Page 19 of Ethan
He looked at her. “I thought you were younger.”
“I’m not sure how to take that. Is that a good or bad thing?”
Ethan chuckled. “Good. You look younger. I should have led with that.”
The dapple chose that moment to stop in the middle of the pen and stare at them both, ears forward, like he was trying to figure out what was so funny.
“He’s got personality,” Naomi said.
“Too much of it.” But there was no edge in his voice. He watched the gelding for a moment. “You ever break horses?”
“When I was younger, on a dare and didn’t know any better.” She smiled. “I understand your reasoning.”
He glanced at her sideways. “Were you any good at it?”
“I didn’t die, so I’d say yes.”
He laughed at that, and it caught her off guard. She hadn’t heard him laugh like that before. It did something to her she wasn’t prepared for.
She looked back at the gelding.
“What’s his name?” she asked, mostly to give herself something to say.
“Doesn’t have one yet. I haven’t figured him out well enough.”
“You name them based on their personality?”
“Always.” He glanced at her. “Doesn’t everyone?”
“I named Jewel because she was the prettiest thing I’d ever seen.” Naomi shrugged. “Same idea I suppose.”
He nodded and they stood in comfortable silence for a moment, watching the gelding pick his way around the pen like he owned it.
“Let me show you which horse you’ll be working with.” Ethan turned and headed back into the barn.
Naomi followed him, enjoying the view of his Wranglers, then caught herself and looked at the ceiling.
He stopped in front of a stall midway down the aisle.
She stepped up beside him and looked in. “Oh, what a beauty.” She put her hand through the bars. “Come here, pretty boy.”
The horse was solid black, not a single other color on him anywhere.
“His name is Vader. Fifteen hands, knows the pattern but hasn’t run it yet.” Ethan watched the horse move toward her hand. “He’s going to be a handful. You sure you’re up to it?”
“I’m positive.” She glanced at Ethan. “I’m good at this. Trust me.”
He held her gaze for a moment. “Alright.”
She tilted her head. “Why didn’t you ever mention you used to race?”
“Never came up. It was a long time ago.”
“Not so long that Ronnie didn’t recognize your name.”
“He works on a ranch that raises racers. He knows the sport.” Ethan shrugged. “How’s he doing with the sale?”
“Not well.” Naomi looked back at Vader. “The new owners aren’t keeping the horses. He’ll be out of a job. Forty-five years old and starting over after twenty-seven years with the same family.” She sighed. “He hates the idea.”
