MountainStallion (3 page)

According to legend, if a Horseman and a human woman shared
dreams, they were fated to be together. Dream sharing supposedly joined couples
who were able to procreate, since conceiving a child with a Horseman, despite
their extreme virility, often proved difficult.

“It’s hard to adequately describe the experience,” Ardin
continued. “Shared dreams aren’t just intense, they’re…real. Every word, touch
and sensation is exactly as it would be in reality. It’s hard for me to put it
into words—”

“No. I understand,” Pace said softly.

Ardin’s brow furrowed. “Have you had a shared dream?”

“I think so. Possibly. Maybe.”

“When?”

“Tonight when I fell asleep by the lake. But it can’t be.”

Leaning a bit closer, Ardin smiled slightly. “Why not? If it
was a shared dream—and believe me you’d know it—then you’ve been blessed.”

“Blessed to share dreams with a woman who thinks I’m a
greedy, slave-driving swine?”

Ardin looked truly shocked. “You, a greedy swine? There’s
got to be a mistake.”

“I notice you omitted slave-driving.”

“Well, Pace, you’re not exactly an easy taskmaster, though
you’re far harder on yourself than you are on any of your workers.”

“I pay them well,” Pace said in self-defense.

“You pay very well,” Ardin admitted. “Pace, who is this
woman?”

“She owns the apothecary shop. Gayle.”

Ardin’s smile broadened. “Ah. I said she’s a sweet lady.”

“Lady, yes, but sweet?” Pace snorted. He stood and strode
back and forth in front of the fire. Just thinking about her roused his temper
and his desire. That combination of feelings unsettled him.

“What happened between the two of you?”

Pace lifted an eyebrow. “You mean in the dream?”

“No not in the dream! What happened to make her think you’re
an ogre?”

Shaking his head, Pace sighed. He ran a hand through his
hair then recounted the meeting with Gayle at her shop.

As he spoke, Ardin sat back in his chair, his brow knitted
in thought.

“Sounds to me like she’s mistaking you for her father. It
must have been difficult for a sensitive woman like that to grow up in the
shadow of a boar.”

Pace curled his lip. “Sensitive? She’s one of the most
outspoken wenches I’ve ever had the displeasure of meeting.”

Yet when they’d made love in the dream, she had been tender
and almost vulnerable. Recalling the innocence and passion in her large brown
eyes, he felt a pang of emotion unlike anything he’d ever experienced before.

“Displeasure? The gleam in your eyes indicates otherwise,”
Ardin said. “If it was a shared dream, there will be others and they’ll keep
coming until you join with her.”

“It’s said the dreams can be denied.”

Ardin’s smile faded. “Denying shared dreams is painful. Do
you really dislike her so much that you want to deny her?”

“I don’t dislike her at all,” he admitted. “I just don’t
know if it can work between us.”

“Pace, listen to me.” Ardin stood and grasped Pace’s
shoulders. He stared hard at the younger Horseman. “You haven’t given her a
chance to know
you
. Even with shared dreams, you have to take the time
to get to know each other and be honest. I’ve met her several times and I
believe she’s a good woman who truly cares about others. I’ve known you for over
ten years. You’re kind, hardworking, courageous and generous. Give her a chance
to learn what I already know.” Ardin clapped Pace’s shoulders, then turned
away. “I’m going to bed. Sleep well—or maybe it’s better if you don’t sleep
well. Another shared dream might knock some sense into you.”

“Good night, Ardin.”

Pace sat again and watched the flames, pondering Ardin’s
words and thinking about Gayle until he could scarcely keep his eyes open. Then
he went upstairs and stretched out on his bed. Wind screamed outside and rain
pelted the rooftop. A flash of lightning illuminated the room. The weather had
become quite fierce, yet storms always seemed worse up on the mountain.

Pace closed his eyes. His breathing deepened and within
moments he fell asleep.

* * * * *

Pace could scarcely see through the blinding wind and rain.
The powerful gusts made flying difficult, even for a Horseman with his
strength. During his time as a Fighting Carrier, he had flown through dangerous
weather, often in the dead of winter. This was one of the most violent storms
he’d ever seen. Worst of all, he didn’t know his location.

