Free Kate Sherwood - Dark Horse 2.4 - The Filly by Kate Sherwood Page A

have to figure it out on his own.
Evan nods Brian in the direction of an armchair, and sits down on
the couch opposite. Dan thinks that maybe refreshments should be offered, but it's not his house, so it's not his call. He sits down on the couch next to

The Filly | Kate Sherwood
    Evan, and waits.
Well, he doesn't wait long, because, damn, this is awkward. "So,
you're still on for RamTap next weekend, right?" Brian is one of their
travel grooms, in addition to helping out around the barn.
"Yeah, absolutely." Brian seems almost pathetically glad to have
something to say, but then it's like a floodgate's been opened, and he can't
stop. "I mean, I'm really looking forward to it. I've been there a few times
to watch, but, you know, it'll be a lot more intense to actually be part of it.
And, you know, maybe someday I'll be able to show there." He catches
himself. "Not on your horses, I didn't mean. I mean, obviously your horses
would be great, that'd be fantastic… for me, but of course you've got better
riders, lots of people who deserve it more, I just meant someday, you
know. If I keep working in this area. Which is something that I absolutely
want to do." His eyes are wide, as if he realizes that he's talking too much
but can't seem to control himself. He stares at Evan. "Not that I want to
keep being just a groom forever. I mean, you know, not that there's
anything wrong with being a groom. But I'd like to do something else,
too." He gulps. "Dan's been talking to me, he says it might not be worth it
to go to college for just equestrian stuff, but my marks are good, I could…
I don't know, maybe business, or I was thinking about being a vet; I like
biology, but not chemistry so much, but, you know, I do fine, I could…
well, if it's for something I want, I can just buckle down and do it, right?"
He stops. His hands are gripping the seams of his grey dress pants, pulling
on them so hard Dan's afraid they might rip.
On the plus side, there was a lot of information in that little speech,
and Evan's never been one to let knowledge pass him by, so he's
distracted, at least a little. "What's wrong with chemistry?" It's not quite
conversational, but it doesn't sound like an interrogation, either, so Dan's
going to call it a win.
Brian still looks wide-eyed. "Uh, nothing. I mean, I do like it, just

The Filly | Kate Sherwood
not as much as biology. But chemistry's fine. It's good." He stops himself, and Dan smiles in what he hopes is an encouraging way.
    "I told him that if he wants to make a living coaching or training, he needs to get a reputation built up, and going to school won't really help with that." Evan turns his head enough to look at Dan while he's talking, so Dan keeps going. "But he's got enough sense to know that going to school for something is probably a good idea, so he's looking around a little."
    Evan nods cautiously, and then Brian's eyes shift from staring at them on the couch to staring at something behind them, and Dan and Evan both turn to follow his gaze.
    Tatiana is standing in the doorway, Jeff hovering behind her. Dan's used to seeing the sweatshirt-wearing barn rat, hair pulled back in a ponytail, face often covered in dirt or sweat. He barely recognizes her. She's wearing makeup, and a silvery-pink dress, and Dan doesn't know fashion, doesn't know the words to describe it, but it makes him think of Audrey Hepburn, or some other old-time star. She's smiling shyly, looking for approval, and it stings a little, because she's not looking at Dan, nor at Evan… she's peeking out at Brian to get his reaction. Dan has a burst of irritation towards this upstart, this punk kid who thinks he's good enough to come cruising into Tat's life and replace people who've cared about her… Dan catches himself. He's got a new understanding of Evan's behavior, and thinks the guy pretty much deserves a medal for allowing Brian into the house at all.
    Brian looks like he's having a little trouble moving, and it helps Dan to