“I came with the place like an old outhouse.”
He chuckled a bit. “If anything else happens, call me immediately. I know the professor signed papers saying we weren’t legally liable for his safety during the excavation and that the college went along with it—”
“But you still feel responsible.”
“I do, yes.”
“Me too. We’ll keep them safe.” I had no plans on letting some bone poacher put a bullet into Bishop. I’d just fumbled my way into this thing with him. I didn’t want to lose him now, not over something as piddly as petrified dino pooh. “Time to get to work. You don’t pay me to stand around shooting the shit.” Bane clawed at the doorframe and yowled to go out, so I opened the door for him. He gave my leg a rub then set off toward the horse barn. Which was where I was headed first thing after this call.
“I don’t think I pay you enough for half of what you do.”
“I agree.”
“Call me if anything else goes to hell.”
“Rest assured. Enjoy the beer gardens.” I hung up, pocketed my phone, and went inside to have a quick bowl of apple cinnamon instant oats. Everyone was still asleep, so I left a note on the counter telling them to help themselves to whatever they could find. I left via the back door, following the same path Bane had taken a moment ago. I walked into the horse stable, inhaling deeply, smiling at Bane as he trotted up to me. He reached up, claws grabbing the denim of my pant legs. I grimaced but gave his chin a scratch anyway. Once he’d had his pet, he darted off in pursuit of something only he could see.
The horses knickered as I walked by. I was feeling introspective this morning. Being shot at and totaling a four-wheeler with only minor bumps and bruises will make a man thoughtful. I stopped to talk to each horse in the barn, finally coming up to Tiberius. He threw his head a few times then stretched his nose out over the gate. I rubbed his neck as his chin came to rest beside my ear. Eyes closed, I listened to his heavy breaths and felt the soft, serenity of being one with a horse seep into me.
My thoughts whirled around inside my head like a tornado. Last night had been a pivotal evening for me. The poachers using Bishop and me as targets aside, I’d kissed a man. Bishop. I’d kissed Bishop and told him things that I’d not spoken of to anyone for twenty years. Why? I’d kissed other men since Devon. I’d even had sex with a few. None of those quick, random hookups had left me this confounded. There was something about Bishop…I rubbed my whiskery cheek against Tiberius. He mouthed at my shoulder, tugging gently on the shirt.
What had led me to blather on about Kailey, my sister, and my family as I had? A man that I’d only known for a few weeks had been able to extract information from deep within me that I usually guarded like Cerberus protected the gates to the Greek underworld.
“What is it about that bun wearing, beach bum?” I whispered to my horse. I felt his presence before he spoke. Tiberius stiffened and pulled way back, a clear sign of an unknown person in his space.
“Hi,” Bishop whispered. I turned from the gate to find Bishop, tank top falling off one shoulder, sleep shorts twisted around his lanky frame, glasses resting on the tip of his nose, with two cups of coffee in his hands. He stood in the middle of the walkway his eyes wide with apprehension. I took note of his sandals.
“Morning. Just a word of advice here, most folks don’t wear open-toed shoes into a barn. Stepping in a steamer is unpleasant but having a horse tromp down on a bare foot is something you don’t want to experience.”
“Ah.” He glanced downward then back up. “I wasn’t thinking.”
“A rough night makes for a bumpy morning.”
He held out one of the two blue mugs in his hand. “I come bearing coffee and apologies.”
I walked the few steps to him, noting how nervous he appeared to be. “Thanks, but you don’t have to apologize to me.”
“I think I do. I called you a motherfucking dickheaded asshole.”
“Meh. I’ve been called worse.”
“Then I insulted your hat.”
I reached up to stroke my Stetson. “I will confess to that one hurting badly.” He gave me a shamefaced little smile. Tiberius whinnied. I glanced back at the horse then looked at Bishop. “Come meet my horse.”
His sleepy blue eyes flared. “I’m fine seeing him from here.”
“Want to tell me about why you’re so leery of horses?”
He blew out a shaky breath, his attention now on Tiberius. “I was five and tried to give a pony at some small local fair an apple slice. He bit my fingers. Hard.”
“You always have to keep your hand flat when feeding a horse.”
He gave me a look over the top of his glasses. “I know that now. Back then though I thought he was going to eat my arm. Ever since then I just…I’d rather keep my distance. I can see how pretty he is from here.”
“You know, there is a law that if you date a cowboy you have to at least be able to kiss a horse’s nose.”
His gaze flew from Tiberius to me. “Is that what we’re doing? Dating?”