Cloud Riders(57)

After he left, Conor continued grumbling about Tremaine trying to steal his girl with a roast. Kayden reminded him Cassie was really his girl, which made him grumble more. They all laughed when he stomped off, saying he was going to cook her a better home-cooked dinner, not like his dopey brother would make.

‘Now the dramatics are over,’ Ethan said, still smiling. He opened the gate for Cassie to join them. ‘Shall we?’ He gestured for her to follow him inside the pen. She jumped down off the fence and went through the gate. Jason slid easily off her horse and stood beside Starburst, waiting for her. Cassie went over to her horse and patted his stressed features.

‘What’ve they done to you, handsome?’ She clucked over him as she ran her hand down his legs and over his back the way she had seen Kayden do many times to the horses. She could feel he was sweaty and a little shaken but other than that he seemed to settle at her touch. She stood in front of him, patting the softness of his nose and watching his eyes. ‘Got anything left?’ she asked him and he got a wild look in his eyes like the one he had when he wanted her to chase him. She laughed and shook her head. ‘Not to play! To take me for a ride, silly,’ she grinned.

He nodded and snorted. With Jason’s help she put her foot in the stirrup and swung herself up on him. She lent over near his ear. ‘You’re a big boy to get up on. We might have to practice that.’ She chuckled. ‘Now be gentle, boy, I’ve never ridden by myself before so this is new to both of us.’

Ethan led Starburst around slowly at first while Cassie settled into the trotting pace.

‘Just feel him beneath you, Cass. It’ll help you relax into him and him with you.’ She closed her eyes and could feel his rhythm and his strength. He was gorgeous and as if he could feel her too, he started to trot, then almost to glide. Cassie opened her eyes and realised they were both enjoying each other so much that they were actually off the ground. He never even needed wings. He flew using his own magic combined with hers. They eased back onto the ground and came to a stop.

Cassie looked around. There was total silence. The men had shocked expressions. ‘He’s a little miracle. He knows how to tap into my power.’ She patted him, very proud of her clever horse. ‘You won’t even need those wings, will you, boy?’

Kayden came through the gate. ‘I knew I had to save him for a reason. He wanted to be with you all along,’ he said, lifting her off him. ‘That was surreal, very clever.’

‘He’s a dream to ride but I think he’s had enough for one day.’

Ethan agreed and took Starburst to clean him up and give him a well-deserved drink and a feed.

After a long, hot shower, Cassie ambled out into the kitchen. Conor was stirring gravy and still looking glum. She could smell the aroma of a well-cooked dinner filling the air. Slipping her arm around Conor’s waist, she hated the vibe of rejection he was feeling from his brother. He put his arm over her shoulder, still stirring the pan.

‘Want me to go sort him out for stirring you up or go give him a little zap, knocking him right off that horse of his, flat on his butt?’

Conor chuckled. ‘It’s okay, Cassie. He just knows you’re special to me and is trying to push my buttons to make me angry enough to talk to him. I get it really. He has to work his butt off and all he sees me do is party and get with the girls. He’s told me he knows something big is going on and it frustrates him that I keep it hidden.’

‘You know I would never go hang with him without you. When Kayden makes a day, I’ll get him to tell just you, okay? The three of us will sneak off and go eat his dinner and then I’ll help you beat him at cards. Then if you still feel unhappy I’ll just have to make good on that threat and zap his hiney anyway. How’s that sound?’

He grinned and hugged her. ‘Why do you care?’

‘Woody told me how you guys feel me now we’re connected. You know, about that hum that makes you want to be near me.’

He nodded and looked surprised that Woody had told her.

‘Well, times that by five and you will feel what is inside me. So if you’re sad, then I’m feeling sad too, me boy.’ She grinned. ‘Bet you all didn’t know that. It started as soon as we ate our first meal together.’

‘Same.’

Cassie nudged into him. ‘Hey, but it is our little secret, okay? No way do I want my man getting himself all worked up that I can feel you all too.’

‘You didn’t even tell Woody.’ He chuckled, looking a lot happier that only he knew her secret.

She shook her head. ‘Now give me another one of those hugs and go take a shower while I dish up. Goddamn, you can cook,’ she giggled, sniffing the air as he took off for a shower.