Clouds and Rain

horse-breeding farm. I know how to handle it.
    We could start it as an experiment, with just one or two breeding mares.”
    Gable remained silent for what seemed like an eternity. He seemed to be thinking about what Flynn had said and Flynn didn‟t dare interrupt him now. He‟d said his piece, made it clear to Gable as best he could that he was interested in staying on longer than they‟d agreed.
    “The vet‟s bill would be astronomical, Flynn,” Gable eventually said, quietly.
    “But the revenue is a lot bigger too.”
    Gable nodded slightly and kept staring out at the meadows, which were growing darker as the sun set and a low mist started to form.
    Flynn got up from the porch step where he always sat at night.
    “Do you want a cup of coffee or something?” Gable got up as well. “Better not. I‟m just going to check on the stables and then I‟m turning in.”
    “I‟ll do the checks,” Flynn offered.

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    Clouds and Rain

    A rare smile broke on Gable‟s face. “Thanks,” he said quietly, and with a soft touch of his hand on Flynn‟s arm, he limped past Flynn into the house.
    Flynn shivered as he was left abandoned on the porch. He hadn‟t expected Gable to take him to bed tonight, but he wished he‟d had the nerve to kiss him again. Now the moment was gone and Gable‟s fleeting touch lingered on his arm, so he covered the spot with his hand in an attempt to keep the feeling there. It didn‟t last, so he sought solace where he had always found it: in the stables with the horses.
    Brenner and T.C. were lazily munching on the extra oats they‟d been given just before Flynn had gone inside for dinner, but they looked up as Flynn approached. “Hey, boys.” This was where Flynn felt at home, even though this wasn‟t his home. He patted the horses on their necks and scratched the base of their manes.
    “So what am I going to do about your master?” he asked them, as if they were going to answer him. “Do you think he wants me to stay?” Flynn heard scratching outside the stable door and pushed it open.
    Bridget entered and sat herself down next to Flynn. “Well, I‟m glad you could join us, girl,” Flynn told the dog. “I guess we‟re all here now.” He chuckled at the scene. “We were just talking about how to handle Gable,” he said to Bridget, who perked up her ears and cocked her head. Very much like her owner sometimes did, Flynn thought.
    “Come on, girl, everything seems okay in here. We‟ll let the horses sleep, okay?”
    Flynn smiled as he watched Bridget get up and move to the door, as if she‟d understood every word he‟d said.
    They walked toward the house in silence, side by side. Flynn checked that Bridget had enough water for the night and then walked upstairs toward his bedroom. He couldn‟t resist pausing in front of Gable‟s room to listen for any sounds inside, but it was quiet. The door was slightly ajar, as it usually was when Bridget didn‟t go upstairs with Gable, because Flynn knew the dog always slept in Gable‟s room. He watched her push it open some more to enter and couldn‟t help stealing a look inside.

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    Zahra Owens

    Gable was on the bed, his naked body covered by a blanket, but only up to his waist. Flynn felt his body react to the vision of the lightly furred chest and nicely sculpted, but slightly sinewy, shoulders. He contemplated going inside, but given the interesting turn the day had taken, he was reluctant to jinx what he had gained. He leaned against the doorpost and watched Bridget settle down for the night next to the bed before heading to his own room.

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    Clouds and Rain

    Chapter 5

    AS USUAL, Gable woke up before dawn. Even Bridget was still sleeping on the floor next to his bed, although she looked up as soon as he stirred. The rest of the house was just as eerily quiet.
    Gable got up to pee and realized he was pretty sore all over.
    Although they‟d had quite a busy day yesterday, he hadn‟t done an unusual amount of riding, so his protesting muscles surprised him.
    Maybe he was coming down with something, or maybe he was just getting too old for this work. He sighed, scratched his head as he returned from the bathroom, and decided to lie down for a few more minutes before he had to get dressed.
    The next time he opened his eyes, there was some sort of banging going on outside and he quickly pulled on his jeans to go and take a look.
    Outside on the porch he was greeted by an enthusiastically tail-wagging Bridget