Page 12 of Art of Love

Chapter Four

“Let go!” Max shouted at him. “She’s not worth it.” He stepped up on the rung of the corral.

“Like hell I will,” he grunted, tightening his grip on the reins. “Come on, baby, we can do this.” He squeezed his thighs a little harder.

The mare jerked under him and did a little sideways buck. But he held tight, his grip firm but steady as the mare fought against him. Her muscles coiled beneath him, her wild energy crackling like a live wire. He could feel her frustration, the way she tested his control, but he wasn’t about to let go.

“Easy,” he murmured, shifting his weight with her movements. “I know you’ve got more in you. Let it out now and be done with it.”

The mare tossed her head, nostrils flaring, but he kept his hold on the reins, refusing to let her win.

“Abe!” Max’s voice cut through the tension. “Damn it, man, don’t be stupid. Just get down before she throws you.”

Abe barely heard him. His focus was locked on the horse beneath him, on the challenge of earning her trust, proving to her that he wasn’t going anywhere.

She bucked again, harder this time, but he was ready. His body moved with hers, instinct kicking in. He’d been on enough stubborn horses in his lifetime to know that giving up wasn’t an option.

“Come on, baby,” he coaxed, loosening his grip just enough to give her the space to think, to choose. “You don’t want to fight me. You just don’t know me yet.”

The mare’s breathing came heavy, her sides heaving, but the wildness in her eyes flickered just for a second.

Abe exhaled slowly, keeping his voice calm. “That’s it. You and me, we’re gonna figure this out.”

Another tense beat passed. Then, finally, she stilled beneath him, her muscles relaxing just a fraction.

Abe ran a hand down her neck, feeling the slight tremble there. “That’s my girl.”

Max let out a low whistle. “You’re a damn lunatic, you know that?”

Abe grinned, reaching up to wipe the sweat from his forehead. “Takes one to know one.”

Max shook his head, muttering something under his breath, but Abe could hear the relief in his voice.

He straightened in the saddle, giving the mare a final pat. “She just needed someone to believe in her.”

Max snorted. “You always gotta make it poetic?”

Abe chuckled. “Only when it’s true.”

He took one last deep breath before easing the mare into a slow, careful walk around the corral. And as he did, he couldn’t help but think that maybe he and this horse weren’t so different.

He just needed someone to believe in him. Someone like Dylan.

He couldn’t get the woman out of his mind, and that scared him. He was almost as spooked as the horse under him.

“You should have seen him,” Max said between bites of pizza. “Just like the rodeo. I thought for sure he was going to fly through the air at any moment.”

“I’m glad I didn’t see it.” Juliette laughed. “I probably would have screamed and spooked the horse even more.”

“Naw, Stormy is chill,” he said, causing them both to laugh.

“We haven’t settled on her name yet,” Max pointed out.

“Horses name themselves.” He slapped Max on the shoulder.

“What’s the other’s one’s name?” Juliette asked.

He thought about it then smiled. “Blaze.”