“I don’t care for whips. And Max, the walker I bought, he can’t stand the sight of them.” He nipped the bag away before the colt could investigate the contents. “You out for a walk this morning, Mrs. Templeton?”

“I could use that for an excuse. But I imagine we both know I wanted to speak with you.”

“Yeah, I figured you or your husband would come down.” And he’d prepped himself for it. “You’re going to have to talk while I work. My stock need some exercise.”

“All right.” She went with him as he walked out of the paddock and into the stables. “Laura tells me you’re giving the girls riding lessons.”

“Just a few basics. I’ve got some quiet saddle ponies.”

“I was treated to a dissertation on Mr. Fury and his horses over breakfast this morning. You’ve made quite an impression on my granddaughters. Let me help you,” she said, taking the bridle of one of the horses he’d begun to lead out. “And you’ve made an impression on my daughter as well.”

“She’s a beautiful woman.”

“Yes, she is. And she’s been through hell. In many ways it’s made her stronger. But she’s vulnerable, Michael, and more easily bruised than either you or she might realize.”

“You want me to promise not to hurt her.” He stepped back as the horses trotted into the paddock. “I can’t do that.”

“No, you wouldn’t do that. As I recall, even as a boy you were careful not to make promises.”

“You don’t make, you don’t break,” he said simply and went back to the stables.

“You had a difficult childhood,” she began, then broke off, raising her eyebrows, when his head whipped around.

“I don’t believe in blaming what is on what was. I imagine you had a dandy childhood. Is that responsible for everything you are?”

She nodded slowly as he led out the next horses. “Well put,” she murmured. “No, I wouldn’t like to think so, but it did give me a solid foundation to build on.”

“And mine’s shaky.” Though he’d told himself he wouldn’t allow it, the bitterness came through. “You don’t have to tell me where I come from, Mrs. Templeton. I know.”

She stopped him by reaching up, closing her hand over his. “That wasn’t a criticism. I’m not blind, Michael, and I don’t like to think I’m narrow-minded either. I can see you’re building something here. And I know why you left your childhood behind before anyone should have to.”