Page 21 of Captured by the Billionaire Cowboy (The Secret Billionaires #7)

“ H ow is Jasmine?”

Ciara shook her head curtly, clenching and unclenching blistered hands.

Dusty air swirled, kicked up from the palomino who moved restlessly in her stall, pawing at the ground and grunting in discomfort.

The somber atmosphere belied the beautiful day, the shining sun, the singing sparrows, the scent of wildflowers and dew.

If only she could caress the unhappiness away, soothe away the trauma, but an attempt would only make things worse.

“She’s regressed since the colic diagnosis, and now she’s scared of everything.

We lost all the progress we fought so hard for. ”

“I’ll get better,” Frank rumbled, yet concern laced the placating words. He understood the seriousness of the situation. “She just needs time.”

“We don’t know that.” She exhaled lowly. “What if she reverts even further? What if she never improves?”

A deep frown marred Frank’s tanned face, as he studied the horse. Jasmine jumped, fearful of a hundred invisible threats. “She isn’t eating or drinking like she should,” he admitted. “But that could be the lingering effects of the condition. It should resolve.”

Hopefully, that was true. Yet something far more dangerous could be lurking. “I’m trying to be patient.”

“At least you’ve had success with the other rescues.” As the horse in the next stall neighed, Frank walked over and gave him a gentle rubbing. “Many of them have resumed normal activity.”

Ciara brightened ever-so-slightly. “That’s true. They’ve made steady progress, including several who are ready for adoption. We had a family stop by this morning, and two more are coming tomorrow.”

“Pretty soon all the horses will have homes.” Frank fed the horse an apple slice. “Then you’ll be free.”

Free.

Free to go back to her life. Free to do as she wished. Free to leave Rowan.

Yet was it what she wanted? She wanted to make the horse rescue permanent, to save dozens of horses, hundreds, thousands .

Whether that was feasible remained uncertain.

They’d commenced the raffle just a few days ago, and the numbers were slow to come in.

She couldn’t take a loan from Rowan, not while she felt this way.

Even if she didn’t know exactly how she felt.

The one thing she didn’t have was time. Without an income, she couldn’t maintain her leave of absence for long. In just a few months, her journey in this beautiful country would end.

“Why don’t you take a ride with Snowflake?” Frank suggested. “I’m sure she’d love to spend time with you.”

Fresh guilt swamped Ciara. She usually devoted far more time to her horse. “That’s a great idea. She could use a good run, and so could I.” She gave the older man a hug. “Thanks, Uncail Frank.”

“You’re welcome, kiddo.” He ruffled her hair. “I wish I could go with you, but I have too much to do. Do you want to ask Rowan?”

“No.” Her denial was swift and firm, belying desire she wouldn’t admit. She already longed for his company far too much. “I could use a little time alone.”

He narrowed his eyes, yet he didn’t question her. She’d caught him looking at her and Rowan with a speculative expression more than once. Had he guessed their relationship, whatever it was?

She hurried through preparations for the ride. Snowflake was indeed glad to see her, bobbing her head and swishing her tail in greeting. Since they hadn’t ridden much lately, she started out slow, but the horse quickly demanded more. Soon they were galloping across the open field.

The world brightened as they soared over fine green grass, as the endless worries of real life dissipated into the fields beneath them.

Here they were not owner and animal, rider and horse, but instead cherished family.

Only beauty and hope existed, and the overwhelming feeling everything was as it should be.

They rode for fathomless minutes, traversing dappled prairies, lightly forested swaths and flower-filled paths.

Ciara responded to Snowflake’s needs, slowing when the horse needed rest, letting her set the pace.

Time melted away, and soon the sun had moved far across the sky.

Yet suddenly the day looked entirely different from the flawless morning.

Thunder rumbled in the distance, originating from an ominous swath of molten gray clouds.

Brilliant flashes of light accompanied it, a spider web of electricity extending across the darkening sky.

The wind howled, whipping Ciara’s hair into her eyes, kicking up dust in swirls and twirls, as the scent of rain hovered heavy in the air.

Ciara patted Snowflake’s flank. “We’d better get you home, girl.”

