Page 71 of The Lies We Told Ourselves

I got to the gate moments before he did. I glanced over my shoulder at Hank and saw the annoyance cross his features as he realized what I was about to do.

“Don’t you dare,” Hank warned me. But I was already climbing the iron bars of the gate before he could utter the words. “Wait for me, at least.”

I paused at the top of the gate, and it took every single ounce of willpower that I possessed.

There were still a few scared horses in the yard, even if more of them had been lured across to the food. I knew I wouldn’t stand a chance if they turned and ran, and I didn’t have enough experience to know what to do if I ended up in a situation that could mean trying to save myself as well.

The last thing we needed was more people injured. It would take the precious few resources we had away from Booker, and I wouldn’t risk him any more than he’d already risked himself.

Idiot.

He knew better than that. I knew he did. He should have trusted Xander and me to see what was happening and get ourselves out of there in time. When was Booker going to learn that the entire world wasn’t waiting for him to save it?

The problem with sitting at the top of the gate waiting for Hank was that it gave me a completely uninterrupted view of Xander as he ran around the horse that was lying on the ground. It lifted its head slightly, giving a soft whinny before it dropped back to the ground.

“Come on, sweetheart,” Hank murmured as he reached my side. “Stay at my side and keep me between you and the horses. Booker will have my ass if you get hurt.”

I nodded numbly as I watched Xander drop to his knees behind the horse. Part of me was too afraid to move, but then Xander looked up, his gaze locked with mine, and he nodded.

The relief surging through my heart spurred me into motion as I jumped from the gate and jogged across the yard at Hank’s side.

“Easy, Bullet,” Hank murmured as we approached the injured horse. “Easy, boy.”

At first, I was confused about what he was doing, but then my eyes finally found Booker, and I saw how he was lying on the ground between the horse’s legs. I saw the danger he could be in if Bullet tried to get up.

“He’s unconscious, but he’s breathing. I can’t assess him properly like this. Hank, I need you to help me pull him clear of the horse.” Xander sounded so calm as he spoke that the whole situation didn’t seem real.

“Don’t move him,” I suddenly snapped out, looking at Xander in alarm. “We’re not supposed to move him, right?”

My hands stretched out like I was going to make a grab for one of them, but I had no idea what to do in this situation. I had no idea how to help.

“We need to get him clear of the horse, Reece,” Xander said calmly. “He’s at less risk if we move him carefully than if he stays where he is.”

I nodded numbly as Hank gently patted my shoulder before moving to Xander’s side. They each put a hand under one of Booker’s shoulders and then did their best to steady his head as they counted to three.

I held my breath as they quickly moved Booker, my gaze moving across every part of him trying to see where he was hurt.

He was so still when they gently rolled him onto his back, and the tears broke free of my eyes when I saw the blood staining his face.

This couldn’t be happening. It didn’t feel real. What had seemed like the perfect day had turned into a nightmare.

Xander was already checking him over, his practiced hands examining his brother as Hank opened up both medical kits within reach. He checked Booker’s pulse, his pupils, his neck and then moved down his body, continuing his assessment.

Xander moved back to Booker’s head, parting his hair to see where the bleeding was coming from as he pulled a dressing from the bag and had Hank hold it in place.

“He’s got a broken right arm, a nasty cut on his head, and a whole hell of a lot of bruises. I need to get him an MRI to be sure, but?—”

“Will you stop breathing in my face,” Booker mumbled.

A sob of relief burst out of me just at the sound of his voice.

“I swear to god if you try to give me mouth-to-mouth, I’m kicking your ass.” Then Booker groaned in pain.

Xander dropped back onto his ass in surprise as Hank laughed, shaking his head.

“You ain’t kicking anyone’s ass for a while, boss. I think I’m holding your brain in my hand.”

“Please! You haven’t got hands big enough.”

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