Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 79940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
A new horse and rider were out today, and it sounded as if they were getting closer. I turned to watch and realized they were headed directly for the fence that separated us. Maybe that was him. Curious, I stepped down the stairs just as they reached the wooden barrier. The rider reached up and took off his cowboy hat, then waved at me.
Sebastian Shephard. I hadn’t seen him again since the library.
I waved back just as he motioned for me to come over. I set my cup down on the railing, then made my way down the stairs and across the yard. Sebastian had put his hat back on his head and was saying something to the horse as he leaned down over it.
“How’d you like the book?” he asked me when I was close enough.
“It was fascinating. I read it in one day,” I admitted. But then I’d been reading most books in one day lately. I had enough time for it.
He was clearly pleased to hear it. His smile said as much.
“What book are you reading now?”
“Of Mice and Men,” I replied. I had read it before, back in high school, but I was curious as to how I would enjoy it now.
“Guy don’t need no sense to be a nice fella. Seems to me sometimes it jus’ works the other way around. Take a real smart guy and he ain’t hardly ever a nice fella,” Sebastian said, quoting a line from the book.
“Impressive,” I said, surprised that he remembered the words like that. I read a lot, but there weren’t many quotes I could pull up from memory. I could recognize quotes most of the time.
He shrugged. “Why don’t you come with me to see the horses?” He patted the massive black one he was on. “Sword here is a beauty, but we’ve got more where he came from. Even a new colt.”
I chewed on my bottom lip nervously. I wasn’t sure he knew about me. King did, and Maeme did. What if Sebastian didn’t watch the news and someone in his stables did? I would draw attention to myself. As much as I wanted to see the stables and the horses, I couldn’t do that to him or Maeme…or King.
I shook my head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I need to stay back here…hidden.” I stopped, not sure how much he knew about my still being at Maeme’s.
“There’s a gate behind the trees in the backyard. I’ll get you from there, and we will head over to the stables. No one will see you who could cause you any harm,” he assured me.
“I’d need to talk to Maeme about that. She…she’s being really kind, letting me stay here, and I’m not sure what all you know, but I don’t want to cause any problems for her,” I explained, hoping that would be enough to stop his pushing for me to go over there.
He smiled at me then and leaned forward slightly. “I’ve already cleared it with Maeme. And I know why you’re here. There are no secrets in the family. Besides, if we all know, then we can all protect you. Being with me is as safe as being here in this house.”
I stared up at him, not sure if I should even be surprised anymore. They all knew I had left my husband bleeding out from a gunshot wound? They were all okay with that? Just because I’d had some broken ribs and a bruised face?
“Walk right on back there, and I’ll meet you,” he coaxed.
I hesitated, but the slight pleading look in his eyes, as if he wasn’t sure if I was going to do it or not, and the thought of going to the stables won me over.
I nodded. “Okay, but I don’t think I’m ready to ride a horse.”
The smile that broke out across his face made me glad I’d agreed. “Probably a bad idea with your ribs. I’ll get down, and we will walk him back.”
I nodded, and then he turned the horse and rode him back around the circular pen. While I walked around to the backyard, I watched where he was going so I would know where the gate was located. I considered going inside to text Maeme, but I didn’t think that Sebastian would lie about having asked her already. Trusting was something I struggled with and had sworn I wouldn’t do again. But this family had helped me in a way no one else could. If I was going to trust again, they were the ones I should do it with.
By the time I reached the gate, Sebastian was there, standing against the fence opening. His horse obediently stood back behind him, and although I was sure that I wouldn’t be charged by the horse, it still made me nervous, being this close to it without a barrier between us. I shifted my focus between the thoroughbred and Sebastian.