Chapter 8 #2
“Neither do you, Cowboy,” she fires back.
The corners of my mouth turn upwards, though I try to fight it. “Good to see you’ve still got some fire in you, Tequila.” My eyes dart to the hoodie she’s wearing, which says Blame the Friggin’ Cows.
I’d be lying if I didn’t admit it was funny, considering her hangover. Though the cattle were not responsible for her choices.
“I’m never drinking tequila again,” she frowns.
“That’s probably for the best.” Sadie and tequila were a dangerous combination—one I didn’t want to have to deal with twice.
“Oh, is it?” A dark brow rises playfully. “Seems to me it almost worked out real good for you.” She glances down with a devilish grin on her face.
Blood rushes to my dick. My tongue feels too big for my mouth. She continues to grin wider, watching me squirm underneath her stare. All I can picture is that exact moment last night. A moment that kept me awake for most of the night. My dirty-ass mind was to blame.
“Hey, Kit,” my uncle’s voice sounds behind me.
Thank fuck.
Cole approaches us astride his dark bay gelding. I tip my ballcap to him in greeting, shifting my belt. Worried Cole will see the slight erection I’m trying to hide. “A few cows from D paddock have gone missing,” he says with urgency. Tired eyes full of worry. “I need you to track them down.”
“Yes, sir,” I place my foot in the stirrup, hopping on Smoke, not wasting a second.
“Take Sadie with you,” he adds, tipping his cowboy hat to her with a soft smile.
Take Sadie? She probably couldn’t stay on her horse if she tried. “What about Hudson?” I glance at him, hoping maybe he just forgot that he’s here.
“I need him to help with the fence line before any others get loose.” Cole nods to Hudson, who gives me an apologetic expression before he takes off in a gallop, follow-ing Cole’s orders.
“Cole, I don’t think—” I start to protest.
A deep wheezing cough breaks from Cole’s mouth, cutting me off. One that doesn’t sound normal.
Is he sick? “Are you—”
“I’m fine,” he waves his hand. “It’s just allergies. It’ll be good for Sadie to see how this is done,” he continues with a scratch in his voice, but the tilted corner of his mouth tells me he asked her on purpose.
Damn him.
“They were last seen heading North towards the river,” he gestures in that direction.
My grip tightens on the reins, holding back my frustration. “I’ll find them,” I vow, clenching my teeth.
He nods to me and smiles at Sadie, taking off behind Hudson.
The wind picks up speed, whistling through the trees as they ride away, disappearing into the vast golden expanse. Dark clouds loom over the snowy mountains, lining the horizon. Thunder echoes around us, leaving just the two of us behind.
Well, fuck.
Looks like I’m taking Sadie with me, and on the cusp of a fucking storm, too. What could possibly go wrong?
“Come on, Sugar,” Sadie sighs, untying her horse from the fence.
My eyes flare. “Excuse me?” Cowboy is bad enough, but Sugar? No fucking way.
“That’s my horse’s name, Cowboy.” She frowns, hopping on her buckskin. “Don’t have a cow,” she adds with a smirk.
“You named your horse, Sugar?” Who in the hell names their horse Sugar?
“Well, I couldn’t name her Spirit. That’s a bit too on the nose. You know the movie with—”
“I’m familiar,” I snap. She continues to smirk. A rough sigh rumbles in my chest. “You’d better keep up, Tequila.”
The cold wind rushes into my face as I take off. Sadie keeps her pace with mine. Surprisingly, riding her horse very well, considering how dusty she is.
We ride North to the edge of the field until we reach the forest line, slowing our pace as we follow a winding, narrow path into the pines.
A path that’s been worn down from years of use.
The muted light grows darker as we push deeper into the forest, heading towards Pine River.
It’s the middle of the afternoon, but it feels later in the day with what little light escapes through the trees.
I slow to a walk, listening for signs of distress. The air smells earthy and wet, with hints of fresh pine, rain, and soil. The kind of smell that the forest gives off before a storm, like it knows it’s coming.
Another rumble vibrates in the air around us, rattling through the trees as Sadie comes up beside me. “So… about last night, I—”
“We’re not talking about that now,” my voice is sharp.
“Why not? It’s just you and me out here, Cowboy.”
