Page 3 of Riding Into Love
“Good boy. You and I are gonna get along just fine.”
I pull myself into the saddle and take the reins. The stallion’s ears flick back and forth as he waits for his command, and when I point him toward the pasture, he’s off. I lean low over the horse’s neck and squeeze my legs around his sides. He’s fast, but not nearly as wild as Colby made him out to be.
We race across the field, and the wind slaps against my face, bringing with the smell of fresh earth. There’s no better feeling than riding, especially in the wide-open spaces of the country. Out here, I can really breathe.
A group of cattle is grazing at the far edge of the pasture, and we’re almost to the fence when something catches Linux’s attention. He lets out a snort and comes to an abrupt halt, nearly throwing me from the saddle.
I hold tight, and lean down to whisper in his ear. “Easy, boy. What’s got you all spooked?”
The horse whinnies and rears back. I grab the reins and hold on, but whatever’s going on, he’s not having it. A moment later, I see what’s got him riled up. There’s a rattlesnake a few feet away, and its tail is shaking. Linux drives his hoof to the ground, and the snake lunges forward, hissing as it bares its fangs.
I’ve got two choices. Either I turn the horse around and hope we can outrun the serpent, or I can try to deal with the problem.
The snake coils, readying itself to strike, and I make a decision. There’s no way in hell I’m turning tail and running. I’m not a coward, and if I’ve got any chance of proving myself here, this is it.
I grip the pommel before I hop from the saddle and land a foot away from the snake. The thing is massive, with a thick body and a rattle that shakes in a warning. It’s coiled up, ready to strike, and I know that’s my only chance.
“Sorry, buddy,” I whisper, then grab the creature by the tail.
It snaps its jaw at me, and I jerk back, narrowly avoiding the deadly fangs. With all the strength I’ve got, I whip the snake over my head, and slam it into the dirt. There’s a loud crack, and the rattle goes silent.
I stare down at the carcass, and the adrenaline sinks from my ears down to my toes. Holy shit. Did I really just kill a fucking rattlesnake with my bare hands?
Linux dances away, still agitated by the dead animal, and I grab the reins, tugging the stallion’s face close to mine.
“Easy, boy. It’s dead.”
“Jesus Christ, Thurston! Are you fucking insane?”
Colby’s voice travels up the hill, and I turn to see him riding toward me. He dismounts his horse, and the second his feet hit the ground, he’s storming toward me.
“What the hell was that?”
“What was what?”
“Did you really just kill a rattlesnake?”
“Would you rather I left it to hang out here waiting for one of your horses or cows to wander too close?”
“Of course not, but Jesus. Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?”
“You’re preaching to the choir. My dad taught me how to handle snakes.”
“No shit. You’ve got balls, Thurston. That’s for damn sure.”
“So I’ve heard. Can I go ahead and get these guys in the pasture now?”
He blinks at me, gawking with a stupid grin on his face. I’m used to men gawking at me like that. The look every one of them gets when they realize I’m not the delicate, helpless flower they think I am.
I adjust the reins in my hand and swing myself back into the saddle before settling back into place. Colby’s still staring at me like he’s trying to figure out what planet I came from, but I just kick at Linux’s side and tick him forward. Behind me, I hear the crunch of his boots on dry dirt before he calls out, “You’re not what I expected, River.”
“Good,” I throw over my shoulder. “Would’ve been a shame if I was.”
If I stick around any longer, I might forget why I came here in the first place, and I can’t let that happen. Not for a pair of hazel eyes and a voice that sounds like it’s been rolled through gravel and whiskey. So, I give the horse another kick and head down the path toward the group of cattle, ready to bring them in from the pasture.
I glance back once, but Colby’s gone, thank the fucking mountain. The man is a force, and I have no interest in being swept up in that tornado. I’m not here to play house. I’m here for one reason, and one reason only. To put the events of the past year behind me.
