MountainStallion (5 page)

* * * * *

Pace awoke to someone calling his name. At
first he thought it was part of a fading dream.

Gayle still slept in his arms, her lovely face
relaxed and content. Remembering the previous night, he smiled. He’d never
enjoyed a woman as much as he had enjoyed Gayle. Despite her passionate nature,
he had no doubt he was the first man she’d ever bedded and this touched him
deeply.

Then worry and guilt replaced his joy. He had
yet to tell her he owned the tack shop.

Yet why should it matter? She seemed to like
him—the
real
him, not the monster she believed him to be. Truly she had
no reason to form such an opinion about him. Not even a rumor hinted that he
was anything short of fair with those in his employ. He wondered why she had
such hatred of business owners, considering she was one. From what he’d heard,
her family had never been at the mercy of a brutal master or any master at all.
As the son of a farmhand, Pace understood the plight of workers and their
families better than she ever could.

“Pace! Are you in here?” Ardin shouted.

So Pace hadn’t been dreaming after all. He and
Gayle must have slept longer than he realized.

“We’re here!” Pace called.

Gayle stirred in his arms and he caressed her
hair. She tilted her gaze toward him and smiled, then stretched.

“Good morning,” she said.

“I’m afraid we have company.”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

Before he could reply Ardin stepped into the
cave.

“You’re both all right?” the older man asked
gruffly.

“Fine,” Pace said, though he would have
preferred a few moments of privacy with his dream lover. “What time is it?”

“Almost noon.”

“Noon!” Pace shot to his feet, leaving Gayle
to tumble onto her elbows. Realizing what he’d done, he dropped to his knees
and helped her up. “I’m sorry, love. It’s just that I’ve never overslept like
this. I need to get to—”

“Work?” She arched an eyebrow. Turning to
Ardin, she continued, “I’m surprised your master let you fly off to search for
us.”

Ardin’s brow furrowed and he cast a
questioning look in Pace’s direction.

Pace’s stomach clenched and he shook his head
slightly but Gayle didn’t miss the exchange between him and his old mentor.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“Gayle, like I said last night, there’s
something we need to talk about.”

“I’m sure there’s plenty we need to talk
about.” She smiled and stepped closer to him.

He instinctively slid an arm around her. He’d
flown through severe storms and fought Ice Lizards in the Spikelands, yet the
idea of telling her the truth made his heart pound and his mouth go dry.
Coward
had never been a word to describe him—until this moment.

Why should he hesitate to let her know? If it
hadn’t been for her silly conclusions about him, they wouldn’t be in this
situation.

“I hope you both won’t be in too much trouble
because of this,” she continued, glancing from Pace to Ardin and back again.
“If it will help I’ll talk to your employer and tell him it’s my fault you’re
late. If he gives me a problem, believe me he’ll regret it.”

Ardin looked genuinely amused and even Pace
couldn’t keep the smile from his lips.

“In fact I would love to give your employer a
piece of my mind.” She tugged away from him and paced the cave. Her disheveled
hair and the gleam in her eyes reminded him of a lovely avenging angel.

“Pace, what in the name of the sky god is
going on?” Ardin chuckled.

“There’s been some confusion…” he began, then
scrubbed a hand over his short hair and shook his head. “I’m not even sure
where to begin.”

“What’s wrong with the two of you?” Gayle
demanded.

“Gayle, I’m my employer,” Pace said, then
shook his head. That hadn’t come out right. Placing a hand to his chest, he
continued, “I mean I own the forge and tack shop.”

She dropped her chin to her chest and stared
up at him with a look of disbelief. “Pardon me?”

“Love, it’s my mountain.”

“That’s impossible!” she scoffed. “The
villagers said the owner of the mountain is called Dust or some silly name like
that.”

He nodded. “Dusty. Dusty Pace is my full name
and yes it is silly, that’s why my friends call me by my second name.”

“You’re telling me you’re the owner?”

“Yes.”

“And you lied to me?”

