Love Means No Shame - Andrew Grey

read him like a book.
    Geoff lowered his voice. “What if he leaves? He’s Amish and on his year away. What if he decides to go back?” He could hear his voice start to shake.
    “You really love him, don’t you? I mean, like… love him with everything you’ve got.”
Geoff nodded slowly.
    “Then the only thing I can tell you is make the most of the time you have. You can’t control his feelings or if he decides to go back. All you can do is show him how much you love him and make 152

    Love Means … NO SHAME

    the most of the time you have.” Raine pulled him into a hug. “Your dad and Len had twenty years together, and it wasn’t long enough.” Raine tightened his hug. “If he goes back, will you regret the time you had or will you cherish it?”
    Geoff knew the answer in a heartbeat. “Cherish it.”
“That’s your answer; it’s that simple.”
“Is it really that simple?”
    Raine released him, looking straight into Geoff’s eyes. “You can either worry about it, or you can make sure that if he leaves, you have as many memories to cherish as possible.” His expression didn’t waver. “Make the most of what you have. No matter how long you have it, it’s never long enough. Just ask Len.” Then Raine looked around, breaking eye contact. “I believe you have a horse to saddle.”
Geoff did have a horse to saddle, and he didn’t want Eli to suspect they’d been talking about him. He led Raine to the tack room, handing him the saddle blanket and bridle before grabbing the saddle and carrying it to Kirk’s stall. Opening the stall door, he started the saddling process.
    “Hey, boy, you ready for a ride?” Kirk bounced his head—he was definitely ready for some exercise.

    “Why do you stand so close to him? Won’t he step on your feet?” Raine stood outside the stall, scared to come in, which was probably a good thing.

    “I touch him so he knows where I am and I don’t startle him.
    And by standing close, if he does kick, it won’t have much force, and he won’t really be able to hurt me.” Geoff continued working, talking in soft soothing tones. “Kirk is a stallion and very spirited, so I need to keep him calm. He’ll only let me, Eli, Joey, and Len anywhere near him. He keeps trying to kick or bite most everyone 153
    Andrew Grey
else.” Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Raine back further away.
    “Would you grab a few carrots and hand them to me?” Raine moved slowly, watching the horse out of the corner of his eye as he got the carrots. “Just hold your hand out flat like I told you.” Raine looked at him like he was nuts but did as Geoff said.

    Kirkpatrick lowered his head and scooped up the carrot, munching happily. Raine gave him another one and slowly reach out to stroke the long black nose. “He likes you.”

    “You mean ’cause he didn’t bite my hand off?”
    “It helps that you just fed him. He loves to have his neck stroked.” Geoff finished saddling the horse and left the stall to see about Eli. He was finishing up as well, so Geoff led Belle to the ring. “Always mount the horse from the left side.” Geoff mounted Belle to show him how it was done. “Now you try it. Left foot in the stirrup… good… swing your right leg over….” Raine was now sitting on the horse, looking extremely uncomfortable. “What if she runs off with me?”
    “She’s not going to run off with you. Now pay attention. To stop, pull back on the reins. To turn, lay the reins against her neck in the direction you want to go, and she’ll turn in that direction. To tell her to move, simply click your tongue and gently touch her ribs with your heels.” Geoff clicked his tongue, and Belle started walking forward. “Try turning left.” Raine laid the reins on her neck, and Belle shifted directions in a slow circle. “Remember, she’s not a car.
    You don’t get instant steering.” Raine laughed and turned Belle in the other direction. “Good, now pull back on the reins.” He did, and she stopped. “Okay, walk her around the ring while I go get Kirk.” Eli came out of the barn and brought Twilight into the ring and mounted. Eli trotted his horse in front of Belle and led as they walked around the ring. As Geoff expected, Belle followed right behind Twilight. Geoff went inside and got Kirk, led him to the ring, and after shutting the gate, mounted the stallion with practiced ease.
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    After riding in the ring for a while, Eli opened the