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“What does that mean?”
“It means treasure in Italian.”
“Treasure?” she softly asked. “That’s a beautiful name for her.”
Turning to Tesoro, I held my hand out in hopes she would at least smell it. When she did, I grinned. “She’s lost right now, but I know the moment she comes out of her shell, she’ll do great things.”
When I glanced back at Lily, she was staring at me.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I, um…nothing at all. I’m going to work him a bit more. Dad said you wanted her to watch us?”
Nodding, I replied, “I’m hoping she’ll see what life could be like if she simply let me get a bit closer.”
Lily laughed. “Dad also said she has a thing for Juniper, and I have to say, I think the feeling is mutual.”
“She’s interested, that’s for sure.”
Lily turned Juniper and started walking him around the barrels, then trotted him around the pen as I slowly walked Tesoro along the outside. The horse watched intently and stopped every time Juniper trotted by.
“You want to do that too, right, girl?” I whispered as I softly ran my hand down her neck. She let out a little snort that caused me to chuckle. I was pleasantly surprised she’d let me touch her as much as she had. Juniper for the win on the distraction factor.
When Lily rode up again, she brought Juniper to a stop. “You going to let her watch me cool him down also?”
“I think so. I’m going to stall her next to Juniper each night, and I was hoping we could put them out to pasture together. I think she needs a friend.”
Lily winked at me as she pulled back on the reins. “Everyone needs a bestie.”
Before she walked away, I called out her name. “Lily!”
With a quick glance over her shoulder, she asked, “Yeah?”
“Thank you again. For helping me when I was sick.”
Her eyes sparkled as the sunlight hit her face. “That’s what friends are for, right?”
I ignored the slight stab of pain in my chest as I nodded, unable to say anything else as Lily walked Juniper around to start his cooldown.
“Come on, girl,” I said, as I eventually took Tesoro’s reins and led her toward the barn, where Lily would be bringing Juniper. “Let’s admire them both from afar.”
Chapter Seven
LILY
I watched as Maverick started to lead Tesoro away from the arena and toward the barn. The name was beautiful, and there was something so sexy about a man who would think of a horse as a treasure. Especially a horse who was broken like that mare.
Following behind them, I walked Juniper to a smaller pen to let him cool down a bit more. The sound of tires coming down the gravel road caused Maverick to stop walking and me to look at who was coming.
Ben pulled up and parked his truck as I walked Juniper. He waved as he got out and made his way to the railing. When he saw Maverick, he frowned.
Maverick looked back at me. “Thanks again for letting us watch today,” he called, continuing toward the barn.
“Anytime. Will you be putting her out to pasture today with Juniper?”
“If you don’t mind.”
Smiling, I replied, “Not at all. I think he’ll be thrilled.”
