StudinTexas by Calista Fox Read Free Book Online

to me first.”
    Dalton nodded. He watched Midnight come to the gate as Sky
spoke. He suggested, “Why don’t we see if he’ll take some carrots from you?”
    “Sure.” She crossed to the stall and scooped out a handful
of chopped carrots from a bucket hanging on a wooden peg next to the gate.
    Sam said, “Stand back a little, darlin’.” Concern tinged his
deep voice.
    Over her shoulder, she told him, “I’ll be careful. I know
what I’m doing. No startling him. Keep a good distance in case he rears up.”
She returned her attention to the horse. “But he won’t.”
    “He’s still wary,” Sam reminded her.
    She smiled at the stallion. “I don’t blame you for that. But
I bet you’re ready for a little treat.”
    Holding her hand palm up, she showed him the carrots. A puff
of air blew from the horse’s nostrils.
    Pleased by his responsiveness, Sky said, “Good boy. You know
I’m just here to help you, like everyone else. Show you the kindness you
deserve.”
    Midnight sniffed around her hand, then nibbled the carrots. When
he’d finished with the snack, Sky turned back to Sam and Dalton.
    “What do you think?”
    They both grinned.
    Sam said, “He’s smitten.”
    “So am I.” She glanced back at the horse. “Maybe someday,
you and I’ll go riding.”
    “Now that you mention it,” Dalton said as he crossed to the
tack room. “I’ve got an idea.” He disappeared inside, returning moments later
with a hackamore—a bridle with no bit.
    But Sam cut him off before he made it to Sky. “Hold on
there, Dalton.” His tone turned edgy. “Let’s not move too fast here. I don’t
want the horse getting agitated with Sky and acting out.”
    “He hasn’t shown any violent or restless tendencies,” Dalton
said. “And I don’t want her to put the bridle on him just yet. I only want her
to hold it. Show it to him, so I can see Midnight’s reaction.”
    “He hasn’t had a bridle on him since he came here?” she
asked.
    Sam turned to her. “No. First time we tried, about a month
into his recovery, he shied away from it and that’s when he started cowering in
the corner, not wanting anyone to come too close to him.”
    “I believe it’s fear of the bridle,” Dalton said. “He
couldn’t escape the hitch of the truck because his reins were tied to it.
There’s a bad memory and a behavioral issue to overcome. It’d be interesting to
see how he responds to you, since he seems to trust you. And it happened
quickly.”
    Sam crossed his arms over his wide chest. “I don’t know…”
    Sky stepped forward and extended her hand to Dalton. “It’s
worth a try.” She accepted the hackamore.
    “He could react strongly, Sky,” Sam warned her.
    “Sure. But the horse whisperer here doesn’t think he will,
or he wouldn’t be suggesting this. And I don’t think he will, either.” She
grinned at Sam. “But I appreciate your concern for my wellbeing.”
    He snickered. “Hate to see anything happen to that pretty
face of yours.”
    He’d said it flippantly, to ease the tension. She could tell
by his tone. But the flare of desire in his emerald eyes told her there was
truth behind his words.
    She smiled again. “Take a leap of faith with me.”
    Lifting his hands in the air, Sam said, “Something tells me
you’re not going to let me talk you out of this.” So he gestured for two of his
volunteers to join him. Just in case, obviously.
    Sky moved back to Midnight’s stall, keeping a measurable
distance. She held the bitless bridle in her hands and showed it to the
stallion. “Not gonna put it on you,” she said in a quiet voice. “I just want
you to see this. It’s a harm—” She was about to say it was just a harmless
piece of equipment, but that’d be a lie. For this horse, it’d been a trap. A
confinement that could have cost him his life.
    She cleared her throat of the emotion welling within it and
tried again. “I know it might seem scary after what you’ve been through, but