Page 26 of Dreaming About Forever

Now he definitelywaslimping. He was favoring his left side and gritting his teeth.

The cow ran past him again, and Jordan set his sights on her as he ran. His boots closed the distance between them until he slid to the ground and crawled under the fence. One second he was on the side with the enraged cow, half a second later, he was on her side and safe.

“How did you…” Alicia looked back and forth between the man and the fence.

Jordan straightened and rushed to her side. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

Sure, she was fine, but she’d just been charged by a cow, and Jordan slid under a fence like it was nothing.

His gaze ran from her head to her toes and back again as he panted for air. “You sure?”

“Yeah.” The word was too high and squeaky, but maybe he’d believe her. Her brain wasn’t working at full speed after watching Jordan’sAmerican Ninja Warriorperformance.

He brushed off his shirt and reached for her hand. “Come on.”

Letting him pull her toward the truck, Alicia gasped for air. She’d seen photos of cows before, but she’d never seen one in person. Were they all so hostile?

Jordan dug his phone out of his pocket and dialed as they approached the vehicle.

With the phone to his ear, he commanded, “Hey. Bring Dad out to the north pasture. A calf is down, and the mama is protective. She charged me and wouldn’t let me get close to the calf to see what’s wrong. She’ll have the fence torn down soon.”

So, that was the problem. The cow was trying to protect her baby. The thought clenched Alicia’s throat.

“Got it. I need to get Alicia out of here. I’ll meet you back at the house.”

Jordan put his phone away and opened the passenger door for her. “Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked again.

She reached for the hand he offered and noticed the shake in her own. She wasn’t injured, but a little bit of adrenaline still coursed through her. “I’m okay. Are you? You’re limping.”

“I’m fine,” he said as he closed the door.

Sliding into the seat, she watched Jordan round the truck, keeping an eye on the pacing mama cow. When he slid into the driver’s seat and closed the door, he let out a deep sigh.

“I thought I’d have to protect you from reporters.”

“Not cows,” she finished.

Jordan pushed a hand through his hair and looked out the windshield. “Why on earth did you get out of the truck?”

Heat spread over her chest and face, despite the cold damp still clinging to her clothes. “I thought I could help.”

“Help,” Jordan repeated.

Her ears burned, and she crossed her arms over her front. “It sounds silly.”

Jordan slowly nodded. “Yeah, it does.”

A stray chuckle burst from her chest, and she covered her mouth to hide the fit of laughter bubbling up. “It’s funny.”

“You almost got trampled by a cow, and you think it’s funny?”

Another wave of laughter crashed over her. When was the last time she’d laughed?

“No. It’s funny that I thought I could help you.” She held her sides as the muscles ached. “You threw me over that fence like I didn’t weigh anything. And then you crawled under it faster than I could blink.”

Jordan rubbed the back of his neck and cracked a smile. “I’ll be paying for those twists and turns tomorrow.”

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