Highland Stallion

by Kate Hill

  “I want to hear more about these Gatherings,” Zach said, turning to Inez. “Terra tells me you and he work together.”

  “Yes. I’ve been a Gatherer almost all my life.”

  “We’ve heard about Gatherings in the mines, but not all that much. We are—I mean, we were—cut off from the rest of the world. You fly to the Spikelands in the North and harvest Rock Blood, which cures the Plague that afflicts humans?”

  “That’s right,” Inez said. “I always liked being a Gatherer, but I never imagined loving it so much since meeting Terra. Riding a Carrier you love is the best feeling in the world.”

  Zach turned his attention to his meal, his stomach knotting with frustration. “I’m sure.”

  “I don’t think Zach’s keen on the idea of a human riding him at all,” Terra said.

  “I’ll never let a human on my back!” Zach snapped then drew a deep breath and glanced from Inez to Terra. “I’m very sorry. I never should have spoken like that.”

  “It’s all right.” Terra winked at Inez. “If you meet the right woman and don’t let her ride you, you’ll never know what you’re missing.”

  Inez offered her husband an affectionate smile and Zach felt even more foolish. What was wrong with him? Lately when he thought of the mines his temper was so quick to flare. All his life he’d harnessed his emotions and accepted his fate. Now, when he thought of so many wasted years, he burned with fury.

  “In the mines…” He paused to gain his composure. “In the mines, the human slavers most favored the whip. When we were young, they’d ride us fast down the craggiest paths in the mines. If we slowed or stumbled because our hooves cracked or became jammed with rocks, they’d use the whips. When we left the mines, we swore on principle never to allow a human on our backs again.”

  Terra paused in eating and held Zach’s gaze. “I think you’ll find such a vow only reinforces the slavers’ need to make you miserable. By denying yourself a good rider, particularly if she’s your mate, you’re missing out on a fulfilling experience.”

  “Maybe so.”

  Inez smiled and reached for a slice of bread. “You know, Zach, I once tried standing on principle. I always said I’d never marry. When Terra came to claim me as his mate, after we’d shared dreams for months, I said I didn’t want him.”

  “And it would have been the biggest mistake of her life,” Terra teased, tossing her a cocky grin.

  Inez feigned disgust as she said, “It was his modesty that won me over.”

  The lovers continued their playful spat while Zach concentrated on his food. Unfortunately the mention of dream sharing twisted his gut so he could hardly eat. Whenever he thought of the dreams he and Sophia shared, his insides turned as soft as his muscles were hard. How many times had he imagined her on his back, with her smooth legs pressed against his sides while her hands stroked his man-half? Maybe someday, after he had a respectable job and a home of his own to offer a wife and family, he would seek out his dream lover.

  After supper, Zach left Terra, Inez, and their son in privacy while he took a jaunt through the meadows. Outside, he shifted to his equine-half. With his dark brown wings pressed close to his even darker brown coat, he cantered over the fields. The lush grass and damp earth felt so good beneath his hooves, not at all like the dry, jagged mines. His legs stretched as he broke into a gallop, devouring ground. Horsemen of his form weren’t known for their speed, but he traveled at a decent clip. Inhaling deeply, he enjoyed the rush of wind that carried the scent of summer changing to fall.

  Zach’s speed increased and he spread his wings as he ascended, circling low over the meadows. As he flew over the village, several human children waved to him. Feeling a bit self-conscious, he returned the greeting before turning back to the cottage. He still wasn’t accustomed to the friendliness of many humans and Horsemen he’d met in the villages and small towns they passed through. Terra and Moor said the people of Hornview were especially nice to Horsemen, since they hosted Gathering parties and the local Chieftain earned much of his wealth from dealing in Rock Blood.

  After enjoying a short walk to cool down, Zach decided to spend the night in the grass.

  Terra stepped outside, wearing only loose trousers and looking like a man who’d thoroughly enjoyed the moments alone with his wife.

  “What are you doing out here?” Terra asked. “Come inside.”

  Zach shook his head. “I’ve imposed enough.”

