Jackie bleeds horses. Her life has been horses.”
“My parents have known her for as long as I can remember. But fortunately, they didn’t have to ask for help until Dad started to get sick.”
“I only started to come out here a couple of months ago to help out.”
“I should have been back here to help, but I couldn’t—”
And he stares off into the distance lost in his thoughts.
I take the chance to lighten the mood and head back toward the house, hoping he would consider my playfulness and chase me.
I heard nothing but the hooves of my horse and the wind in my ears as we raced back to the house. I loved every second of it, and I felt like Henry and I bonded for the first time. That damn horse. He seemed to be playing along.
I stop outside the stables and tie him to the water and food trough to let him have a break before I wash him. Trevor gets off Sunshine and does the same for her.
“Do you need any more help?”
“Help? Or do you want me to show you how to do it properly?” I smartass back.
He held out his hands for a minute, and I looked at him wondering what he was doing.
“Touch them,” he demands.
“I am not touching your hands, Trevor.”
“That’s what I thought. You are a total shit talker.”
“I already told you I was just kidding. Can’t you take a joke? Partly anyway. I’ve always heard that doctor’s hands are soft.” I start setting up everything to prepare for the washing.
Trevor walks up to me and then places his hand on my arm, and I freeze.
“Maybe, one day I can show …”
And I stare at him as if I have just seen a ghost, not sure of my next move. He was flirting with me, and I was enjoying every minute of it. I wanted to close my eyes and scream yes, please, show me how your hands are soft. Instead, I am rendered speechless. He seems to be fighting with himself over his words, wanting to say them but resisting for some reason.
“When you get done lollygagging, stuff needs to be done.” I hear Jackie, making sure I was aware of her presence.
Trevor smiles and walks toward the house. I watch until he makes it to the porch.
“Not interested, ah?” Jackie smirks, raising her eyebrow.
“Can we just get to work?”
“I have been working,” she announces before spraying me with the hose.
“Looked like you needed some cooling off.” I look down at my shirt, drenched by the hose, and grin.
Well played, Jackie.
*****
Trevor
This morning, I didn’t have to be at St. Luke’s as early as I had been since living here, so I took advantage of it. I actually got a full night’s sleep, and it felt good. I even made time to check out the gym. Since moving back here, I had a pent-up anger that needed releasing.
I walk into the gym with one thing on my mind. To run and hopefully, get the extra stress burned. Or try. After a workout, I always felt like I could think clearer, and I certainly needed that. I woke up this morning dreaming of one person. I tried to steer my brain in another direction but to no avail. Ryann.
For the first night in as long as I could remember, I didn’t have a dream about Leah. I debated whether Ryann was going to mean something to me, or was she strategically placed in my life, yet it was hard to imagine why. Oh, ye of little faith.
Only three people occupy the gym; each person in a different corner, two women and myself. One woman was running her heart out at a stride that I wasn’t even sure I could keep up with. She had her hair up, but that was about all I could see of her. That and her ass. And the thong that seemed to fit perfectly. I may not want relationships or, for that matter, friendships with women, but I still enjoyed their bodies.
The other woman was dark headed and was walking concentrating on whatever talk show was playing.
I pull my leg back one at a time to stretch before jumping on a treadmill and setting a goal for myself to meet without fail today. I needed it for my sanity. At least, then I know I would
“My parents have known her for as long as I can remember. But fortunately, they didn’t have to ask for help until Dad started to get sick.”
“I only started to come out here a couple of months ago to help out.”
“I should have been back here to help, but I couldn’t—”
And he stares off into the distance lost in his thoughts.
I take the chance to lighten the mood and head back toward the house, hoping he would consider my playfulness and chase me.
I heard nothing but the hooves of my horse and the wind in my ears as we raced back to the house. I loved every second of it, and I felt like Henry and I bonded for the first time. That damn horse. He seemed to be playing along.
I stop outside the stables and tie him to the water and food trough to let him have a break before I wash him. Trevor gets off Sunshine and does the same for her.
“Do you need any more help?”
“Help? Or do you want me to show you how to do it properly?” I smartass back.
He held out his hands for a minute, and I looked at him wondering what he was doing.
“Touch them,” he demands.
“I am not touching your hands, Trevor.”
“That’s what I thought. You are a total shit talker.”
“I already told you I was just kidding. Can’t you take a joke? Partly anyway. I’ve always heard that doctor’s hands are soft.” I start setting up everything to prepare for the washing.
Trevor walks up to me and then places his hand on my arm, and I freeze.
“Maybe, one day I can show …”
And I stare at him as if I have just seen a ghost, not sure of my next move. He was flirting with me, and I was enjoying every minute of it. I wanted to close my eyes and scream yes, please, show me how your hands are soft. Instead, I am rendered speechless. He seems to be fighting with himself over his words, wanting to say them but resisting for some reason.
“When you get done lollygagging, stuff needs to be done.” I hear Jackie, making sure I was aware of her presence.
Trevor smiles and walks toward the house. I watch until he makes it to the porch.
“Not interested, ah?” Jackie smirks, raising her eyebrow.
“Can we just get to work?”
“I have been working,” she announces before spraying me with the hose.
“Looked like you needed some cooling off.” I look down at my shirt, drenched by the hose, and grin.
Well played, Jackie.
*****
Trevor
This morning, I didn’t have to be at St. Luke’s as early as I had been since living here, so I took advantage of it. I actually got a full night’s sleep, and it felt good. I even made time to check out the gym. Since moving back here, I had a pent-up anger that needed releasing.
I walk into the gym with one thing on my mind. To run and hopefully, get the extra stress burned. Or try. After a workout, I always felt like I could think clearer, and I certainly needed that. I woke up this morning dreaming of one person. I tried to steer my brain in another direction but to no avail. Ryann.
For the first night in as long as I could remember, I didn’t have a dream about Leah. I debated whether Ryann was going to mean something to me, or was she strategically placed in my life, yet it was hard to imagine why. Oh, ye of little faith.
Only three people occupy the gym; each person in a different corner, two women and myself. One woman was running her heart out at a stride that I wasn’t even sure I could keep up with. She had her hair up, but that was about all I could see of her. That and her ass. And the thong that seemed to fit perfectly. I may not want relationships or, for that matter, friendships with women, but I still enjoyed their bodies.
The other woman was dark headed and was walking concentrating on whatever talk show was playing.
I pull my leg back one at a time to stretch before jumping on a treadmill and setting a goal for myself to meet without fail today. I needed it for my sanity. At least, then I know I would