“I didn’t lie to you. I never actually said I
was a worker. You assumed it. Last night I tried to tell you but you…distracted
me.” He smiled again, recalling her delicious persuasion.

Gayle’s face flushed, though whether from
anger or embarrassment he couldn’t quite tell. When she picked up her pack and
stomped out of the cave without saying a word, he guessed it was the former.

“Gayle, wait!” he called, brushing past Ardin
and chasing her.

Partway out of the cave, he gently caught her
upper arm. She tried to jerk away and he released her simply to prevent her
from hurting herself.

“Why are you so angry?” he demanded. “I’m the
one who should be angry for all those untrue conclusions you jumped to about
me.”

“I’m starting to see that everything I
believed was true after all. Did you enjoy making a fool of me, Pace? Did it
amuse the great King of the Mountain?”

“What’s wrong with you?”

She lifted her chin. “I’m an honest woman. I
wish to be treated with honesty in return, especially by someone I’ve—” She
shook her head and moisture sprang into her eyes. This time when she looked at
him, her expression of betrayal struck at his heart. “I can’t believe that
you…that we…and it was all a lie.”

“It wasn’t a lie. Damn it, woman, last night
you got to know me. The real me, not your preconception of who I am. I don’t
know why you hate business owners, especially considering you’re one yourself.
I certainly don’t know why you want to keep hating me even after seeing that we
belong together.”

“One night of beautiful romance does not mean
we belong together! I’m not some silly maiden with feathers in her head. If and
when I choose to marry it will be to a man of honor.”

Ardin, who had approached and silently
observed the fight, decided to speak. “I assure you, miss, you won’t find a
more honorable Horseman than Pace.”

She snorted and shook her head. “I can’t
expect an unbiased opinion from you, sir.”

“Why not? I taught him everything he knows, at
least about tack making,” Ardin stated. “But his honor comes from within. He
was a Fighting Carrier awarded for bravery and discharged with honors. This
past year, during the Horsemen Plague when most of us were dying, he led a
Fighting Carrier Crisis Troop. He—”

“Ardin, don’t,” Pace said, feeling rather
embarrassed. He’d never been able to handle praise well. He’d rather put his
head down and do what was necessary. His reward had always been simply in a job
well done.

“Why not? If she wants to judge you then she
should know the facts.”

“The only fact I’m certain of at the moment is
that he…he took me under false pretenses,” she said. “I’m returning to the
village. My shop should have opened hours ago.”

“I’ll fly you,” Pace said.

“No thank you.”

Ardin shook his head and approached her. “Then
please accept a ride from this old Horseman. It’s been a while since I’ve had a
pretty lady on my back.”

Gayle looked hesitant, then smiled and nodded.
“Thank you, sir.”

Sighing deeply, Pace watched Ardin kneel and
Gayle slide onto his dapple-gray back. He’d donned a harness for the journey,
probably as a precaution in the event Pace had been injured and he needed to
fly Gayle home.

Ironically, Pace
had
been injured. It’s
just that the wound didn’t show.

Why hadn’t he told her the truth last night?
If he had would it have made a difference?

* * * * *

Astride the old gray Horseman’s back, Gayle thought only of
Pace. She liked Ardin and appreciated the ride to Fernwood but she wished for
Pace between her legs instead.

She couldn’t believe he’d withheld the truth about his
identity. When she thought of all the terrible things she’d said about him—

Yet it wasn’t her fault. If he had been honest, she would
have used more tact when speaking to him.

Or perhaps not. Just because he aroused her and they shared
dreams didn’t mean he wasn’t the arrogant, greedy business owner she’d assumed
him to be.

Yet after spending time with him, looking into his eyes and
being held by him, she couldn’t believe him to be indecent or unkind.

Still he should have been honest with her. She recalled him
trying to tell her something last night before they made love but she—

Gayle shook her head, her face hot at the memory of how
she’d acted. She’d lost control of herself. If the pull between them had
overtaken her then he’d probably felt the same way.

