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I wasn’t ready for that, not even close.
I’m winded as I hit the dirt, the air being knocked from my lungs. A jarring in my shoulder has me rolling to the side, and there I lie until I hear the sounds of boots coming toward me.
“Hey,” Enzo’s voice calls as he leans down, helping me up. “Are you okay?”
I get into a sitting position. “God, my shoulder hurts.”
“Is it broken? Let me see.”
He moves my arm around, flexing it. It’s not broken, but boy, does it hurt. Mostly, though, it’s my pride. I just got thrown in front of a group of people. I press my hands over my face. “Why do these things happen to me?”
Enzo pulls my hands away. “It happens to all of us. Are you hurt anywhere else?”
I shake my head. “Just winded.”
“Sit here and catch your breath, I’m going to sort these horses out.”
He stands and calms his horse and the other horse down, as she’s hopping around even though they’re both tied up. She looks like she’s ready to go again, but as I study her face, I can see she appears to be uncomfortable. Enzo goes over to her, pulling the saddle off and running his hands over her back. She jerks when he reaches a spot on her belly, and he leans down to look, coming up with wild irritation on his face.
He turns just as Rhett and the group approach.
They were further than I thought.
“She has a massive abscess on her stomach. Some motherfucker is getting fired today.”
Rhett’s face tightens.
Dante gets off his horse and walks over, inspecting the mare. He comes up with the same angry expression Enzo had.
The poor baby was hurting.
Now I feel bad for her.
I get to my feet, dust myself off, and I know I’m going to be sore and stiff tomorrow.
I walk over to her and press my hand against her nose, she’s panting and my heart breaks knowing she’s hurting and just had to run with that pain.
“I’m sorry. I forgive you.”
She puts her nose down and leans her head against my chest.
Enzo looks to me. “You’ve got a way with horses.”
“She’s hurting, anything on this planet that’s hurting wants comfort.”
He looks like he wants to snatch me up and never let go.
Like he just fell in love with me from one little sentence.
“What?” I ask, staring at him.
“You’re beautiful.”
God dammit.
Never mind, I take it back.
I just fell in love with him.
16
I just need some painkillers.
I know, I know, I shouldn’t be walking alone from the cabins to the main house, but a girl needs something. My shoulder is killing me, and I’ve got nothing that’s helping. My phone died, and I couldn’t wait for it to get some charge to call Enzo, so I decided to make a quick dash to the house so I can get something for the pain.
I move quietly past the paddocks and toward the light of the house.
In retrospect, it’s actually not that far. Maybe fifty yards, if that, but at night it seems like a whole lot more than that. I move quickly, needing to get to the house and back again. I don’t want any trouble while I’m out here.
A shuffling sound has me pausing, and I turn slowly.
In the distance, just past the line of trees, I see a faint light. It’s almost like a lantern glowing within the trees. I quickly cover my flashlight and stare, feeling scared and very, very aware that I’m not alone. Is he camping right there in the woods? Does he stay here every night in hopes of finding me? I don’t understand.
Security has been installed, and that means he’s not venturing toward the cabins anymore. I thought for sure that would mean he’d just go off the property entirely, but it would seem I’m wrong about that. Joel has spent years in the woods, camping and fishing, he’s very outdoorsy so sleeping under the stars really wouldn’t bother him.
But it doesn’t make a lot of sense.
I stand dead still, unable to see anything except the faint glow, but I can hear.
Oh, I can hear.
Footsteps, a lot closer than I’d like.
“I know you’re there, Juniper.”
Joel’s voice hits me like a thousand tiny droplets of ice to my skin.
I take in a shaky breath.
Should I run?
I should run.
“I didn’t think you’d venture out on your own. Imagine my surprise when I saw your flashlight and there you were, walking alone at night, not the wisest move on your part.”
Don’t speak.
He doesn’t know exactly where I am.
He’s not close enough.
I hold my breath, listening as his footsteps near.
“We can make this easy, or we can make this hard. Either way, you will be coming with me. We have a lot to discuss. You haven’t made it easy for me, being here, and you’ve made me real mad fucking that guy right in front of me. You’re going to pay for that, but first, we’re going to talk about my son.”
