by C. W. Gray
Seven horses watched him with dark, liquid eyes. Currently, he had three rescues that needed major attention and four that just needed to finish adapting to their new home. They all wanted their breakfast though.
The three in the back had special diets, so he put together their breakfasts and refreshed their hay. Jake, Dean’s son, would be by after school to muck all the stalls. Horse shit was one thing that Noah didn’t necessarily like about horses, not that he didn’t do his own amount of shoveling.
He emptied the last can of grain mixture into Carrot’s feed dish, then turned to go. The Paint horse grabbed the back of Noah’s shirt and shook his head, stopping Noah from moving away.
Carrot slowly tugged him back, and Noah grinned, turning to rub Carrot’s soft and bristly nose. The gelding had only arrived a few days ago, but Noah already loved him. He was malnourished and dehydrated from the neglect of his previous owner, but somehow the horse’s big personality had survived the abuse.
Noah stroked Carrot’s neck and tried for soft, soothing noises. It must have worked because Carrot pushed his head against Noah’s chest. Noah pressed his face to the horse’s neck and breathed in his earthy horse smell.
He knew there were others he needed to care for, but it was hard to leave Carrot behind.
“You need rest, buddy.” Noah leaned back and rubbed Carrot’s forehead. “The farrier is coming today, and he’ll take a look at your hoofs. If he gives the go ahead, I’ll take you with me on rounds tomorrow. Okay?”
Carrot grabbed his shirt and pulled him closer again.
Noah laughed and grabbed the brush hanging on the stall wall. “I guess, I have time for pampering.”
He lost track of time as he brushed Carrot’s pretty brown and white coat. His mane and tail were both a mix of brown and white hair, and Noah knew Carrot would be gorgeous once he was back to his full health.
The flickering lights in the barn caught his attention, and he looked over his shoulder. Dean leaned against the wall. The older omega smiled softly as he watched Noah.
Noah flushed and patted Carrot’s flank. “Sorry. I got distracted.”
“Carrot is attached to you,” Dean said. “It’s sweet.”
Noah rubbed Carrot’s nose one more time, then forced himself to leave his stall. “I’m attached to him too, but we have a lot of horses to feed, and I just took care of these three.”
Dean shrugged. “I’m here now.” He bumped Noah with his shoulder. “I heard you’ll be married with five kids before the end of the year.”
Noah snorted. “If Elijah, Grammy, and Aunt Anna have their way, I will be.”
“Well, I’m here if you need to talk.” Dean wrinkled his nose, eyes briefly flashing with sadness. “Not that I’m any good at dating. I never had the chance before I met Ray.”
“How’s this pickup line?” Noah wiggled his brows, hoping to make Dean laugh. “Did you fart? Because you just blew me away.”
Dean stared at him in horror until Noah started laughing. “Damn it, Noah. For a moment, I thought you were serious.”
Chapter 2
Zed Ames watered his fern, then fluffed its long, bushy fronds. “You have a good day, pretty girl. When I get home, I’ll tell you all about my day.”
His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he read the text from Griff.
Griff: You’re coming to lunch today, right? Justin and I have a surprise for you.
Zed rolled his eyes. He fluffed his fern’s fronds again. “I love my brothers, Eugenia. I swear I do, but they’re annoying. How much do you want to bet they try to set me up with an omega today?”
Eugenia’s elegant fronds fell back into place, and Zed swore she smiled at him.
“You’re right. A surprise date isn’t quite their style.” He rubbed chin. “They’re up to something though.”
His phone buzzed.
Griff: Zed? You’re coming, right?
Zed: Yeah, I’ll be there. Going to work now.
Zed tucked his phone back in his pocket and blew Eugenia a kiss. “Have a good day.”
He grabbed his thermos of coffee and locked the door behind him. The house Abel had set Zed up with was nice. The former owners had used it as a vacation house, but they had taken good care of it.
The two-story cabin was nestled in a wooded clearing and was only a couple of miles from the hops farm and brewery where Zed worked. The house came with the job and had made moving here after he left the Marines a lot easier.