It hadn’t been her fault she’d mistaken him for a worker.
He’d strode into her shop dirty from the forge and looking like he hadn’t had a
decent night’s sleep in weeks. He certainly hadn’t looked like a rich business
owner.

Gayle sighed and adjusted her seat on Ardin’s back. He flew
well but this ride differed greatly from when she’d sat upon Pace.

Of course Ardin didn’t arouse her and from what she’d
heard—and experienced—nothing compared to riding a dream lover.

She and Pace had been a joining of souls. Ardin was merely a
kind gent offering her an alternative to a long walk home.

“You know, Miss, I’m sure Pace had a good reason for not
telling you who he was sooner,” Ardin said.

They soared through the clear summer sky. She could scarcely
believe that last night a storm had raged across the land.

“Please don’t make excuses for him,” she said.

“I’m not. He’s a good Horseman. You just need to give him a
chance.”

“A chance to mock me again?”

“I’m sure that wasn’t his intention. I think he feared you
wouldn’t like him since he owns the forge and all.”

“I don’t think Pace is afraid of anything,” she said,
recalling how he’d flown through the storm to save her.

Still the old Horseman’s words made her think. With all the
insults she’d thrown at Pace without realizing he owned the forge and tack
shop, he wouldn’t have expected her to leap into his arms if she’d known his
true identity.

They flew in silence for several moments before she asked,
“He was a Fighting Carrier?”

“A very good one. Fast. Strong. If he hadn’t had such a keen
interest in making tack and armor, he probably would have led Gathering
Parties. Not many Fighting Carriers like staying behind and working in the
forge, which is why they send out most of their large orders. He started his
training in the Fighting Carriers though. That’s how we met. I had been one of
their few enlisted tack makers. Pace was my apprentice for two years. I retired
and opened my own shop a year before he finished fulfilling his term of
service. Afterward he worked as my apprentice for an additional two years, then
became my partner.”

“And now?”

“Pace is a wise man and a hard worker. He built up our
business and when I retired, he took over completely. Since then I’ve worked
for him part-time, helping train his apprentices.”

The way the old man spoke about Pace told her much about the
handsome palomino.

“You care about him deeply,” she observed.

“I love him like a son,” Ardin admitted. “Tell me, lass, do
you really intend to deny him, though he’s your dream lover?”

“He told you about our dreams?”

“Not in detail, if that’s what you’re concerned about.”

My dream lover.

She still couldn’t quite believe it.

“Are you?” he pressed.

“I’m thinking about it.”

“Punish him for his lie if you must but don’t do something
you’ll both regret. I know what it’s like to have a dream lover. I lost my wife
years ago. We were dream lovers. When she died, part of my soul went with her.
Not a day passes that I don’t wish I could see her again. Don’t waste the time
you and Pace have been given.”

Touched by his words, Gayle rested a hand lightly on his
man-shoulder. “I’m sorry for your loss, Ardin, but Pace and I need to learn how
to respect each other. Honesty is important to me.”

“If you seek the truth then take the time to know the real
Pace, not the man you imagined him to be.”

Gayle closed her eyes for a moment and sighed. He was right.

They circled above the Running Way just outside Fernwood’s
square. Within moments they landed and Ardin carried her to her shop. She
dismounted outside and thanked her host.

Ardin bowed from the neck and walked off, his black and gray
wings folded tightly to his equine sides.

A shadow fell from above and Gayle tilted her face skyward.
Her heart skipped a beat. Pace flew overhead. Sunlight glinted off his golden
coat and his cream-colored wings spread wide as he circled above her house.
Their gazes met and a jolt of longing tore through her. Then he flew off.

Aftermath

“I don’t believe this,” Pace murmured,
making his way through the rubble that had been the largest workshop on his
mountain. Most of his other forges and workshops had been destroyed as well,
ripped apart by last night’s storm.

