Love Means_. Freedom - Andrew Grey

wondered what it would be like to feel those legs. He shook his head slightly; there was no way he was going to fantasize about Mr. Arrogant. "Grip the horse and you'll find it easier to stay on, and you'll actually feel something in your legs when you're done." Joey stepped away and Stone began moving again. "Much better." Joey said, complimenting Preston as Stone continued walking the horse around the ring.
    "Hey, Stable Boy...."
    Stone stopped abruptly and turned, glaring acidly at the rider. "My. Name. Is. Stone." He smirked. "Preston." He lilted his voice slightly and continued walking at the same pace. Preston kept taunting him and asking "Stable Boy" all kinds of questions whenever they were away from the others, but Stone just kept walking, pleased that he wasn't rising to the bait.
    "So, Stable Boy...."
Stone took a deep breath and slowly released it. This guy's time had to be almost up.
"What do you do when you aren't leading horses around--shovel shit? Looks like you might have fallen into it."
He turned his head without stopping. "My name is Stone," he said through clenched teeth,
    "and if you don't stop with the stable boy crap, I'll beat the shit out of you--I don't care if you are some pathetic cripple in a wheelchair." He turned away and kept walking the horse. A few steps later, he couldn't help himself; he peeked back under the guise of checking on Belle and saw the devastated look on the rider's face before the expression changed and Preston's eyes blazed with hurt anger.
"Use your legs, Preston," Joey's voice reminded him. "That's it, you're doing great."
    Stone's satisfaction lasted about two minutes, until his conscience took over and he began feeling guilty and a little concerned. What would Geoff think if he found out what he'd said? He almost turned to apologize, but he had some pride. Mr. Arrogant Preston, the bastard, had goaded him, and he deserved what he got. The man might be sort of cute, and Stone was pretty sure he was gay, but that didn't give him the right to be all superior and shit.
    Joey signaled from the rail, and Stone walked Belle across the ring to the ramp, grateful that this was over. "I don't want to overdo it the first time," Joey began explaining as they approached the ramp. "Your legs might be sore, but that's because you were using muscles you haven't in a long time." Joey helped Preston off the horse and back into his chair. "Stone, would you please walk Belle back to her stall?"
    "Sure, Joey." Grateful to be leaving, Stone moved briskly, getting Belle back to her stall.

    She seemed to know she was home, bobbing her head excitedly. Stone slipped off her saddle and took off the bit. "There you go, girl. You did good." He stroked her neck as she began eating from the manger.

    "Did you like it?" A woman's voice carried through the barn along with footsteps.

    "It was work, but kinda fun." Stone closed the stall door and stepped out, seeing Preston gliding toward him, talking to the woman walking next to him. "But my ass hurts something fierce."

    Stone couldn't help himself. "It wouldn't if you wore proper jeans."

    The wheels slowed and Preston rolled up to him. "I'll have you know that these jeans are Armani and cost more than anything you've ever worn in your life." The haughty tone carried through the barn.
    "Is that so?" Stone glared down at him. "I guess girl's jeans are expensive," he retorted, suddenly enjoying picking on this guy. He needed to be taken down a peg or two, and he noticed that the woman with him, probably his mother, didn't come to his rescue. "No wonder your ass hurts--all those sparkles and crap must dig in good." Stone began walking away. "Not that I care, but a good old-fashioned pair of Wranglers work best for riding." Stone strode away and went to get his tools before returning. He still had stalls to clean, but he wanted to make sure Preston was gone before returning to work.
    Kids came and went. He saw Eli walk through the barn and heard what he thought was a riding lesson. Stone continued working, listening to the sound of horsemen at work, until Eli approached him.
    "There's a group therapy session in about half an hour. Can you help?"
"Sure." He was just finishing up the last stall.
    "Good. You'll be working with Sherry. She's six, I believe, and doesn't talk much at all. Her father was killed a few months ago, and she hasn't spoken to anyone as far as we know. She seems to respond to the horses, though."
    Stone stepped out of the