Page 35 of Take Me Away, Cowboy

“I do think we’d better leave now, though,” Owen said, wiping a line of water from his forehead that was just replaced immediately by another waterfall cascading off his brow. He shook his head, sending the drops flying from each of his errant curls.

“It’s hopeless,” she giggled, wringing her hair out.

A clap of thunder sounded off in the distance, echoing off the peaks. The horses spooked, and even Paige, used to the inclement weather the summers brought, shuddered. The exposure spelled danger up there along the ridgeline more than it did down in the valley.

“Yep, time to go. Now.” Owen’s voice, thick with concern, drove a wedge of fear in Paige’s previously calm demeanor.

He helped her into her saddle that was slick with moisture, and hopped into his effortlessly.

“Follow me, and stay close, Paige,” he commanded.

She could only nod in reply as he gave a nudge to Ares and started down the slippery terrain. The path now included a small, brown rivulet of water along the inner edge of the trail from the runoff. She imagined, as all the water poured downhill, that the trickle would worsen as they descended, and worried about the entire trail washing out.

They rode in silence, the thundering clouds and the water it threw at them as if from buckets the only sounds. Still, they roared loud enough to drown out Paige’s thoughts, even those of Owen, naked above her, a look of lust on his face.

All she could think about now was making sure Justice kept close enough to her brother to mimic his footsteps and get them all down the mountain safely. She wondered how the poor animals could see in the torrential downpour, since she could only see four feet in front of her. Owen looked steady, but his shoulders tensed, each muscle taut and strained.

What was he thinking? Was he as concerned as her? Even if she wanted to ask him, she couldn’t yell loud enough over the storm to be heard. That small bit of knowledge frightened her, sent a shudder down her spine.

About halfway down, Paige’s fears were confirmed. The line of water sliding down the trail at the base of the rock had turned into a small river, all but covering the path.

Owen and Ares had slowed to almost a saunter, except there was nothing relaxing about their pace. Paige understood it was necessary to keep Ares’s footing solid, and could only hope Justice was as steady. She patted Justice’s neck, spoke to her without leaning down. She assumed keeping her tall center of balance was better for the horse, and by extension, her.

This was so out of her comfort zone, she prayed it was the right move.

Out of nowhere, a bolt of lightning struck the rock above them, where they’d been riding not ten minutes before.

The light was blinding, and Justice trembled. Ares and Owen both flinched but continued moving forward. The thunder cracked almost immediately afterwards, though, and Ares stopped short. Justice, thoroughly spooked, reared up, sending Paige toppling back, legs over her head. She landed hard on her side, water rushing and spilling over her.

A scream of agony tore from her chest.

She saw spots. Though she was pretty sure she didn’t hit her head, a searing pain pulsed in her side when she tried to move, to get up.

Above her, Justice whinnied and bucked. Paige wanted to get out of the way, get up and help restrain her, calm her down, but she couldn’t move.

Her breathing was heavy, labored. Each time she inhaled, a sharp jolt of pain shot up her side. The rain mixed with tears streaming down her face, and her eyes burned.

I’m not going to make it down the mountain.As she cried, dread filling her chest and her ribs aching with each sob, an arm wrapped around her, tucked under her shoulder, another linking under her knees. She was lifted off the ground, and the pressure released ever so slightly on whatever screamed at her from the inside.

Paige’s vision went in and out for a few moments. Justice shook her head and whinnied, her tail whipping them as they walked by.

Then…blackness.

When she opened her eyes again, she was staring up at Owen who had a stern look on his face, his eyebrows touching, sending the water that refused to stop falling cascading down the sides of his face.

She laid across his lap, that much she could discern.

Then more blackness. Longer this time.

When she opened her eyes again, she was being lifted off Ares by her brother, Owen right behind them. She overheard her brother yelling over the rain that fell softer down there, in the valley, but just as steady.

“What the hell did you do to her?” she heard Brad scream.

Paige wanted to tell him it wasn’t Owen’s fault. She’d been the one to disobey all her riding instincts and lean back instead of in.

“She fell off Justice when lightning struck right above us. The horse spooked and tossed her. She’s a good rider, Brad. But she hit hard.”

“Jesus. What were you two doing that high on the ridge in this weather? And this late?”

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