Page 38 of Bravo

The horses snort, but they don’t run.

Bradyn sits down near the fire, his back close to the wall of the shed, so I open up the thermal blanket and set half over his shoulders as I slide down the wall and scoot in closer.

We sit in silence with only the sound of the raging storm around us. The wind howls as rain slams into the sides and roof of the shed.

“We’re lucky the wind is blowing in the other direction,” I say. “Otherwise, this wouldn’t do us any good.”

He doesn’t respond.

I tuck my knees up to my chest as the rest of the adrenaline leaves my system. Cold settles around me, and I start to shiver despite the fire. My body convulses, the shivering getting so bad my head begins to pound right alongside it.

“Come here.” Bradyn separates his legs and pulls me between them, hugging me back against his strong chest. He pulls the blanket out from behind him and places it over me then rubs his strong hands over my arms.

I can’t even form the sentences required to remind him he could freeze too.

The fire continues burning, but I know it won’t remain that way for long since there’s only so much straw in this shed.

Minutes tick by, and finally, the shivers begin to slow just enough that my entire body isn’t convulsing uncontrollably. Bradyn shifts, leaning fully back against the wall of the shed, though he keeps me pressed against his strong chest. Heat begins to spread through my body. Not a lot but enough that I can feel the beat of his heart against my back.

“Th-th-thanks,” I stammer.

“Yeah.” He wraps his arms around me and holds on, giving me as much of his warmth as he can, even as I can feel him shivering right alongside me. “I would have gone out after them too,” he says. “Though I would have taken ten minutes to get dressed in warmer clothes first.”

“Which would have been smart,” I reply with a half laugh, my body still shaking.

“It’s admirable, though, what you did. Thanks for going after the horses.”

“Here’s hoping help arrives before we freeze to death.”

“We’ll survive,” he says. “I told Elliot to wait an hour, which is likely almost up. They’ll be headed out soon. You just have to hang on until then.”

“You dida number on your leg, Sammy,” Lani says as she finishes bandaging me up. “Seriously. What were you thinking?”

“That the horses needed help.” I stare over at the floral wallpaper of the guest bedroom Mrs. Hunt insisted I be placed in once we got back. I haven’t seen any of the brothers, just her andLani. I’m desperate to know if Bradyn was hurt at all or if Rev’s leg has been tended to by an actual vet.

But so far, any time I try to ask questions, they tell me to keep focused on myself for now. That everything else will be just fine.

“Without X-rays, I can’t know for sure if it’s broken, but?—”

“No X-rays,” I say quickly. I can’t let them put me in a system. Any system. Even if it’s a hospital. If they do, the careful backstory I crafted will fall apart. All it would take is someone looking too closely. And right now, I can’t even run.

“Well, then, all I can do is tell you to keep it wrapped and stay off of it for the next couple of days. If it’s not broken and it really is just a sprain, you should be able to start putting a little bit of weight on it in about forty-eight hours. But just some, don’t go crazy.”

“When can I get back to work?”

“Honey, don’t you worry about that,” Mrs. Hunt says as she pats my uninjured leg.

“I need to work, though. I need?—”

“You need to rest,” Mrs. Hunt interjects. “Don’t you worry about a thing until you’re healed. Your job will still be here. For now, you can stay here so we can keep an eye on you.”

Dread coils in my stomach. The things in my cabin—I need them. “I can’t stay here. It’s too much. Please, just let me return to my cabin, and I promise that I’ll rest up.”

“Nonsense. We’ll have one of the boys bring your stuff up. This is the best place for you.”

“I—”

“I’ll just go and make you something to eat. We’re having beef stew for dinner. Something to warm everyone up.” With a final smile, she leaves Lani and me, shutting the door softly behind her.

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