AllFreeNovel
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“Silver is the Lone Ranger’s horse, and he’s white.”
“Uncle Zane rides horses!” Kimmie announces, and my brow arches.New information.
“How do you feel about Smokey?”
Zane doesn’t push. He just lays the name out there gently, letting them decide what they think. I’ve never heard him talk this way to anyone, and it’s like I’m getting a peek behind his grumpy curtain.
“I like it.” Edward nods. “It’s not a horse, and it’s not a party favor. Kim, meet Smokey.”
“Kim?” The little girl’s nose wrinkles, but she changes her mind just as fast. “You can call me Kim! It sounds like a grown-up lady.”
“I expect it’s your real name, since Kimmie is clearly a nickname.” My brother’s logic is sound if potentially incorrect.
“Can I hold Smokey now, Edward?”
She stretches out her arms, and my brother hesitates. “He’ll probably scratch and try to bite you, and his teeth are like needles.”
“I know!” She bounces on her toes, curling her fingers, and he relents, putting the kitten in her arms.
She immediately clutches him to her chest, swaying side to side. “I love you, Smokey! We’re going to have so much fun together. You’ll see, we’ll be best friends!”
The kitten struggles, but Zane puts his hand on my brother’s shoulder. “Speaking of horses, how would you feel about working with them?”
Edward’s brow furrows. “I’ve never ridden a horse, but I’ve read about them. They’re believed to have an empathic connection with humans. They tap into our need for safety and connection.”
Zane’s brow arches. “Have you heard of equine therapy?”
“Yes.” My brother blinks like he’s retrieving the information. “It’s an emerging realm of treatment for depression, PTSD, neurodivergence, among other things.”
Zane exhales a laugh. “How do you know so much about everything?”
I wonder the same thing all the time.
“I read,” Edward says without a hint of irony. “Readers are leaders.”
A snort exhales from my nose, and Zane straightens, turning to where I’m standing at the screen door.
“Sorry!” I open it slowly. “I was just coming to check on the kids.”
Zane’s eyes move from mine to my mouth to my neck, where they seem to freeze and not drift any lower.
He clears his throat, turning away from me. “I was just telling your brother, I work at Second Chance Farms most mornings. It’s a shelter for old thoroughbreds, and they also provide equine therapy for kids his age and up.”
“Really?” I blink up at him, and when our eyes meet, his stunning blue ones have returned to their usual look for me—impenetrable.
“If Edward would like to join me, the owner said he’s welcome. I think he might get a lot out of it. All the kids do.”
My chest warms, and I don’t care if I annoy him or if hehates me or whatever he says. The fact that he wants to help my brother goes a long way in my book.
“I think that would be wonderful. What do you think, Eddie? Would you like to help Zane with the horses?” I say it slower than is probably necessary, but I can’t help being careful with him.
My brother shrugs, and he’s watching Kimmie now holding the kitten over her head as she dances with him. “I could give it a try.”
Loud music cranks up inside the restaurant, and I hear Allie’s voice on the mic announcing the warning for tonight’s spicy dish. Zane lifts his chin, taking a step to the side.
“Sounds like they’re getting started.” He continues like he’ll walk all the way around the restaurant just to avoid walking past me here at the back door.
“You can go this way.” I step outside, holding the door open for him. “I’ll round up these guys, and we’ll meet you inside.”
