I lean forward, cradling Kael’s head and pressing it to his lips. Where we touch, heat still pulses despite everything. Water dribbles, falling. His lips barely move. Until he manages, “Enough.”
Ash’s forehead furrows, weight shifting on his heels. “Had to be more than a rattlesnake bite that did this.”
“What do you mean?”
“Seems an overreaction for something like…him.”
“He took three bites in quick succession,” I say, annoyed by the vitriol from the usually affable cowboy. “And I couldn’t talk him out of it. He did everything wrong in treating it. Tourniquet, whiskey, knife… sucking out the venom.” I shake my head, pressing my fingers to my temples.
Ash frowns. “Whiskey never hurt nothing. Get up, old man. You’ve given your boss a fright.”
I glare at Ash. “He wouldn’t let me get help.” My voice breaks at the end. “His fever’s still real bad.”
“He’ll make it. Always does.” Ash’s face is hard, arms crossed over his chest. “One day he won’t.”
Kael laughs, low and raspy, eyes rolling back. “Counting the days, friend?”
“You shouldn’t be here, and youknowit.”
“Ash,” I repeat, voice threaded with anger. “Hesavedme.”
“To what end?” he asks through gritted teeth, eyeing the big man dressed in black and denim.
In the distance, more hooves thrum. I rub my hands over my face, then squint into the distance, making out a second rider with Daisy and Tempest. Her red hair flows long and wild. She could pass for thirty, instead of sixty, or whatever she claims to be.
Ash puts his hands on his hips, eyeing Kael suspiciously. “Trust you can sit a saddle, Guthrie?”
“You can’t mean that?—”
Kael cuts me off. “Just have to get up first.” His hand slips when he tries to push up.
“Good, then you can sit one right out of town.”
“Ash,” I hiss.
But Kael’s hand comes up. “He’s right.”
Mags stops in front of us, eyes round as two dinner plates. “What happened?”
Ash rubs his stubbly chin, face bitter. “Snakebite. Says he can ride.”
Mags looks at me, forehead knitting. “And what happened to you?”
“He saved me,” I pant, heart racing behind my ribs.
“And now,” Kael adds in a low rumble. “Time to go.”
I reach forward, hand resting against his chest. The air tightens, then pulses, low and deep.
“Not now. You have to rest.”
Mags and Ash exchange a glance. Then they look toward the Starborn Range, where dark thunderheads already climb the sky.
“I’ll handlehim,” Ash says darkly.
“But what does that mean?” I ask. It comes out like a plea.
Mags shakes her head. “You could use a hot bath, fresh food, and water by the looks of you. I’ll ride back with you.”
