Love Means_. Freedom - Andrew Grey

asleep."
    Stone began shoveling again, figuring he could work while they talked. The last thing he wanted was for anybody to think he was a shirker. His daddy had raised him to work hard, and besides, Geoff had been good enough to give him this chance; there was no way he was gonna blow it. "I met your... um... partner, yesterday. He seems really nice." Stone threw a load of soiled bedding in the wheelbarrow.
    "He is that." The voice came over the wall from the next stall. "Do you ride much?"

    "Had horses most of my life; had to leave mine behind, though." Stone began working harder and making noise with the shovel, trying to discourage any further conversation on the subject.
    "We've got a new therapy client in about a half hour. I'm getting Belle ready, and I was hoping you could help out." He heard the horse moving around and, when he wasn't shoveling, the light swish of the comb.
"Sure, just tell me what to do. I've never done therapy riding before."
    "No sweat." The stall door closed, and he heard Joey's bootsteps as he finished cleaning out the stall, making a last run to the muck pile and returning with the first load of fresh bedding.
    Joey and Belle were moving around in the next stall, and he kept his mind on his work even though his body had been on overdrive since he'd been asked to stay. Robbie was cute, Joey was handsome and looked rather rugged even with the scars on his face, Geoff was incredibly handsome, and Eli was beautiful. Stone picked up the pace, using the work to get his mind off it.
    They were all taken, and he needed to keep himself under control.

    When he finished up the stall, he heard the other stall door open, followed by the clomp of hooves on the barn floor. "Can you meet me in the ring in ten?"
    "Sure," Stone called as he closed the door and put the tools away before walking through the barn and into the indoor, heated riding ring. The horse was hitched to a post, and Joey seemed to be checking out things, so Stone waited. A sound behind him drew his attention, and he saw a man rolling toward him in a wheelchair through the barn and then into the covered ring, followed by an older woman who Stone figured was his mother.
    "Are you Preston?" Joey strode up to the man while Stone stayed behind with the horse. He watched as they talked for a while, and then Joey motioned for him to bring the horse to an area of the ring that sloped down and a sloping platform had been built. Combined, they allowed the rider to slide onto the horse. The man wheeled himself to the top of the ramp, and Stone watched those thick arms work as he lifted himself out of the chair and managed to stand. Joey helped the man get settled on the horse. "You did that very well."
    "Thanks," the man mumbled from the top of the horse.
    Joey continued, "Stone is going to lead you around the ring, and I want you to squeeze your legs around the horse. It'll help you stay on and keep your balance. I'll be right here, and all you need to do is wave if you feel like you might fall." Joey began adjusting the stirrups and making sure the man was comfortable. "Just relax and have fun." Joey stepped back, and Stone prepared to walk the horse around the ring.
    "Are you ready?" Stone asked.
    The man on the horse grunted something, and Stone began walking forward very slowly, circling the ring. Stone paid attention to the floor in front of him and where the horse was walking, trying to keep from looking at the man on the horse with the bright eyes and muscular chest and shoulders. "Hey, Stable Boy, do you think we can pick it up a bit?"
    Stone turned and glared at the man. "My name is Stone." Before the arrogant ass could respond, he turned around and began walking faster. "No too fast, Stone, he needs to get used to the horse," Joey called from across the ring.
Stone slowed his steps slightly and kept walking. "Preston, try to move with the horse and use your legs."
    Hearing his name again, Stone stifled a laugh. His mother might have named him after a soap opera character, but at least she hadn't given him a dweeby name like Preston.
    "You need to use your legs if this is going to help you." Stone stopped as Joey walked up to the horse.
"I can't use my legs!" Stone was startled by the volume of Preston's voice and the vehemence behind it.
    "Yes, you can. You stood so we could get you on the horse. The purpose of this therapy is to strengthen your legs." Joey began feeling Preston's legs, and Stone looked away. For a second he