2. Holden
HOLDEN
Two hours later the storm is coming in hard and fast. This place is normally bustling with people, animals, and gossip. But with the wind whipping everything in sight, nearly everyone is inside taking cover.
Meanwhile, I got word from my brother Bowen that a pack of dumbass sheep broke out of the barn. It seems that all my brothers are conveniently hunkered down with their wives. So as the only remaining single brother in the Kingridge pack, it’s my job to go find the little assholes.
I won’t lie, I thought about refusing. I’m sick of being assigned all the grunt work just because I can’t figure out a relationship.
But in the end, I didn’t have it in me to let the sheep get sucked up like the Wicked Witch in the Wizard of Oz. So I’ve been wrangling them into the barn one at a time. Now I’m walking the back forty of our property to make sure there aren’t any more missing animals.
We’ve got a goat named Thrusty who loves making a break for it. Up here we’ve got a cow named Rump Roast who can’t hardly be bothered to come out of the barn even in nice weather. Then of course Choke the Chicken, but he seems to be in his roost.
It’s a good thing too. With the way the weather is turning on me, I know it’s time to get myself inside and wait this thing out. So much for our annual Fourth of July fireworks show.
Worst part is, these animals ain’t sticking to the path.
Can’t get my truck up here so I’m tackling the path on foot.
I’ve got to keep a hand on my hat in this wind to keep it from being blown away.
I expect to dodge the odd piece of siding flying towards me, but I don’t expect to see her when I round the bend.
I have to blink to make sure I’m not imagining things. But sure enough, when I look in the distance I see Priya’s sister, Zara. All of a sudden I’m not so mad about being out here.
Bowen showed me a few pictures on social media so I knew she’d be attractive. But nothing could have prepared me for the way Zara made my jaw drop earlier. It was like something from a damn movie. It’s no wonder she’s got millions of followers. The woman is magnetic.
Even now in the middle of what might be the worst July storm we’ve seen in years, she’s like a vision.
Zara stands peacefully against the split rail with her long dark hair whipping across her face.
The long tendrils drape down her back and her curves are heart stopping, even from here. For a moment, I’m mesmerized.
Then a tree branch snaps and it brings me back to the present.
Zara looks towards the sound too. But instead of moving, she repositions her camera.
She’s holding her phone out toward the highland cattle pasture like she’s on some kind of scenic tour.
I head toward her and watch Zara navigate the fenceline in, what have to be, the most impractical shoes ever made for walking on a ranch.
"Are you shitting me right now?” I call out, half to her, half just out of shock.
She turns at the sound of my voice. Even from thirty yards away, I can see her face light up with that megawatt smile. It sends heat rippling through me.
“Those strappy red heels aren’t known for their agility. You’re sinking into the ground with every step and we haven’t even seen rain yet. But I’d bet it’s coming. You need to get inside.”
She responds with an enthusiastic wave. “Right! We never get weather like this. It’s so cool. “Holden, you should be in the photo with me. A mysterious real life rancher. Come on, that’s such a fun storyline.”
On cue, lightning and thunder roll overhead. The sound is closer this time. I can see the sheets of rain marching across the valley toward us. We've got maybe ten minutes before this place turns into a muddy disaster zone, and she's out there posing like she's shooting a magazine spread.
I grab my hat and jog after her, dodging the first few fat raindrops. "Zara, let’s go. This ain’t the city sweetheart. What the hell are you doing?” I close the distance between us, trying not to notice how those tiny shorts she's wearing show off legs that go on for miles.
"Consider me on it, cowboy. I’m almost done here." She waves a dismissive hand in my direction like she isn’t having to shout above the wind. Then she turns back to her phone and angles for another shot with the cattle.
She finally looks up from her phone and I get a real look at her face. She’s beautiful, but it's not the polished, photo-ready beauty I saw earlier. There's something genuine in her dark eyes. It’s a sincerity I don’t expect.
"I’m heading inside in a second. In fact, I was on my way to my sister’s cottage but I couldn’t remember which direction it was since everything on this ranch looks the same.
Then I saw the cows and had to come say hi.
Why are they out in this weather? Their barn is open.
They should head in. Then I thought, I should head in.
Which is what I was doing until this wind started giving me full Beyonce vibes in my photos.
From there it was a slippery slope. My followers aren’t going to believe this. ”
I let out a chuckle. “They should be inside? We should be inside. Let’s go. It’s gonna be a whole lot more than a slippery slope if we don’t wait this out inside.”
A flash of lightning illuminates the sky above us and the bolt stays visible for far too long for my liking. Lightning flashes in the distance, and I count in my mind.
“One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi…” Zara counts.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“Counting to see how?—”
Boom.
Thunder echoes above us. The cracking sound is so loud overhead that Zara jumps. Another lightning flash comes in. It’s closer this time. The thunder comes almost immediately. Even our cattle make their way toward the barn.
“You don’t need to count! Use your eyes sweetheart, it’s time to get out of here.”
Zara drops her phone and her eyes widen. “Yeah, okay, maybe we should head in now.”
We take a single step away from the split rail and the sky opens up. There’s nothing gradual about the combination of raindrops and wind. Debris scatters around us and I put an arm up to shield Zara from the spiral of chaos.
"Holy shit!" Zara shrieks, immediately soaked through. "This is insane!”
"Welcome to Texas," I shout over the roar of wind whipping past us.
I’ve got to get her out of here.
Without another word, I grab her hand. It sizzles in mine, but she doesn’t tug away. I pull Zara up the gravel road toward my place. Even in the chaos of this weather I don’t miss the way her hand fits mine like a glove.
“We aren’t gonna make it all the way up to Priya and Bowen’s place. My cottage is just up here. We can wait it out there.”
“Okay, I think that’s a good idea.” She’s yelling, but I can hardly hear her.
I tuck her body behind mine as we walk, but I’m already too late.
There’s just enough rain to turn the soil into red clay.
It’s muddy and treacherous. But the lightning is the real problem and it’s putting on a full show.
Even worse, those ridiculous heels of hers are sinking into the earth with every step.
"Holden, I can't—" she starts.
I turn back just in time to see her lose her footing entirely.
In a flash, Zara pitches forward into me.
I spring into action on auto-pilot. My arms go around her waist automatically to steady her like saving her is the most important thing in the world.
Something in the air shifts. My breath catches in my throat.
A metal shingle from the roof of a goat pen whips past us. Her breath comes fast. Her chest rises and falls as she clings to me. I don’t know whether she’s scared or if Zara feels the whole world shift too. She pauses for a moment, completely still in my arms.
“Hey, I’ve got you.” I keep her still and feel the thud of her heart against my chest.
She looks up at me. “Holden, I believe you.” Her gold flecked eyes widen with shock and something else, too.
We're pressed together and both soaked to the skin. All I want is to put my mouth on hers. To run my hands across her curves and claim her. But that’s insane and this certainly isn't the time.
In the distance, I can see the lights of my cottage flicker once, twice, and then go dark completely as the power fails.
“Shit, the power's out. Let’s get up there.”
“Okay, hold on.” She leans down and unbuckles her shoes. “I’m not gonna make it in these.”
“You aren’t gonna make it across that gravel without them.”
“I guess we’ll have to find out.” She lets out a laugh despite being completely out of her element. She walks barefoot with wet hair and black eye makeup running down her cheeks.
This is a whole new side of Zara and I can’t look away.
“Come on, cowboy. What are you waiting for?” She takes a few gentle steps.
I shake my head and bite back a laugh. “That’s it, get on my back sweetheart. I’m taking you home.”