Dunstan scampered away as soon as Branford released his grip. The fire in his eyes slowly dimmed as he watched the guard retreat down the hallway. His gaze darted to me and narrowed slightly. He shook his head and mumbled something about not wanting to be interrupted and then took my arm and led me through the hall, down the stairs, and out into the marketplace. I followed, completely stunned. He spoke to no one as we walked, only nodded with his eyes still cold and hard at a few who addressed him. We went toward the back entrance to the marketplace, through an archway, and across a stone-paved path leading to a large building of both wood and stone with several windows. As we approached, I heard the neigh of horses and even saw one poke its head through a window.
Branford rested his hand atop mine, which gripped his forearm as we walked through the morning sunshine to the large stables. Though the morning was beautiful, I was having difficulty focusing on the here and now. My thoughts kept jumping between the memories of the incredible sensations that had rocked through my body with Branford’s gentle urging and his reaction to Dunstan’s presence at our door. The dichotomy of what appeared to be two different people in one body was confusing, to say the least, and most certainly frightening.
Branford gestured for me to go ahead of him as we reached the stable doorway, and I smiled tentatively before walking through the door with his hand placed against the small of my back. The smell of fresh hay, dust, and manure was strong and made my nose tingle. Two stableboys were in a stall, one busy cleaning the hooves of a brown horse with a black mane while the other tossed shovelfuls of pungent manure into a pile outside the doorway. Branford guided me down to the last stall, which was larger than the others and filled with clean straw. There was a bucket with water and another of oats hanging from one of the walls. Taking up a good portion of the stall was a large, dapple-gray horse. I recognized him immediately since it was the same horse that had carried Branford and me from Hadebrand to the abbey.
“This is Romero,” Branford said as he gestured up to the huge horse. “I realize you are already acquainted, but I don’t think you were properly introduced.”
“Hello, Romero,” I said. I couldn’t help but giggle and tried to muffle the sound with my hand. Branford glanced over and raised an eyebrow at me. The stallion snorted and bobbed his long muscular neck.
“Does something amuse you?”
“You talk about your animals as if they were people,” I said quietly.
“At least I know I can trust them,” Branford responded. He stroked the animal’s neck before he looped the bridle over Romero’s head. “If a dog bites or a horse kicks, each has reason to do so. They’re acting on instinct, not a desire to overthrow your rule. Here.” Branford reached into the pocket of his jacket and brought out a handful of carrots. “If you feed these to him whenever you visit, he’ll always be quite happy to see you.”
I took the carrots from Branford and shuffled them back and forth between my hands. Romero’s head turned to one side, and he eyed my hands.
“What do I do?” I asked, feeling a little nervous. When Branford had pulled me from the audience at the arena and sat me astride his saddle, it had been my first time on a horse, and I had never been so close to a horse’s teeth before. They looked so big! Romero snorted again and craned his neck, looking for the treat. I yelped and took a quick step backward, out of his reach and into Branford’s arms.
“Careful.” Branford’s hands rested against my shoulders as my back pressed against his chest. “Let me help.”
He slid his fingers down my arms, and when he reached my hands, he transferred all but one of the carrots to my left hand. He then turned my hand palm up with his hand underneath my fingers before holding my hand out to the animal. I gasped as the horse’s lips flapped around in my palm until they grasped the carrot and quickly devoured it. Branford moved another piece of carrot over to my hand, and Romero grabbed it as well. We continued this way until the horse had consumed his entire snack.
“It feels strange,” I said as Romero reached forward to grab the last of the carrots from me. He reached out again and snorted when he realized there was nothing left in my hands. I took another involuntary step backward, pushing myself against Branford’s chest. His hands wrapped around me, and he held me close.
“Don’t fear him,” Branford said softly into my ear. “He may seem large and overbearing, but his nature is gentle. He doesn’t wish to frighten you or cause you harm.”
Branford’s arms tightened around me, and his head tilted to bring his mouth close to my ear.
“Sometimes he doesn’t watch where he steps, and it’s possible you could be hurt just by being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but he’ll never harm you on purpose. You have provided him with his favorite treat. He’ll always hope for more but will also be patient until you are able to provide it.”
I nodded and felt my hair catch in the rough stubble on Branford’s cheek. I had the feeling my husband was no longer speaking about the horse at all. I tilted my head so I could see his eyes. His furrowed brow and expression confirmed my impression.
“He can be a little…intimidating,” I said quietly.
“He knows,” Branford replied with dark, despondent eyes. “He’s never had to be anything else. He needs time to adjust to you, too.”
I blinked rapidly and considered his words. Though Branford had said he wasn’t sure what to do as a husband, I hadn’t really thought about how different having me in his life must be. I wondered if he also worried about his own behavior toward me. Again, my mind replayed his blazing eyes as he held me against the wall, and I shivered.
“I never know what he’ll do next.”
“Give him time to show you.” Branford reached up to my shoulders and turned me around. He angled himself down slowly until his lips pressed against mine briefly. “He doesn’t know how to tell you what he wants.”
He covered my mouth in slow, gentle kisses as his hands cupped my face. I felt the tips of his fingers tracing lightly over my jaw as his mouth captured my bottom lip, and he moaned softly. He pressed his lips to mine once more and then placed his forehead against mine. With his lips barely touching my mouth and his eyes still closed, he whispered to me.
“He doesn’t know what to say,” Branford said. “He wants to show you, but he’s inept at that as well. He needs your patience with him…please…”
“I don’t know what to do,” I said.
“Don’t give up,” Branford said as he slowly opened his eyes. “Don’t hate me for being such an idiot those first days.”
“I don’t...I couldn’t hate you.” I placed my hands on his shoulders and then ran my fingers down the sleeves of his bright blue jacket, tracing the gold trim along the side.
His mouth twitched in a slight smile then dropped again, and I knew my answer hadn’t pleased him. He brushed the pad of his thumb over my cheekbone and nodded back toward the stallion.
“He’d love to take you for a ride, you know.”
“He would?”