Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 107118 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107118 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
My heart beat just that little bit faster.
*****
“Cowboy!”
Cowboy’s name rang out like a wailing siren from my mouth. My eyes widened in horror as I laid eyes on his hand. Pepper was bucking hard. Cowboy was trying to dismount. But his hand was caught. “He’s hung up!” I jumped from the fence. I sprinted to the other side of the ring, watching as Cowboy’s body was flung around as he tried to break free from the horse. He became unseated, his legs dropping to the ground. His feet scraped along the dirt, trying to keep up with the erratically bucking horse. But his hand was still attached to the bronc rein. Cowboy struggled, head tipped back toward the saddle, trying to work his way free. I flinched as Pepper’s legs flicked and kicked, almost catching Cowboy, as the horse spun in ever-decreasing circles.
“Around the other side!” I ordered Clara. Clara did as asked, rocking back and forth on her feet to try and catch hold of Pepper with the loose rein she held. She lunged forward, wrapped the rein around his neck, controlled his head, and managed to bring him to a stop. But Pepper’s hooves still padded frantically on the dirt.
“Cowboy,” I called, and moved to his trapped hand. The skin of his wrist was torn up and red from the rein. The minute I started tugging on the rein, Pepper began to shy. “Cher. Get back,” Cowboy shouted through gritted teeth.
I shook my head, refusing to move, and suddenly Hush was beside me. He yanked a knife from his belt and began sawing at the rein. I staggered back, letting out a deep exhale when the rein loosened enough for Hush to drag Cowboy out of the way. Pepper spooked at all the commotion, and Clara stepped away. He took off around the arena, bucking and kicking—doing exactly what he’d been trained to do. I watched him go, blood draining from my face when I realized that Cowboy could have been even more seriously hurt.
Hush was holding Cowboy up against the fence. I rushed over, seeing Clara was approaching Pepper to calm him down. As I drew near Hush and Cowboy, I could only make out a rapid French conversation pouring from their mouths. Cowboy was holding his arm, his shoulder dipped as if he could barely stand to straighten it.
“Cowboy!” I ran to his side.
He cracked a strained smile. “It’s . . . nothing, cher.” He wasn’t exactly convincing. His hoarse voice clearly showed me that he was racked with pain.
“It’s not nothing.” I opened the gate for him to get out. I helped Hush take him through to the yard and sit him on a nearby bench.
“What the fuck were you thinking?” Hush snapped at Cowboy. Cowboy rolled his eyes at his best friend. “You ain’t done this in years, Aub. This ain’t your fucking life anymore!” The panic in Hush’s voice made my heart squeeze. The raw terror pulsing from him at the fact that his best friend was injured. Could have been hurt worse.
“I can fucking ride, Val. I’ve been doing it all damn day. I’ve been doing it since I was barely outta diapers.”
Hush nodded at his shoulder. “Doesn’t fucking look like it—”
“I was hung up!”
“He was hung up!”
Cowboy and I spoke at the same time. Even in pain, Cowboy threw me a wink, but it was quickly followed by a wince.
“I have no idea what the fuck that means. But it doesn’t matter,” Hush said. Cowboy closed his eyes and took a deep breath. I grimaced as his face grew red. “You need a doctor?” Hush ran his hand over his shaved head. He was agitated. More so than he should be. Hush was practically falling apart at Cowboy being hurt.
“Val,” Cowboy said slowly. “I’m okay.” Cowboy sent me a quick cautious glance, before he leaned in closer, getting Hush’s attention. “Calm down. I’m fine.” Hush took a long deep breath.
I was wondering what the hell was happening between them when Cowboy distracted me by saying, “Help me back to the house, Val.”
“Wait!” I said. “I’ll go get my truck.”
I took off at a jog, passing Clara and giving her a thumbs-up to make sure she had everything under control. She nodded and led Pepper into a stall in the barn. In less than five minutes, I was in my truck and heading back to Cowboy and Hush. Hush sat beside Cowboy, Cowboy’s hand on Hush’s thigh. Hush’s head was lowered, but I could see his eyes were closed. He looked like he was counting; his lips moved slightly as he said something to himself.
Hush’s head snapped up as I got out of the truck. “You got my chariot, cher?” Cowboy asked.
“Sure have, darlin’.” I moved to where he still sat, slouched on the bench. I looked at Hush. “You okay? You don’t look so good.”