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“I swear, I’m fine. Don’t worry about it. Let’s just get this done. Please.”

It was the please that affected me the most. He was asking from the heart, so for right now, I ignored it. Well, I didn’t mention it again. But I kept an eye on him as he was clearly favoring his right leg. I clocked every time he adjusted his stance or stretched it out.

Dr. Matigan showed up when we were about halfway done. He stopped to talk with Wren briefly, then headed over to the tiny herd. Russ was still with them, and helped Matigan with his exams. Wren and I kept working, but for all that he didn’t want to keep those ponies, he was constantly glancing over to see how it was going. Eventually, Matigan wandered back over.

Wren almost let go of the board before he realized he couldn’t yet and caught it. Anxiety crossed his features for a split second before he blurted out, “How are they?”

Matigan’s smile was warm. “In relatively good shape, considering. Nothing on exam. I left some chlorohexidine with Russ, but since it’s too cold for a real bath, just wash the scrapes and the gelding’s rain rot. I left an anti-bacterial gel for that spot too. I also took blood and will run a full panel, so we’ll see what comes up. I’m not expecting anything but you know. And have Mal clean up their feet, which look good, just overgrown.”

Wren nodded, bit his lip, realized what he was doing and released it, and then let out a sigh. “I’ll pay this first bill. Do you want me to do that now?”

Matigan shook his head. “I’ll send you the invoice. I know you’re good for it.” He chuckled at his own joke. “You got names for this trio?”

Wren turned, winced, and then called out, “Hey Mike, what are you naming your ponies?”

Dad let out a booming laugh and wiped his brow. Even though it was barely in the forties, we were all sweating from the work. Hawk had even taken off his jacket and was working in only his sweatshirt.

“The mare is Dolly, the gelding is Tim, and the baby is Catherine.”

Gemma snorted. “Good choices. But no way is Phinn going to be able to say Catherine.”

Dad just grinned. “He’ll learn. Emerson will teach him. Add this to my bill, will you, Steve?”

“Do not,” Wren commanded sotto voce.

Matigan just shook his head, lips quirking up. “I got it. I’ll let you know what I find out.”

“Thanks, Dr. Matigan,” Wren said and shook his hand. Matigan clapped me on the shoulder and then he was gone.

It took us another hour, but we finished the pen and herded the ponies inside. Catherine immediately took off, romping and bucking, the moment her halter was removed. Dolly and Tim both headed for the shelter where we’d put out hay and fresh water. We all watched them for a good ten minutes, before Wren turned to address the group

“Thank you all so much. I really appreciate the help.”

There was a chorus of “no problems” and “of course” as we were all the types to help out, but especially family. Which Wren was. I was hoping to make that permanent at some point in the future, but I knew better than to voice that right now. Wren was still working through everything and while I knew he trusted me, he wasn’t secure in my love yet. That would change.

Once everyone headed toward the trucks, I whirled on Wren and grabbed him by the hips. He gasped, but his gaze darkened. I loved to see it, but I couldn’t let it distract me right now.

“What’s going on with your leg?”

For a split second, he considered denying it again. It was all over his face. But then he just sighed and gave me a cheeky little grin. “I told you the filly was feisty.”

It took me a second. “She kicked you?”

Wren waved that away and wrapped his arms around my neck. “She has teeny, tiny little hooves. It’s not a—Bodhi!”

He was not expecting me to pick him up, throwing him over one shoulder. He punched me in the back, not very hard, but I ignored that and headed straight for my truck. Gemma let out a wolf whistle and Dad told her to leave us alone. I deposited Wren in the passenger side and then opened the back door so that Nyx could hop up. We were probably going to need to add another dog to the pack at home, since this girl wasn’t leaving my boy.

“It’s just a bruise, Bode,” Wren said coaxingly, setting his hand on my thigh. When I didn’t respond, he tried again to appeal to logic. “We’ve all been kicked. And bit. And banged around. It’s the price of doing business when you work with horses.”

I shot him a look. He wasn’t wrong. But that didn’t mean it didn’t need to be checked out and attended to.

We were back on my property a few minutes later and rather than park where I usually did, I drove around the side of the admin building and parked right by my stairs. Wren got out of the truck before I made it around the hood, which was his way of trying to assert his independence. But even though Wren wasn’t exactly little, I was taller and more muscled. I scooped him up again, this time bridal style, and carried him inside.

Gimlet called out a greeting and then hissed when I walked by without petting him. My cat would get over it. My boy needed me more. I set Wren on his feet in my bedroom and then kept walking toward the bathroom for my med kit. Over my shoulder, I directed, “Take your pants off.”

The kit was very well stocked. Part of that was because emergencies happened and the other part was because as a Marine, I knew to be prepared. I grabbed the whole thing, not willing to take the time to rifle through it until I knew what we were dealing with, and went back to the bedroom.

Wren stood exactly where I left him, still fully clothed, and staring at me.