MountainStallion by Kate Hill Page B

harness and saddle.
    When they landed on the mountain, Gayle thanked Brayden for
the ride and paid him for his time. Several workers, Horseman and human,
plodded amongst the rubble, assessing damage and making repairs.
    She noticed Ardin overseeing a small group of Horsemen and
approached. He looked surprised but pleased to see her.
    “I heard Pace was injured,” she said. “Is he— Where is he?”
    Smiling faintly, Ardin pointed to a stone building a short
distance away. “In his private forge, lass. He’ll be glad to see you.”
    “I’m not so sure after this morning, not to mention all the
things I said about him yesterday.”
    Ardin snorted. “Somehow I doubt he’ll hold that against
you.”
    She hoped not.
    On her way to the forge, the anticipation of seeing him
again made her heart skip a beat and weakened her legs. What if he rejected
her?
    She paused outside the forge, then drew a deep breath and
stepped inside. Since everyone focused on repairs instead of filling orders
today, no fire burned, leaving the forge relatively cool. Various tools hung on
the walls and a long table stood off to one side, not far from the iron anvil.
    In his half-beast form, Pace stood with his back to her
while Curt, in his Huform, bandaged a nasty gouge on his arm. Smaller cuts
marked his equine sides and back. Blood stained his golden coat and speckled
his beautiful cream-colored wings. Yet she noted with relief that by his
relaxed expression and the calm manner in which he spoke to the healer, he
didn’t seem badly hurt.
    “Everyone told Darin not to go into that workshop,” Curt
said.
    “He’d left behind some personal tools his father had given
him before he died.”
    “He’s lucky he didn’t rejoin his father and take you with
him for that matter.”
    “What was I supposed to do? Leave him in there when the roof
started falling?”
    “The roof had already half fallen before he went in.”
Curt shook his head. “I suppose if you didn’t go get him we’d be digging out
his corpse about now. Lucky for both of you all you got are some cuts and
bruises.”
    “I told him we could have dug the tools out later…” Pace
began, but his voice trailed off as he glanced over his shoulder and caught
sight of Gayle. Their gazes met and again her heart skipped a beat.
    “Hello,” she said almost shyly.
    “What are you doing here?” he asked, though not unkindly.
    “Gayle, if I’d known you were coming here I’d have given you
a ride,” Curt said.
    “It was a little unexpected,” she replied, still staring at
Pace.
    “Yes it is,” he said, a faint smile on his lips.
    “I’m finished with your arm,” Curt said. “I know this advice
will be wasted on you but try not to tear the stitches or aggravate the wound
too much for a day or two. If you shift shape a few times, it will help speed
the healing process.”
    “Thanks, Curt.”
    “Not a problem. I’m going to see if anyone else needs help
before Ellen and I leave the mountain. If you need us again, just send word.”
    Curt nodded to Gayle on his way out of the forge.
    Alone, Gayle and Pace stared at each other for a moment before
he approached, flicking his tail. His expressive Horseman ears, long and
pointed at the tips, twitched a bit. Though his smile had faded, the intense
expression in his eyes hadn’t.
    “What are you doing here?” he repeated, his voice softer and
huskier than before.
    “I heard you were injured.”
    “It’s nothing. Just a few scrapes.”
    She stretched a tentative hand toward his equine shoulder
and trailed a fingertip lightly over a long scratch.
    “So you’re speaking to me now?” he asked.
    “Do you prefer I don’t?” she demanded.
    “That depends. Do you have any more insults for me?”
    “You might not have heard so many to begin with if you
hadn’t pretended to be someone else.”
    He looked a bit sheepish and gazed at her through his thick,
dark gold lashes. Then he shook his head and smiled. “I can’t argue