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“Thank you,” I said, my eyes falling to Takoda, before the realization hit me. “I need my wallet… from my room.”
“No, don’t worry about it,” Hazel said quickly, hopping in the driver’s side as her mom layered a blanket around me. “Dr. Dewy is agoodfriend of Blake’s. We’ll take care of everything. We don’t need to waste any time.”
I nodded, my eyes dropping to my pup in my arms. “Okay, I’ll just pay you back.”
Hazel pulled out of the driveway after her mom shut the back door, having set clothes and extra blankets on the seat. My eyes peered in the direction we had just come, looking for any sight of the guys...
But there was nothing.
ChapterTwenty-Four
Wade
“Holy shit,” Blake groaned as Roanie and I limped alongside him, Ryder, Dad, and Ryan. “I don’t know how you managed to cut her loose like that.”
I looked back to Roanie, who was exhausted and sore, walking stiffly as we slowly headed back to the barn. “I don’t know. I didn’t really think about it—I just knew I wouldn’t let her die.” I had refused a double ride with one of the guys, choosing to walk beside my heroic horse, who had nearly given her life to save Takoda and Cheyenne...
Who had gone with Hazel somewhere.
“You could’ve gotten yourself killed,” Dad’s voice snapped as he stepped in alongside me. “But I’m glad you didn’t—and that Roanie is all right. She’s your best horse, Wade.”
“And the only one who could’ve pulled that off,” I said quietly, patting her neck as we continued toward the barn. “I don’t know why the hell the dog went this far into the horse pasture,” I added, shaking my head. “But he’s in rough shape.”
“I know,” Blake agreed, his voice dropping low. “I think he might’ve been swept away before Cheyenne ever got to him. They’re both lucky they made it out of that mess alive—and you, too. That was the scariest shit I’ve ever watched in real time, man. I thought you and the damn horse were gonna die.”
“You saved their lives, dude,” Ryder added, leaning down to pat me on the shoulder. “That’s the craziest fucking thing I’ve heard of. You could be in a magazine or on the news or something.”
“Let’s just get to the house,” I muttered, my eyes dropping to the mud seeping over the top of my boots. My entire body felt heavy, soaked to the bone, and slightly chilled. As much as I wanted to be the hero for saving Cheyenne and Takoda...
I wasn’t.
In fact, I was the fuckingreasonthat the two had gotten into such a bad spot, and indirectly, I was also the reason that Roanie nearly lost her life as well. If I had just freaking remembered that I let the dog out to go to the bathroom, then no one would’ve been put in a bad predicament.
“You think the dog is gonna make it?” I heard Ryan, a young hand, ask to the group of cowboys. The question made my stomach sick, not even wanting to imagine the heartache that would bring Cheyenne.
“I think he’ll be fine,” Blake answered. “Megan is the best vet there is.”
“Yeah, of course you think that.” Dad burst into laughter, and I couldn’t help but smile, shaking my head at my brother.
“Shut up,” Blake shot at him.
A searing pain shooting up the back of my leg caused me to pause, and I froze, leaning over and groaning. My horse stopped beside me, letting me use her as support.
“What’s wrong?” Dad barked over at me.
“Fucking muscle cramp,” I choked out, rubbing down the back of my leg through my soaked jeans. “I’m not exactly a swimmer.”
“At least he still has his sense of humor.” Ryder chuckled. “But why don’t you hop up here, and ride double back to the damn barn?”
“Nah.” I shook my head adamantly. “Roanie can only go this speed. I want to walk her all the way back. If y’all are in a hurry, you can go ahead and go on up to the barn and call it a night.”
“I’ll hang back with Wade,” Blake added, urging the other three onward. “Dad’s already up way past his bedtime. He’s gettin’ extra cranky.”
“Oh shut it,” Dad shot back at him, though he had a smile on his face. “But yeah, I think Blake has it under control. I need you boys rested and ready to work in the morning anyway. I’ve made a deal with Parsons’ ranch to move some of our cattle out of here. I don’t want to lose anymore.”
“Okay, boss.” Ryder tipped his hat. “Let’s get on back then. Hazel already sent out a text that someone’s gotta go collect Bear from the garage. She took Chey and the dog to the vet in a rush.”
With that, Ryan, Dad, and Ryder took off across the pasture, leaving Blake and I to slowly trudge our way back to the barn and house. I waited for Blake to start talking, because that’s always what he did, never happy with silence.
