Clint chuckles softly, his shoulders rolling in a small shrug. “Well, I’m good with the ranch hands and horses. But kids? I’m still figuring that out.”
“I’m guessing you’re more of a ‘hands-on’ type?” I ask, an eyebrow lifted. “You know, teaching ’em by example?”
He looks at me, a glint of humor in his eyes.
“Something like that.” He pauses, then adds, “I try to keep it simple. Doesn’t take much to show them what to do, but if you want ’em to trust you… that’s the hard part.”
I nod, my mind briefly flickering to Charlie. “I think Reid’s got that trust thing down. Charlie seems to absolutely adore him.”
Clint tilts his head slightly, his eyes still focused on the distant barn. He doesn’t respond immediately, and I can feel the hesitation, like he’s choosing his words carefully, testing the waters between us.
My heart beats faster. I’m unsure if I should push through the silence or let it linger.
But just as we’re about to speak again, just as the moment teeters on the edge of something new, a scream rips through the wind.
Sharp. Full of terror.
It’s a sound I’ve never heard before, but I know it when I hear it.
“Charlie!” I shout, panic exploding in my chest like a bomb.
The world tilts, my feet already moving before my brain even registers it. I don’t think. I don’t stop. I just bolt.
My legs move faster than I thought possible, adrenaline flooding my veins, and Clint is right behind me, no hesitation, his long strides eating up the distance between us like he’s done this a hundred times before.
I don’t even glance back. I can’t. The only thing I can focus on is the sound of Charlie’s voice, the terror in it.
It’s tearing through everything I thought I knew about safety. My breath comes in jagged gasps, my heart beating louder with every step.
I can feel Clint’s presence, intense and unwavering behind me, but it doesn’t matter. In this moment, there’s nothing but the need to reach my son.
To make sure he’s okay.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Reid
Shit.
This is not how I imagined this going.
I was just tryin’ to show the kid around, give him a little taste of the ranch life. Thought he’d be stoked, maybe think I was some kind of cool, older guy for showing him the ropes.
But instead, here I am, watching Charlie’s face twist in pain as he clutches his knee, blood starting to seep through his jeans.
I was an idiot.
What the hell was I thinking?
I can already hear Dakota in my head, the voice that’s gonna be all sharp, all“I told you so,”even if she doesn’t say it out loud.
I wanted to do a good thing, and it’s all gone wrong.
Charlie’s still crying, and that’s the worst part. I don’t know what to do.
“Charlie.” Dakota’s voice hits me like a punch to the gut. “Oh my goodness, Charlie.”
She bursts into the barn, her face going white as she takes in the scene. I know exactly what’s going through her head.
