Clouds and Rain

used to riding again, but Flynn simply agreed as he directed Brenner to stand beside T.C. He put his hand on the small of Gable‟s back. “Must feel good to be back in the saddle, so to speak?” He grinned, since Gable was riding T.C. bareback.
    Gable simply nodded, his gaze directed over the fields. “It‟s a little strange, but I‟m sure I‟ll get used to it again.” He looked down at his hands holding the reins and then at Flynn, and Flynn used his knees to make Brenner move a little closer so he could lean toward Gable to 164

    Clouds and Rain

    kiss him. Gable reciprocated, but just as their lips touched, Brenner became skittish and propelled Flynn forward.
    “Bastard,” Flynn yelled at Brenner, making him buck even more.
    Gable chuckled. “Hey, that‟s my horse you‟re talking to. He‟s got very delicate feelings!”
    “He‟s a jealous bastard, that‟s what I think,” Flynn answered only half-jokingly, steering Brenner alongside T.C. again.
    “Well, if you were a bit nicer to him, he might be a bit nicer to you too,” Gable teased. This time both horses remained calm and the men managed to kiss good morning.
    “Why did you bring that?” Gable asked when he spotted the artificial leg strapped to the back of Flynn‟s saddle.
    “I thought it could come in handy. I also brought breakfast.”
    “Mmmh.” Gable cocked his head. “When I woke up this morning, I got the sudden urge to come and take a look at the horses. I guess if my stomach had protested, I would have realized I hadn‟t had any food yet, but it wasn‟t even light then.”
    Flynn shook his head but smiled nevertheless. He was actually quite happy about Gable‟s sudden urges.
    The fog was slowly lifting and the horses were starting to graze.
    “So is your stomach still not protesting?” Gable pulled a face as if he was reaching down into his gut and checking, just to be sure. “I could probably do with a sandwich.” They found a spot near the fence where the land sloped up a bit and there were some trees to sit against. Flynn dismounted and let Brenner free to roam then took T.C.‟s bridle to keep him steady so Gable could dismount as well. Not that it was necessary. As Flynn had predicted a long time ago, T.C. was well aware that he had a less-able rider on board and he was extremely calm and patient, even looking back as Gable jumped down to make sure he was okay. Gable landed on his good leg and held onto T.C. for a moment to get his balance, then hopped over to where Flynn was standing.
    “I‟m not wearing that, unless you want to go for a stroll?” Gable said, pointing at the prosthesis, which Flynn was untying.

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    “Maybe later,” Flynn replied, picking up on Gable‟s unease.
    They sat down on the damp ground, silently sharing breakfast.
    “It still doesn‟t feel like mine,” Gable remarked eventually.
    “It will, in time,” Flynn answered, making clear that he knew what Gable was referring to. “Once you can walk on it without thinking about it, it will be like you never lived without it.” Gable threw Flynn a questioning look, but bit into his sandwich and didn‟t say anything. He spoke again after a long pause. “It really doesn‟t bother you?”
    “Nope,” Flynn said resolutely. “It‟s a part of you, Gabe. Like that beat-up ankle was in the beginning, only then I worried that you weren‟t taking care of yourself.”
    “Guess I still need you to do it for me,” Gable replied, referring to the times when Flynn would take care of his sore stump in the evening, when he‟d far extended the time Craig had told him to walk on it.
    “I don‟t mind,” Flynn shrugged.
    “So you like me all needy and stuff?”
    Flynn looked at him sideways. “No, but I like to be needed and wanted. There‟s a difference.”
    Gable squared his jaw. “Yeah, I suppose there is.” He leaned back and placed his hat over his eyes, stretching his arms up so he could rest his head on his hands.
    “Hey,” Flynn protested. “You‟re making me feel very unwanted!” His last bites of sandwich discarded, he moved so he could straddle Gable‟s thighs and worm his hands underneath Gable‟s warm coat. As he wiggled them, he could feel Gable‟s stomach muscles tense and then saw the hat move as Gable tried not to laugh.
    Eventually Gable lifted his hat to show his broad smile. “It worked, didn‟t it?” Gable didn‟t let Flynn answer. Instead he pulled him down and kissed him passionately.