He found the path he had made last week, then quickly jogged through the woods to the brewery. The fall air was crisp and a little cold this early in the morning, but Zed enjoyed the exercise.
He passed one of their newest hops fields before he reached brewery. Zed had missed the summer harvest since he had only arrived in Hobson Hills a couple of weeks ago, but he had already helped Janelle prep the hops fields for next year and started learning about the brewing process from Abel.
He jogged in place for a moment outside the brewery and unlocked the door. Abel wouldn’t be in for a couple of hours, so Zed set his thermos down at his work table and checked the schedule. They had two different sets of beer to start today.
He readied the grist in the masher and started the machine. While he waited for the masher to finish, he swept the floors and quickly dusted the machinery. Zed was already attached to the place and wanted it to look its best.
Abel’s brewery was small, but Zed had still been amazed when he’d learned Abel had done most of the work himself until recently. It was a lot of work for two people, little less one, but Abel was a hard worker and didn’t shirk his responsibilities when things got tough. Zed liked that.
Now, he had Zed to help. Not that I’m that much help, he thought wryly. He was learning the ropes, but brewing was a completely new process to him. He liked it so far. He had a lot of time to himself, and Abel was a good boss. He showed Zed how to do something, watched him a couple of times, then left him to it. There was no looking over his shoulder the whole day or criticizing the way he did things.
He washed his hands and moved the malted barley to the boiling water in the brewing kettle. Afterward, he watched the temperature carefully. He didn’t want to ruin the malt.
Zed looked up when the door opened.
Janelle held up a potted English ivy plant. “I brought Eugenia a little sister. Her name is Maude.”
He grinned. Most folks thought he was crazy for naming and talking to a plant, but Janelle got him. The woman was quickly becoming his favorite person, aside from his niece of course.
“She’ll be jealous at first, but I think she’ll adapt to a sibling.” He scowled. “I did.”
Janelle chuckled. “Are Griff and Justin annoying you again?”
“Yeah, they keep talking about setting me up with omegas they know.” Zed lowered the temperature on the kettle. Now, he could relax and let the machine do its thing. “I’m not eager to jump into a relationship yet. I’m still getting used to being a civilian, and I just want to focus on settling in, you know?”
Janelle handed him Maude. “I get it. I think they want you hooked up with someone so you’ll stay around.”
Zed gave her a surprised look. “I’m not going anywhere.”
She shrugged. “Think about it. As soon as you could, you enlisted and left Griff. At least, that’s how he sees it, and while you were a Marine, you weren’t around often. Now you’re back, and maybe he wants something tying you to Hobson Hills.”
Zed grunted. Maybe she was right. Sometimes he wished he hadn’t left Griff so quickly. Zed had needed a job, and the Marine Corps fit him well.
“Then there’s Justin. He’s still getting used to having you at all, and he’s happily married now.” She scowled. “Happily married people are all about spreading the love.”
He snorted. “You’re speaking from experience, huh?”
She made a face. “Unfortunately.”
Zed set Maude down on a work table. “I don’t know if you’re ri
ght. Griff, Justin, and Bea are here. That’s all it takes to keep me in Hobson Hills. I did my duty, now I’m ready to start my life.”
“They’ll figure that out.” Janelle hopped up on the worktable. “Now, let’s go over my plans for the new fields behind your house. We need to get them ready if we’re going to plant them in the spring.”
Zed sat on the table beside her. “Yes, ma’am.”
Zed parked his truck outside the Irish Rose. The place was packed, but there was some benefit to being related to one of the owners. Justin and Griff were already seated at a table on the patio.
The air was a little cool, but still comfortable. The patio section of the pub overlooked a thick wooded area. The trees were quickly losing their leaves, but the remaining red, gold, and orange foliage was a pretty sight.
Bea held her arms out for him as soon as she saw him.
Zed grabbed his niece and swung her in the air, smiling at her giggles. “Are you ready for lunch, honey bee?”
Bea hugged him and nodded. “Need yum yums.”
