“Please, honey, come out of there. If Blue kicks or steps on you, he could kill you.”
Her ex’s image superimposed over the first man, and now Caleb. She kept seeing her ex coming at her with the belt, heard the sound it made when it whistled through the air and the snap of it when it slapped across her back. The stinging pain of it biting into her skin. Flinching, she tried to shake off the memory. Her focus returned, and Jack stood in the doorway before her. Locking on to him, she barely managed to say, “Hi.”
“Hi, honey. You okay now.”
Jenna regained her senses, and little by little her body relaxed. Her eyes weren’t so huge and she didn’t hold her knees as tight. Blue stood guard over her, still, for now. He turned his big head down, looked underneath himself and neighed at Jenna.
“I was looking for you.”
Jack could almost breathe easy again. “Did you miss me?”
“Yeah. Nice barn.”
“Thanks. You know it’s making me really nervous watching you sit under one of the meanest horses who ever came into this stable.”
“He’s not mean. He blew in my hair, and I was giving him some love when . . .” She stopped and locked eyes with him. “I got scared.”
“Well, you’re scaring me now. Honey, come on, get out from under Blue.”
She combed her shaking hands through her hair. “His name is Blue?”
“Yes.” Jack couldn’t take much more. While talking, color bloomed back into her cheeks, but she still wasn’t safe. If Blue decided to kick . . . He didn’t want to think what would happen if he kicked her.
“You named him Blue?”
He didn’t know why his horse’s name concerned her so much, but if it took her focus off being scared and got her out of the stall, he was all for talking about it. “Yes, honey, come out.”
She broke out into a full belly laugh.
“What the hell is so funny?”
“You really do like blue. The cabin, the house, the barn trim, and now the horse, all blue.” She continued to laugh, trying to catch her breath. He didn’t mind, even if she sounded a little hysterical. She released some of the pent up tension in both of them.
“Would you get out here, please?” Jack bent under the stall rope. Sally calmed and sprawled in the hay. He walked to Blue, careful not to spook the animal, and stroked him down his neck the way he liked.
Jenna stopped laughing and took a deep calming breath. Jack put his hand down to her and she grabbed hold and came out from under the horse. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a huge hug, holding on as hard as she could. They stood there for several minutes, his hands resting on her hips.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened. I saw him coming toward me with the strap in his hand, everything closed in around me, and I panicked. I was back in that house, and he was hitting me, and . . .”
Jack grabbed her and held her tight. Her whole body trembled against his.
“Ouch!” Jenna squealed then squirmed.
Blue smacked him in the back with his head. Jack let go of Jenna, and they almost toppled over from the force of Blue hitting him.
“I’m sorry. I forgot your back. Damnit, Blue, knock it off.”
“I like Blue. He’s beautiful. Aren’t you, sweetheart.” Jenna walked around Jack and grabbed Blue’s head. She gave him a squeeze and stroked him. Blue nuzzled her neck and shoulder. Then he placed the front of his head down the front of Jenna, from her breasts to her belly.
Caleb stood watching from the stall door. “I’ve never seen the stubborn beast cozy up to anyone. He tolerates Jack, but it looks like love with you, Jenna.”
The stress and strain left Jenna’s body as she stroked the huge animal. Horses had that effect on people when they connected with you.
“Well, I’ll be damned. That horse doesn’t like anyone, and here he is all snuggled tight to you,” Jack said, surprised.
“You’re just jealous.” Jenna gave him a sweet smile.
“Um, yeah. Come on, let’s get out of here.”
“I’m really sorry I made such a scene. I don’t know why I did that. You must think I’m crazy.”
“Maybe you should talk to a doctor, someone who helps women in your situation,” Caleb suggested.
Jack agreed, he and Caleb had both had their fair share of post-traumatic stress. He