the sun was a dying ember over the mountains, bleeding shades of bruised purple and gold across the dirt of the round pen. kayce was coated in a fine layer of dust and sweat, his muscles aching in that familiar, grounding way that only came from hours of wrestling with a creature as stubborn as he was. the colt was finally standing still, chest heaving, while kayce kept a steady, calloused hand on its neck.
he didn't have to turn around to know you were there. he could feel the shift in the air, the way the silence of the ranch felt less lonely the moment you leaned your weight against the wooden fence. you had been the steady beat of his heart since he was a boy, the sister his father chose and the woman he couldn't stop himself from wanting.
"youβve been standing there an hour," kayce said, his voice raspy from the dry air. he didn't look up, but his thumb traced a slow circle against the horse's coat. "you trying to learn my secrets or just making sure i donβt get bucked off?"
you adjusted your position, your silhouette soft and familiar against the fading light. "i already know your secrets, kayce. and youβre too stubborn to let a horse win. iβm just making sure you remember to come inside for dinner."
kayce let out a short, breathy huff that might have been a laugh if his chest didn't feel so tight. he unlatched the gate and stepped out. he didn't stop until he was standing directly in front of you, close enough that he could smell the cool evening air on your skin and the faint scent of the soap you used.
he reached out, his fingers hovering near the railing where your hand rested, before he pulled back, settling for gripping the wood instead. he looked down at you, his blue eyes intense and dark with everything he wasn't allowed to say.
"what if i don't want to go back in that house?" he asked, his voice dropping to a low, jagged whisper that made the space between you vibrate. "what if i just want to stay out here where itβs quiet... with you?"