Total pages in book: 248
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
Shit. Shit.
Rushing out of the house, she ran after him. “Wyatt! Wait!”
He ignored her, running into the stables. Without thought, she ran after him.
That’s when she realized where she was.
Oh no. This wasn’t good.
Her heart started to race. A number of the horses were in here, and the hands were all done for the day.
But they weren’t free. As long as she didn’t go into any of the stalls, she’d be fine.
“Wyatt? Wyatt, please, where are you?”
Where was her phone? She needed Jeb. Shit. She’d left it in the house.
Just get Wyatt and get out.
A muffled sob hit her ears, making her wince. Where had that come from?
She followed the noise until she came to the last stall. A huge, black gelding was inside. Along with Wyatt who was huddled in the corner.
Oh no.
Oh god.
The horse would hurt him. She knew it would. But she had to save him. Nothing would happen to Wyatt.
“W-Wyatt. Y-you got to c-come out.”
“I don’t have to do anything,” Wyatt said, shifting around so he had his back to her. “Go away.”
“I k-know you’re m-mad at me. But it’s n-not safe in t-there, Wyatt. You’re g-gonna get hurt.”
“No, I’m not.” He turned back to stare at her curiously. “This is Frost. He wouldn’t harm me.”
She heard his words, but she was too far gone for them to really penetrate the fear buzzing inside her.
“I’m gonna . . . I’m gonna let him o-out. Then y-you go. G-get out of h-here.”
“Casey? What are you doing? What’s wrong?”
Opening the latch, she moved the door back. The horse moved and she cried out with fear. He shied back and she ducked down, crouching into a ball.
“Casey!”
“Wyatt, stay there. I’ll c-come to you! I’ll p-protect you.” Casey forced herself to move past the horse. She had to crawl, unable to get her legs to hold her weight.
The horse neighed and she threw herself at Wyatt, wrapping herself around him.
“Casey? What’s wrong?”
But she couldn’t answer him. She had to keep him safe.
Keep Wyatt safe.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Jeb walked toward the house, stilling with a frown as he saw that Frost was out of the stables.
What was he doing? He should be tucked up inside by now. Surely Wyatt wouldn’t have let him out? Frost was one of their older horses. He was gentle and good with children. He was Wyatt’s favorite horse.
“Come on, Frost,” he said to the horse. “Follow me back.”
Sometimes he swore the horse could understand what he said. He didn’t even need a bridle as Jeb led him back inside. But he stopped at the open door to Frost’s stall.
What the fuck?
Casey was crouched over, covering something in a corner of the stall. Was that Wyatt?
“Casey? What are you doing?” he snapped.
“Papa! Papa, you need to help Casey. She’s gone all strange.”
“What do you mean?” He rushed into the stall and crouched behind Casey. “Casey, get up. Let Wyatt go.”
“Keep Wyatt safe.”
“That’s all she’ll say. She thinks Frost is gonna hurt me. I think she’s scared of horses, Papa.”
“Then what is she doing here? Why are you here?” he snapped.
He knew that wasn’t important right now, but he was worried about Casey and how to help her.
“I was mad and ran out to be with Frost. She followed me and then she started acting all weird.”
“You were mad?” he asked.
“Because she’s leaving and I want her to stay.”
“What? Wyatt, you’ve always known she’s leaving.”
“Yeah, but everyone said she was your girlfriend, so I thought she was going to stay.”
Casey whimpered and Jeb shook his head. “All right, we’ll talk about that later. Right now, let’s get her inside. Casey, listen to me. I need you to let go of Wyatt.”
She shook her head. “Not safe.”
“He is safe. You’re both safe. I’m here. Nothing is going to happen to either of you while I’m here. But you need to let go so I can get you inside. It’s dark and cold now. And Wyatt needs to eat and go to bed. So let go, baby. Trust me and let go.”
Trust him?
Let go?
Could she do those things?
You know Jeb will keep you safe.
“Let me help you,” Jeb whispered. “Good girl. That’s it.”
She felt him move her into his arms and she let out a small cry of protest. “Wyatt!”
“I’m right here, Casey. I’ll hold your hand. I don’t get it, Papa. Frost isn’t scary.”
“But Casey doesn’t know that,” Jeb said.
“Did something bad happen to her?” Wyatt asked.
“I don’t know, son.”
It wasn’t until they were in the house that she realized how cold she was. Shivers ran through her as Jeb wrapped her up tight in a blanket, sitting on the sofa with her in his arms.
Gradually, she started to warm up, the fear dissipating, leaving her drained and exhausted.
Casey stared up at Jeb, then over at Wyatt who sat next to his father on the couch.