Page 8 of Austin's Answer
At least, I thought we did. Austin had never mentioned the rodeo. Never mentioned leaving his family ranch at all.
Of course, I didn’t share everything either. My teenage heart had created a picture of our future together. We would be long distance while I became a vet, but when I returned home, we would get married.
Then he turned eighteen and left me behind.
I couldn’t even say he led me on. Not really. He never kissed me, never professed deeper feelings for me. But in the foolishness of my youth, I’d believed he loved me too. Instead, I was just some girl who couldn’t take a hint.
And now I was tumbling into old patterns. I’d told myself I wouldn’t initiate a conversation unless it was about the sick horses, but my curiosity had got the better of me. And once I started talking, it just clicked back into place between us. He made me laugh with his stories from the rodeo, and he listened to mine about vet school. He had a way of focusing on me that made me feel like he was really hearing me.
“I can’t believe Vince didn’t tell you about your dad.” Austin’s lips thinned. “You had the right to know and to make your own decisions about how to handle it.”
“He hasn’t been the same since he returned from the army.” I hesitated before asking, “Has Mason said anything about what happened between them?”
“Not a word. I was kind of hoping you might know something.”
A loud bellow echoed across the pasture, and Ginger shied nervously beneath me. I held the reins firm, bringing her back under control. Austin and Lightning stayed steady through it, but when I looked over, the tension in his shoulders was obvious.
“Em, when I say go, you take the horses and run for the barn.”
“Austin, what’s wrong?—”
Another bellow, closer this time. I turned toward the sound, spotting a loose bull in the distance. “Shouldn’t he be in a pen?”
“Yes.” Austin swung his leg over Lightning and dismounted, handing me the reins. “Havoc’s a mean one, and he’s been wanting a piece of me for a while.”
“I’m not leaving you here alone.”
Austin kept his eyes trained on the bull. “I need you to go. I can’t be worried about your safety while I deal with him. It’ll distract me.”
“He’ll tear you to pieces!”
“He’ll try.” Austin’s gaze shifted to me for a moment, his eyes moving over me as if memorizing every detail. “This showdown’s been a long time coming. But, Em, I just found you again. Trust me when I say I won’t let anything keep us apart. Not even an angry bull. Now, go!”
He reached over and smacked Ginger, setting her in motion. I clung to her back as she raced toward the barn, Lightning on her heels. I stole a glance over my shoulder and saw Austin waving his arms, taking the bull’s attention off of us.
Unease churned in my gut, and I reined Ginger in, turning back toward Austin and Havoc. It didn’t feel right to leave him.Everything in me cried out to stay by his side. Forget the words he said that broke my heart once upon a time. The thought of anything happening to him made me realize my heart was still very much his.
But what could I do to help? Austin was a trained bullfighter and a tiger shifter. I was just a woman on a horse. It wasn’t like I had a weapon on me.
My breath caught. I might not have a weapon on me, but I had access to one.
I stole a glance over my shoulder as I urged the horses to a full gallop. The last thing I saw before they disappeared from view was Havoc charging straight for Austin. An instinctive response rose in me, wanting to turn back, but I pushed it down. I needed to be calm and think if I wanted to help him.
I slid off the back of Ginger before she came to a full stop next to my SUV, stumbling a little before regaining my balance and opening the back gate. Reaching in, I grabbed the dart gun that was meant for administering drugs to aggressive animals. Perfect for Havoc.
I fumbled for the tranquilizers, doing the math quickly to determine the correct dosage. After filling the darts, I mounted Ginger again just as Luke rounded the corner of the barn.
“Emily? Is that you?” His brows drew together as he took in the gun I balanced on the saddle in front of me. “What’s going on?”
“No time to talk. Havoc’s loose and after Austin.”
He cursed as I urged Ginger into motion. I heard him shout for his brothers, but I didn’t slow down. Austin didn’t have time for me to wait.
The sound of animals fighting reached me before I saw them. The rage-filled bellow of a bull, the mighty roar of a tiger. When they finally came into view, I realized they were closer to the pen. I watched Austin’s tiger circle the bull, only lashing out with itspowerful claws when it drove Havoc closer to the gate that hung open. My gut twisted as I realized that instead of ending the fight, Austin seemed determined to herd the bull back into its pen, which meant more opportunities for him to get hurt.
As if to prove me right, the bull lowered its head and charged at Austin, who leaped from its path, just barely missing the horns. He landed lightly on his paws, but Havoc spun around, driving forward into Austin’s side. His tiger roared and snapped at the bull. As they clashed, I noticed a flash of red on the tiger’s side. When they separated, I noticed Austin favoring his injury.
Once I was in range, I brought Ginger to a stop and dismounted. I glanced over at the fight before loading the gun, only to find the bull had a new target. Austin, looking unsteady on his paws, was circling him again, still stubbornly sticking to his plan, but Havoc’s gaze had locked onto me.
