Page 5 of Dark Things (Payback Duet #1)

“I’m so happy you’re here. I cannot tell you how I’ve been hounding my brother to bring you. I hated that you were both studying abroad. I wanted so badly to come and visit, but Dad wouldn’t let me.”

She finally lets me go, and I rock back on my heels a bit. “Yeah, being back in the States is a little weird,” I lie. We never left, but Cat doesn’t know even a fraction of what we’ve been doing these last three years.

“What time is Dad coming?” Haunt asks, walking us into the kitchen.

Something smells amazing, and that’s when I see another person who is going to be in our orbit for the time that we’ll be here.

An older gentleman with salt and pepper hair and a frilly apron is stirring something on the stove when the three of us make it through into the country kitchen.

It’s all hardwoods and white, but it feels cozy, like people would want to sit around and cook together.

“He’ll be here in about thirty. Hey, Marc. Whatcha making?” Cat asks, bouncing over to the stove.

Marc looks over, his face lighting up when he sees her. “Miss Catherine and Master Haunt. I’m so glad to see you both. And you must be Miss Reb. Pleasure to meet you. And to answer, it's a simple chili. I thought your first day of classes could use a little comfort food.”

“Oh, I love your chili. Guys, you’re in for a treat. Do I have time to take them out to the barn before dinner?” she asks, a sweet-as-pie look that I’m sure gets her anything and everything she wants.

“Of course. I’m still waiting on the cornbread in the oven. I’ll ring the bell when it’s ready and your father has arrived.”

“Bell?” I ask, glancing around to see if anyone else is stumped.

“This farmhouse has been around a long time and some of the original features were kept. The dinner bell on the back deck was one of them. It’s simple, but still gets the job done,” Marc says, his smile warm. I can’t help but return it.

“Reb isn’t used to country life, are you, love? She’s a city girl.” Haunt chuckles.

“Oh shut it. Cat, let’s go see the barn. I haven’t been out there yet.”

I take her hand in mine and guide us out the back door. Let the country boys laugh at this city girl all on their own.

From my bedroom window, the back of the property was amazing, but on the ground, in the middle of it, it’s awe-inspiring.

The air smells fresh with damp grass and the sharp scent of pine mixed in.

The setting sun casts a glow around the massive barn, located a short walk away.

At first glance it looks like another house, but when you get closer, the noises and smells tell you what’s really beyond these doors.

I inhale my first proper breath since we landed in the middle of upstate New York. The familiar feeling of calm comes down over my shoulders, and I take a second to appreciate it, holding it close for the next time I’ll need it.

The only time I ever feel like I’m home is around horses and in Haunt’s arms. It used to be when I was with Colt and the guys, but that was all a lie, just like everything before my sixteenth birthday.

“You’re gonna love it. It’s all state of the art,” Cat says, opening up the door and leading me into the massive space.

“Starlight is going to be so excited to have more horses in the pasture. She’s been so lonely since my other companion horse, Birdie, passed.

All she’s got right now is Savi, our donkey.

But I know she’ll just love Midnight Blue and Rex when they get here. ”

“And Peanut—he’s my trail horse. Rex and Peanut have a special bond already so they can’t be separated too long. Has the barn manager set everything up with the feeding schedules and all?”

“I’m sure they’ve got it under control. Brett is one of the best managers I’ve ever dealt with. He’s on top of everything and runs it all like a well-oiled machine.”

She leads me down a small hallway, and then we’re in the stables.

Six stalls on each side in neat cubes. The cement floor shines from the low hung lights and the shiny black doors of each of the stalls have a placard with names on them.

A whinny comes from the left as we walk down and a familiar white and palomino nose sticks its head out into the hall .

“Peanut Butter Pants!” I say, moving down to get to my boy. His head bobs up and down as I reach out, and his warm breath ghosts my hands. I give him a good rub on his cheek and rest my head on his nose for a second, breathing him in.

“Oh! They must have arrived while we were at class. He’s the cutest boy. Look at those eyes. One brown and one blue. Gorgeous,” Cat gushes. She slips in and gives him some neck scratches, which Peanut gobbles up.

He starts to push me back, nipping at my shirt. “I don’t have anything for you, crazy. Stop trying to eat my shirt,” I laugh. “He’s addicted to the puffy peppermints you get around Christmas. I usually have a case of them in the tack room for when I come to see him.”

“We have some in the kitchen on the other side. We keep them in a temperature controlled room with the rest of the food and supplements. They’re all Starlight will eat before a show, so I know all about the addiction.

She’s a fickle bitch, that’s for sure. Let me introduce you,” Cat says, guiding me further down.

That's when I see all the other heads popping out to see what the commotion is about. First a bay gelding sticks his head out, a long blaze on his nose. He snickers when I come closer.

