Page 43

Silas

Silas waited all morning for the fallout after reading the group chat. He half expected questions about why he’d not responded, but surprisingly, everyone had held their tongue.

Jupiter had dark circles under his eyes, and he avoided being civil to all of them except for Ethan. Judging from the way Ethan examined Jupiter, he seemed unable to figure out what his game was.

Ethan and Jupiter were like oil and water.

Despite Ethan saying he was interested in getting with Jupiter, he didn’t really mean it.

Both men loved to be in control, and neither would concede to the other, Silas was damn sure of that.

It didn’t stop it from being amusing as all hell watching his friend skirt around the sexual innuendos Jupiter added to every comment he directed at Ethan.

It was like a game of tennis. Jupiter won most of the points by lunch time.

In the bunkhouse, with everyone seated with food, Ethan stood at the end of the table.

“After you’ve eaten, we’re going into the paddock to spend time working with horses.

It’s important you listen to what either Silas, Cranny or me are saying when you’re in the paddock.

Some of the horses we have on the ranch have issues through wrong handlin’, so it’s important to pay attention. ”

Ethan threw a look at Jupiter. “Listen to any instructions you're given. Horses sense fear, so if you’re spooked, they’ll become spooked by you.

There’s no shame in saying you aren’t comfortable around them.

If I say don’t touch any horse, then don’t.

Don’t feed them anything except what’s in the bag hanging off the gate.

If you want to try anything we show you, that’s fine, you’ll be given a well-trained horse.

If there’s a problem, then it’ll be with you and not our horses. Just so we’re clear.”

“Right,” Rue rumbled under his breath, gaining a look from Ethan that could blister wood.

Bowie stuck up his hand.

“Yep,” Ethan questioned when he noticed.

“Do I have to go in the paddock? I’m not sure if it’ll spook me and then I’ll spook them.”

Kodi made a scoffing noise that got a thump to his arm from Kari before Ethan could pin Kodi with a hard stare. “That’s valid and just the kind of thoughtfulness that will protect you and the horses. If you aren’t feelin’ it, then we’ll find something else for you to do.”

Kari grinned at Bowie after glowering at his twin.

Silas clamped his lips together at how obvious Kari was being in displaying his protective instincts in front of the others.

Silas had suspected something was going on between Kari and Bowie after some comments in the group chat.

But as he’d not wanted anyone to poke at him, he’d kept his thoughts to himself.

“Right, I’ll put you into groups. Cranny will take Booker, Frey, Taylin, Hollis, and Rue. I’ll take Jupiter, Wilder, Kodi, Monty and Lennon. Silas will take Ziggy, Kari, Bowie, Laken and Isley.”

“Why do I get Silas?” Laken groused, eyeing Silas with displeasure.

“Silas is more than capable of showing you how to ride a horse and rope a cow. As you’re going to need to work together to beat the other teams, I’d stop quibbling or Silas might make you eat dirt.” Ethan’s grin was all teeth.

Laken huffed and stabbed his fork into the salad hard enough it scratched at the plate. Silas met Ethan’s knowing stare and grinned at his friend at how right he was. He’d show Laken!

Food finished, everyone headed down to the large back paddock they used to train the horses. This had become Ethan’s area of expertise, as his skill was unmatched to anyone Silas had met. The man was a horse whisperer and other ranchers paid thousands of dollars for Ethan to work with their horses.

Today they had no plans to show everyone just had good Ethan was, but when he met his best friend's gaze in the bunkhouse, Silas knew it was game on.

“You’re going with Goliath, aren’t you?” Silas smirked, enjoying himself despite never looking as good as Ethan while putting Goliath through his paces.

“Bet your ass, I am.”

In the stables, the huge black stallion popped its head over the stable door as if already knowing Ethan was coming for him.

It didn’t surprise Silas with the rapport they had.

He was Ethan’s baby. Not that Hero wasn’t, or Pluto, Ethan’s other horses.

They all were, but Goliath was truly different with the affinity man and beast shared.

Almost like the universe had taken Ethan’s animal spirit, one he couldn’t shift into, separated it from him and created Goliath.

They were just that attuned to each other.

When Goliath arrived on the ranch, he’d been only skin and bones.

His temperament had the previous owner locking him up and abusing him because the asshole didn’t know how to work with a horse.

Ethan had a wide network of folks who let him know about damaged horses.

When he heard about Goliath, he traveled thousands of miles to buy the horse and save him.

He had done more than that. He’d healed the horse's soul with his gentleness and now Goliath trusted only Ethan to touch and ride him.

Ethan wagged his brows under his Stetson, stroking down Goliath’s silky mane. “We’ll give them a show they won’t forget in a hurry.”