  “What are you going to do? Sleep out here standing up like a true-horse? Inez made a place for you by the fire. Come on.”

  After a moment’s hesitation, Zach changed to Huform, pulled his clothes on and joined the family inside. Tomorrow, he’d look for work. Moor said he could introduce him to some potential employers. Though grateful to Terra and Inez for their hospitality, Zach was anxious for his own home and the opportunities in a world he’d never thought to rejoin.

  * * * * *

  Sophia drew a deep breath and tilted her face skyward as she strolled up the cobbled walk and knocked on the cottage door.

  Moments later, she smiled at the short dark-haired woman and child who greeted her.

  “I was hoping you’d be home, Inez. I finished the cloak you asked for.” Sophia held up the black wool garment. It had taken her weeks to complete the oversized cloak. She’d taken special care with it, knowing how important it was to her friend.

  “Oh, it’s beautiful!” Inez exclaimed. “Hold Canyon while I look at it more closely.”

  Sophia exchanged the cloak for Inez’s plump, black-haired, blue-eyed son. The baby giggled when she made funny faces to amuse him. Sophia loved children and often daydreamed about what it might be like to finally locate Zach and have babies with him. Such a handsome Horseman was bound to produce fine sons and beautiful daughters.

  “You have outdone yourself,” Inez continued as she inspected the cloak. “This will be a perfect anniversary gift for Terra. I’m just glad he’s not back yet from this morning’s Gathering so the surprise won’t be ruined.”

  “I’m glad you’re not with him, or else I’d have made the trip for nothing.”

  “We didn’t have anyone to sit with the baby, so another Gatherer went with him this morning. He’ll probably be back any minute, though, so I better hide this cloak. Would you like to have tea?”

  “I’d love it.”

  Sophia followed Inez inside and stood, gazing out the window as her friend hid the cloak under the bed and set a kettle to boiling.

  “I didn’t arrive a moment too soon,” Sophia said as she noticed Terra and another Horseman on the crest of the hill in front of the cottage.

  Inez joined her in looking out the window and said, “Oh good. You can meet our houseguest.”

  “The man from the mines? I’ve been curious about… Gods!” Sophia’s heart pounded so hard she felt dizzy. The Horseman walking alongside Terra was even taller and more heavily muscled than the superbly built Fighting Carrier. His man-half was massive, the muscles chiseled even from a distance. A mat of hair covered his chest, tapered down his abdomen, and spread to the rich brown coat covering his equine-half. His draft-horse body was built of thick, rock-hard muscle, the equine chest, shoulders and hindquarters enormous. His four white fetlocks were shaggy, as was his white-flecked tail.

  “What’s wrong?” Inez glanced at her friend in concern.

  “He’s even more magnificent than in the dreams,” Sophia murmured. “Zach.”

  “Dreams?” Inez’s brow furrowed. “You’ve shared dreams with a Horseman? With…Zach?”

  Sophia scarcely heard Inez and was too excited to answer her. Her entire body tingled as she rushed out of the cottage and ran towards the Horsemen.

  “Zach!” she shouted, unable to keep from laughing with happiness. “Zach!”

  * * * * *

  Zach froze where he stood, his heart throbbing in his ears, every muscle in his body tense. Moments ago he had been walking alongside Terra, telling him that he’d be leav
ing the following morning to begin his new job with a farmer Moor knew. He’d be plowing and hauling rocks and wood. Good, honest work with pay every week. Moor had arranged for Zach to live at the farm and take his meals there, until payday when he could supply his own food.

  Now the elation of finding a job paled when compared to the sight of his dream lover running across the meadow towards him.

  “Zach!” Sophia called in the sweet, wonderful voice from his dreams.

  She was just as he remembered her; small, her body rounded beneath her plain green tunic, her hair fiery red in the sunlight. Oh, Gods, why did she have to be there? He wasn’t at all ready!

  “How do you know Sophia?” Terra’s eyes widened as he turned to Zach who had begun backing down the hill. “Where are you going?”