He settled her back into her highchair. “Let’s get my girl some yum yums.”
Justin watched him with a soft look in his eyes. “You need kids, Zed.”
Zed groaned. “This again? I’m a good uncle. I have my honey bee and soon we’ll have little Ronnie too.” He bent and kissed the top of Justin’s head. “Can I?”
Griff snickered at Justin’s scowl. “You know he has to do it, Jus.”
Justin pushed his chair back and sighed. “Go ahead.”
Zed leaned down and kissed Justin’s very large pregnant belly. His younger brother was due within the next week, and he looked like he’d give birth any moment. “Hi, baby Ronnie. Uncle Zed loves you and can’t wait to meet you.”
Griff snapped a picture. “That is so dang cute.”
Zed chuckled and sat down, reaching for a menu. “I know I’m adorable. Where’s Tanner?”
“He picked up an extra shift. He’s trying to get in as many hours as he can before the baby comes.” Justin sipped his tea. “By the way, we already ordered.”
Zed grunted and put the menu back down. “What did you order me?”
“What you always get,” Griff said, rolling his eyes at Justin.
“Reuben sandwich, a dill pickle, and side salad,” Griff and Justin said at the same time.
“Are you saying I’m predictable?” Zed asked and tugged on Bea’s foot, making his niece laugh again.
Griff propped his chin on his fist. “Very predictable. Now, are you ready for your surprise?”
“Do I have a choice?” he asked, brow raised.
“Nope.” Justin grinned. “Friday night you have a date with an omega named Sam. He works with Rueben in the kitchen and just moved to Hobson Hills.”
Griff waved his hands in the air. “Yay!”
“No.” Zed looked at the picture Bea was coloring. “Is that a horse?”
“Horsey pretty.” Bea pursed her lips. “Kiss me.”
Zed obeyed his niece and gave her a kiss.
“What do mean, no?” Griff pushed a glass of water in front of Zed. “Sam is a nice guy, and you need to get out and have some fun.”
Zed sipped his water. “Sam and I have met, and he is a nice guy. By the way, I have fun all the time.”
Griff leaned back, overacting his shock. “What’s this? You have fun doing what exactly?”
“I like working on the hops farm.” He shrugged. “It’s fun.”
“Abel told me you’ve been putting in twelve-hour days.” Justin narrowed his eyes. “How many hours did you sleep last night?”
Zed ignored him and helped Bea color her horse.
“I think the better question are how many hours did you spend exercising and how many times did you clean the house last night.” Griff’s voice was soft with concern. “Zed, we’re worried about you. You clean your house like you’re expecting an inspection, and you actually made sandbags to do those lifty exercises as if you were still enlisted.”
“Cleaning and exercising aren’t bad habits.” He thought about what Janelle said. “I’m not going to run off like Dad.”
Griff looked shocked. “I never thought you would. You’re my steady rock, Zed. I know you’re nothing like Dad.”
Joshua Ames had kept two families at the same time, each unaware of the other. Zed was sad and happy that his mom never knew about that. She had been torn up enough when Joshua had abandoned them. Zed and Griff had only found out recently when they met their half-brother, Justin.
Justin gave him a concerned look. “You are definitely not like him. We’re worried because you only go to the brewery, then home. Nowhere else.”
“I meet you two for lunch almost every day.” Zed focused on coloring and made sure the horse’s leg was a perfectly even brown. “Janelle and I even went to her cousin Harper’s house and planted a row of black cherry trees near his barn. Granted she insisted we sneak and do it in the middle of the night, but still.”
Bea giggled and colored over his masterpiece with a red crayon before leaning over and kissing his cheek.
Zed stuck his tongue out, then went back to coloring.
“Zed, we want you to be happy here.” Justin bit his lip. “I can’t imagine it’s easy to adjust to being a civilian, but maybe if you went out more, you’d make friends that didn’t lure you into trespassing to plant trees.”
“Janelle’s great.” Zed ignored the red lines and colored the horse’s hoof black. “I kind of like Tanner too.”