A blast of wind sent him into a somersault. His heart
pounding, he righted his position.

This must be another shared dream, either that or he
suffered from amnesia, for he had no recollection of leaving on this trip.

Through a moment of calm in the storm he saw a familiar
valley below. Fernwood village wasn’t far. He merely had to turn around and—

Wait!

Was that a person in the field below?

He dipped lower and squinted, straining to see through the
rain. A small figure fought the powerful winds tearing through the tall grass.
The person’s hood blew off, revealing a wealth of chestnut hair.

Of course! This was another shared dream.

Lightning struck the ground in front of Gayle and she jumped
in fear, tripped and fell onto the wet grass. A large branch snapped off a tree
and struck the ground near her.

Pace’s heart nearly stopped beating. If the branch had
struck her, she’d have been killed!

He beat his wings hard and swooped toward her, no longer
concerned about his safety or whether or not this was a dream. He
had
to
help her!

As he descended, Gayle glanced skyward. Their gazes met and
he reached for her—

* * * * *

Pace awoke gasping. His heart pounded as if he truly had
been flying through the storm.

Outside the wind shrieked, thunder clapped and flashes of
lightning streaked the sky.

He jumped out of bed and raced out of his bedroom. Gayle was
in danger. He
knew
she was trapped in the valley. Fear then
determination filled him. He pounded on Ardin’s door and didn’t wait for a
reply before bursting in.

“What is it?” Ardin asked, stumbling out of bed, his long
gray hair disheveled.

“Another dream. Gayle is in danger. She’s in the valley. I
have to get her.”

“Now?” Ardin glanced out the window. “It’s a hurricane out
there.”

“Then I truly have no choice.”

His gaze locked briefly with the older Horseman’s and Ardin
nodded. “You’re right. Go get her, boy. I can go with you—”

“No. Thank you but I need to move—”

“Faster than these old wings can fly. I understand. Be
careful and good luck.”

Pace nodded and hurried to the great room where he donned
his saddle. He always kept the bags ready for a journey. After a moment’s
hesitation, he slid on his harness, which he rarely used since leaving the
Fighting Carriers. In those days he’d almost always traveled with a Gatherer
but since leaving he carried humans only on occasion, usually the village
children who enjoyed riding.

No sooner had he stepped outside than wind and rain struck him
with the same force as in his dream. He made his way down the forest path to
the Running Way where he galloped for takeoff.

In the sky, it took him a moment to gain his bearings.
Random flashes of lightning, illuminated the otherwise dark night. He fought
the raging wind until he circled above the valley, all the while hoping no
telltale funnel clouds appeared.

Then he saw her lying on the grass.

He swooped down, landed near her and dropped to his equine
knees.

“Gayle,” he said, rolling her toward him and wiping drenched
tendrils of hair from her face.

Her eyes opened and focused on him.

“Pace,” she said, her voice quivering. She reached for him
and he held her tightly for a moment.

“We need to find shelter,” he said and squinted skyward. The
storm had worsened. He knew he wouldn’t get far in such strong winds. He swept
her into his arms and stood. “Can you ride?”

“Yes.”

He walked to a nearby tree stump and placed her on it so she
could mount easily. She swung onto his back and sat in the saddle like an experienced
rider.

Grasping the handles on his harness, she said, “I’m ready.”

He cantered across the valley and headed for the caves where
they could safely wait out the storm.

Nothing could describe the sensation of carrying her on his
back. Many people had ridden him in his lifetime, but never his dream mate.

They finally reached the caves and she dismounted. Pace had
to duck to enter and remain crouched by the cave mouth while Gayle removed a
small oil lamp from her waist pack. It took her a moment to light it. The lamp
brightened their way down a narrow, rocky corridor that opened into a room
where Pace could comfortably stand, even wearing his beast-half.

“Are you hurt?” he asked, lightly caressing her cheek. She
looked so lovely, standing there soaked to the skin, her chestnut hair clinging
to her face and neck.

“No. I think I fainted after I slipped on the grass. I don’t
think I hit my head. I just…” She paused, looking embarrassed.

“What is it?” he asked, gently cupping her face and gazing
into her eyes.