  “I have to get out of here,” Zach said, his respiration already out of control just from seeing her. He turned and trotted a few steps then stopped. Was he Horseman or mouse? He’d just led a rebellion against an army of slavers, but a small human female was hurling him into a panic? Ridiculous.

  Terra approached, his brow furrowed. “What’s going on?”

  “I’ve shared dreams with that woman.”

  “With Sophia?”

  “What the hell should I do?” Zach tried filling his lungs with air, but no breath seemed deep enough. He rubbed his hand across his wet forehead and glanced at his darkening equine coat. “Damn, I’m sweating like I just plowed a field.”

  Terra grinned and clapped his shoulder. “Zach, a little sweat isn’t going to scare off any woman who loves a Horseman. Just relax.”

  “She’s almost here.”

  “You sly Horseman. All this time you’ve had a dream lover and didn’t even mention it once.”

  “I’m not ready for this. I have no money. No nothing. No…”

  “Zach!” Sophia, panting, reached the crest of the hill and paused before launching herself directly into his arms. He could do nothing except hold her as she squeezed his waist and pressed her cheek to his man-chest. His heart pounded so hard he knew she must feel it, just as he felt the excitement in her body.

  She tilted her face up to his and her smile faded as she backed away. He felt the grim line his mouth was pressed into, but couldn’t seem to lift it in a smile. All he could do was stand there like a fool and stare at her. She was so beautiful, even more wonderful than in the dreams. Her body felt warm against his, and she carried the aroma of wildflowers. Luminous green eyes gazed at him. Her plump, pink lips parted, revealing the tips of her straight, white teeth. Freckles sprinkled across her nose and full cheeks.

  “I’m sorry,” she murmured. “I just can’t believe it’s you. It is you, isn’t it?”

  He sensed her embarrassment at what she might reasonably think was a mistake on her part. After all, he wasn’t acting much like her dream man, but it had been so much easier to act when he could still hide much of his life from her.

  “Sophia, I can’t believe it’s you either.”

  Damn! Couldn’t he have thought of anything better to say?

  “I have so much to ask you,” she said.

  He took a step closer, suddenly unable to keep from holding her again. Wrapping her in his arms, he lifted her off the ground and tried not to squeeze her too hard. Her soft, warm curves fit perfectly against him as she locked her arms around his neck and rubbed her cheek against his.

  Terra cleared his throat loudly and they glanced at him.

  Zach placed her on the ground, his gaze still fixed on her.

  “Inez and I were just about to have tea,” Sophia said.

  “Tea’s good.” Terra met Zach’s helpless stare with a shrug.

  “I’ll help Inez.” Sophia smiled at Zach over her shoulder as she hurried back to the cottage.

  “Is she the same as your dreams?” Terra winked at Zach.

  “Even better,” he sighed.

  “That’s how it was for me and Inez, too.”

  “Just because it’s that way for me doesn’t mean she feels the same. She’s so beautiful and look at me.” Zach glanced at his scarred body.

  “Women love you Highlanders. The draft-type equine-half gets them every time.” Terra patted his shoulder. “Wait until she sees you pull a heavy load.”

  Zach suddenly wanted to pull a heavy load for twenty miles or so. His entire body felt ready to burst with excitement just from meeting Sophia. He couldn’t reveal how he truly felt. Not until he had more to offer than simply his muscles. It would be necessary to keep firm control over his emotions. He wouldn’t indulge his desires until he had as much to offer her as any woman would want or need. For Sophia, it would be the best from him, or nothing at all.

  As they approached the cottage, Terra whispered, “You might try smiling.”

  Zach tried to force his lips upward in the uncharacteristic position. He gave up. If he had been another sort of Horseman, a handsome, well-to-do one, he might have had reason to smile upon meeting his dream lover. Zach would have to prolong his torture and not succumb to the desire raging in his mind and his body. Not until he was a Horseman a woman could proudly call her mate. He would mold himself into the right man for her, even if he had to work day and night to do it.

  Zach and Terra shifted shape. The Highlander drew a deep breath as he opened the cottage door and stepped inside.

