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“Shut the fuck up, Brodie,” I growled and he chuckled, garnering him a glance over my shoulder. His smile dropped and I swung my eyes back to the horse. I shoved my hand into my coat pocket and removed a few hay pellets. I dropped them into my palm and locked eyes with my target.
“I’m coming over there and you’re gonna stay your ass still. No bucking, no charging, no more stress. I get it. You’re annoyed. I am too. You just kicked the shit outta me and I’m gonna have a pretty nasty bruise.” As I spoke calmly to her, I edged closer. She focused on my hand but I sensed her gauging my proximity. When I was close enough for her mouth to reach my palm, I lowered my hand so she didn’t have to work for the pellets. “Okay now let me be clear, if you kick me again, I’m gonna kick you back but that’s only fair. You gonna behave?”
She huffed and I raised a brow. The mare kicked dust behind her but didn’t make the effort to move.
“You’re a stubborn old lady.” I smirked and flexed my fingers. After another long moment she gave in and devoured the pellets. I retrieved a few more from my pocket and she nudged my palm, but I shook my head.
“You want ’em, you’re gonna have to let me grab those reins.”
Maybe I was crazy for thinking these horses understood me but treating them with respect had yet to fail me.
“We got a deal?”
I lowered my eyes to the pellets in my palm then moved my hand under her nose. This time when she ate them, I gently reached for the reins. After the pellets were gone, I placed my empty hand on the horse’s head and slowly moved my finger down to her nose. I smirked when she remained calm.
“Alright, let’s go.” I tugged the reins and she kicked her hooves. “Easy, we had a deal.”
I moved and she moved.
Things got a little dicey when I had to force her in the trailer and lock her in but I got it done. She wasn’t going to like the drive but as soon as I made it to my ranch I’d let her run free for a few days. It was winter but not cold enough where I had to keep her locked in the barn. I wouldn’t start working with her until she burned off some of that frustration Brodie had caused.
“Paperwork.”
“How the fuck did you do that? What are you, the gotdamn horse whisperer?” Brodie handed off a thick envelope and I glanced inside to make sure I had what I needed.
“You sign ’em over?”
“Did I have a choice?”
“Yeah you did, you just weren’t gonna like how I reacted if it wasn’t the one we agreed on.”
“She’s yours.” Brodie’s tone was laced with irritation. I tipped my hat and headed to the driver's side of my truck.
“You’re not gonna shit me are you, Wilde?”
“I should, based on the way you treated her but I gave you my word, Brodie. You know the answer to that question.”
I slammed the door and pulled away from his ranch, glancing in my rear view. I could see my new four-legged pal trying her best to get free. “This is going to be a long ride for you, old girl,” I murmured just as my phone notified me of a call.
I answered through the truck, not feeling like digging out the device. “This is Wilde.”
“Hey, sugar pie. You busy?”
I smiled at the sound of Melvina’s voice. She owned the bed and breakfast in town and was close friends with my parents. Since neither of my parents had siblings, Melvina had more or less become an adopted aunt. I’d do just about anything for her and her for me.
“Just picked up a horse from Brodie but I can talk while I head home.”
“Oh, you’re on your way home?”
My brows pinched and I nodded even though she couldn’t see me. “Yeah I am. You need something?”
It wasn’t ideal to drive around town with a wild horse but if Melvina needed me, I’d make it work.
“Actually, I do. I need to call in a favor, a really big one.”
I damn sure didn’t like the sound of this.
“I won’t make any promises, but shoot.”
