I only got a dozen feet before my logical brain kicked in. Mal was not an angry person. Unsure at times, yes. A worrier for sure. But angry? I’d never seen him like that, except when we found Ezio at the auction, and that was for the treatment the colt had suffered. Never at another human.
I spun back to see him staring after me, hurt mixing in with the anger. All right then. We needed to work this out.
I pulled the two-way off my belt, staring Mal right in the eye. “CH to Dad.”
A second later, Dad responded. “What’s up, my son?”
“Didn’t you say you wanted to take Payton to see the magpies again? Over.” I made sure to stress my words, hoping Dad would pick up on it. I needed him to occupy Payton so that I could have a conversation with his father.
Payton hopped up immediately and started doing an excited dance. Either he’d heard me or he needed to go to the bathroom. Maybe both.
“I did, in fact. We’re in the process of making friends and it’s been a few days. Be right there. Over and out.”
I clipped the radio back onto my belt. Mal’s face was doing complicated things and I couldn’t quite sort it out. The anger was still there, maybe now more focused on me and my presumption. But also I definitely detected relief and affection hidden in there too. That was the right direction at least.
“Crew, I don’t know if—”
Mal was interrupted by Dad thundering up on Talia. The stocky bay mare loved to run, but she was also one of the gentlesthorses we had. She was the one Demi rode when she took Aria out on the property. Talia seemed to instinctively know when it was okay to be wild—like when Dad rode her by himself—and when she needed to be a good girl. Five years back, I’d been looking at her to expand our breeding operation but she had a mild form of Cushing’s. I bought her anyway and with medication, she was fine.
“Howdy,” Dad tipped the brim of his ball cap. “Payton, you wanna ride doubles with me or want me to get Bluey?”
I hid a snort. Our tricked-out six-seat golf cart that was bright blue, and Payton had called it Bluey the first time he saw it. We’d all sort of adopted the name for it. It wasn’t powerful enough to use for work, so we mostly used it when we were traveling the property for pleasure or if we were moving in a large group.
Payton pursed his lips, looking Talia over. She stood perfectly still, ears forward and alert. Then she shook her head and Payton jumped. I thought that was it and he’d ask for Bluey, but he surprised me by taking a few steps closer.
“I don’t know this horse, Mr. Mike.”
Dad walked her a little bit closer, and Talia lowered her head, lifting her top lip in what we called her smile. Out of all our horses, Talia’s Flehmen response was the most reactive. She really liked to take in the scents around her. I always thought it was because she was a treat-hound and wanted snacks.
“This is Talia. She’s a super good girl and I love to ride her,” Dad explained.
Payton’s brow crunched. “Good like Jaina?”
Dad nodded. “Just like Jaina. Hawk trained her so you know she’s solid.”
The boy’s face lit up. “Daddy says Hawk is the best. Okay, I’ll ride with you but only because it means we get to the magpies faster. They miss me.” Payton seemed to realize he’d forgotten something and he peered up at Mal. “Is that okay, Daddy?”
Mal looked a little shell-shocked, and I could practically see him fighting with himself. As far as I knew, Payton had never been on a horse with anyone else. Only him. And I was sure, as protective as a father as he was, he was wary about that. But I also knew Mal trusted my dad and his horsemanship skills. Plus, I knew from our conversations that he wanted to encourage anything Payton wanted to do that was outside. Payton had gotten better, but he would still choose a book inside over the outdoors any day. Kids needed fresh air and sunshine.
Finally, Mal released a long breath, and his voice was tight when he agreed. “Yeah, that’s okay. If you promise to listen to everything Mr. Mike says and remember your horse manners.”
“I promise,” Payton said solemnly and even crossed his heart.
“Awesome,” Dad said, lighting up. He loved taking kids out on horseback, and after we’d grown up and gotten too big to ride doubles, he’d had to wait a long time for Aria to come around. “You run inside and ask Mrs. Jenn for the magpie bag. I’ll go get your helmet. Deal?”
“Deal! Safety first,” he crowed, which is something Mal always said when he fitted the riding helmet on Payton.
Payton turned and shoved his book back into the tote bag, called goodbye to Juanpablo, and took off toward the house. He was calling for my mom as he pulled open the screen door. Mal walked over and picked up the tote, slinging it over one shoulder.
“Back in two shakes,” Dad said, reining Talia around and giving her her head. The mare didn’t hesitate to take off, straight for Barn 3. She might think she was getting dinner, but she wouldn’t be mad when Dad grabbed the helmet from the tack room and headed out again.
“We’ll wait to see them off. Then we’ll go talk.” It wasn’t a question and Mal sighed and shifted on his feet.
“It’s not a big deal, Crew.” Mal’s words and tone didn’t match. In that instant, I understood what was going on. Hewantedit to not be a big deal, but it actually was. I was learning his tells, and that made me smug. I wanted to know him inside out and backwards, and I was getting there. I knew better than to show it, though.
Dad returned at a trot this time and Payton yelled through the door that he’d be right out. When he traipsed down the steps, he could barely carry the saddle bag Mom had given him. I jogged over and took it from him, and while Mal got Payton’s helmet strapped onto his head, I settled the saddle bag over Talia’s rump and hooked it to the saddle.
Mal lifted Payton up, and Dad got the boy settled. Payton gripped the pommel and I was sure the excitement on his face was because he was going to see magpies and not that he was actually on a horse.