  Chapter Two

  The Farmhand

  As Sophia helped Inez bring tea and cake to the table, her initial happiness upon seeing Zach was tainted by his conservative response to her. She’d expected him to be as thrilled as she was, but their dreams must have affected him differently. Still, when they’d embraced, she’d felt his heart throbbing wildly against her cheek. Of course she had no reason to attribute his rapid pulse to excitement from seeing her. He’d felt so warm and damp he must have just come from a flight.

  “What’s taking them so long?” Inez demanded when nearly half an hour passed but the men had yet to join them.

  While preparing tea, Sophia had questioned Inez about Zach. She was thrilled to learn he was looking for work. Having only lived in Hornview for a couple of months, she still had an incredible amount of work to do on the cottage and barn she’d inherited from her aunt. Her profession as seamstress kept her too busy to dedicate enough time to repairs. She’d also had offers to buy firewood since she owned a good section of the forest behind the cottage. She hadn’t seriously considered chopping and delivering the wood until now. If she hired Zach, they could spend time together and decide if their dream affair could truly bridge to reality. Sophia had longed for Zach. Seeing him and touching him made her heart ache with happiness and affection, but his response had been hardly encouraging.

  As she waited, Sophia’s fears mounted. Perhaps Zach hadn’t been glad to see her at all. Perhaps—

  “Hello, love.” Terra stepped inside and pulled Inez into his arms. Sophia glanced at them as they kissed, feeling a touch of envy and longing.

  She turned to Zach who stood in the doorway. His warm eyes gazed at Sophia with such intensity that for a moment she thought he was going to kiss her, too. He didn’t.

  They took their places at the table along with the women. Soon everyone passed around the tea and cake.

  “Inez tells me you’re looking for work,” Sophia said. Better to initiate her plan right away. “I could use a hired hand at my place.”

  Zach held her eyes for a long moment. For the first time, she felt an inkling of hope. His desire was almost tangible as he stared at her. Finally, he said in his beautiful voice that sounded both deep and soft, “Thank you for the offer, but I’m beginning my new job tomorrow.”

  Disappointment sank Sophia’s belly, ruining her appetite for the slice of apple cake in front of her.

  “Where?” Inez asked.

  “A farmer named Simon has hired me. I’m moving there in the morning.”

  “Simon’s place isn’t far from my cottage,” Sophia said. “Maybe we’ll see each other?”

/>   “If you like.”

  His passive voice disheartened her as she said, “Wouldn’t you like to?”

  The silence that followed rattled Sophia, especially since his eyes held hers with such passion.

  “Terra, let’s go for a walk.” Inez walked to the cradle, picked up her son, and headed for the door.

  Terra took his cake and followed. Sophia was grateful for their kindness at leaving their own home to allow her and Zach a few moments of privacy.

  Sophia forced a smile. “I get the feeling you’re not glad to see me.”

  “You couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s just that I didn’t expect you here.”

  “As if I expected to see you.”

  “I won’t cause any disruptions in your life.”

  Sophia laughed sarcastically. “Too late.”

  “What I mean is, I don’t expect anything of you until I have more to offer.”

  She felt like choking him. Zach had never been this confusing in their dreams! “What are you talking about?”

  “By now you must know I was a slave. I have nothing to offer a potential mate.”

  “You have a heart. I know your heart, Zach. Just as you must know mine.”

  “I know you’re beautiful.” He drew a deep breath. His entire being seemed concentrated on her. His torso, the shoulders broad and muscles enormous even through his billowy shirt, leaned closer to her. A pulse throbbed madly at the base of his throat and she detected the glow of perspiration on his brow and upper lip. He did feel something for her! Now she was certain. As if reading her mind, he continued, “I know I want you so much my chest aches from need, but I can’t act on our dreams. Not like I am.”

  “Like you are?” Sophia felt both confused and elated. Never had she imagined being so touched by words of love from a man. “You’re—”

  “I know I’m not much to look at, Sophia, and right now I have no stability to offer you. But I will build stability. Tomorrow I begin work and I won’t stop until I’m a fit mate.”