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"Em, this trip was exactly what I needed I needed the shakeup and the change of scenery I needed the challenge and the dare to do sos are uncertain and this wasn’t part of the plan but we’ll get through it, okay?" I sounded so sure that things were going to work out in our favor and I was surprised that the reason for the confidence was because I really believed everything would be okay I didn’t just have faith in Cy and his brothers, I had faith in ure it out, and once ere back at the ranch and then eventually back at ho story to tell

She ed from traumatized to wistful "Did you see the way Sutton jurow the up here, don’t they?"

All I could do was nod in agreereat out here in the wild, est Not quite cowboys were filling in for the fantasy cowboys just fine

Sutton and Lane worked on getting the rest of camp broken down and packed up while Cy and Grady took up watch on either side of the ca a loaded weapon as they watched the trees with unwavering eyes I did e Webb but the injury to his shoulder was far worse than the wound on Cy’s ar didn’t seem to want to stop, and every tireen andto be sick He didn’t look all that great, and when Sutton ordered us all to o our separate ways, it took both Emrys and I on either side of the reen shade under his skin turned a waxy gray and he pitched forward alround with him

Cy ood shoulder, his expression tight and concerned "Are you going to be able to ride with that shoulder, kid?"

Webb tried to straighten and shake Eo he swayed forward The only thing keeping hiet me in the saddle I’ll be okay" His voice was strained and he kept blinking his eyes like he was having a hard ti on the man in front of him

"Can’t put you on one of my horses if you don’t think you can keep control of hierous for you and the anirim

Lane instantly objected to the new plan "You can’t ride double and push hard for the ranch That’s tooslowly You’ll be a sitting target if those guys with the guns decide to take you off the mountain permanently"

Grady interjected that he could ride with Webb but he was still a big man and nowhere near as proficient and skilled on a horse as Cy was

"Not sure we have another option, Lane It’s our job to get everyone back safe and we can’t leave him behind just because he can’t ride" Lane opened his ain when he realized that the options were indeed limited

I looked at E, he was shaking his head in the negative and glowering down at o all in when it ca There was no ti because there was only one option that iant like you, so it’ll be easier on the horse and it means you wouldn’t have to travel as slowly" I was also handy enough in the saddle that I could control the ani off

"No" Cy barked out the word the sa athands "Look at him He needs medical attention and we all need to move There isn’t time to discuss all the pros and cons"

"I won’t be able to keep you safe" His voice dipped low and the raw agony in his words made my heart tumble and my stomach clench

I took a step toward him and reached up so I could hold his handso to have to trust me to take care of myself and you, Cy We don’t have a choice Get that et us the hell out of here" I could sound like a badass when I needed to and my determination to ue withat Lane to help hiedat her She orried but she was also proud That was pretty ed her and told her, "I’ll see you back at the ranch"

She moved away but it was apparent that she didn’t want to let o "Pro that it was unfatho race for shelter without having the other to lean on

"Prohtly shaky, because I’d never broken a promise to her and I hated to think that one this important would be the first one

Lane and Cy muscled Webb into the saddle then placed ently I could feel the treer aveup into his own saddle, hardly looking like he’d taken a bullet himself We had already wasted what little tioodbyes as the horses started to move in opposite directions from one another The Warner brothers all shared a look before heading off their oays I gave Erin Life was uncertain, and there was no better reht not work out the way you wanted theoodbye to so to you