The weather deteriorated… fast. Dark tentacles branched from the clouds’ murky depths, overtaking blue skies and blotting out the sun, leaving only dismal gloom.

The wind blew swifter, carrying leaves and small debris, little missiles that stung Ciara’s skin and made her eyes water.

She said a silent thank you as the outline of the ranch came into view, signaling they were only a couple of miles from safety.

No one, not horse or human, should be out in the fiercely approaching storm.

Ciara treaded slowly, as Snowflake barely kept her footing amidst the dangerous journey.

The sun-splashed trails had vanished, replaced by shadowy paths reminiscent of a horror film, hidden obstacles and cloaked dangers.

Gales of fury twisted and spun, creating miniature tornadoes among perilously bending trees.

Would they reach the ranch before the storm hit?

Another bolt of lightning flashed, accompanied by a furious roar of thunder that shook the ground.

Thank goodness Snowflake wasn’t one of the rescue horses, for even the calmest might have bolted under the tumultuous conditions.

Yet even with her peaceful disposition, the horse wasn’t immune to the upcoming storm.

Ciara pressed forward as the features of the ranch came into better focus. A few minutes, and they would be safe.

She didn’t see the snake until it was too late.

Snowflake reacted first, interpreting false danger in the little green reptile of the garter variety.

She reared, rising high on her two back legs as a thunderous boom shattered the world.

Ciara screamed as she was lifted high into the air, the wind stealing the reins and her breath.

As lightning sizzled around her, she flew from the horse, airborne for horrifying seconds.

She landed on the ground hard , twigs piercing her hands, her foot twisting painfully in an unnatural position.

Her ankle bent too fast and too far, driving pain up her leg and through every limb.

Above her, Snowflake reared once more, her stamping hooves missing Ciara by inches.

Ciara dove back, but could not escape the danger.

A hoof landed on her hair, radiating pain through her scalp, casting stars before her eyes.

She lunged back, her knees scraping on the rough ground.

“It’s all right, Snowflake. Everything is fine.

” She fought for calm, defying the adrenaline surging in her blood, the pain burning in her throbbing ankle.

She murmured nonsense words, soothing the frightened horse, even as the storm clouds surrounded them, the tempest threatening to break any second.

Snowflake pranced wildly on the uneven ground, her ears flicking back and forth, her tail swishing rapidly.

She snorted, yet seemed ever-so-slightly calmer.

Lightning struck right next to them.

With a horrified squeal, Snowflake jumped into the air. Ciara leapt back as the horse galloped past her, driving blindly through the gloom. She screamed to her, but a roaring blast of thunder swallowed the words. Panic had overtaken the horse, leaving escape the only option.

Ciara sucked a breath of rain-heavy air, forcing bile back down her throat.

At least the horse had travelled in the correct direction, continuing on the path to the ranch.

With Snowflake’s equine ability to cognitively map her surroundings, hopefully she would make it home.

She wouldn’t contemplate any other outcome.

Now the air hung like a weighted blanket around her, darkness permeating every inch.

Lightning flashed in a never-ending electric show, set to the music of thunderous booms. A fat raindrop splattered on her cheek.

Five seconds later another came… then another and then hundreds as the sky opened, the rain pelting her with relentless fury.

It wasn’t safe out in the open, where she was a virtual lightning rod amidst the grassy paths.

Yet where could she go? She pivoted, stopped as she spotted a small shed tucked into the thicket, dilapidated but with an overhanging that could shield her from the worst of the storm.

Ciara turned back to where Snowflake had disappeared.

She would call the ranch, make sure the horse had returned safely.

At the horse’s wild speed, it shouldn’t take long. She reached into her jacket pocket.

The phone wasn’t there.

She reached into the other pocket. Still not there.

Which meant…

She truly was on her own.

Another lightning bolt struck dangerously near.

The pungent scent of charred grass filled the air, stinging her nostrils and burning her lungs.

The ranch was no longer visible through the heavy sheets of pounding rain, as shivers overtook her.

The day had been hot, but the rain seemed as cold as ice as it saturated her clothing, seeped into her bones.

She took one last look at the shed, a fading gray shape through the rain, yet turned the other way.

She couldn’t leave Snowflake on her own.