“I was afraid of being alone out here in the storm. When I
was a child I got lost in a storm. I know it’s silly to still be afraid but—”

“It’s not silly. I’m glad I found you. What are you doing
out here anyway?”

“You bought my last jar of salve and I know Horsemen will be
needing more, so I wanted to gather the herbs required to have some ready for
tomorrow. I’ve been so busy at my shop that after I closed I fell asleep by the
fire. I didn’t intend to but—”

“And you worry about others working too hard?”

“Yes but this is
my
choice and I reap the rewards. I
don’t expect others to toil so that I can take all the profit. Anyway when I
woke it was still light out and I thought I could make it to the valley and
back before dark. Then the storm came and— It was a shared dream, wasn’t it?”
she whispered, her large brown eyes reflecting his beguilement. “Both of them?”
A faint but charming blush rose in her cheeks.

Pace’s chest swelled as he drew a deep breath. So many
emotions rolled through him, much like the storm rolled through the
countryside.

“Was your first dream by the lake?”

She nodded. “You were lying in the grass and I walked to
you. Then we—”

“Yes I’d say it was a shared dream,” he said more gruffly
than he’d intended. Gayle didn’t seem to mind. By the look in her eyes, she
knew exactly how he felt.

“I’ve heard about Horsemen’s shared dreams but I never
imagined I’d experience one,” she murmured.

“Me either,” he admitted.

Her gaze traveled over his man-chest and drifted to his
beast-half. “I’m not hurt but you are.”

Glancing down, he noticed that his torso and beast body had
been lashed bloody in places.

“It’s probably from the tree branches when I cut through the
forest to reach the Running Way,” he said. “I didn’t even notice. All I could
think about was getting to you.”

She stared at him, emotion gleaming in her beautiful brown
eyes. “Thank you, Pace. You saved my life.”

Smiling faintly, he caressed her cheek. “You’re a strong
lady. I think you’d have made it.”

“I don’t feel very strong. To be honest, I’m still scared to
death.”

Pace drew her into his arms and she clung to him tightly.
When she stepped away she dragged the back of her hand across her eyes. Seeing
her weep tugged at his heart, but when he reached for her again she shook her
head and said, “First things first. Let me clean those wounds.”

The injuries were minor but he couldn’t refuse such a
beautiful nurse. She rummaged through her waist pack and removed a vial of
strong-scented liquid and a soft white cloth.

He stood still while she washed the scratches with the
liquid. It stung but he didn’t flinch. He stared, captivated, as her small,
deft hands moved over his body. Once she finished with the liquid, she took
salve from her pack and applied it to his wounds. She cared for his beast-half first,
using her fingertips to spread the salve over the slashes on his equine rump
and sides. Her hand strayed over him, gently caressing uninjured areas, then
she paused as if stunned by her forwardness.

“I’m sorry. One shouldn’t stroke a Horseman without asking
first.”

Common courtesy suggested that Horsemen should not be
treated like true horses.

He smiled, wondering if that simple gesture captured the
warmth he felt for her. “We’ve shared dreams. I think that gives us the right
to forgo protocol.”

Giggling, she continued applying the salve and said, “You
make it sound so official.”

“With any luck, it will be.”

Their gazes locked and she looked as stunned as he felt.
Official. They had just met, yet the shared dreams meant they were
compatible—destined mates.

Earlier he’d considered denying the dreams. Now that he and
Gayle had reunited, he had no desire to avoid her. Even if he’d wanted to, he
doubted he could. The pull between them was that strong.

Finally she turned away and continued her work.

Pace’s eyes slipped shut as she smoothed the salve over his
man-chest. Her fingertips trailed over his belly and the muscles quivered and
rippled beneath her touch.

She finished caring for his injuries, yet her salve-slicked
hands continued stroking him. They roamed lightly over his ribs and caressed
his chest in circular motions that both soothed and stirred him.

“You have a gentle touch,” he said, his voice just above a
whisper.

“If you want I can give you a rubdown. It’s the least I can
do after you braved the storm to rescue me.”

His eyes snapped open and he drew a deep breath. Excitement
coursed through him at the thought of her massaging him all over. Horsemen
loved rubdowns, which explained why quality grooms made a good living. However
being rubbed down by a professional wasn’t nearly as fun—or erotic—as being
caressed by a lover.