I’m not sure how long I stand there for, watching him lament but it’s long enough that my legs begin to ache from being stood still for too long so I start to climb the fence, not to enter the paddock, I’m not stupid after all, but I can sit.
I keep my teeth gritted to stop the whimper that wants to escape with the smarting in my body and once I’m sat, using my hands to keep my balance on either side of me, I release my breath, allowing the pain to work its way through me until it dulls to a bearable throb.
It isn’t the first time I’ve had my ass handed to me. I’ve had broken ribs and fingers and arms,been nicked with a knife but never shot. The sparring and fight training my dad forced on me after the attack in the dining room left me bruised and weak,butit gave me strength. He always told me to hide my pain; pain is a vulnerability your enemies will use against you. If he saw me whimper or cry, even flinch, he’d order me back on the mats to train some more. My blood stained the floor, but eventually I stopped crying.
Hearing the creaking of the fence, the bull turns his attention to me, slowly spinning away from the herd to face me head on. He’s way on the other side, far enough away that if he did decide to charge me, I could get off and back behind the fence if needed. But he doesn’t, he just stands and stares right at me.
“Just joining you in your loneliness, buddy,” I mumble, more to myself than to anything else. He snorts as if he heard me.
We really don’t give animals enough credit when it comes to their intelligence.
A loud whistle cuts through the peace, and I lift my head to see Knox trotting through an empty field ahead of me, a kid, no older than eighteen, trailing behind on his own horse. I see him waving his hand, but I can’t figure out what he’s trying to say until I hear someone come up behind me.
I glance over my shoulder to see Chase reaching for me.
“Touch a single part of me, freckles, and I’llbreak every bone in your hand,” I warn him.
He draws his hands into himself. “Boss wants you down.”
“Boss can fuck off.” I give him a saccharine smile.
“Elena!” Knox yells from the other side of the paddock. “Get the fuck off the fence!”
I keep my ass planted.
“Are you trying to get yourself killed!?” He bellows.
Ahead of me, the bull ambles forward, gaining distance. It’s a leisurely pace, his gait swinging side to side, the horns atop his head moving from left to right with every step.
“He won’t hurt me,” I shrug nonchalantly, like I have any fucking clue what I am talking about.
“Sweetness, I hate to break it to you, but that bull is meaner than you.” Chase rubs the back of his neck. “Come on down before he gets any closer.”
“Get the fuck away from that bull, Elena.” Knox rounds the corner closest to me.
“He’s lonely,” I argue.
“He’s not fucking lonely, he’s horny and angry.” Knox retorts, coming to a stop behind me on his painted mare.
“Doesn’t seem angry to me.” I turn back to thebull in question, swallowing thickly when I see he’s already halfway toward me.
“He took out two men and gouged another male bull just three days ago, you want to play with him?” Knox challenges.
“You gonna let me do something?” I reply.
“Elena,” He bites, “Get down.”
“Make me.”
When he does no such thing, I turn back to the animal only for thick arms to band around my middle and I’m yanked with such strength, it knocks all the air from my lungs and has my ribs flaring in response. Knox plants me firmly in front of him on his horse, caging me with his arms. The saddle bites into my ass, his thick, denim-clad thighs tightening to keep me in place.
“Knox!” I huff through gritted teeth.
“Can’t be trusted, then I’ll fucking babysit you,” He says close to my ear, setting the horse in motion again. I hear Chase’s laughter as we walk down a dirt path around the side of the stables, away from the bull, who has gone back to making that sad, deep noise. I feel so sorry for him.
“That bull is sad,” I grumble, my legs over one of his thighs, my back pressed into his arm and chest.
“His name is Ralph, and he isn’t sad.”