His workers had arrived early that morning to help him with
repairs. One family had lost their home in the village below and Pace had
opened his house to them. Most of the structures in the village had only minor
damage but Pace’s mountaintop had been hit much harder.

When he’d seen the destruction of his buildings, Pace’s
first thought hadn’t been of what he’d lost but of Gayle and the others in the
village. He’d flown there immediately. Relieved to see that her home and shop
still stood, he could attend to his repairs without worrying about her safety.
When she’d looked up and met his gaze, he wished to land and take her in his
arms, but after how she’d reacted in the valley he thought better of it. She’d
made no motion to him. Not even a wave, so he’d flown off to inspect the rest
of the village before returning to the mountain to begin repairs.

Glancing at Ardin who walked beside him, Pace continued,
“You should have told me about the damage when we talked in the valley.”

“I didn’t have much of a chance, unless I left Gayle to walk
home.”

Pace sighed and rubbed a hand over the top of his head. “How
was she during the ride to the village?”

“Upset. You should have told her.”

“I tried but it was complicated.”

“How?”

Pace narrowed his eyes. “I don’t have to explain myself to
you.”

“All right. If you don’t want to talk about her then I’ll go
to the main forge to salvage what I can.” Ardin turned away but Pace grasped
his shoulder.

“Ardin, I appreciate what you’re trying to do. I feel guilty
enough about not telling her who I am. She’ll probably never speak to me again.
I don’t need you to tell me how wrong I was too.”

“All right. If you need me—”

“You have no idea how opinionated that woman can be. No
matter what I tried to say she thought me no better than a slaver.”

“I’m sure if she’d known who you are—”

“She wouldn’t give me a chance to slip a word in edgewise.”

“Surely she—”

“I could scarcely finish a sentence.”

“Maybe that’s because—”

“What could anger someone so much that they won’t even
listen to someone else’s point of view?”

Ardin raised an eyebrow. “Yes I wonder?”

“Well I need to get these repairs underway.” Pace again
glanced around. He’d worked hard to build this business. Now most of his
workshops lay in ruins. Yet it was only temporary. With diligent effort, the
forge and tack shop would soon be restored.

* * * * *

Later that afternoon, Gayle finished making a fresh batch of
salve and poured it into containers. Luckily the damage to the village had been
minimal. Only one family had lost their home and she had been surprised to
learn that Pace had given them refuge in his house on the mountain.

The more she listened to the villagers, the more she
realized how she’d misjudged Pace.

She placed the containers on the shelves at the same moment
a brown-coated Horseman named Curt stepped inside. Curt and his wife Ellen were
healers and cared for the people of Fernwood.

After exchanging greetings with Gayle, Curt purchased two
vials of an elixir used to cleanse wounds as well as several containers of
salve.

“I’m needed back on the mountain, so I won’t have time to
prepare any salve of my own,” he said. “We’re glad you moved to Fernwood,
Gayle. This village has needed an apothecary for quite some time.”

“What’s wrong on the mountain?” she asked, worried. “Has
there been an accident?”

“Just some minor injuries. It’s bound to happen with so many
repairs underway. Most of the buildings were leveled during the storm. The
workers as well as some of the villagers are helping Pace salvage what he can
and rebuild.”

Gayle felt a pang of guilt. She’d assumed that with minimal damage
in the village, the mountain would have held up as well, especially when she’d
heard about Pace taking people in.

She’d spent the day not only holding a grudge against Pace
for lying to her but trying to figure out a way to make up with him.

“There are no serious injuries?” she asked, worried.

“Not really. Pace and another Horseman got stuck in one of
the craft shops when the remainder of the roof collapsed—”

“What?” Gayle shouted, her stomach tight with fear.

“But they’re fine,” Curt said quickly. “Just some cuts and
bruises. Ellen is there now tending them. That’s why I need to get back with
these supplies.”

“I see. Is there anything I can do?”

“Just let me know how much for the medicine.”

“No charge. You’re sure Pace is all right?”

