Chapter Nineteen #2
I take a step back and crack open the water before drinking it down, not realizing how thirsty I was until just now. He pulls out a couple of apples and hands one to Willow, who happily takes it from him. Turns out my girl can be easily bribed with sweets. Good to know.
He moves to his favorite horse, Kane, and strokes his fingers down his nose before handing him the second apple.
“I’ve been out to check on the cattle already.
I was gonna do the stalls next, but you beat me to it.
Is there anything in particular you need me to do today, or do you want me to make a start on the office space? ”
I think about what I want done and decide that, for now, the room can wait. “Come with me.” I bring Willow along and wait for him.
“You want me to bring Kane?”
“No. I have something else in mind for you to ride.” I freeze, realizing how dirty that sounded. I peek over my shoulder at him. His gaze is elsewhere, but I don’t miss the massive grin on his face.
I pick up my pace and hurry outside, heading over to the tractor that arrived yesterday.
“You know how to drive one of these things?” He looks at me as if I’m dumb.
I hold my hand up in capitulation. “I was just asking.” I pull out my cell phone and open an aerial view of the land.
“Think you can get these two pastures here ready for planting?”
“Sure, that’s doable. It will take me most of the day, though, if not longer.”
“That’s fine.”
He hesitates before he moves to step in front of me. “You’ll stay here today? I don’t want you leaving without me. Not because I don’t think you can handle yourself, but because you shouldn’t have to. I can’t protect you if I’m not with you, and that is what you hired me to do after all.”
“I have no plans to leave the ranch today. I’m expecting a woman named Dawn to come over, though, to pick something up.”
I can see he has questions, but he nods. “Alright. You know where to find me if you need me. I’m going to grab some food, my hat, and a couple of bottles of water so I’ll be good to go for a little while.”
“Take your time. Yes, it’s important, but so are you. I don’t need you breaking your back to get it done today.”
“I’ll see how I get on.” Bending down, he presses a kiss to my forehead. “You sure you’re okay?”
“I’m sure,” I croak as a warning tingle works its way up my spine. I feel the house’s unease seep into my consciousness. “I’m going to take Willow on a short ride, stretch her legs a little. I won’t be long. If my visitor gets here before I get back, put her in the den to wait.”
“Okay, be safe.”
I nod before hooking my foot into the stirrups and swinging my leg over Willow’s back.
I get myself seated comfortably in the saddle before I click my tongue and give her a nudge with my heel.
Willow takes off in the direction I steer her, and I hold on tight, wondering what has the house feeling so unsettled.
I check the land and cattle as I pass, glad most are being collected tomorrow.
It will give me one less thing to worry about.
I’ve been riding for about thirty minutes when I smell it.
Gasoline. The smell is so pungent, it makes me want to cover my face.
I push Willow to ride harder, needing to find out what the fuck is going on.
I can’t smell fire or see smoke, but I have no doubt that’s what’s coming next.
Why else douse the place in gas, unless…
I come to a stop near the fence line, the anger from the house matching mine.
The earth is soaked with it. I don’t understand how.
This much damage would take a fucking tanker’s worth of gasoline.
Now isn’t the time to try to figure it out.
I jump down and climb over the fence, leaving Willow on the other side.
I bend and press my fingers to the grass before holding it to my nose and wincing.
Definitely gasoline. The question is why?
I close my eyes, press my hand to the dirt, and let out a long breath, emptying my lungs before slowly breathing in until they’re full.
Feeling connected to the house, I know that whoever did this isn’t here anymore, which makes me question if something went wrong or if they never planned to burn it in the first place.
But if they didn’t want to burn it, why waste this much gas? The knowledge hits me a moment later.
Someone did this so I couldn’t bring the cattle here for feeding.
They also ensured I can’t grow anything here.
As it stands, this pasture is fucked. My first instinct is to assume it’s Andrews.
After yesterday, I’m expecting retaliation.
The other option, of course, is my father.
He’d have to do his own dirty work now that Dale is gone.
But surely he’d know, a pasture this far out wouldn’t be that big of a deal for me.
Unless he thought I’d bring cattle out here to graze.
I sigh, my brain going around in circles. In the end, it doesn’t matter who did it or why. Only that they did. I need to give David a call and speed things up on his end. It’s impossible to keep this land protected without help.
Letting the feel of the earth seep into my bones, I push for that essence that connects me to this place and mentally ask for help.
I can’t drain the gas from the soil, and I can’t wash it away.
As my fingers tingle with awareness and I feel the pulse of soil and the life that lies beneath it, the answer comes to me.
I need to neutralize it. I have no idea how to do that, but the power coursing through me does.
I sit back and let it take the wheel, using me as a conduit, swallowing the fear of having no control.
Everything feels foreign and uncomfortable, as a violent push and pull wars inside me.
I struggle to stay upright under the onslaught.
By the time the power fades, I feel as weak as a newborn lamb.
I lean over just in time to puke my guts up.
I panic when all I see is black liquid rushing out of me, the force so strong I can’t breathe.
But it’s over almost before it began. When I collapse to the ground, I suck in deep breaths to calm my racing heart.
Getting to my feet might be too much. I crawl on my hands and knees to the fence and use it to pull myself up.
My head spins, and my stomach churns once more.
I hold still, not wanting to throw up again.
That’s when I sense I’m not alone anymore. The house sends a warning pulse, but my movements are sluggish. Before I can turn, something hits me over the head and knocks me out cold.