Sully's Fantasy - Pepper Winters Page 0,19
fruit. The sunrises and sunsets that never failed to splash the horizon with every colour humans could name and many more that we couldn’t.
I also loved the sounds of so many different animals. From the squeaks of otters, to the snuffles of pigs, and the click of fish grazing on coral beneath the sea.
But there was a special kind of love for the velveteen softness of a horse’s nostrils.
Hot air cascaded over my fingers as the dapple grey huffed, scenting me and hopefully accepting me as a friend instead of foe. “She’s gorgeous.” I grinned, glancing at Nila as she undid her mask and dangled it from a fingertip.
“Her name is Warriors Don’t Cry. Moth is her stable name.” She drifted forward, grabbing a handful of oats from a large bin by the tack room. “She was a gift from my brother-in-law, Kestrel.”
“That’s an interesting name.” I laughed as Moth gobbled up the oats from Nila’s palm and blinked innocently for more. Her huge wise eyes framed in the thickest, blackest eyelashes.
“It’s the family tradition of Hawk sons. A bird of prey is given as their nickname. Kes preferred his nickname to his real name.” She threw me a grin. “I guess I can understand why.”
“What was his real name?”
“Angus.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Well, it’s not going to win any sexy awards, but Gus is kind of cute.”
Nila cocked her head. “Never thought about it that way. I always just thought of him as Kes. Our son is named in his honour.”
I wanted to ask what happened, but the hushed way she spoke of him hinted he was no longer alive, and the tragedy still carried pain.
She strolled down the stables, laughing under her breath as a big black beast popped its head over the partition and whinnied. “Yes, Wings. I didn’t forget about you.”
I waited while she scooped up another handful of oats and fed the glistening ebony horse.
“He’s stunning, too.”
“He belongs to Jethro. Has a mind of his own and is steadfastly loyal to one person, but he tolerates treats from all of us.” She scratched his forehead. “Don’t you, grumpy pony?”
He snorted and disappeared back into his stall, biting his hay net with attitude.
Untying my own mask, I rubbed around my eyes and forehead where the material itched. “Do you ride every day?”
“We try to.” Nila grinned, leading me back the way we’d come. Our heels clacked on the cobblestones as our dresses swished in the hay. “Our children were practically born in the saddle, so they have demands.”
“From what I glimpsed of them, they seemed fearless.”
Nila’s eyes shadowed for a moment before she smiled. “I hope so. I hope they remain that way too.”
We walked from the impressive stone stables, through the arched gateway, and back onto the pathway leading toward the bright lights and majesty of Hawksridge Hall. Guests had spilled out onto the deck leading from the ballroom; sounds of music and laughter winged over the lawns toward us. “You have a very lovely home.”
She stopped and studied the hall as if she hadn’t truly seen it in a while. Her head cocked to the side before shaking in disbelief. “You know? You’re right. It is a home, isn’t it?” She smiled brighter. “I think that’s the first time it’s been described as lovely before.”
“What words are usually used?”
“Terrifying.” She laughed. “Murderous. Deranged.”
“Sully said there were rumours about your family and Jethro’s.” My eyes drifted to her diamond collar, reminding me that I had Hawk diamonds gracing my own body in the form of wedding rings. “That it involved debts and death.”
“Yes, well.” Her shoulders stiffened a little as she looked toward the huge pond twinkling with moonlight in the distance. She shivered as if a memory came and went. “Let’s just say that there are things in the past we cannot change. But they had to happen to give us the future we now hold so precious.”
A howl crested in the darkness, making me jump and look behind me. Did they have wolves on this damn estate?
“That’s just Squirrel. Don’t worry.” Nila chuckled. “He’s missing the freedom of running around with his pack. We kept them away from the hall tonight so the hounds didn’t upset the guests.”
“Hounds?”
“Yes, you know? Good for hunting and generally being a nuisance.”
I flinched at the mention of hunting but kept my opinions about animal welfare to myself. “Are they friendly?”
Nila smirked as if she had an insider joke. “Friendly if you’re not running for your life through