Taking Heart by T. J. Kline Page B

didn’t exactly have a model childhood,” he reminded her.
    â€œThen it’s about time. My sister has some great horses. She runs a horse rescue, but a lot of her horses end up being used for therapy.”
    His lips quirked to one side. “You’ve already convinced me to take a dog home. Now you want to talk me into a horse?”
    She laughed and the sweet sound fell around him like music. He found himself joining her, and it stunned him. Roscoe looked up at each of them before laying his head back into Dylan’s lap.
    â€œNo, I just thought it might be relaxing for you to go for a ride and for Roscoe to get out and run.”
    â€œAnd so that he’ll know how to react when I get injured?” Her head swiveled toward him, ready to deny the assumption until she saw the grin on his face. It felt good to laugh and joke with someone, to have someone treat him as if he was normal. As much as Gage had given him since his return, normalcy hadn’t been a part of that life. He could see the shadows in Gage’s eyes when he looked at Dylan, waiting for him to snap or to fall apart. With Julia, he was just a man—competent and confident—without pressure to be more than he could be.
    â€œI might have to make you pay for that,” she warned as she pulled the truck to a stop in front of a barn. She got out and let Tango jump from the back of the truck.
    In a nearby pen, he saw a woman working with a horse, but his eyes focused on the man who came out of the house. “Julia!”
    He trotted down the porch steps and met them at the barn, enveloping her in a bear hug.
    â€œDylan, meet my future brother-in-law, Nathan Kerrington.”
    Dylan stuck out his hand and gave the man a firm shake.
    â€œIn the corral over there is my sister, Jessie.”
    â€œWhat brings you this way? I assumed you’d be too busy to come visit this week.” Dylan didn’t miss the way Nathan eyed him, as if he was sizing him up.
    â€œThese two are doing so well, I thought we’d take a ride to The Ridge.”
    Nathan’s brows shot up on his forehead. “Are you sure about that?”
    She ran a hand over his arm. “I am. Why don’t you two talk while I saddle up Grady and Bella?”
    Dylan watched as Julia disappeared into the barn with Tango on her heels. At her departure, he felt suddenly cold, as if the sun had disappeared behind a cloud. She brought vibrancy and life wherever she went.
    â€œJust so we’re on the same page, Julia’s like a little sister to me and I will protect her like family.”
    Dylan met Nathan’s eyes and saw the honest threat there. The man had no idea what Dylan had done for a living, but he wasn’t even hesitating. From the looks of him, he was fit but he was no match for Dylan’s size.
    â€œI completely understand.” He arched a brow at the man but gave him a curt nod of acknowledgement.
    Nathan let a slow smile spread to his lips, as if he knew something Dylan didn’t. “Keep in mind, I wouldn’t need to raise a hand. Her older brother is six-four and wrestles with steers for a living.”
    Dylan cocked his head to the side, finding himself gaining a little more respect for the man. “Duly noted.”
    Nathan laughed and reached down to pet the dog. “So, you’re going to end up with Roscoe, huh?”
    â€œLooks that way.” The dog looked up at him longingly, so he reached down and petted him.
    â€œYou won’t be sorry. Julia knows what she’s doing.” He looked toward the barn. “And she understands how the dogs help with trauma.”
    â€œShe told you about my case?” Dylan was surprised she would say anything.
    Nathan’s eyes shot back to Dylan. “No. I meant her.”
    â€œS O YOU GREW up here?”
    Julia followed Dylan’s gaze as he looked off The Ridge at the river below. The water would be fairly low until the fall rains came,