Justin snorted. “Well, that’s a relief since he’s my husband and all.”
Their server, an alpha named North, set their food in front of them.
Zed narrowed his eyes on the man. North watched Griff like he was the last cookie on the plate. For his brother’s part, he seemed oblivious.
“Thanks, North,” Justin said, smiling at the man. “Is it busy inside?”
North nodded quickly. “We’re really getting pounded in the back.”
Griff raised a brow. “You’re getting pounded in the back, huh? TMI, man.”
Justin smacked Griff’s arm. “Leave him alone, Griff. Thanks, North. We appreciate the food.”
“No problem.” North licked his lips. “You look like you’re about to have that baby any minute, boss. I guess the salad you ordered was a good choice.”
Justin gave North an amazed look and shook his head. “Oh, North. I know that probably sounded different in your head.”
Griff growled. “Did you just call my brother fat? Do you know how hard it is to maintain a healthy weight while you’re pregnant? His hormones are all out of whack and he’s not getting enough rest. He doesn’t need some jerk wad telling him he’s fat.”
“I’ll just go now.” North spun around and ran for the door.
Justin laughed. “I swear, Griff, if you’re around, North says the worst thing possible. When you’re not here, he’s a sweetheart.”
“Whatever.” Griff pointed a fry at Zed. “You’ll meet Sam here at six on Friday night. The date has been made, and you’ll honor it.”
Zed grumbled but nodded. He didn’t want to date anyone, but he also didn’t want to stand the omega up. Sam really was a nice guy.
An hour later, he left the pub and headed back to his truck. Someone with a horse trailer took up two spaces beside him, and he couldn’t resist looking in the trailer.
A curious brown nose booped his chin. The miniature horse in the first stall nuzzled at his hand when he reached down to pet her. She had a spotted brown and white butt and a more solid brown and white body. Two other miniatures were in the trailer. One was black and white, and the other was a rich dark brown.
The girl closest to him whinnied, drawing his attention. He patted her nose and carefully ran his hand through her brown and white mane.
“Hey, you.” He laughed when she slobbered all over his hand. “I don’t have any treats, beautiful.”
“I gave them plenty of treats before I went i
n to lunch,” a man said from behind him.
Zed turned around quickly and rubbed the horse’s slobber on his jeans. “Sorry. I couldn’t resist petting her.”
The old man’s smile was kind. “Meet Peanut, Butter, and Jelly.”
Zed laughed. “Those are really their names?”
The man laughed. “Yep. Their owner was a dear friend of mine. She just moved to a retirement home in Florida, and I promised to find them a good home.” He held his hand out. “I’m Duncan Grover. I run the veterinarian office here in Hobson Hills.”
Zed shook the man’s hand with his clean one. “Zed Ames.”
Grover’s eyes lit up. “You’re Justin’s brother. He told me to keep an eye out for a dog or cat for you.”
Zed held his hands up. “Whoa there. I don’t need a pet.” He smiled at the three horses and went back to petting them. “These three will make someone happy. They’re hard to resist. If I had a barn, I might… Oh, never mind.” He laughed when Peanut slobbered all over his hand again.
Grover rubbed his chin. “Hmm, you know you could stable them until you built a barn. Peanut likes you awful well, and Jelly and Butter always follow her lead.”
Zed shook his head. “I really shouldn’t.”
Grover’s smile was strained. “I’m just worried about keeping them together. They were raised together and are really attached to one another. It will be hard finding them a home.” He sighed. “I’ll just keep them in the back field behind my office, I guess. I worry about coyotes getting to them, but what else can I do?”
Zed’s eyes went to the three miniatures. Jelly, the black and white horse, nickered softly, dark brown eyes giving him a soulful look. Butter, the dark brown horse, ducked his head, looking dejected. They would be no match for a pack of coyotes.
Abel won’t mind if I fence in around the house and build a small barn, Zed thought to himself. His boss was almost as bad as Justin and Griff when it came to pets, and he had been clear the house was Zed’s as long as he worked at the brewery and farm.