Love Means_. Freedom - Andrew Grey

alongside him. What was this, musical horses?
    "He's only concerned."
"I know. I just can't talk about it, not yet." Stone forced himself to look at Eli.
"It's not good to keep it bottled up." Eli smiled at him, his eyes bright. "We'll be here when you're ready, and we promise to listen, and only listen."
    The talking subsided as a car passed, giving them a wide berth, and slowly his melancholy feelings began to recede again as the cool, crisp air cleared his head. Geoff crossed the road, turning them back toward the farm, and Stone felt Buster slow, like he was reluctant to return. "It's okay, boy. I promise we'll do this more often," Stone soothed. Crossing the road again, they rode into the barnyard and dismounted, each leading his mount into the warm barn.

    In his stall, Buster impatiently let Stone remove his bridle before going right to his manger to eat. Stone loosened the girth and slipped off the saddle and blanket, steam and heat rising from the horse's back.

    "Out for a ride?"

    Stone knew that voice well. "I went with Geoff and Eli." He carried the saddle and blanket past Jasper. "Would you close the stall?" Stone walked past, and Jasper shut the door, following him to the tack room.

    "Have you heard from Preston since he left?"

    Stone shook his head slowly. Preston hadn't called him at all. Not that he should have expected it, but he was curious how he was doing, and if he was happy and liked his new job.
    Stone hadn't called him, either, figuring Preston was probably upset with him.
"What happened, anyway?"
Was today pester-Stone-about-Preston day? "Hasn't Preston told you?" He put the saddle on its perch and hung up the rest of the tack. "All he said was that you wanted him gone and told him he should take the job in Kansas City." He heard Jasper sigh. "You broke his heart."
    Stone momentarily stopped working, his stomach twisting with pangs of guilt. "I did what was best, what I had to do," he repeated to himself. Fucking hell. "I broke my own too," he mumbled, before grabbing the saddle for one of the ponies. "I have to get things ready for a riding session." Stone hurried out of the tack room and away from Jasper, hurrying down the aisle and into one of the stalls before dropping the saddle on the bedding and sliding down the wall. He'd hoped it would get easier, but it hadn't. Every day it got harder, and he missed Preston more and more.
    Mercury turned around and eyed him warily before returning to his food. "Fuck, fuck, fuck!"

    He pounded the stall door before covering his eyes with his hands. He had to stop this. His work was suffering, and he hated feeling this way. Forcing himself to stand, he picked up the saddle and got Mercury ready for the rider.

    Keeping his mind from wandering, Stone got the other ponies ready for their riders, and as the kids arrived, he heard a now familiar, happy voice. "Stoney!" He stepped out of the stall, and Sherry raced to him, throwing her arms around his neck. "I missed you."
    "I missed you too." Stone set her down.
"Look what Mama bought me." She stepped back and pulled up the legs of her jeans. "Red boots!" Her face was all smiles. Stone laughed as she pranced happily around the barn. "Just like a real cowgirl." Stone watched her dance happily. "Are you ready?"
    "Yup." He led her to Mercury's stall, and she took the reins and walked him toward the ring, just as happy and proud as she could be. "Will you help me get on?"

    "Once you're in the ring." He followed behind along with Sherry's mother, both of them smiling and wiping their eyes at the same time, but for different reasons.
    Stone helped Sherry mount, and for the next hour, he worked with the young kids. Some of them, like Sherry, had responded well to the therapy, and the class had become louder, happier, with more chatter, giggles, and outright fun. A few of the boys were still very quiet, and Stone worked with them, giving them the extra attention he hoped they needed.
    "You're amazing with them," Jasper commented at his shoulder as they stood at the rail, watching the kids. The ponies knew what to do, though some of the adventurous kids had even learned to steer and were starting to control their ponies.
    "Thanks." Stone didn't know what else to say and stood quietly watching the kids as Eli and Joey wandered around the ring, helping the riders. At the end of the session, Stone got the horses settled, and Sherry found him, giving him a goodbye hug. When the horses were settled in their stalls