Chapter 0056

The closer they get to the stable, the more Fay seems to cheer up, as if she’s leaving the memories of

last night behind. Kent can’t help the smile from his face when he sees it. He was worried for her last

night – truly worried that some real damage had been done.

Fay was delicate. He knew it intimately – it was one of the things he liked best about her. She was a

sensitive girl, feeling things keenly, more acutely than others. But beneath that, she has a solidity to her

core, a well of strength that he’s not sure she’s even aware of.

She’s going to need that strength, he knows, if she’s going to make it in this world. And he’s quite

determined to see that she does. Because if she doesn’t…

He shakes away the thought, not letting it enter his mind. He will see that she does, and he’ll do

everything he can to foster that strength in her. It won’t be easy, but Kent intends to see it through.

Fay sits up very straight in the seat when they pull into the driveway of the stable, the gate swinging

open for them. Kent can tell that she’s reining in his excitement for his sake, trying to play it cool, but

she’s out of the car before he can throw it in park.

Kent finds her in Heathcliff’s stall a few minutes later, cooing to her horse, running her hands over his

silky ears and talking to him softly. He watches her for a few minutes, letting her greet her friend, who

nuzzles her warmly.

“Have you ever ridden before, Fay?” Kent asks quietly after a few minutes. She turns to him and

smiles, biting her lip a little in embarrassment. He smirks, knowing her answer before she says it.

“Yes?” she says, a question rather than a statement. “I’ve…ridden. Before.”

His smile deepens. “By which you mean, you’ve sat on a couple of ponies at the county fair.”

Fay bites her lip again before smiling and blushing a little. “Okay, yes. But the man who owned the

ponies said I have a natural seat!”

Kent laughs at her then and bends down to pick up a basket of brushes and combs by the door, placing

it inside the stall before shutting it and bolting them in. “I’ll let you two get acquainted,” he says,

“perhaps you could brush him. He’ll like that.”

Fay eagerly coming forward to select a brush.

“I’ll be back in a little bit,” he says. “We’ll get you saddled up and then we’ll see if that seat is any good.”

Kent turns away then, heading to the front of the barn.

He’s surprised, a moment later, to hear her call after him.

“Thank you,” she says softly, her head peeking out over the stall door.

Kent simply nods to her and turns, tucking his hands in his pockets and continuing on his way.

Kent and Fay spend the rest of the day at the stables. He leaves her alone, mostly, going around to

visit the other horses under his care, checking in with the grooms and the manager to ensure that

everything is running smoothly.

When the trainer arrives, Kent points him in Fay’s direction and is pleased, about half an hour later, to

see Fay leading her saddled horse out to the riding arena.

Kent leans against the door of the barn, watching at a distance as the trainer runs her through the

basics of riding, showing her the horse’s gaits on a long lead while Fay is still on the ground. It’s a

special thrill, though, when he sees Fay put on her little velvet helmet and lead her horse over to the

mounting block.

The joy on her face when she sits astride Heathcliff’s back for the first time – a little chill runs down his

spine. He can’t help feeling just…purely happy.