“Tell me something about you,” I requested softly, trying not to make it a demand. I was dying to know more, but I didn’t want to seem as though I was pushing.
Hawk shifted, but I didn’t think he was uncomfortable. He turned his gaze to stare out the window. “What do you want to know?”
“Anything,” I said honestly. But I sensed he needed more direction than that. “How long have you been training horses?”
“My whole life,” he answered immediately, and so full of conviction, I knew it was his truth. He shot me a little smirk and thankfully elaborated. “I started following my dad around before I could properly walk. But I trained my first horse when I was nine.”
My brows shot up to my hairline. “Nine? Holy shit. Tell me the story?”
He set the can down on the end table and leaned back. He still wasn’t looking at me but he started to talk. “There was this ornery as hell pony. I swear, she was only like twelve hands but she acted like she was eighteen. She actually belonged to a friend of Dad’s, who bought her for his daughter. Only they couldn’t do anything with her and he wanted to sell her. But the daughter loved this mare, so he asked Dad if he could ‘fix’ her.”
That last bit was said with derision and I got it. Hawk would vehemently defend any horse. “So what? Your dad brought her home?”
Hawk nodded. “She was in a paddock with a couple of other horses and she ruled them all. But she was stubborn and kicked and was head shy. Now I wonder exactly what this guy did to her, because I’m sure it wasn’t anything good. Or maybe it was from before he got her. Anyway….” Hawk took a breath and cracked his knuckles. “Dad told us to stay away from her until she learned some manners. But I didn’t listen.”
“What did you do?” I murmured, not wanting to break his concentration but wanting him to keep going. I was enthralled with his story.
“I went in there and just sat. She hated it. Until she didn’t. She let me halter her. She let me lunge her. And then Dad told me what to do to train her on groundwork. When she left us six months later, she was a different horse.” Hawk shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal, but I knew better. I’d seen him in action, I’d heard his lectures, and I’d read a ton over the past couple of weeks.
“So even then, you were magic.”
Damn, but I really loved the blush that swept his cheeks. Too bad it disappeared a few seconds later. I cast around, trying to think of anything to keep him talking. I really could listen to him all day. And all night.
“Tell me about your favorite horse you’ve ever trained,” I requested softly.
“Humphrey, my gelding,” he said, his face lighting up. My breath caught but I covered it with a sip of beer.
Hawk needed no further prompting, telling me about how the horse was born and how he’d been with Humphrey from day one. I sat there and listened, making appropriate noises and interjecting when necessary, letting his voice wash over me.
That’s what friends did, after all.
Chapter 13
Hawk
As I drove home from Carter’s place, I felt a dozen things at once. That wasn’t the norm for me. I wasn’t the kind of person who questioned myself or my decisions on a daily basis. I knew what I knew, and if I needed more information to make a better decision, I’d go find it or ask someone.
There were a few more certain things now. Carter had told me his story. From the point of view of someone who had been raised in a big, loving family, his upbringing was tragic. Ihatedthat he’d had to go through all of that.
The fact that money hadn’t bought his family happiness was obvious. Meanwhile mine… well, we might’ve been comfortable now, to a point, but it hadn’t been like that always. Mom and Dad were open about the penny pinching they’d done to sometimes keep all of us fed and clothed while also being responsible with the ranch, the animals, and the people theyemployed. Gigi Fern’s money had only gotten them so far, and after that they’d worked their asses off to sustain their dream.
Carter’s life had been so different, yet somehow, he’d grown up to a good man. Someone who was clearly kind and considerate. The fact that my idea of putting him in contact with Keegan had led to him insisting he’d pay Kee for his labor when my brother would’ve done it for free just for the chance to get to do something like that spoke volumes of what kind of a man Carter was.
Sure, Carter had millions. Which seemed ridiculous to even think. In some ways he was the kind of person everyone thought they’d be if they suddenly had a lot of money. He was generous, while never hesitating to buy something he truly wanted for himself.
He’d also never pushed for more details about Richard. I appreciated that. The whole story wasn’t something I’d tell a casual friend. Which was what we now were. I sighed as I turned into the ranch’s driveway. It was for the best, of course. Like he’d said, we had a working relationship.
We’d agreed to being just friends, despite the fact that we were clearly drawn to each other and had chemistry.
The words he’d said about me…. They weren’t new. I’d heard them before. But when Carter said them, I believed them.
He’d used the words “I’d love to have you under me,” and now I had to live with that mental image without being able to do anything about it.
I grunted and drove the rest of the way to my barn. It was one of those nights I didn’t want to spend at the house, and my couch in my office called my name.
Thomas O’Malley made his appearance as I was doing one last check on the horses who were inside in their stalls, munching hay or already halfway to sleep.
He followed me up the stairs and I gave him the good food again. As I settled on the couch, he joined me as usual.
