Page 36 of Thaw My Heart

Looks like I’m taking Sadie with me, and on the cusp of a fucking storm, too. What could possibly go wrong?

“Come on, Sugar,” Sadie sighs, untying her horse from the fence.

My eyes flare. “Excuse me?” Cowboy is bad enough, but Sugar? No fucking way.

“That’s my horse’s name, Cowboy.” She frowns, hopping on her buckskin. “Don’t have a cow,” she adds with a smirk.

“You named your horse, Sugar?” Who in the hell names their horse Sugar?

“Well, I couldn’t name her Spirit. That’s a bit too on the nose. You know the movie with⁠—”

“I’m familiar,” I snap. She continues to smirk. A rough sigh rumbles in my chest. “You’d better keep up, Tequila.”

The cold wind rushes into my face as I take off. Sadie keeps her pace with mine. Surprisingly, riding her horse very well, considering how dusty she is.

We ride North to the edge of the field until we reach the forest line, slowing our pace as we follow a winding, narrow path into the pines. A path that’s been worn down from years of use. The muted light grows darker as we push deeper into the forest, heading towards Pine River. It’s the middle of the afternoon, but it feels later in the day with what little light escapes through the trees.

I slow to a walk, listening for signs of distress. The air smells earthy and wet, with hints of fresh pine, rain, and soil. The kind of smell that the forest gives off before a storm, like it knows it’s coming.

Another rumble vibrates in the air around us, rattling through the trees as Sadie comes up beside me. “So… about last night, I⁠—”

“We’re not talking about that now,” my voice is sharp.

“Why not? It’s just you and me out here, Cowboy.”

I shake my head, ignoring the sultry way she says Cowboy, clearly implying much more. “Because we’re not,” I huff. She’s consumed enough of my thoughts as it is. “We have a job to do.”

“So, later, then?” she pushes.

“We’re never talking about it.” It would be much easier to just forget about everything that happened between us. For too long did I stay awake last night, rolling around, thinking about things I shouldn’t be. Things that would only hurt me more than I’m ready for.

“Never?” she repeats.

“Don’t push it, Teq—” A noise vibrates through the air, followed by the low rumble of thunder, cutting off my words.

We both stop, calculating which way to go. The noise echoes around the pines with the tremors of the storm overhead, making it hard to pick a clear direction.

“That way,” Sadie sighs.

Before I can ask if she’s sure, she takes off in a canter.

I follow behind her, keeping my gaze on her as she weaves through the forest with effortless ease. Sadie Lane is a lot of things, but a gifted rider isn’t something that I expected. Her form is impeccable, considering her choices last night. I’m tempted to ask her who taught her to ride, but then she’d know that I was watching her and start pushing the boundaries with that smirk of hers. She’s already too good at getting under my skin.

Better that I keep my mouth shut.

The ground becomes softer as we near Pine River, the largest river in Northern Montana that feeds into Silver Lake. Sadie slows her pace as we approach the riverbank, her gaze transfixed on something near the water’s edge. The sounds of the rushing rapids fill my ears, water churning over jagged rocks, foaming with intensity.

My pulse quickens when I spot the three missing cows. Scared shitless. Two are in distress over a young one who has fallen in, caught on a branch, fighting to keep its head above the roaring water.

“Stay put,” I bark at Sadie, taking off towards the two, following my instincts to herd them to safety.

With the rope in my leather-gloved hands, I swing out, urging them to head south towards home. But they are stubborn, refusing to move. This would be much easier if I had Bandit with me.

They try to jump in with the calfling, so I push Smoke closer to the edge of the water, herding them back. It takes a couple of attempts to lure them away from their young one. With one more final crack of the rope against my saddle, they take off towards the ranch.

Finally. Thank fuck.

I swallow a cool stream of air, releasing some tension. The sky rumbles above, threatening to break as I turn around. My eyes go wide at the sight of Sadie. Off her horse, reaching for the calfling with a rope in her hands—like a goddamn idiot with a death wish.