The Regimental Heroes Anthology(18)

 “I know that full well, but I just saved him from being your dead horse. So hush.” She walked Liber to the center of the ring and left Ellis to stand alone.

 He moved to the side of the pen to give her room. They would discuss this later. Right now, she did have Liber under control. In fact, Liber dropped his head and pushed at the pocket of her dress.

 Callie smiled at the horse, took an apple from her pocket and fed it to him. He ate it in one large crunch.

 Ellis leaned a hip on the cut wood slats of the pen and watched with fascination. This was not the same girl he’d pined over in younger days. He’d remembered her always coiffed to perfection. Shiny hair. Gloves. Satin dresses. Colors that matched her creamy skin and blue eyes, anything to catch the boys’ eyes… including his. Now the dust the horse kicked up covered her plain brown muslin dress. There were smears of dirt on her cheeks and her blonde hair tousled around in wispy strands. She was still beautiful. It seemed strange to see her hands without gloves. They were so small, but must be strong. She held the beast securely.

 His leg ached from standing in one place too long, but Callie made a good distraction. Many things haunted him these days, and she mixed through it all. Mad at himself, he liked his memories where they were. Now that he’d seen her once again, he remembered her pressed against him, kissing her sweet… oh so sweet mouth.

 Ellis looked out over the pastures where his other horses grazed. Nothing had changed about the land in a little over a year’s time, but everything was different. Garrison should belong to his brother, Clarke. He was the eldest. But his brother fell in love, married, and basically turned over all of Garrison to him. He hadn’t put up a fight. What else would he do? After his leg was badly wounded in the war, the thought of returning to the land and horses he loved was the only thing that brought him through recovery.



              He knew Clarke hadn’t forfeited the estate to him out of pity. He’d never understood, but Clarke truly disliked horses. He would be saddled, he smiled at his pun, for the rest of his life breeding and raising Garrison’s prized carriage horses. Their Friesians were some of the best beasts in England. Had been for generations. He should be honored to accept the post of his brother.

As he watched Callie walk Liber around and around the pen, Ellis tried to pinpoint what was different about her. It came to him. Her eyes. They didn’t sparkle with life and that devil-may-care look they once held. Her eyes were sad. Troubled. Haunted. Like his and so many of the men who returned from the war.

 But she hadn’t fought. What was her life’s story? Had she been jilted by a lover like she’d jilted him? He hadn’t seen her in over a year and had no claims.

 He moved behind her. She spun with a startled squeal.

 She brushed a hand over the front of her dress. “The poor creature’s been abused.”

 Ellis raised an eyebrow. “And how would you know this?”

 She pulled back his lip. “He’s ground his teeth down and he’s panting.” She moved to Liber’s flank. “He’s been beaten with… something. Look, there are scars. He was terrified when the stable hand hit him with a stick.”

 “Good God,” he heard himself mutter. Callie was right. Ellis placed his hand on Liber’s flank and it flexed. He trusted an agent to do the purchase. He knew he should have checked the horses upon their return to the stable. He would never hire that man again. “Why did you step between them? You could have been killed!”

 “I couldn’t let this innocent animal be brutally abused again.” There was a sudden darkness in Callie’s eyes. Ellis thought she would cry. Instead, she tipped her chin high and handed him the lead rope. “I am sorry for talking to you so abruptly. You were right, it is your horse. I had no right to interfere.”

 “But you did.” He ran his hand along the rope but didn’t take it. “Why are you here?”

 She looked at the ground. “I love your horses. I come here and watch them as often as I can. Your horses are the grandest.”

 “I know.”

 “Yes.” A weak smile tipped her lips. “I’ve done my best to avoid you… up until today.” She met his gaze. Her eyes were so blue they were almost transparent. “I’m sorry I hurt you back when we were… younger.”

 “It was only a little over a year ago.”

 “It seems like a lifetime. I can guess we have both changed. Will you forgive me?”