Angrier.
Both of them froze.
“Right, we’re going to back away slowly,” Eli told her. “And I want you to move behind me.”
“It’s not me he has a problem with,” she replied. “It’s you touching me. Let me go and everything will be fine.”
“You don’t know this dog. He’s a stray.”
“He chose me and right now, he thinks you’re threatening me. So back off.” She made sure to keep her voice light and calm so as not to upset Horse any further.
“I’m not moving away. He might attack you.”
“What’s going on?”
She glanced over to see the other man approaching.
Shit. This was getting worse.
“The dog is growling,” he said. “Eli, move away from her.”
Okay. She really didn’t think he was going to be the voice of reason.
“I’m not leaving her defenseless against him,” Eli said. “What if he attacks?”
“He hasn’t attacked yet. My guess is he views you as a threat to her. Move aside.”
She could feel the tension in Eli and knew that he really didn’t want to move.
“If you’re wrong, Kellan . . . ” Eli warned.
“I rarely am,” Kellan replied in a bored-sounding tone. As if none of this really mattered to him.
Eli finally took a step back, letting go of her.
And Horse immediately stopped growling. Wow. She actually hadn’t been completely certain but it seemed that he had been protecting her.
A soft warmth filled her. She couldn’t remember the last time that anyone had attempted to protect her. And this dog didn’t even really know her.
Although Eli was just trying to protect you as well.
“Good job, Horse,” she murmured, moving closer to pat his head.
“Arabella!” Eli said sharply. “Don’t go closer to him.”
This was weird. How did she go from having no one to a smelly dog who growled when she was touched and a man who was concerned the smelly dog would attack her?
“He won’t hurt me,” she said to Eli. “He’s protecting me.”
“A dog like that could be unpredictable and violent.”
“You’re being a drama queen again,” she told him with exasperation.
“Actually, you’re both right,” Kellan said calmly. “It was clear the dog was protecting her. Plus, you just rode in a car with him, I’m guessing he wasn’t threatening either of you? That it only occurred when you touched her?”
“Yes, that’s right,” Eli replied, sounding reluctant to agree.
“And you don’t know the dog.” He looked at her. “So Eli is right to tell you to be cautious. You should listen to him.”
