SWAT Ed: Fox & Bull (Nothing Special 8)

“Don’t pay any attention to them,” Fox soothed as Diablo bumped their foreheads together. “It’s just me and you going for a walk. No one will touch you or even look at you funny, or else.” This time when Fox moved, Diablo stayed on his heel.

“What are you doing?” Shannon hissed as Fox unlatched the gate, keeping a firm hold on Diablo’s lead in case he tried to bolt. Then he guessed he’d just hold on for the ride and hope it didn’t take the wranglers long to rope him in.

“Be quiet and move out of my way, please. There’s special hay over there, and he’s gonna eat some of it,” Fox said to her in the same comforting voice he used with Diablo so he didn’t get frightened.

“I can bring him some to his sta—” Her argument was cut off when Garvin inched her out of the way and allowed them through the gate.

Fox didn’t glance around to see where Bull was or if the other trainers were rounding up cowboys in case Diablo went crazy. Instead, he kept his focus on him as they walked so closely beside each other it felt as if Diablo was leaning on him. They were almost at the vast east paddock—and Diablo never once jumped at a customer or at any of the curious animals—when Fox noticed the other two horses that’d been inside were gone.

“Hey,” Fox reassured. “They’ll all see how cool you are soon enough, and they’ll be trampling over each other to have dinner beside you. But right now… they just don’t know ya.”

Fox led Diablo farther into the field where several large batches of hay had been scattered about. “Remember I said my father moved us around a lot. I was a military brat. So, I was always the new guy in class. I was short, skinny, and way too damn smart. Kids thought I was weird, so they stayed away. But I used it all to my advantage. Like you will.” A grin tugged at his lips when Diablo dipped his nose into the hay and began to chow down.

“Bull! Get out here.” Dale ran into the storage unit, where they were stacking more bales of hay to keep up with the influx of business, and skidded to a comical stop in front of him. “Hurry up or you’ll miss it.”

Bull stood and stretched his back, sucking his teeth at Dale’s interruption. He wanted to get the evening chores done as fast as possible because he had special plans for Fox tonight. Also, Bull was sure Dale was stopping their progress for nothing since it didn’t take much to entertain him. If a peacock spread his feathers extra wide, or if two chickens started fighting, Dale would whoop louder than the damn grade school kids.

“Come on, man,” Bull grumbled when he stepped outside into the darkening afternoon, their daylight hours ticking away. He noticed that Dale wasn’t the only one who’d stopped working. “Guys. We can’t leave this hay out to get wet over—”

“Shhh,” Dale hissed. “Listen to that. Silence on a fuckin’ ranch.”

Both hay hooks fell from Bull’s gloved hand as he watched the sexiest man he’d ever met walk his Arabian—his second favorite horse—across the property with a confidence that had people moving out of his way. Not only did Diablo have a blanket on, but also a head collar and lead. Bull could tell from where he stood that the lead rein was loose, but Fox had complete control. Customers moved to the side, and even the animals practically bowed as Diablo walked with his head high.

Jesus. Bull was speechless, and he was certainly breathless. It was a sight every cowboy dreamed of. Fox had taken this chance all so Diablo could eat where the rest of the horses did and run and receive the same amount of attention as the others. It was no secret that Fox disliked Diablo’s routine and his limited access around the ranch. And Bull guessed Fox had finally had enough.

He and Diablo were practically leaning together as if they were both apprehensive, but if they stuck close to each other, they’d make it through okay. And Bull’s heart burst wide open.

“Oh man. You are in big trouble,” Dale said from beside him, staring at Fox and Diablo with their heads touching.

Bull took out his phone, zoomed in as far as he could, and snapped the picture. If what he and Fox were starting didn’t last… at least he’d always have this memory.

For an entire week, Fox went to Diablo’s pen an hour before suppertime when most of the other horses were already being led back to their stalls, and led him around the ranch, letting him smell and even interact with some of the other animals. It was as if the horse could do anything, go anywhere, with Fox by his side… keeping him safe. Bull supposed it was the lieutenant’s strong aura that made one feel it was okay to drop their guard around him.