Intent(24)

Frankie hasn’t taken his eyes off me, and it feels like he’s trying to communicate with me through his expressions. The whites of his eyes are not visible, so I know enough to know he trusts me. “Let’s take a walk, Frankie. Just you and me.” I turn and begin walking with the lead rope held loosely in my hand. I’m more than pleased when I glance over my shoulder and see he’s willingly following me. “You’re such a good boy,” I praise.

We make a few laps around the pen together, change directions, and zigzag across the pen, while Ace, River, and Justin watch. But honestly, Frankie and I don’t even acknowledge their presence. They just fade into the background and we enjoy our time together, even if it is in a round pen instead of the open pasture. We stop at the end of the pen that overlooks the pasture and river below to just take in the scenery.

Frankie places his muzzle against my arm and leaves it there, touching me. I’m so mesmerized by the sight and overwhelmed from the swell of emotion in my chest, that I’m just as startled as Frankie is when Ace approaches us from behind. Frankie suddenly jumps, every muscle in his immense body tenses, and his veins pop out. He jerks his head up and back, pulling the lead rope through my hand and leaving a slight rope burn in its wake.

“Whoa,” Ace commands. His voice is low but stern. However, Frankie doesn’t seem to appreciate it. “I said, whoa!”

“Whoa, boy.” I mimic his words, but I use the tone Frankie’s accustomed to hearing from me. I step in between Frankie and Ace and hold my hand out to him. Frankie lowers his head to me, but his gaze keeps darting between Ace and me. “It’s okay, buddy. I’m here with you.”

“Unclip the lead rope from his halter,” Ace instructs. “Good, now hand it to me and open that gate in front of you so he can go graze.”

Frankie trots out of the pen several yards and then he stops, turns to look at me, and our eyes lock. Is he waiting for me to follow him? “You can go now. You need to eat. It’s okay, Frankie,” I try to assure him. And myself.

Ace closes the gate and Frankie neighs before he eventually trots off in search of the perfect blade of grass. My feet feel like they’re inside cement shoes because I can’t move. It’s possible that I’m still breathing, but I’m not positive. I’m experiencing the strangest mixture of feelings as I watch this majestic buckskin horse gallop across the field. Part of me is glad he’s able to run and enjoy his freedom. Another part of me wants him back by my side.

The weight of multiple eyes staring at me settles on my chest and pulls me from the hypnotic trance Frankie had me under. A quick glance around me reveals that both Justin and Ace are watching me intently. Their gazes seem to penetrate my thoughts and I feel as transparent as glass, like I’m standing naked in an enormous picture window. It’s strange; I can stand in a courtroom full of people and argue a case. It’s no problem for me to confront the person across the table from me during a deposition. But under the scrutiny of these two men, I feel my bravado waning.

“That was incredible! I think I’m in love with Frankie.” My smile covers my face, but even I don’t feel it past the surface level, so I doubt I’m fooling them. The silence was becoming way too uncomfortable for me to bear, though.

“He seems to be very smitten with you, too. Should we expect wedding invitations soon?” Justin laughs good-naturedly.

“We’ll see. He has to work for it, though. Can’t have him thinking I’m easy or desperate,” I counter jokingly. Half jokingly, anyway.

“I think you should come by here more often and work with him. He doesn’t respond to anyone else the way he responds to you,” Justin suggests.

“Justin,” Ace interjects, a slight warning in his tone.

“Maybe after hours a couple of days a week after everyone else has gone home. We can play with River while Layne spends some time with Frankie,” Justin replies. “It’ll be a great way to help him acclimate to people.”

“I’d like that.” I find myself agreeing to things without thinking them through more and more the longer I stay in this small, mountain town. “He’s really a good horse. I’d like to see him feel more comfortable around people.”

“You don’t have to do this, Layne,” Ace says and cuts his eyes at Justin. “We don’t want to impose on you.”

“It’s no imposition. I won’t bother you while you’re working. In fact, I can just go into the pasture with him and not have to bother you at all.” His obvious aversion to my being here shouldn’t sting…but it does.

“The round pen is best, Layne,” Justin explains. “If he spooked in the pasture like he did today when Ace walked up to him in the pen, he would’ve been long gone. This way makes it safer for you and him.”

“Okay, if you’re sure,” I agree. “River, are you ready to go? We should let them get back to work now.”

“Can we go play in the water now?” she asks and her eyes widen animatedly.

“Yes, we’ll go play in the water now,” I agree. Her excitement is contagious, and I’m ready to take a dip in the cool water myself. “Tell them good-bye.”

“Bye, Daddy,” she says sweetly and kisses him on the cheek.

“I’ll see you later, baby. Be good for Layne,” Ace replies then kisses her back.