MountainStallion by Kate Hill

his
man-shoulder. “I’m sorry for your loss, Ardin, but Pace and I need to learn how
to respect each other. Honesty is important to me.”
    “If you seek the truth then take the time to know the real
Pace, not the man you imagined him to be.”
    Gayle closed her eyes for a moment and sighed. He was right.
    They circled above the Running Way just outside Fernwood’s
square. Within moments they landed and Ardin carried her to her shop. She
dismounted outside and thanked her host.
    Ardin bowed from the neck and walked off, his black and gray
wings folded tightly to his equine sides.
    A shadow fell from above and Gayle tilted her face skyward.
Her heart skipped a beat. Pace flew overhead. Sunlight glinted off his golden
coat and his cream-colored wings spread wide as he circled above her house.
Their gazes met and a jolt of longing tore through her. Then he flew off.

Chapter Four
    Aftermath
     
    “I don’t believe this,” Pace murmured,
making his way through the rubble that had been the largest workshop on his
mountain. Most of his other forges and workshops had been destroyed as well,
ripped apart by last night’s storm.
    His workers had arrived early that morning to help him with
repairs. One family had lost their home in the village below and Pace had
opened his house to them. Most of the structures in the village had only minor
damage but Pace’s mountaintop had been hit much harder.
    When he’d seen the destruction of his buildings, Pace’s
first thought hadn’t been of what he’d lost but of Gayle and the others in the
village. He’d flown there immediately. Relieved to see that her home and shop
still stood, he could attend to his repairs without worrying about her safety.
When she’d looked up and met his gaze, he wished to land and take her in his
arms, but after how she’d reacted in the valley he thought better of it. She’d
made no motion to him. Not even a wave, so he’d flown off to inspect the rest
of the village before returning to the mountain to begin repairs.
    Glancing at Ardin who walked beside him, Pace continued,
“You should have told me about the damage when we talked in the valley.”
    “I didn’t have much of a chance, unless I left Gayle to walk
home.”
    Pace sighed and rubbed a hand over the top of his head. “How
was she during the ride to the village?”
    “Upset. You should have told her.”
    “I tried but it was complicated.”
    “How?”
    Pace narrowed his eyes. “I don’t have to explain myself to
you.”
    “All right. If you don’t want to talk about her then I’ll go
to the main forge to salvage what I can.” Ardin turned away but Pace grasped
his shoulder.
    “Ardin, I appreciate what you’re trying to do. I feel guilty
enough about not telling her who I am. She’ll probably never speak to me again.
I don’t need you to tell me how wrong I was too.”
    “All right. If you need me—”
    “You have no idea how opinionated that woman can be. No
matter what I tried to say she thought me no better than a slaver.”
    “I’m sure if she’d known who you are—”
    “She wouldn’t give me a chance to slip a word in edgewise.”
    “Surely she—”
    “I could scarcely finish a sentence.”
    “Maybe that’s because—”
    “What could anger someone so much that they won’t even
listen to someone else’s point of view?”
    Ardin raised an eyebrow. “Yes I wonder?”
    “Well I need to get these repairs underway.” Pace again
glanced around. He’d worked hard to build this business. Now most of his
workshops lay in ruins. Yet it was only temporary. With diligent effort, the
forge and tack shop would soon be restored.
    * * * * *
    Later that afternoon, Gayle finished making a fresh batch of
salve and poured it into containers. Luckily the damage to the village had been
minimal. Only one family had lost their home and she had been surprised to
learn that Pace had given them refuge in his house on the mountain.
    The more she listened to the villagers, the