“I’m positive. He’s as tough as Rock Blood shells.”

That statement didn’t comfort her as he’d intended it to.
Rock Blood shells cracked with the right kind of pressure.

“How extensive is the damage up there?” she asked. “How
badly will it affect his business?”

Curt looked thoughtful. “His private forge is still standing
as well as a couple of other buildings. He’ll be able to keep up with small
orders but it’s a good thing they completed the big order for the Fighting
Carriers. It shouldn’t take too long to rebuild, especially with the villagers
helping.”

“It’s kind of them to assist him.”

“Well Pace has always been there for us. For instance a
couple of summers ago, when the river flooded the village and all the crops
were destroyed, he opened his mountain to everyone until their homes were
repaired. And he loaned the farmers enough money to buy new seed as well as
feed for the livestock.”

Hearing this increased her overpowering attraction to Pace
and made her feel even more guilty. She had badly misjudged him. Maybe he had
as much reason to be angry with her as she had with him.

“Thanks for the medicine,” Curt said.

She helped him place the containers in his saddlebags.

After Curt left, Gayle assisted another customer then closed
her shop early. She wanted to go to the mountain to make sure Pace was all
right.

Being a small village, Fernwood had a part-time messenger
who did odd jobs to make up for the lack of delivery work. Luckily for Gayle,
he happened to be home chopping wood today. The wiry, redheaded Horseman swung
his ax with precision and split a thick piece of wood down the middle.

“Brayden, will you fly me to Pace’s mountain?” she asked.

“Of course. Just give me a few minutes to finish here. If
you prefer, I’ll cool down and wash first.” Sweaty and covered in woodchips, he
no doubt offered to clean up out of courtesy for her.

“Only if you’re uncomfortable flying like that. Otherwise
I’d like to get there as soon as possible.”

He grinned and winked. “I’ll be ready in two flicks of a
tail.”

Gayle sat on a nearby tree stump. Moments later, Brayden
discarded his ax and donned his harness and saddle.

When they landed on the mountain, Gayle thanked Brayden for
the ride and paid him for his time. Several workers, Horseman and human,
plodded amongst the rubble, assessing damage and making repairs.

She noticed Ardin overseeing a small group of Horsemen and
approached. He looked surprised but pleased to see her.

“I heard Pace was injured,” she said. “Is he— Where is he?”

Smiling faintly, Ardin pointed to a stone building a short
distance away. “In his private forge, lass. He’ll be glad to see you.”

“I’m not so sure after this morning, not to mention all the
things I said about him yesterday.”

Ardin snorted. “Somehow I doubt he’ll hold that against
you.”

She hoped not.

On her way to the forge, the anticipation of seeing him
again made her heart skip a beat and weakened her legs. What if he rejected
her?

She paused outside the forge, then drew a deep breath and
stepped inside. Since everyone focused on repairs instead of filling orders
today, no fire burned, leaving the forge relatively cool. Various tools hung on
the walls and a long table stood off to one side, not far from the iron anvil.

In his half-beast form, Pace stood with his back to her
while Curt, in his Huform, bandaged a nasty gouge on his arm. Smaller cuts
marked his equine sides and back. Blood stained his golden coat and speckled
his beautiful cream-colored wings. Yet she noted with relief that by his
relaxed expression and the calm manner in which he spoke to the healer, he
didn’t seem badly hurt.

“Everyone told Darin not to go into that workshop,” Curt
said.

“He’d left behind some personal tools his father had given
him before he died.”

“He’s lucky he didn’t rejoin his father and take you with
him for that matter.”

“What was I supposed to do? Leave him in there when the roof
started falling?”

“The roof had already half fallen
before
he went in.”
Curt shook his head. “I suppose if you didn’t go get him we’d be digging out
his corpse about now. Lucky for both of you all you got are some cuts and
bruises.”

“I told him we could have dug the tools out later…” Pace
began, but his voice trailed off as he glanced over his shoulder and caught
sight of Gayle. Their gazes met and again her heart skipped a beat.

