know, if I’m not, just talk to Lorcan.” I pinch my brows together when I realize how that can’t happen. Lorcan can’t speak to animals. “Somehow.” Snagging the shoe from the pit, Romeo bends his knee to give me access. “You’ll be okay. You’ll find another home.”
“I don’t want another home. Home is the person, not the place.”
I begin to nail the shoe on, doing my best not to shed a tear. He and I have been through the grain over the years. It hasn’t been easy. He’s seen the worst of me. No one else can say that.
“I’ll be okay. I promise.” I set his hoof down. “Want a brushing?”
“Of course, I do. It’s not like I can scratch myself.”
I snort, nodding in agreement. “I guess so.”
Romeo also likes to be pampered. He loves his mane brushed and for his coat to shine. He would love to be massaged every day, be fed his favorite hay, and sleep in a warm barn with a blanket.
He has two out of those three things. I don’t know an animal massage therapist.
“Please talk to her soon.”
“After I’m done here, I’m going to pick some wildflowers and ask her to the rodeo that Lorcan signed us up for. You up for it, Old Man?”
He flicks his tail, excitement brightening the pools of red ink. “Who are you calling old? You’ve got a few years on me.”
“I think it will be nice to finally shake the rust off. After the rodeo, I’ll tell her. If I’m feeling like this, I can’t imagine how she is feeling. For humans, it has to be different. We’ll make it.”
We have to make it. Now that I’ve tasted what life could be like with her, the thought of the need to die fades. I want to try living for all eternity. I also want us to agree that if we both get tired over so many years, we agree to die together, in each other’s arms, staring up at the night sky.
That will be my only request.
“I hope so. Don’t be so stubborn. She’d love you with or without Fate.”
“If Fate didn’t exist, I’d already be dead.” I sweep off the dust on his hide, the deep onyx color coming back to its brilliant shine.
Romeo stays silent for a few minutes. All I hear is the hay between his teeth as he chews.
“She’s right, you know,”he says out of nowhere, flicking his tail to annoy a fly.
“About?”
“Being lonely. I wouldn’t mind some others.”
“You heard that conversation?”
“Yes. I never told you because I knew you didn’t want to be responsible for a lot of things, given your decision on life.”
“I don’t want you to be lonely, Romeo. You should have told me.”
“I had you. That was enough. Things have changed. You are growing a family with Dru now. It made me realize I also want someone. I want a companion.”
“Skew-dang ain’t that cute.”