“Hi Rex, baby. I missed you,” I say, kissing his nose before walking over to Cat.

A beautiful cremello mare is watching me approach like she’s the queen of this stable, and I’m the fool who’s come to dance purely for her entertainment.

“This princess is Starlight. She’s my best baby,” Cat says, opening up the stall door and ducking in. Starlight backs up for her, but keeps her eyes on me. I don’t get any closer, in case she’s not too keen on new people.

“She’s absolutely beautiful,” I say, waiting. I truly mean it. This is one of the most gorgeous horses I’ve ever seen. Her coat is so white it’s almost blinding. Her mane and tail are a corn-silk color.

“That she is. I couldn’t believe it when Daddy bought her for me. I just fell in love right away. And she’s the sweetest. She seems standoffish, but once she gets to know you a bit, she’s a big puppy. Come in.”

I step into the stall, making sure to keep my posture relaxed and my words calm. “Hi, darling.”

She finally gets curious and sniffs the air closer to me. I hold up my hand and wait for her to close the distance. She doesn’t disappoint. As soon as she makes contact, I transfer all the calm vibes I’m pushing out into her.

She steps forward, and then presses her nose to my chest, waiting. I give her some good cheek rubs and then down her neck and back again.

“Definitely a sweet girl,” I coo.

“If you let her, you’ll be here all day doing nothing but loving on her.” Cat chuckles, leading us out of the stall and locking it .

I turn, and then I see him. My tall boy. My jumper. My heart. “Midnight.”

It comes out as a whisper, but he hears me. While Peanut is my expressive horse, my lovey, Midnight Blue is my stoic, silent, presence. He’s the horse that the Romans could have rode into battle. The one thing standing between you and danger. He’s more protective than a pitbull.

“Jesus, he’s huge,” Cat says, awe in her voice. I know exactly what she’s feeling. I was intimidated by him at first, but really he’s one of the best horses I’ve ever owned.

“Eighteen hands. Not typical for a Bavarian Warmblood but he moves like a ghost in the wind. And he picks up new things so quickly. It’s like his brain is ten steps ahead on the course. Wait till you see him move.”

I lift the stall door latch and lean into him when he comes to me. He dwarfs my five-foot-four-inch frame. When I’m next to him all I feel is the quiet love he gives out.

“They’re here,” Haunt calls from down the aisle. I poke my head out and see him rubbing Rex’s nose. “Everything looks okay?”

“Peanut and Midnight seem fine. I didn’t check on Rex, though. Just gave him a quick kiss,” I say, moving back into the stall.

I look over Midnight, making sure he’s okay after the flight.

Everything seems in order as I run my hands all over him, looking for any changes in his behavior.

I pick up his front feet one at a time to examine his hooves and then I start on the back ones.

He feels fine, but I’ll have a vet come out soon to look them all over to be sure.

I can’t compete in good conscience without him being checked out.

“Rex looks good. Hey, Midnight, how are you doing?” Haunt asks, moving to stand with me. Midnight headbutts his chest since Haunt is closer to his height than I am.

“Can I meet him?” Cat asks, still standing in the aisle.

“Shit, sorry. Yes, come in. He’s exactly like his name. Midnight, the stillness in the darkness. He won’t give you much in cues unless he’s super pissed, but he’s basically bombproof. I haven’t seen much that upsets him.”

Haunt moves over for Cat, and she opens up her hand to reveal a peppermint. That gets a shuffle and a lip wobble. Midnight is just as addicted to them as Peanut.

“Bribery. Nice. I should have thought of that the first time I met Star. I’m not sure she even likes me even after all this time,” Haunt mumbles.

“She was super sweet to me,” I grin.

“You’re like the horse whisperer. They all love you. The only one I’ve ever known to scorn your love is Cheshire. That horse had it out for you,” Haunt laughs, probably remembering the time I was thrown into a water feature at one of the competitions we entered when I first got to the compound.

“He was a bit of a diva. Always with the attitude problem. I was glad Midnight was given to me,” I reply, thinking of the day Midnight showed up and how perfect he was right away.

A loud bell rings in the background signaling dinner is ready. “Guess that’s the call for dinner?” I ask.

“Yup, come on. I’m starving, and no one makes chili like Marc. He’s a wizard, I swear,” Cat says, walking back the way we came.

Haunt steals a kiss when she’s out of sight and then grabs my hand to follow her toward the main house. I lock up Midnight’s stall and tuck myself under Haunt’s arm, giving him a squeeze before letting go.

“Stan is here. We don’t need him to separate us if he’s in a mood again,” I say.

“I can’t wait to tell that piece of shit to fuck off,” Haunt mumbles.

“Yeah. Me, too.”