“I will,” I smile, watching her leave.
I get Pumpkin settled in the back seat and then climb behind the wheel, getting the car started. The entire drive into town, I’m watching for Roman or any of the other guys, but it’s empty. There’s no sign of them or any of the missing cattle, but even from here I can see the herd is considerably smaller than it was yesterday.
Could it have been an accident? It doesn’t seem like mistakes like that happen all that often around here. Could someone have let them out on purpose?
Chapter 16
Sweat rolls down my temples, the sun beating down on the back of my neck as we close in on the herd. We have them surrounded, pressing in at the edges in an attempt to get them turned around. It’s taken us nearly three hours to find them, and I’m not entirely sure this is all of them. It’s going to be a long day of scanning their tags once we have them back at the ranch.
“On the right,” I yell, watching as the herd attempts to flee through a gap on the right side. I could really use a damn cutter right about now, but the one we had retired and no one here has the skills to do it. They’re hard to come by, good ones at least, and I’m not about to employ someone who could do more harm than good.
We push them as a team back down the road, keeping the trees on the left closed off, and herd the cattle back in the direction of Knight Falls.
I don’t know who the fuck let them out, but I’m going to find them.
This not only puts the cattle in danger, but the risk it has put on the ranch is unfathomable, and the time it has taken to herd them back up means an entire day has been lost.
Pippin’s hooves clack against the ground as we continue to push, her body strong and steady while Silas remains at the rear, making sure we continue to move in the right direction. Despite the fact that he moved into the training management side of the ranch, this is second nature to us. We were out here, herding cattle with our grandfather the moment we were able to stay on the back of a horse.
Two hours later, I finally see the sign for Knight Falls, the plank of wood engraved with our logo swinging from an arch at the end of the drive. A silver truck, however, is blocking the entrance, the sun’s glare making it impossible to see through the windscreen. I call for the guys to halt, keeping Pippin steady beneath me. Warning bells start to ring when she becomes nervous, prancing as she throws her head back, pushing against my control. Her restless energy tightens her body, muscles going taught, huffs of air blowing heavily from her nostrils. They say horses have a sixth sense; theyknowwhen something bad is about to happen, and I’ve learned to listen to her. She’s saved my life a few times.
“Easy,” I soothe her, patting her neck, but the truck upfront revs its engine before the sound of tires screeching fills the air.
“Move!” I roar, but Pippin is spooked, and she rears up. I’m not prepared; my grip isn’t tight enough, so the moment she’s up, I’m coming off. For a moment, I’m airborne, falling to the sounds of shouts, but then my back hits the tarmac, and the air rushes out of my lungs before pain explodes through my upper back and chest. It tightens, like a steel band around my ribs.
The truck swerves at the last minute, speeding by, but I can’t fucking breathe. Pippin doesn’t stick around, and though my eyes are blurry, a fog creeping in at the edges, I watch her run off, galloping up the drive to the ranch. She’ll take herself home, and one of the guys will get her, I’m sure.
I bring my knees up and tuck my arms around my chest as I roll onto my side, vaguely aware of the noises I’m making. Fuck, this hurts. It feels like something has shattered inside of me.
“Roman!” Silas bellows. “Someone call a fucking ambulance!”
Beside me, my brother drops to his knees, his hands on me. “Where does it hurt?”
“Everywhere,” I groan, squeezing my eyes closed as a throbbing pain starts up in beat with my heart. But my breaths are shallow, and every time I try to get in more air, it feels as if I am being stabbed straight in the chest. “Can’t breathe.”
“Where the fuck is the ambulance?” Silas demands.
“They’re on the way, boss,” One of the workers yells back.
“Shit,” Silas mutters.
I don’t know how much time passes, long enough for Silas to call out orders to clear the cattle and the herd moving away. A jacket is placed beneath my head as myvision swims, my head feeling entirely too light. There’s a buzzing in my ears, a fog descending at the corners of my mind.
“Not much longer,” Silas assures me.
“The truck,” I wheeze.
“I didn’t see the driver,” He snaps.
Finally, blue flashing lights appear, and Silas has to step back while the paramedics get to work.
This was deliberate.
It’s the only thing I can think as I’m worked on, the pain a distant thought while I try to put the puzzle pieces together. An oxygen mask is put over my mouth and nose, but breathing still isn’t easy.
What about Niamh? Is she safe?
Could this be the same person who damaged her truck?
