Page 26 of The Female Warrior & The Charming Gentleman

Chapter

Nine

After they watchedEaston get thrown off of bulls for almost an hour, Autumn was relieved the practice was finished. She wasn’t drawn to Easton like Jarom, but she didn’t want to see him gored by a massive animal. He was tough and brave; she’d give him that. She could appreciate and respect Easton, but she was attracted to the tall, handsome man who stood by her side, watching and saying positive comments about Easton and quietly flirting with her. Was Jarom not threatened by Easton’s flirtations with her? Most likely not if he was only interested in a fling.

They explored the barn yard and then Easton ran home to shower before lunch as he was dusty and sweaty from his training. They all had lunch with Millie and Jared. Millie seemed to be warming up to Autumn and had been nothing but kind to her. After how many decades of avoiding mother figures, it only took a couple meals with Jarom there protecting her to become comfortable around Millie. Jarom was a miracle worker.

After lunch, Easton offered to take them on a horseback ride. She’d never been on a horse before. Jarom had, so Easton gave him a more ‘spirited’ ride. Easton held onto her reins and led her gentle horse as they traversed the beautiful property. She’d traveled around America and Mexico with security details but thought the Montana mountains were glorious arching up to the heavens. Most of the fall color was gone, but there were plenty of green pine trees covering the mountains and the bare branches of the other trees waved at her with a stark beauty all their own.

Easton led the way on his huge black horse, holding onto her reins as she clung to the ‘horn’ he’d called it. Jarom rode behind them. Jarom had seemed a little withdrawn since watching the bull riding. Was he worn out, or was something wrong?

They plodded along quietly, admiring the views and not saying much. Suddenly Autumn heard a rattle. A very distinctive rattle. She was no country girl, but she’d encountered rattlesnakes in Mexico on a job and was terrified of them.

“Whoa,” Easton said softly. “Calm down there, girl.”

Was he talking to her or his horse?

Autumn whipped around, trying to see if there really was a rattlesnake and how close it was. Jarom’s horse was shying away, and she could see the venomous monster in the brush, far too close to Jarom’s horse.

Jarom was trying to calm his horse, but the rattler struck at its hooves. The horse reared, launching Jarom into the air.

Heart racing, Autumn held onto the horn with one hand and yanked out her pistol. Jarom landed hard but didn’t so much as groan as he rolled away from the snake.

Aiming, she shot the snake before it struck again; this time itwouldn’t be the horse’s hooves but Jarom, and she doubted it would miss.

The rattler’s head exploded.

Jarom’s horse took off and Autumn’s mount shifted uneasily. Her stress spiked. She wanted off this perch. Easton was talking soft and quick to his horse, still holding onto her reins.

Autumn launched herself off the horse, hit the ground in a crouch, and ran for Jarom.

He rolled up to a seated position as she dropped to her knees next to him.

“Are you all right?” she exclaimed.

“Fine. Embarrassed.” He gave her a chagrined smile and looked over at the decimated snake. “That was an impressive shot.”

“Thank you.” She smiled, but it felt unsteady. What if that snake had struck before she blasted it? Jarom would be injured, possibly disfigured, maybe even dead.

“I get thrown off a bull’s back dozens of times and you cheered. He gets thrown once and you flip out?” Easton said from above her. His voice was good-natured.

“Sorry. He’s the protection detail and my paycheck.” She smiled at Easton, but he’d obviously seen what she was trying to hide. Jarom was much more important to her than a protection detail.

“You all right?” Easton asked.

“Yes, thank you,” Jarom responded.

“You got him? I’ll go get the other horse.”

“We won’t move,” she reassured the cowboy. “Unless another snake comes to visit.”

Easton chuckled, shook his head, and ledher horse away.

Autumn looked at Jarom. She wanted to check him for injuries and then hug him tight. For a very long time.

“You almost broke my arm last night,” Jarom said, smiling slightly, his blue eyes studying her. “Now you’re worried about me being hurt.”

“If I hurt you, I’ll know exactly what I’m doing and it will only be to teach you a lesson or keep you safe.” That wasn’t the whole truth, as she’d felt cornered and struck out at him. Now she felt awful about her reaction. “The horse or snake could’ve killed you.” She shrugged even as her hands quivered. She tried to cover her reaction. “I’d … miss out on my bonus for this job.”

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