“Hello,” she said almost shyly.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, though not unkindly.

“Gayle, if I’d known you were coming here I’d have given you
a ride,” Curt said.

“It was a little unexpected,” she replied, still staring at
Pace.

“Yes it is,” he said, a faint smile on his lips.

“I’m finished with your arm,” Curt said. “I know this advice
will be wasted on you but try not to tear the stitches or aggravate the wound
too much for a day or two. If you shift shape a few times, it will help speed
the healing process.”

“Thanks, Curt.”

“Not a problem. I’m going to see if anyone else needs help
before Ellen and I leave the mountain. If you need us again, just send word.”

Curt nodded to Gayle on his way out of the forge.

Alone, Gayle and Pace stared at each other for a moment before
he approached, flicking his tail. His expressive Horseman ears, long and
pointed at the tips, twitched a bit. Though his smile had faded, the intense
expression in his eyes hadn’t.

“What are you doing here?” he repeated, his voice softer and
huskier than before.

“I heard you were injured.”

“It’s nothing. Just a few scrapes.”

She stretched a tentative hand toward his equine shoulder
and trailed a fingertip lightly over a long scratch.

“So you’re speaking to me now?” he asked.

“Do you prefer I don’t?” she demanded.

“That depends. Do you have any more insults for me?”

“You might not have heard so many to begin with if you
hadn’t pretended to be someone else.”

He looked a bit sheepish and gazed at her through his thick,
dark gold lashes. Then he shook his head and smiled. “I can’t argue with that.
Do you think we could start over?”

“Yes.” She smiled. “I’d like that very much.”

“Good.” He drew her into his arms and bent to kiss her then
stopped and held her at arm’s length. “I’m filthy. I’ll get dirt all over you.”

“You Horsemen. Always worried about offending a lady,” she
teased, standing on tiptoe and sliding her arms around him.

He cupped her face and covered her mouth in a tender kiss.

When it broke, he gently stroked her cheek. “I wish I could
take you somewhere and make love to you right now.”

“There’s too much work to do,” she said. “I closed my shop
for today. How can I help around here?”

“You want to help?”

“Yes. Pace, I didn’t know about the damage up here or I’d
have come sooner.”

The warmth in his eyes melted into her. For several
heartbeats they stared at each other, then he hugged her close to his warm,
hard chest. It was a bit damp with sweat and the soft, curling hairs dusting it
tickled her cheek. His wonderful scent filled her with every breath. She closed
her eyes and tightened her grip on him, then all too soon they released each
other.

Work needed to be done but later they would share some time
alone.

* * * * *

Gayle spent the rest of the day on the mountain. She and the
wives of several of Pace’s workers helped clear the rubble, tended minor
injuries and saw that everyone had enough food and water while they worked.

Long after dark Gayle sat with Ardin by the fire in the
great room of his and Pace’s home. Despite its size, the stone house had a
warmth that reflected its masters’ personalities. The wooden furniture was
elegant yet comfortable. She especially liked the soothing, forest-colored
tapestries on the walls. She imagined sitting by the large stone fireplace,
Pace by her side and their children playing on the green and brown rope carpet.
Now that they’d overcome their first argument, she knew all would be well
between them. Not that they wouldn’t argue again. With both their stubborn
natures, she knew they’d lock proverbial horns many times in the future. Yet
after surrendering to their shared dreams and by the way they’d worked together
today, she knew in her heart they were a perfect match.

The family staying with Pace had already retired to their
room and the master of the mountain had yet to return. Ardin rose from his
chair and stretched. The fire had nearly died down and no doubt he was
exhausted after such a busy day. Though tired as well, Gayle wanted to see Pace
before going to sleep. Ardin had offered her a guest room but she hoped her
dream lover would suggest a different arrangement.

“I’m going to sleep,” Ardin said. “Would you like me to add
another log to the fire?”

“No thank you. It’s a warm night.”