Page 34 of Wyoming Bodyguard
“Sounds nice.” He kept Ace at a steady pace, the reins loose in his hands. As long as he didn’t have to use his arm too much, he could relax and enjoy an evening stroll on a magnificent creature.
The meadow stretched out in front of him, long blades of grass interrupted by a smattering of colorful wildflowers. Pine trees stood tall in the distance. The faint outline of the stream looked like a single line cutting through the landscape at this distance.
“Your dad was great tonight,” Lily said, interrupting his thoughts. “I was nervous to go to his house, but he made me feel nothing but welcomed.”
“That’s Pops. Wants to be friends with everyone. Never muttering a bad word unless it’s about one of his sons or something in jest. He’s one of the good ones.” A beat of love pulsed through him. He’d been blessed with a wonderful role model, a father who loved his kids without limits. He’d do anything for the old man, even when it made him a pariah in his own town.
“I hate that I’ve judged him so harshly.” Her soft words were almost lost on the subtle breeze.
A lump formed in his throat. “The last couple years have been tough for him.”
Lily gave a noncommittal hum. “Dax surprised me. I hate to say I haven’t noticed him much lately. In my mind, he’s still the kid who followed us around. He’s not a kid anymore, that’s for sure. He seemed upset.”
He huffed out a humorless laugh. “He’s always upset.”
Lily spared him a glance before returning her focus ahead of her. “Sorry to hear that. I can’t say I understand the dynamics between siblings, but I hope you both realize how lucky you are to have one another. Someone who can share the burden of life’s troubles.”
He swallowed the retort that came to mind. Dax wasn’t one to share anything except his complaining. His brother was quick to judge Madden, blaming him for everything, without understanding a damn thing. “Dax is…hell, I can’t even say I really know him anymore. So much changed while I was away. And when I returned home, we both expected things to just go back to the way they were. But that wasn’t possible. For any of us.”
Lily pulled on her reins, halting Queenie. She stared at him with nothing but compassion in her wide eyes.
The wind blew wisps of hair across her face, and his fingers itched to comb it back. To brush away the long strands to show off her long, elegant neck.
As if reading his mind, she tucked her hair behind her ears. “It’s funny how one choice, one action, can have a rippling effect on so many people. I hope whatever the issue, you both can find a way past it. I’m learning that life’s too short to carry ill will or animosity in our hearts. Well, that, and people tend to surprise you when you open up a little.” Her narrowed stare told him exactly who she meant.
He grinned. “Fair points, but this conversation won’t do much to help you unwind. I thought that was the reason for this whole ride.”
“True. How about a race? We see who can make it to the stream the quickest, then let the horses take a little break and get a drink before heading back to the house so I can call and check in on my dad.”
He opened his mouth to refuse, but she kicked her heels into Queenie’s sides and shot off like a train barreling down the tracks. He wanted to stay put and watch, just admire her fluid movement on the horse. The two moved as one as they raced toward the gentle slope, the pink and orange swirls of dusk casting Lily in a magical light.
But he had to move or risk her questioning why he wouldn’t take the bait to her challenge.
Gritting his teeth, he tightened his grip on the reins and urged Ace forward. “Be gentle with me, boy,” he whispered against the horse’s ear.
He leaned into the wind and clenched the muscles in his thighs to keep steady in the saddle. Wind smacked against his face. His heart lifted with every stride, and he urged the animal faster. Lily had gotten a head start, and her laughter trailed behind her. He might not catch up completely, but he had to at least give a solid attempt.
Pushing Ace into a gallop, he sprinted forward. He smiled wide, a lightness lifting his spirit in a way he hadn’t experienced in years. He forgot the pain in his shoulder, forgot his limitations, and just enjoyed the simple pleasure of racing an old friend on a horse.
Lily glanced over her shoulder and grinned seconds before Queenie leapt over a fallen log. Her saddle slid to the side. Shock registered on her face seconds before she was thrown off the horse and crumpled onto the ground.
* * *
Pain ricocheted off every bone in Lily’s body. Her eyelids fell shut and she fought against the instinct to curl into a ball among the grass. Her palms stung as if she’d been sliced by razor blades. Ringing in her ears muffled the sound of hooves pounding the earth.
Queenie?
Crap, she needed to open her eyes and find a way to her feet. But even the thought of such a sudden motion seemed as difficult as moving mountains.
Strong hands touched her tender body. The familiar smell of cedarwood and citrus relaxed her muscles and calmed her nerves.
Madden.
“I’ve got you,” Madden said. “Are you hurt? Can you open your eyes?”
She did and winced against the unusually harsh glow of twilight. “Do I have to? My head is killing me.”
He grimaced. “We need to get you back to the house and make sure there aren’t any serious injuries. Can you stand?”
