“Now, I didn’t say that.” He chuckled. “But when he was in thepaddock, if any of us tried to open his stall, he charged us. He didn’t do that with her. He stayed where he was until she was done. She’s been cleanin’ it too.”
“I’ll be damned. That fucker has a thing for women.”
“Can’t say I blame him with those two.”
Addie and Jessie were like night and day with their looks. Jessie was short, five foot three at most. Whereas Addie was five foot eight. Jessie’s hair was long and dark, almost black, and it hung to her waist. Addie had blonde hair, like our mother, and it stopped just below her shoulders when she left it down. Usually, it was in some kind of knot on top of her head.
I’d long suspected Carl had a thing for my sister, but the two of them were like oil and water. I didn’t understand what her issue with him was, but anytime they shared the same space, she took every opportunity to take a shot at him. He’d just smile and walk away.
We were waiting for what felt like hours for Jessie to lead Thunder out to the clearing, when gunshots rang out.
“What the fuck was that?”
Once again, I was helpless as I sat in the bed of the truck and waited while the others raced toward the clearing. Carl jumped into the truck and had just started the engine when Thunder broke through at a run, with Jessie on his back.
My life flashed before my eyes as my horse raced by with Jessie desperately clinging to his neck.
“Follow them, Carl!” It was a useless command; Carl was already moving, as were the others. The men on horseback had no hope of catching up to Thunder, but in the truck, we might.
We followed behind as I tried fruitlessly to call out to my horse. I knew he couldn’t hear me over the sound of his hooves pounding on the flat land and the roar of the engine barreling behind him.
Thunder was smart, though. He ran straight back to the ranch, only stopping when he reached the yard. A group of men I didn’t recognize stood with Addie, watching as Thunder walked out his run, Jessie still clinging to his back.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Grayson
“Get me out of here, Carl.” Again, my yelling meant nothing, as Carl quickly pulled the tailgate open and grabbed my chair. He didn’t bother letting me try on my own. He grabbed me from behind, under my arms, and dragged me out of the truck bed. Addie was there to maneuver the chair under me. As soon as he let me go, I reached for the wheels, but they were already turning.
Carl moved me to the middle of the yard and walked back, dragging Addie with him.
“You okay, Jessie?”
“No.” Her voice trembled.
“Wait until Ellie hears what you did today.”
“She’ll kill me.” A small chuckle bubbled out of her, and I knew she would be okay.
“Hey, boy.” Thunder nickered at my voice and spun his head around. “You saved my girl, Thunder.” I rolled slowly across the yard, trying to get closer. He didn’t like my chair, but he had learned to tolerate it.
“Grayson?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“I want to get off. I don’t think I like this ride much.”
I couldn’t stop the laugh as it slipped out. “I know, baby. Give me a minute to talk him down.”
“Don’t have a minute. My adrenaline is dropping fast.”
“Think you can slide off? No one can get close enough to pull you down.”
“Thunder, you’re a big baby,” Jessie scolded. “Put me down.”
The horse snorted as if he were offended by her words. Mybrothers didn’t believe me, but I knew he understood what I said to him. Thunder understood more than people realized, and that was proven when he bent his front legs and kneeled.
Jessie slid off his back and lay on the ground. “Go back to the barn, big guy. There should be food waiting for you.” She twisted her head to look at me. “There is food waiting for him, right?”
