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"Was that a compliment?"
She snorts. "Been a while since you heard one of those?"
"From you? Yes." I kneel next to her and hiss when I see the scratches covering her face. "When you said you ran through the forest, I didn't realize you meant it so literally."
"Dang branches and brambles jumped out and slapped me around."
I take her chin in my hand and she goes still, her breath pausing, her eyes widening. She smells like cherries. There's a drop of blood on her bottom lip and I wipe it away with my thumb. I hate the small cut that's damaged her perfect lip.
She jerks her chin from my hand, her pale cheeks flaming red. "I'm fine, Ranger. Cuts and scrapes I can handle. The cow head on my lap is the bigger problem here."
I study her for a moment, looking for the lie. I'm getting the hint that Dani doesn't let anyone see what's really going on with her, and I'm betting the sadness in her eyes isn't about this cow or the scratches on her face.
"We should use a rope so she doesn't take off into the woods again." I slide my pack off my back.
"Won't a rope around her neck hurt her? If it scares her, she might jerk her head around and injure herself."
"I'll knot it loosely. It's safer than letting her tear through the forest again. She's already got scratches all over her flanks and face."
Dani narrows her eyes, and I wait for her to argue, but she nods slowly. "Okay. Be gentle with her.
I use the sort of knot cowboys use on a lasso, one that's easily tightened and loosened.
The cow barely reacts when I slip it over her head. "She's not in good shape."
"She might be dehydrated after all that running. Do you have any water?"
"How about you?" I ask as I reach into my pack and pull out a water bottle. "How thirsty are you?"
"I'm fine. Mari's the one who can't lift her head."
"Mari?"
"I have a feeling she's been badly treated by whoever her guardians are, and I'm going to treat her like part of the family. Like the rest of us, she gets a flower name, Marigold."
The worry that creases Dani's brow and her soft voice make it clear she cares deeply about this animal she just happened to find in the woods and something pinches in my chest.
Why did I ever think of her as entitled?
"I want to get Marigold out of here, but your wellbeing is more important." I hand her the water bottle. "You drink first and we'll give the rest to Mari."
Shockingly, Dani takes the bottle without argument, though she only takes two quick swallows before offering it to Mari. The cow lifts her head for the water, clearly thirsty, but can't quite figure out how to get a drink.
Dani tips the bottle and pours water into Mari's mouth. As she drinks, Dani coos to her softly and says. "That's a good girl. That's self-care, honey. Drink as much as you want."
Her gentle, husky voice vibrates through me like an electrical current and I find myself leaning toward her, wanting to be closer. I get a whiff of sugar and cherries and lust rockets through me, my cock going instantly hard as I picture Dani spread out naked before me like a feast.
What the hell is she doing to me? I looked it up this afternoon, a bonding of souls after one person saves another is a real thing. But there's no way this unpredictable mess of a woman who has no concern for her own safety could be my soul mate.
I'm simply attracted to her, that's all. If an image of her cooing at me the same way she's cooing at Mari turns me on, well, that's probably normal. Maybe?
"Have any hay or oats in that magic bag of yours?" Dani asks once Mari has emptied the water bottle.
"Unfortunately, no."
Mari looks over at me like she's just now realized I'm here. She pushes up to her feet awkwardly, her hooves scrabbling on the rock.
Dani lets out a sigh of relief and hops up. "It's okay, Mari. He scared me, too, the first time I saw him, but he's trying to help you."
