Fractured Sky (Tattered & Torn #5)(39)

“He’s got more patience than anyone I’ve ever seen.”

Aidan swallowed, his focus not moving from Ramsey and Onyx. “That’s a gift. Most people aren’t capable of that kind of thing.”

He was right, but I hated that he knew that at such a young age. Hated that his father was likely the one who had taught him that lesson. That he’d seen the man hurt these animals.

“You are. You’re learning it here every day.”

Aidan looked over at me. “You think?”

“I’ve seen the way you are with the horses here. Gentle but firm. And the longer you work with Ramsey, the more you’re finding that balance.”

Aidan’s cheeks blushed under my praise. “I hope so. If I didn’t have school, I could work more hours here. I talked to one of my teachers about maybe getting my GED instead.”

I bit the side of my mouth, trying to hold back my strong reaction. “You’ve got time to work more hours here. You’ve only got a little over a year left of school.”

He deflated, his gaze traveling back to the ring. “A lot can happen in a year.”

I searched for the right words. I wasn’t good at saying the right thing, but I wanted to with Aidan—he deserved that and more. When nothing came, I decided something was better than nothing: brutal honesty.

“I’m not good at finding the right words.”

Aidan’s gaze flicked to me.

“But you should know. It seems like where you are now will last forever, but it won’t. Even the worst pain isn’t forever. It passes. Changes. It might come back now and then, but it never lasts forever. All we can do is make the best of where we’re at—finishing school, giving yourself as many options as possible. That seems like making the best of things. At least, to me.”

A hint of a smile played on his lips. “Seems like you’re pretty good at words to me.”

I chuckled and knocked my shoulder against Aidan’s. There was no flicker of panic or grating sensation on my skin. There was only the need to let Aidan know that I was here for him if he needed me.

We turned back to the round pen, focusing on Ramsey and Onyx. He’d closed some of the distance with her. She was tense but allowed it.

“Shiloh,” Ramsey said, his voice low, “why don’t you come into the ring?”

Excitement hummed under my skin—the first real sense of pleasure since the funeral yesterday. The shock of seeing Ian was free. The rollercoaster of wondering if he was out for good or just on a pass for the funeral.

I ducked between the fence rails. Onyx’s nostrils flared. We’d developed a bit of a rapport, but she didn’t like two people in her space.

“Walk over to me, nice and easy.”

I did as he instructed.

“You’re going to take point on this.”

My head snapped in his direction. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea…”

Ramsey’s mouth curved. “It’s a great idea.”

“I don’t want to hurt her.”

The words were out before I could stop them. It was my greatest fear in all this: that I would do something to cause more pain.

Ramsey’s hand lifted to the small of my back. Heat flared at the contact. “Trust yourself. You’ve built a bond with her already. We’re going to strengthen that.”

He pressed the training flag into my hand. “This is to mark your space and show her where you want her to go.”

He stepped back a few paces. “I’m right here with you. I’m just giving you two some room.”

Onyx’s ears twitched as she watched Ramsey’s retreat.

“What do you feel?” he asked me.

“I’m not sure.”

“Bull. You know. Sense it. Sense her.”

I watched the mare carefully. Her muscles twitched every so often, a byproduct of the tension running through them.

“She’s on edge.”

“Good. Now, what can we do to ease that?”

“Wait until she’s ready.”

“That’s a good start. It’ll also help to have you as calm as possible.”

Calm was easier said than done. I inhaled deeply, filling my nose with the scents of horses and the pine trees surrounding us. As I exhaled, I tried to let it all go. The fear and anxiety of the last couple of weeks. The weight of disappointing my family. I released it all.

I closed my eyes for moment, picturing all those things being carried away on the breeze. I felt it then, a tiny shift in the air.

Opening my eyes, I met deep onyx ones that melded into her coat. She had moved one step closer, her muscles slightly more relaxed.

“Meet her where she is. This is a dance. She comes to you, then you go to her.”

I kept the training flag relaxed at my side and took a step.

A frisson of energy flashed through Onyx, and I halted. I focused on keeping everything about me relaxed. I imagined nothing but air filling my body. Light. Free.

I imagined Onyx feeling the same way. I wanted that for her so badly. For her to be able to release the pain of her past and step into this new world at her feet.

My eyes stung with the intensity of the emotion. We were similar in so many ways.

“I know it’s terrifying. You’ve had to defend yourself with everything you had. But you can let that go now.”