“Keep going,” Zach urged. “She’s liking it. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t stay with you.”
Jessie started up again, a little more tentatively. “I wondered why her mane and tail were such a mess. I was thinking you weren’t much of a horseman.”
“I’m thinking much the same thing,” Zach admitted. “Touched her the other day. Just my fingertips. That’s as close as I’ve gotten.”
“Maybe she just doesn’t like men.”
“She’s had a rough go,” he admitted. “Been pushed around, somewhat. A lot, actually.”
“Why don’t you try coming up to her now?” Jessie suggested.
Zach told Spike to stay, shoved Willow aside, and came through the gate. The mare’s ears and eyes tracked him, but she didn’t move away as he cautiously walked to them.
When Zach approached, Jessie handed him the brush. “Here. I’ll work on her mane.”
“You might need scissors,” he warned. He started stroking the brush along the mare’s shoulder. She snorted and leaned into it.
“I’ve got a knife.” Jessie pulled a rather impressive folding knife from her back pocket and began to cut through the knots.
They worked together on the mare who now acted as though she’d been a pony-club mount all her life. But Zach sensed the horse’s inner watchfulness. She wasn’t as relaxed as she seemed. They’d been granted access. The queen had deigned to step off her pedestal to address her itchy skin.
Zach would take it. Whether she wished to admit it or not, this was a vital first step for Storm. He sensed, however, the exact moment when the mare had enough primping. He stopped brushing.
“That’s good for now,” he said.
Jessie glanced at him and stepped back. Storm snorted, shook her head, and wandered off to the hay pile.
Elated, Zach grinned at Jessie. “You should be a horse trainer. You just pulled off a miracle.” He held the gate open for her. She smiled at him as she pocketed her knife, brushed away tufts of gray hair from her shirt and then bent to pet Spike. The big dog wagged his plumed tail.
Willow had vanished. Along with another horse halter, Zach noted. He sighed.
“Are you going to ride her?” Jessie asked.
“Eventually,” he confessed. “If she’ll let me.” He led her to Cara’s bench and sat. “Not sure she will, but this was a major breakthrough.” He shifted over for her. Spike settled at their feet.
“Glad to help,” Jessie said as she sat beside him. “It’s what nurses do. How did you know I was out here?” she asked.
He frowned. “Something upset you.”
She looked away. “Yeah. Kade.”
“I find him upsetting, too.” Zach grimaced. “Guy’s arrogant as hell.”
“He did save me,” Jessie admitted. “Braden would’ve had me if Kade hadn’t been there.”
Zach shot her a look. “You’re defending him?”
“Yeah, although, maybe I shouldn’t.” Jessie leaned back on her hands. “He told me not to trust Laura.”
“What? Why?”
“He thinks she’s going darkside. And he might be right.” She told him what the woman had said about her dreams.
Zach’s expression darkened as she finished. “Does he try things in your dreams too?”
“Yeah. I didn’t have them at Cara’s. Her place shielded me, I think. But he did, before then. Tried to get rough. I bit him.”
Zach’s eyebrows twitched, and he barked a laugh. “Good.”
