Page 16 of Ethan

“She trusts you.” There was something in Ethan’s voice she couldn’t quite read. “That says a lot about a horse.”

Naomi gave Jewel one last pat and turned to step out of the trailer. Ethan was already on the ground, reaching up without thinking and offered his hand to help her down. She took it.

It was three seconds at most. His hand was warm and rough, and he let go the moment her boots hit the ground, stepping back, then reaching past her to latch the trailer door.

“Ready?” he said, not looking at her.

“Yes.” She fell into step beside him and they walked back to the truck without speaking.

She climbed in, stared straight ahead, and told herself it was nothing.

Just a hand down from a trailer. Any person would have done the same.

Ethan pulled into the ranch as the afternoon light was starting to soften. Serena’s SUV was parked by the barn and Johnny’s truck sat beside it.

Ethan backed the trailer up to the barn entrance and cut the engine. They both climbed out without a word and met at the back.

Naomi unlatched the doors and stepped inside while Ethan held them open. Jewel backed out slowly, hooves finding the ground, head coming up as she took in the new surroundings. Her ears swiveled in every direction.

“Easy.” Naomi kept a firm hand on the lead and gave her time to look.

Ethan said nothing. He just watched the mare settle, arms crossed, giving them space.

Once Jewel had satisfied herself that the world wasn’t ending, Naomi walked her into the barn and found the stall Ethan had prepared, fresh bedding laid down, water bucket full, hay in the rack.

She glanced back at him. “When did you do this?”

“This morning before we left.”

She looked at the stall for a moment, then at him. “Thank you, Ethan.”

He nodded and looked away. “Get her settled. I’ll unhitch the trailer.”

He was gone before she could say anything else.

She turned back to Jewel and smiled to herself.

****

Ethan pulled the truck through the barn, out the back, parked, and unhitched the trailer. He climbed back in, drove around to the rear of the house, and cut the engine.

He sat there for a second before he got out.

He looked toward the barn. He didn’t particularly want to go back in there, but it felt wrong to just disappear without a word. She was new here and it was her first day with her horse on the property. The least he could do was let her know where he was.

He told himself that’s all it was.

He found her in Jewel’s stall, the mare’s head resting heavy on her shoulder while she ran a brush along her flank in long, easy strokes. She didn’t hear him.

He stood at the stall door for a moment longer.

“Hey.” He kept his voice even.

She looked up. “Hey.”

“The trailer’s unhooked. I’m heading inside.” He rested his hand on the stall door. “You’re good out here?”

“More than good.” She smiled and turned back to the mare. “I might be out here all night.”