Page 42 of Cowboy's Sinful Bargain

I didn't believe him.

"Show me," I insisted.

"Miko, it's—" Jos's head snapped around and then he took off running, skidding to a stop several feet away before dropping to his knees. Bucky was down, lying on his side and panting heavily.

Jos unbuckled the saddle and let it slide away before starting to check him over. Even from where I stood I could spot the blood on his backend.

Once Jos examined the wound, his head dropped down to his chest and I could swear I heard him whisper Bucky's name. He stayed like that for so long, I started to grow concerned.

I started walking toward him, but when he got up and drew the gun he had holstered to his side, I broke into a run. "What are you doing?" I shouted as I grabbed his arm.

"Miko, stop!"

"No!"

I refused to let go.

"Miko, stop," he said again. "You don't understand. Bucky is injured. His back leg was mangled by a horn. He won't heal from this. The kindest thing I can do for him is put him out of his misery."

"No hurt!"

"Miko—"

I darted between Jos and the horse, spreading my arms out to my sides to prevent him from getting past me. "No!"

"Miko, stop!"

Jos grabbed my arm with one hand and tried to pull me out of the way. I could see the exasperation in his face, mixed with a whole lot of misery, but I couldn't let him shoot Bucky.

I wasn't positive I could save Bucky because I hadn't been able to get a good look at his injury yet, but I still wanted the chance to try.

"Please, don't hurt Bucky."

Jos paused for a moment, dragging his hand down over his face before reaching up to tilt his hat back. "Miko, he's got a leg wound. Most horses don't come back from an injury like that. I'm trying to do the humane thing here."

I narrowed my eyes and then jumped forward to tap at pressure points on Jos's neck. I caught him when his eyes rolled back into his head and gently lowered him to the ground.

It wasn't easy. The man weighed a ton.

I stared down at him, my heart aching that I'd been forced to do that. I just had no other choice. Jos loved Bucky. He might not have said it, but it was loudly spoken in the gentle care he had for his horse. He'd be devastated if Bucky died, especially if he was the one to pull the trigger, even if it was the humane thing to do.

Now I just needed to figure out what I was going to do.

I figured the first thing on my list was alerting others that we needed help. I searched Jos for his cell phone, finding it on a holder attached to his belt. I quickly pulled it off and scanned through the names listed.

I dialed the first one I recognized.

"Hey, Boss, what's up?"

"Wade?"

Confusion laced Wade's voice as he asked, "Miko?"

"Hai."

"Uh..."

"Yes, is Miko. Need help." God, my English was escaping me right now. I took a deep breath and tried again. "Jos and Bucky were hurt in stampede. We need help."

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