6. Rory

The wind picks up as the sun starts to sink behind the horizon. I shift in my saddle, my eyes locked on Callie's round ass in the saddle as she rocks with Donut's movements. The black horse snorts and Callie laughs, reaching forward to pat her neck. She sits up straight and turns to smile back at me.

"I can't believe I'm doing this. And she's so sweet!" She laughs and Donut nods her head up and down like she's agreeing with her. "Thank you so much, Rory! I don't think I've ever had so much fun!"

I can't stop staring at her. Her blond hair lifts and waves in the soft breeze, her dark blue eyes sparkling like the night sky as it starts to creep out and wash over the robin's egg blue of daylight.

"Hello?" She waves her hand at me and I shake myself, grinning at her.

"I'm sorry. I must just be tired. But I told you that you'd love it and I had the best horse for you. Some of the horses that are here move on to new, better homes for them. But some of the horses will stay here. Donut's one of them."

"Why? She seems so sweet."

"She is. But she's also terrific at keeping other horses around her calm during stress. Probably comes from her old job."

"What was her old job?"

"Donut comes from the racing world. She's a quarter horse but she would walk the race horses onto the track, keeping the racers calm in the face of major stress, noise and excitement."

Her eyes move forward, widening as she leans forward and gives the horse a hug around her strong neck. "You're an absolute lifesaver, aren't you, Donut?" Her eyes shift back to me.

I nod my own head, taking my hat off and slapping the dust off of it on my thigh. "Yes, she is. She's done wonders with some of the worst cases that come in here. She's the most calming influence."

"You're a beauty, aren't you, Donut? Inside and out."

I can't take my eyes off of her face lit with joy and the last shreds of daylight gilding her high cheekbones and giving her pale skin a soft glow.

She's just beautiful. Just like the land around Iron H.

"We need to head back to the barn. These two are ready to get to bed for the night. And I'm sure you need to get to bed soon since you have to get up so early in the morning."

"Thank you. I do. But I don't think I've had such a fun time in the longest time. I can't thank you enough for bringing me out." Her wide smile stretches and her sapphire gaze glitters with pure happiness.

"I'm glad." I wish I could keep her here forever. But it's better if I let her go home and take some space and time to get my shit together. There's no way that we can be more than we are. I'm too big a mess and she's so damn young.

"We should go," I mutter under my breath and I move my horse in front of hers, leading us back the way we came.

The ranch looks beautiful at any time of the day but dawn and twilight are my favorite times. Both times are soft and yet full of drama and fresh beginnings.

I don't know what to say to her right now. We ride in silence and I wish I wasn't such a damn mess. I want to find out all about her. Want to know what she loves, what she hates. What makes her happy. What she wants.

Does she want kids? A true love? Or is she willing to settle? I don't think I can be anybody's true love. I'm not sure I still have a fucking heart.

Her pretty face lifts and she closes her eyes, letting Donut and I lead the way.

There's so much more to her than I even thought there was. She's gentle and sweet. Soft and yielding and yet strong as forged steel.

I open my mouth to ask her what she's doing tomorrow and a sharp crack makes Lightning's head pop up and she whinnies, rearing slightly, rounding in a circle. I click my tongue at her and let her work out the fear, patting her neck and whispering sweet words to her.

She settles, grumbling under her breath.

But not Donut. In the seconds it takes me to focus Lightning, Donut rears straight up and comes down, racing off with Callie screaming on her back, reins loose on her neck as she clings desperately to her saddle and neck.

"Shit!" My heart jumps into my throat as I click at Lightning and drum my heels on her sides. She leaps forward and the world rushes by, my heart hitting the dirt somewhere behind me and I don't give a fuck.

My eyes are focused on the most important thing in the world. Callie's blond hair streams behind her, a curtain of soft gold that beckons me closer.

"Help, Rory!" My belly flips as she screams my name, fear tightening my gut until I can't think.

"Faster, Lightning," I growl. She snorts like she knows exactly what I'm saying and her body bursts into liquid fire, leaping forward until I can't breathe. We're part of the wind all around us, wild and focused on the two animals ahead of us, both terrified.

She moves closer and I reach a hand out, grasping the reins in my hands and tugging, even as I coax Donut to a shuddering, whinnying stop.

She shivers and I drop to the ground, my boots hitting the dirt as I reach up and tug Callie's tense body down to me. "Shhh. Sweetheart, you're okay." Her hands cling to me and I can feel every damn lush curve on her body. My dick jerks and I swear under my breath.

That shit needs to stop. This is not the time.

"Baby, open your eyes. You're alright. I promise you, I've got you. I'll never let anything hurt you. I'm so sorry. Baby, please," I beg, hoarse with fear.

Her gorgeous blue eyes, swimming with tears open and she hiccups a sob that has me closing my eyes. I gulp and hold her tighter. I need her closer.

I need her forever.

I open my eyes and tip her chin up to me, my lips taking hers, clinging to her soft lips like she's the food I crave, the air I need and the water necessary for survival.

Her lips open and her tongue touches mine, her soft moan gutting me. "Fuck," I groan into her mouth, my tongue lashing hers, hunger spiking to dangerous proportions as I devour each little moan, each groan and whispered plea.

"Rory," she whimpers and I finally set her down on her feet, my arms wrapped around her tight, pushing my hips into her belly.

"Baby, it's alright. I've got you." I do have her. It doesn't matter if one of us walks away, I'll always belong to this woman.

She's mine.

I hold her head to my chest and sigh. "Oh, little one. You scared the hell out of me." My heart's still pounding like I've run a five fucking k race. I can't catch my breath and my whole body feels electrified. My fingertips buzz where her soft skin touches mine.

"I don't know what happened. She's never done that before." I set her away gently and move to Donut. Her soft coat shudders under my hands as I trail them across her, checking her out.

My eyes narrow as a tiny trickle of blood catches my attention. "What the fuck?" I mutter. I move closer and I can see a tiny streak across her flank.

"Something hit her."

"What?" Callie's eyes widen and she moves up beside me. "Is she alright?"

"Yeah. But she's bleeding. I don't want to ride her until I figure out what happened and if she's alright."

"Of course."

"I'm going to lead her and you can ride in front of me. Then I can check her out when we get back. I might need to call the vet just to make sure she's okay and see if they can tell what happened."

I don't want to say it but I swear it looks like Donut was grazed by a bullet.

My eyes search the open area around us. My heart jumps, my arms tightening around Callie. "Let's head back, baby."

I need to get her safe. Need to find out what's going on. Because if someone shot at Donut, who were they trying to hit? The horse or Callie?

Fury and fear jolt me. Something threatened my girl and I don't fucking like it. And if I figure it out, I may kill them with my bare hands for daring to think they can take her from me. Even if it was an accident.