I shake my head, ignoring the sultry way she says Cowboy, clearly implying much more. “Because we’re not,” I huff. She’s consumed enough of my thoughts as it is. “We have a job to do.”
“So, later, then?” she pushes.
“We’re never talking about it.” It would be much easier to just forget about everything that happened between us. For too long did I stay awake last night, rolling around, thinking about things I shouldn’t be. Things that would only hurt me more than I’m ready for.
“Never?” she repeats.
“Don’t push it, Teq—” A noise vibrates through the air, followed by the low rumble of thunder, cutting off my words.
We both stop, calculating which way to go. The noise echoes around the pines with the tremors of the storm overhead, making it hard to pick a clear direction.
“That way,” Sadie sighs.
Before I can ask if she’s sure, she takes off in a canter.
I follow behind her, keeping my gaze on her as she weaves through the forest with effortless ease.
Sadie Lane is a lot of things, but a gifted rider isn’t something that I expected.
Her form is impeccable, considering her choices last night.
I’m tempted to ask her who taught her to ride, but then she’d know that I was watching her and start pushing the boundaries with that smirk of hers.
She’s already too good at getting under my skin.
Better that I keep my mouth shut.
The ground becomes softer as we near Pine River, the largest river in Northern Montana that feeds into Silver Lake.
Sadie slows her pace as we approach the riverbank, her gaze transfixed on something near the water’s edge.
The sounds of the rushing rapids fill my ears, water churning over jagged rocks, foaming with intensity.
My pulse quickens when I spot the three missing cows. Scared shitless. Two are in distress over a young one who has fallen in, caught on a branch, fighting to keep its head above the roaring water.
“Stay put,” I bark at Sadie, taking off towards the two, following my instincts to herd them to safety.
With the rope in my leather-gloved hands, I swing out, urging them to head south towards home. But they are stubborn, refusing to move. This would be much easier if I had Bandit with me.
They try to jump in with the calfling, so I push Smoke closer to the edge of the water, herding them back. It takes a couple of attempts to lure them away from their young one. With one more final crack of the rope against my saddle, they take off towards the ranch.
Finally. Thank fuck.
I swallow a cool stream of air, releasing some tension. The sky rumbles above, threatening to break as I turn around. My eyes go wide at the sight of Sadie. Off her horse, reaching for the calfling with a rope in her hands—like a goddamn idiot with a death wish.
“Sadie, stop!” I shout. My heart jumps in my chest, constricting blood flow.
What the hell is she thinking? The current is too rough, and the undercurrent would be strong enough to drown her. If she falls into the rushing river, she could get dragged away to God knows where.
I’d never be able to find her.
Lightning cracks in the sky, streaking bright white light across the darkness, and I flinch. The cow jolts with fright. One second, Sadie’s brown eyes are on me, and the next, she slips into the raging current.
“Sadie!” My heart jumps in my chest.
I ride towards the river, about to jump in after her, when she finally lifts her head above water, clinging to a weak branch.
Her scared doe eyes meet mine, and I reach for my rope, tying it to the horn. “Eyes on me. I’ve got you,” I assure her. “I’m going to throw this to you, and you catch it—”
“No, save the cow!” she yells, lips quivering.
“What?” I glance at the calfling, barely hanging on, and then back at her, shaking my head.
Fuck the calf. I’m going to save Sadie.
“This isn’t up for debate.” I point to a sturdier branch about three feet from her. “You swim to that branch next to you, then take this rope and tie it—”
“I can’t swim!” she yells.
She can’t… what?
“Kit, please! Save her. I’ll be fine.” She’s terrified, but at this moment, she cares more about that damn calf than her own life. And that calf is probably a male.
“No fucking way. You—”
“I’ll make my way to the branch,” she interrupts me. “Please, Kit. Save her p-please,” she begs, shivering.
“Goddamnit, Tequila,” I shout.
She smiles at me, spitting out water as she shakes with fear. I glance back and forth, wishing she would just listen to me, but I know she won’t. Why can’t she listen to me?
The branch she’s stubbornly clinging to wouldn’t last much longer, but this seems to be the only option this frustrating woman is allowing me to make. If Sadie dies while making me save this damn calf, I’ll never forgive her. I will hate her the rest of my goddamn existence.
“You better fucking keep hanging on, or I swear to—”
“I will,” she yells back. “Please.”