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me. He held out his hand. You must be Les Hardin. Heard you bought Old Jake s place.
He fought back the shiver threatening to race down his spine when Les rough,
calloused hand closed around his and shook.
Yes, I did. It was bigger than I was looking for, but it was available when I needed it.
Something flickered in those sad eyes, but it was gone before he could make it out.
Good thing we were looking for land to lease. Tammy grabbed Les arm and dragged
him towards the mares and their babies.
Disappointment burned in Randy s stomach. First man in a while he d been seriously
attracted to and it looked like his sister had prior claim. Didn t it figure that some of the best-
looking ones weren t gay?
He made his way to where Tammy was gushing over the babies. He stood close enough
to listen in on their conversation but not close enough to put a damper on it.
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Tammy, Jackson said to meet him out at the usual place tonight if you re interested.
Les voice was low, as if he didn t want anyone else to hear.
Oh, he s back from Arizona? How d the show go down there?
We added a few more ribbons to the Black Bart legion. You ll be getting a few calls,
I m sure.
Randy smiled. Black Bart was the Rocking H s top stud. He d bet half of the year s crop
was Bart s offspring.
Great. I ll get the scoop from Jackson later. She winked at Les and said, See any you
like?
They re all beautiful, Tammy, but where s the one you really want to show me? Les
drawl had become brisk.
Tammy s face dropped. Sorry. I ll show him to you.
Randy started to step forward. He had vowed to stay out of it, but no one was going to
talk to his sister that way.
Les placed a hand on Tammy s arm. I m sorry, sweetheart. It s been a hard day and
my head s pounding. The man swept off his hat and Randy stifled a gasp.
A streak of white along the right side bisected Les dark hair. It outlined the slight
concave dip in Les skull, just above his right eye. The man s fingers skated over the scar and
the dent, before the cowboy hat went back on.
Oh, Les, you should have said something. I could have hidden the foal one more day
until you felt better.
It s all right.
Hide the foal? What the hell are you talking about? Randy joined them as they made
their way to a barn set away from the others. What s a foal doing in the quarantine barn?
Here he is. I hope you re willing to take him. Daddy wants to put him down. Tammy
gestured to the closest stall where a large bay mare stood.
Sally Jane? What s she doing out here? Randy held out his hand for the old mare to
lip softly.
Here. Les handed him a sugar cube. I don t usually give them sugar, but I forgot to
grab some carrots when I headed over here.
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Thanks. He tried not to think about the tantalising scent coming from the man. Sweat,
leather and horse was a cologne he d always found attractive.
They noticed the little bay colt at the same time. Randy snorted in disgust while Les
sighed.
What s Dad doing waiting to put this one down, Tammy? He isn t worth anything.
The milky white film over the colt s eyes told them he was blind. His front legs were
crooked and Randy knew the colt probably would never walk right.
You were right to hide him. I ll take him.
Randy put a hand out. Wait. You don t want this one. He s worthless. Blind and
crooked legs. You won t be able to use him for anything. It s best just to put him down and
pick a different one.
Coldness rushed into Les eyes and Randy had the oddest feeling he might have lost
something he d never known he needed.
Can you take Sally Jane as well? This is her last foal. She s too old to have another. I
heard Daddy talking about getting rid of her as well.
Yes, I ll take them both. I didn t bring a trailer, though. There was a roughness in Les
voice. The lines around the man s mouth deepened pain was etched into his face.
We ll trailer them over later tonight, after Daddy s gone. Thank you, Les, I knew you d
understand. She threw her arms around the man and hugged him. As she ran out, she
shouted back, Tell Jackson I ll meet him.
Silence reigned after she left. Les didn t seem inclined to talk to him. Randy wasn t sure
what he had said to anger the man.
You won t be able to use him for anything, you know. He had to break the silence.
Les turned to him. Bleakness replaced the cold in his eyes. Perfect creatures find no
worth in imperfect things.
The man tipped his hat to him and walked away. Randy had the feeling Les was talking
about more than the colt.
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About the Author
There is beauty in every kind of love, so why not live a life without boundaries?
Experiencing everything the world offers fascinates T.A. and writing about the things
that make each of us unique is how T.A. shares those insights. T.A. lives in the
Midwest with a wonderful partner of twelve years. When not writing, T.A. s watching
movies, reading and living life to the fullest.
Email: chase.ta@gmail.com
T.A. loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and
author biography at http://www.total-e-bound.com.
Also by T.A. Chase
Out of Light into Darkness
From Slavery to Freedom
The Vanguard
Two for One
The Four Horsemen: Pestilence
The Four Horsemen: War
The Four Horsemen: Famine
The Four Horsemen: Death
The Beasor Chronicles: Gypsies
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