Page 21 of Wrangling Her Heart
Rex felt a knot tighten in his stomach. He spotted Petunia by the barn, her tiny figure hunched over a horse’s hoof. She didn’t look up as he approached, too engrossed in her work.
“Petunia,” he called, dismounting with a thud, “have you seen Tillie?”
Petunia glanced up at him through the fringes of her shaggy blonde hair. “I’m not talking to you.” With a pop, a stone broke free and flew through the air. “All better, Dusty.” She patted the side of the animal and put the pick in a bucket with other tools.
“Petunia, please.”
Petunia stood, dusting off her hands onto her buckskin trousers. She arched an eyebrow at him, crossing her arms over her chest. “Fine,” she sighed, “she ran off several hours ago. Straight into the woods.”
Rex felt his heart drop into his gut, a sick feeling creeping uphis throat. He knew he had to find her, and fast.
“Thank you,” he said, turning his horse back towards the woods.
“Wait, and I’ll come with you.”
“You don’t have to.”
Petunia frowned. “I know I don’t. But you need a tracker.”
With a swift flick of her wrist, she threw a warm, woolen blanket over the back of Dusty. Clutching his mane tightly, she swung herself onto his back and they took off towards the thick canopy of trees in the distance. Hooves thudded against the ground as they galloped through the open field, mud kicking up behind them.
Once they entered the wood line, they slowed to a stop.
“Tillie!” Rex called.
Petunia chimed in. “Tillie! Where are you?”
He knew these woods like the back of his hand, but they seemed so much more daunting now.
“Found something.” Petunia pointed to a broken shard of fabric caught on a low branch. “Look here. Could be hers,” she muttered, her voice low and steady. Rex nodded, hardly daring to breathe as he reached out to grasp it. It was a piece of Tillie’s faded blue calico dress.
He clutched it tight in his fist, heart pounding in his chest as they moved forward.
“Matilda!”
A low groaning noise echoed from somewhere around them. Rex’s heart pounded in his chest, the blood roaring in his ears. He hopped off his horse. “Tillie!” he called out again. He ignored the branches whipping against his face and arms as he pushed forward.
“Rex? I’m down here.”
Rex leaned over the side of the creek bed, and Tillie was laying in the mud. Her dress had torn and become dirty, while smears of dirt and blood made her face pale. His heart constricted as he slid down the embankment towards her.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
Tillie lifted her head and attempted to push herself up. “I’ve been better.”
“What are you doing down there?” Petunia called, leaning over the ledge.
“I thought the water looked so refreshing. I’d just come down here for a swim.”
“In winter?”
Rex shook his head. “Petunia, grab the rope from my saddle.” When she disappeared, he turned back to Tillie. “I was worried sick.”
“I’m alright. I just stepped wrong.”
“How did that happen?”
“I thought I saw someone, but it turned out to be a rabbit. When I stepped backwards, I lost my footing. And then I couldn’t get back up.”
