Elizabeth Blackhawk had given him so much money to set the man up, and he was going to make sure that the fees for a barn and horse care were handled.
Just in case.
The horse definitely had to go with him. Coming in here and seeing Diablo every day would hurt Poe more than he liked to admit.
It would be a punch to the chest, knowing what he’d had to let walk away.
LOVE.
Yeah, Poe would miss the man and how he loved that horse.
“You’re a good boy,” Gamble said, as Diablo had his big head resting next to his neck. As he rubbed his body, the horse stomped in pleasure.
Yeah, someone loved Gamble, maybe just as much as Poe did.
Gamble kissed him.
“I don’t care what Poe says,” he stated. “You’re an angel.”
Poe smiled.
It was rare the man used his name, but once in a while, he’d say it, and not use‘Doctor’. He wasn’t sure if it was a slip, or what, but he liked his name on the man’s lips.
It made him happy.
God.
Setting him free was going to be brutal beyond words, and he knew it.
When he heard talking, Poe focused on the man in the jeans and tank top.
“I love you too, Diablo,” Gamble said, as the horse tried to eat some of his hair. “You’re my baby,” he stated. “I’ll always love and protect you.”
His heart felt light.
The man was learning to love again, and to feel attachments. That was one of the steps in healing.
Rufus barked, and Gamble laughed. That whiskey-warm sound of his voice gave him goosebumps.
“I love you too, Rufus. I’m going to miss you when I leave,” he admitted. “I’m going to miss both of you. I’m better because of you both, and Poe. We don’t deserve animals,” he said, scratching the dog behind the ears.
It was clear to Poe that Gamble didn’t remember what he’d said weeks ago. He was giving the horse to him, and he wasn’t kidding about him taking Rufus.
They’d bonded.
And Poe wanted him to have something of him and the memories here when he left.
The thought brought tears to his eyes.
So much so, that he had to back out of the barn to gather himself.
Because he knew he had to fight those feelings, Poe took the next step to ensure Gamble would be ready to go. He checked in with Elizabeth.
Poe pulled out his phone. When he made the call, it made his stomach twist with anxiety over the whole thing.
“Blackhawk.”
He went there.
