“Someone stole some cattle from you guys last night?” She gaped at him.
“Yep.”
“That’s insane. It’s got to be someone who isn’t from around here, or who’s really stupid.”
“Amen to that, darlin’. West is going to kill them when he finds them.”
A small chill went down her body.
“Good news is, that leaves me on Flick-watch.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, almost as though he felt her discomfort. “What do you want to do? Watch a movie? Play some strip poker? Spend the day in bed?” He waggled his eyebrows at her.
She burst into laughter. Now, that was the Beau she was used to
“Can we go down to the stables? I want to see Beast.”
He set down his coffee mug and looked at her. “Going stir crazy stuck in here, darlin?”
“Like you wouldn’t believe.”
“Sure, let’s go see your horse, he’s moping without you. We’ll take him some treats.”
Poor Beast. This was the longest he’d ever gone without her. And, although she knew the Malone’s were taking good care of him, she missed him. Beau glanced down at her feet. “Need some help putting on your boots?”
She was just wearing flip-flops, as it was impossible to lace up her shoes or boots with her arm in a sling.
“Yes, please.” She sat on the chair as he moved to the mudroom and grabbed her boots. He knelt before her and slipped them on, tying up the laces. He stood and held out his hand to her. She took hold and they walked outside. She’d been outside a few times since coming here, of course. But only briefly, and only with West.
“You won’t get in trouble with West for bringing me down to the stables, will you?”
“Hmm, you know what, you’re right. We should go back.”
He turned around and she reached out for his arm, grabbing hold. “What? No, wait.”
She caught his grin and she sent him a disgruntled look. “You’re teasing me.”
“Yep. It’s all good, darlin’.”
She chewed her lip.
“Don’t worry, Flick. Come on, let’s go see your Beast then we can watch some TV and make out on the couch.”
“We’re not making out on the couch.”
He placed his hand over his chest. “She turns me down again. There’s only so much rejection a man can take. I may never recover.”
As she laughed at him, she tripped. God, why did she have to be so clumsy? He lunged for her, catching her. Suddenly, he jolted and they both fell to the ground in a heap.
“Beau? You okay?” she groaned, trying to ignore the agony in her shoulder. Ow. Shit. She needed to pay more attention to where she was walking.
Something hit the ground next to her head, sending up a puff of dust. What was going on? A bad feeling developed in her stomach and she turned to Beau.
Who hadn’t moved.
/> “Beau! Beau!” She knelt, grabbed him with her good arm, trying to shake him. Another plume of dust filled the air and finally got it.
Someone was shooting at them!
She screamed, “Help! Help!”