Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 66962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
When I turned off the water, I heard a sound, a thump and then something that sounded like branches being pulled back. I turned to Blade, and he brought his finger to his lips.
I didn’t move. I didn’t even breathe. There were more sounds. Someone was definitely clomping around out there. If it was one of Pisano’s men coming after me, they were fucking up the job. I might not be an expert in moving silently like Blade, but I could make less noise than that.
Blade jumped to his feet and seemed to produce a gun from nowhere.
“Did you have that in your pocket at breakfast?”
“I don’t take chances.”
Blade was far steadier on his feet than he’d been before, but I still didn’t like his odds against someone skilled. I retrieved the gun I had used as protection the day before and followed him.
“No. You stay inside.”
“I’m not letting you go out there without backup.” I continue to walk right behind him.
“I’m the one who is supposed to be protecting you.”
“You’re sick, and I can take care of myself.”
We moved silently toward the front window, and the sounds grew louder. Blade pressed himself against the wall. When he lifted the curtain, allowing us a glimpse of the porch, we both began to laugh. There was a horse on the porch.
“It’s Biscuit. She must’ve gotten loose from one of the pastures.”
“I thought the person was too loud to be an assassin.”
Blade snorted. “That’s for damn sure.”
“What do we do now?”
“We need to get a rope. I have some in the linen closet. We’ll catch her and call for someone to come get her.”
“Should I call the ranch house?” I knew I wasn’t going to be any good at catching the horse.
“Why don’t you get the rope, and I’ll take care of it.”
“Do I want to know why you have rope in the linen closet?”
Blade smiled. “Were you hoping I’d make use of it when I was better?”
“Maybe.”
Biscuit seemed docile. She let Blade attach a makeshift lead rope to her halter and tether her to the porch railing.
I watched, marveling at how relaxed he was with the horse, much more so than he was around people.”
“Did you work with horses before you joined the marines?”
“No, I’d never been this close to a horse before I came out here.”
“You’re good with them.”
“They don’t ask questions.
“Is that a dig at me?
“No. You’ve never pushed. You and Rogue are the only two who don’t. I called him, but he’s busy working on a repair project with TJ. Rhys is on his way.”
A little while later, Rhys drove up to the cabin with a horse trailer behind his truck.
“Thanks,” he said, taking the rope from Blade. “I’ve got to figure out how she got out. This is the second time she’s done it. All she does is wander around the ranch, but it’s driving me crazy.”
Blade sat down on the steps while Rhys placed a halter and a real lead rope on Biscuit. I knew he needed to take a nap. He’d worn himself out catching the horse. He was on the mend, but he didn’t need to be up and about all day.
“Do you need any help?” I asked Rhys.
“No. Well, actually yes. You can help me get her into the trailer.”
I’d only offered to be nice. I didn’t think he’d take me up on it. I was certain he didn’t like me, and he definitely didn’t seem to like the idea of me with Blade.
“I tried to convince Grant that you need to come back to the main house,” he said as I held the lead rope while Rhys put the ramp down on the trailer. “Blade shouldn’t be under this kind of stress.”
“He’s sick, and he needs someone to take care of him.”
“He sure as hell doesn’t need to defend you against an attack.”
“I can take care of myself.”
Rhys turned and glared at me. “If that were true, you wouldn’t be here.”
“I can take care of myself against a single assailant, not against the whole Pisano family.”
Rhys scowled at me for a moment. “Fine, but you better be careful with him.”
“I care about Blade. I have no intention of hurting him.”
“Be careful how close you get, because if you’re planning to run away again—”
“I’m not going to run away.” How long would it take to prove myself?
“Are you going to leave when all this is over?”
“I don’t really have a choice in that.”
“Don’t hurt him.” Rhys shut the trailer with a loud bang.
“I swear I’m not here to hurt him. I’m here to help.”
Rhys blew out a long breath. “Do you have any idea what he’s been through?
“A little. I saw his scars.”
Rhys’s eyes widened. “He let you?”
“Yes.”
“Damn. Just be sure you know what you’re messing with.”
“I’m trying to help a man who’s been through hell. If I could just…” Tears burned behind my eyes. I would absolutely not let them fall, not in front of Rhys, not when he was accusing me of being flippant with Blade.