“Oh.” He had a legit fear, but she’d hoped he would at least see her off. She shook off the thought and tried to muster a smile. “O-okay. That sounds good.”
“But,” he replied, his tone suddenly lighter, “I can come in with you while you pick out your trail companion for the day. Just keep Majesty the hell away from me.” He called out the last bit to his brother Sam.
“Like she’d want anything to do with a peasant like you,” Sam yelled back.
“Are you sure?” Lily-Grace laughed.
“Yeah, I’m sure. After you.”
Lily-Grace walked into the barn and took in how spacious and modern it was. It was clear the space was massive from the exterior, and obviously they needed enough horses to accommodate all of their guests, but she wasn’t expecting so many stalls. She looked back at Jesse, who looked like he’d just been told it was his turn for execution. Lily-Grace took his large hand in hers and pulled it behind her back so he was forced to walk close, right behind her.
“Okay, which one’s Majesty? Over there with Sam?” Sam and Amanda were greeting a beautiful dark chestnut horse about midway down the barn.
“No, that’s Fickle. Amanda usually rides her. Majesty is down at the end.” Like she’d been summoned, a gorgeous black mare stuck her muzzle out over the stall. “That’s her. Little asshole.”
“Sam, what’s the deal with your horse?” Lily-Grace chuckled.
“Okay, so she is kind of an—”
“Babe.” Amanda shook her head.
“I mean—” Sam tried again. “She’s just spirited. She’s a great horse. She hasn’t maimed anyone in at least three months,” Sam joked, his tone dry.
“Okay, Zach, who is the sweetest of the bunch?” she asked.
“Well, the sweetest is Françoise, but she’s not a trail mount. Come on.” Zach stepped away from Evie and the black-and-white painted horse she was chatting with, and led Lily-Grace deeper into the barn. He stopped a few stalls down and leaned his elbow over the door. “Good morning, madam. Someone wants to meet you.”
A giant dark grey draft horse slowly brought its massive head over the stall door.
“Her and her brother Philippe do all our heavy lifting. Including pulling Santa’s sleigh during the Christmas parade,” Zach said, his voice filled with pride.
“How do you feel about Françoise?” she asked Jesse.
“Alright. She’s been a respected employee of the ranch for some time now.” His voice was still tight, but he’d relaxed a little.
“Can you saddle her?” Lily-Grave asked. “Or has she just been a working girl her whole life?”
“Oh yeah. Our foreman, Felix, loves taking her for quick solo rides around the property.”
“Hmm, good to know. Okay, who would you suggest for my first outing? I’m confident, but rusty.”
“Well, I’d say Bam Bam. Crowd favorite. Sweet as hell, but Evie’s taken him today. May I suggest—” Zach slowly spun around, tapping his index finger against his lips. Lily-Grace leaned back against Jesse and felt him exhale a little. She wished he could join them, and more so when he dropped a soft kiss to the side of her neck.
“I think we’re gonna have to go with the freshest MC this side of the Sierra Madre.”
“Oh, good choice,” Sam said from Fickle’s stall.
Zach turned on his heels and motioned for them to follow. Two stalls down they stopped to be greeted by the ass end of a tall gelding. Sensing he had visitors, the horse turned around, revealing a black muzzle that blended seamlessly into its brown body. His black mane was pulled back in an impressive fishtail braid. Lily-Grace didn’t hide the snort that slipped out of her.
“Why is this horse prettier than I am?”
“He knows how to find his light.” Sam laughed.
“May I present DJ Clip Clop,” Zach said. “He does very well with the teens. Big personality, but a bit of a human whisperer himself. He knows when to rein it in, and also takes direction from my noble steed, Steve, very well.”
“Great, DJ Clip Clop it is.” She glanced back at Jesse, who was looking at her and not the horse. “Will you stay until we set out?”
“Yeah, I can do that.”