Silas’s laughter rumbled out, getting several other heads appearing over the stable doorways. Silas’s horse, a gorgeous palomino named Darling, after the ranch, whinnied at seeing Silas. He reached and rubbed at Darling’s muzzle, only for him to reveal his teeth in a horsey smile.

“There’s my gorgeous boy.” Silas kissed the side of his bristly muzzle. “Did you miss me?”

Darling rubbed himself against Silas. “I know, I’m here now.” He guided Darling out of the stable, grabbing his tack after Ethan left with Goliath.

A ranch hand called Rio, a shifter who was as wide as he was tall, appeared wearing a crooked smile. “Boss, I missed ya yesterday! How’s ya doin’?”

“Good, how is your wife? She must be nearly due, right?”

Rio’s enormous chest puffed up. “Belinda had a boy not less than a week ago.”

“Congratulations, that’s great.”

“Tis. He’s a darlin’, just like his daddy.”

Silas chuckled along with Rio, making a mental note to get his secretary to send a gift basket for the baby.

“You need any of the other horses saddled?”

“Yep. Saddle up Folly, Bonny, Blaze and Peanut. They should work for what Ethan has in mind. We aren’t planning a trek until tomorrow.”

“Good enough. I’ll get the stable hands to bring ‘em out.”

Outside, Silas’s chuckles increased at how everyone had gathered against the fences to watch the show.

Ethan was shirtless in the paddock, a state he preferred when working with the horses.

Said shirts restricted his movements when he got sweaty.

Silas didn’t doubt it, but his friend was also a showoff.

His body held not a grain of excess fat from hours of hard work and his skin was a dark chestnut brown from being outside in the sun.

His chest already glistened with sweat as he used hand signals to get Goliath to move around the ring.

Dirt kicked up as he got the horse to switch directions and dance.

Like the others, Silas watched with fascination as horse and man became one.

The fluidity was something Silas would never grow tired of or stop envying.

“Lordy me, is that hot or what?” Wilder exclaimed excitedly when Ethan effortlessly swung up onto Goliath’s bare back, using the fence post for leverage to prevent hurting the animal.

“Wilder,” Bowie muttered, blushing as his gaze never moved from Ethan, who raced around the paddock, getting Goliath to switch directions fast as damn lightning.

“It’s the truth. Look at him.”

“I am,” Bowie replied breathlessly.

Kari threaded his way to Bowie and stood behind him. Silas leaned back and noticed Kari slip a hand down over Bowie’s jean clad ass. Was Kari jealous?

The new concept threw Silas but then Lennon moved into his line of sight and asked, “How did he learn to do that?”

“Ethan came out of the damn womb being able to do this shit. Honestly, I’ve never met another soul with his talent with a horse and he doesn’t even have to try.”

“I bet he’s got a talent with any animal,” Isley replied, stepping up onto the crossbar of the fence to lift himself higher and get a better view.

The conversation continued and Silas’s amusement increased until he noted Ziggy’s silence. It took less than a second to notice the tension in the tightness of his jaw, the strain around his eyes and the whiteness of his knuckles as he clutched at the fence.

Silas strolled past the others, knots forming the closer he got to Ziggy. He placed a hand on his shoulder, moving in to whisper in his ear, “Are you alright?”

Ziggy looked back at him and what he saw made a ball of dread take the place of the knots. “What is it?”

“I’m… I don’t think I can do this.” His skin looked waxy and the color his cheeks held disappeared right before Silas’s eyes. He barely had the wherewithal to reach out as Ziggy crumpled to the ground.

“Fuck, Ziggy? Ziggy? Ziggy?” Panic clawed at him as he lifted the boneless man awkwardly, his limbs hanging like heavy weights. Lifting Ziggy into his arms before anyone noticed there was an issue, Silas swung around blindly.

“What happened, boss?” Rio was right there in front of him.

Silas shook his head. “I think he fainted.” Lordy, he hoped that’s all this was. “I’ll take him up to the house.”

“I can take hi—”

“No!” Silas snapped, hating the idea, and got a wide-eyed response from Rio. “I’ll do it. You take over for me and give Ethan a heads up I won’t be back.”

Booker was right beside him. “Let me help you.”

Already shaking his head, Silas held on tighter to Ziggy. “I’m fine. You stay here.” Everyone was now looking at him, but he wasn’t in any mood to explain himself and started walking away.

“Where’s he going with my PA?” he heard Jupiter ask.

“Skipping out on the action before Ethan can show him up,” Kodi answered.

He sighed at the knowledge he was going to have to talk about this, only that would not be until he was damn sure Ziggy was okay.