AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Never again apologize for giving me what is mine, Gabriella.” She nods with flushed cheeks before smiling once again.
“You gave me a mare.”
“I did.” And I would give anything else in the world if it meant that the smile would once again be the permanent state of her lips when they weren't glued to mine.
My determination to find the damn child is suddenly raised to stratospheric levels. I'm going to find the girl even if to do so I have to tear down every wall and ceiling on Brazilian soil.
“What is her name?” she asks, and I laugh.
“It's your mare,bambina. You choose.”
“Doesn't she have one yet?” Gabriella asks, genuinely surprised. “And what did they call her until today?”
“Horses are different from dogs, Bella, they don't need a name to obey commands.”
“Oh!” Her mouth opens in a perfect O.
“So? What will she be called?” I instigate, and thebambina's face turns towards the animal again. Gabriella studies the mare for several minutes, making faces and tilting her neck now to one side, then to the other.
“I think she looks like Kira.”
“She looks like Kira?” I can't help but repeat the statement, turning it into a question.
“Don’t you think?” she asks interested.
“Kira.” I test the name on my tongue. “Is that the name you want?”
“Yes.”
“Then Kira it will be. She is your responsibility, Gabriella. Her care will depend on you and you alone. The employees can help, but she's yours to deal with.”
“Thanks!” Gabriella sighs. “Not just for the mare, for everything, for… for continuing to search.”
I nod and let my thumb run down the side of her neck, touching the choker there. Mine. Certainty echoes on my skin and pulses in my bloodstream with the same rhythm as my heart.
A neigh from Galard's stall interrupts our silent observation. Gabriella looks over her shoulder at the horse.
“Is Galard jealous?” She asks, looking genuinely concerned and, again, I find myself laughing out loud in the stables because of Gabriella.
“I don't know, but considering he has no reason to be jealous of you, I hope not.” she bites her lip with a mischievous look on her face.
“Are you saying he's not mine and therefore he can't be jealous?”
“I'm saying you're not his to make him jealous, Gabriella. You are mine, only mine!”
CHAPTER 58
________
Gabriella Matos
“You really need to stop picking on each other,” I complain, brushing Kira's colorful fur and she snorts, indignantly. “It's not just his fault, Kira. Galard doesn't have an easy temper, but you're not being very kind either, are you? Whoever comes second says good morning. You're the newbie here, you should put that mane down.” Kira looks up in obvious disagreement, and I hear Galard neighing from his stall as if he's saying to me, “See? She is impossible!”
I roll my eyes at both of them, thankful for the empty stables at the end of the day, so I can talk to the horses without the staff looking at me like I'm crazy. I don't understand how can they not do the same.
I had never even had a fish as a pet, how could I not be dazzled by the magnitude of Vittorio's horses? They fascinated me from the first look, but it was only over time that I began to visit them frequently. After that, talking to them just happened.
It's obvious they don't speak, but their eyes are so expressive. The Don made fun of me the day of the snake accident, but I know that Galard apologized to me, and his jealousy of Kira's arrival, despite Vittorio's contraindications, is the greatest possible evidence of our friendship.
