Free Tethered (The Stables Trilogy #2) by Penny Lam Page B

patted Eden’s cheek. The pony girl leaned into it.
     
    Forgiven.
     
    Now it was time to face J.B. He was sitting at the desk he kept in the stable. Standing behind him, she waited.
     
    And he didn’t hesitate to make her wait. For a long time she stood silently, watching him read through papers and jot down notes. Finally, when her feet felt like she was hovering on pins from inactivity, he turned his attention to her. “What’s going on tonight?”
     
    Her eyes opened wide. She’d expected him to launch into her. Berate her in front of all the pony girls. Scold her and humiliate her.
     
    Normally, she’d want that. The sick part of her that enjoyed being shamed would be shouting for joy. But this time her screw ups weren’t because she felt defiant or wanted to provoke him. They was because she was worried.
     
    “I don’t think Bonnie is feeling well.” Her voice cracked as she said it. Her throat was tight, trying to hold the tears in.
     
    He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “Why do you think that?”
     
    “I took her on a small ride with Raúl, and she stumbled. When I took her in for the night it just felt… different.”
     
    “She’s old, maybe she just can’t be ridden anymore.”
     
    Maple sighed. He was saying all the things she’d been telling herself to make it better. It didn’t feel better. “I know. It just feels like maybe there’s more to it.” It sounded dumb as she said it. Maple couldn’t help feeling young and scared. In need of a hug and someone to say it would be okay.
     
    She was talking to the wrong person for that.
     
    “Okay. I reckon I better get a vet out here, then.”
     
    She nodded, unable to speak. J.B. was listening to her. It was all she could ask for, really. The aching need for comfort would just have to be found elsewhere.
     
    “Finish up here, tonight. We’ve got the auction in a couple of days.”
     
    This startled her. “So soon?”
     
    “Yep. The ponies are as ready as they’ll ever be. It’s you who needs training now.”
     
    Despite all her worries, this elicited a shudder. “W-what do you mean?”
     
    “I mean I need you to learn how to dress them quick and walk them around so they look good. The buyers who come look at the merchandise at all times, Maple, not just when I’m showing them. So you’ll need to learn quick, because I’ll be counting on you.”
     
    “I pick up things fast,” she said, hoping to reassure him. When he’d praised her for being comfortable in the stable it had pleased her. She wanted him to trust her with this, too.
     
    The look on his face said otherwise. “You don’t think I’ll learn it on time?”
     
    “No, I do--” he frowned, choosing his words. “But I don’t trust you right now.”
     
    “Why?” Maple didn’t mean to question it-- the thought of being with J.B. was enticing enough, and Lord knew she was curious about the auction. But this was a part of his business J.B. guarded intensely. The fact that he shared this business with her was startling enough. When he’d told her she’d be coming, it had been a shock. Now it felt as if he was doubting that decision.
     
    The corners of his mouth tugged down. She thought maybe she knew.
     
    “Because of Bane?”
     
    He didn’t answer.
     
    “Because I don’t obey orders,” she expanded, sounding defeated.
     
    Of course. As she said it, she could feel the strokes of the switch again. Hear the song of it as it whistled through the air before cracking onto her soft flesh.
     
    “Finish up here,” was all he said before getting up and walking out of the barn.
     
    Which of course left her too much time as she worked to think about the auction, the pony girls, J.B. and all his frustratingly sealed layers, and of course…
     
    She worried about Bonnie.
     

     
    Maple was in the stable when the vet showed up.
     
    She tried to pay attention to her job. Mucking wasn’t mentally demanding, but it was a lot of work