Page 6

“Dammit, Ellie.”

That was all I kept mumbling as I charged towards her, trying to reach her as fast as I could.

I was just coming back from the main house when I spotted her saddling a horse in the stables. She had those damn pink boots on of course.

Instead of questioning her, I just watched.

She swung up onto the horse with the same ease she had when we were kids. She looked beautiful in the summer sun, moving through the pasture like she belonged there.

I followed her at a distance, not wanting to ruin her moment.

She looked so at peace, lost in the calmness of the vast open valley.

But then, in an instant, peace turned to panic. The horse reared back, bucking violently, and Ellie went flying.

My stomach dropped.

I spurred Jace’s horse forward, urging it to go faster .

Come on, damn it. I needed to get to her. Now.

When I finally reached her, I jumped down, my boots kicking up the dust.

Ellie lied there in the dirt, motionless for a second before she stirred.

She sat up slowly, a puzzled, dazed look on her face—definitely concussed.

“Dammit, Ellie,” I muttered under my breath, watching as she slowly pushed herself upright. Her fingers pressed against her temple as she winced, clutching her shoulder.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I was just trying to clear my head. That was really stupid. I shouldn’t have done that.”

“Don’t be sorry, Ellie. That could’ve happened to any of us. You can’t predict when a horse will spook.”

I scanned our surroundings. There was no way she could ride back alone—not like this.

“Well, the way I see it, you’ve only got one option,” I said, leveling my gaze at her.

“You’ll have to ride back with me.”

She hesitated. “Oh, that’s unnecessary.”

She tried to stand, but I could tell the world started to spin around her as soon as she did.

She quickly sat back down, frustrated.

“Ellie, you can barely sit up on your own. Quit being stubborn and let me help you.” I stepped closer, softening my tone. “Please.”

She looked around as if assessing the situation.

“Fine,” she huffed .

I bent down, sliding one arm beneath her legs and the other around her back, lifting her slowly. As I cradled her against my chest, her body relaxed.

I carried her to the horse I had ridden out to the pasture on, guiding her good hand to the saddle horn. “Hold on tight,” I said. “I’ll do the rest.”

As she grabbed onto the saddle with her good arm, I used one hand to hold on to her hip, the other holding on to her thigh.

Gently, I positioned her safely into the saddle.

She let out a shaky breath as I swung into the saddle behind her, wrapping an arm around her waist to steady her.

“Let’s get you home,” I said, nudging the horse forward.

The ride back should have been easy, but it wasn’t.

Ellie’s body pressed closer against mine with every stride the horse took, her petite frame and perfectly round ass rubbing against me over and over.

Up. Down. Up. Down.

I clenched my jaw, shifting my hips slightly to put some distance between us—not that it helped much. If I didn’t get my thoughts under control, I’d have a real problem on my hands—or in my pants.

Focus. Just get her home.

I exhaled slowly, tightening my grip on the reins and forcing my gaze straight ahead. It was going to be a long ride back.

By the time we reached the guesthouse, the sun had dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple. I slid off first, then turned to help Ellie down .

“Just swing your leg over. I’ll do the rest,” I instructed.

She hesitated but followed my lead.

As her left leg came over the saddle, I caught her thigh, steadying her descent.

On her way down, she brushed against me, her perfume encasing me briefly.

The scent of daisies and sandalwood filled my nose, like the smell of a new spring day.

The second her feet hit the ground, I wrapped an arm around her waist and guided her inside, leading her straight through the front door and to the bedroom.

“Lie down while I check your injuries.”

She eased onto the mattress with a wince.

I went to the kitchen, searching for a pair of scissors. There was no way I could pull her shirt over her injured shoulder without making it worse.

I returned after a few moments and gently lifted the hem of her shirt. Just as I was about to cut the first thread of fabric, she flinched, grabbing my wrist with surprising strength, her eyes suddenly going wide.

“No,” she said firmly.

I crouched beside her. “Ellie,” I said, laughing. “I’m not trying to sneak a peek at you. I just need to see how bad the bruising is and if there are any other injuries. For all we know, you broke something when you hit the ground.”

She shook her head, her breathing uneven.

“Please, Colt. I can handle this on my own. I’m a big girl.” Her voice was barely above a whisper, but there was steel in it. “Just go. ”

I clenched my jaw. “Ellie, there’s no way you can do this by yourself. Not with your shoulder like this.”

When I reached for her shirt again, she shoved my hand away with her good arm, her body tensing.

“Just leave, Colt. Now. ”

I froze.

This wasn’t the Ellie I knew. She’d always been stubborn, sure, but not like this. This wasn’t defiance—it was fear.

Still, I stepped back. Give her space.

“Fine,” I said reluctantly. “But if you need anything, I’m right down the road. I can be here in under a minute. Do not be afraid to call me if you need me, day or night.”

Her expression softened just slightly. “Thanks, Colt.”

Nervously, I turned to leave, every instinct telling me I shouldn’t.

Before walking out the front door, I saw Ellie’s phone laying on the couch. I decided I better put my number in it in case she needed to call me later.

Entering my number, I realized it was already saved in her phone as Colt .45, the emoji wearing a cowboy hat directly after it. I laughed, rolling my eyes. Ellie gave me that nickname when we were younger, and apparently, it had stuck.

As I went to put the phone back down on the couch, a notification flashed across the screen.

You can run, but you can’t hide, you little bitch. I’ll find you, Ellie.

The number wasn’t saved in her contacts, but whoever it was definitely knew Ellie .

I read the message a few more times, trying to make sense of it.

Jaw clenched, I marched back to the bedroom, wanting to know who thought they could talk to her like that.

“Ellie, who is—”

I stopped short because she wasn’t lying down anymore.

In the few moments I was gone, she managed to stand up and take her shirt off.

Just as I stepped inside the doorway, her shirt slipped from her fingers, leaving her in only a white lace bra and her denim pants. But seeing Ellie half naked wasn’t what made my stomach twist.

It was the bruises.

Dark marks scattered across her ribs, wrists, and arms—each in various stages of healing.

Some were fresh, deep purple and angry, while others had faded into sickly shades of yellow and green. But the ones on her wrists made my chest tighten.

The distinct imprint of fingers pressed into her flesh. Evidence that someone , not something, had done this to her.

These bruises weren’t from her falling off the horse today. They were days, weeks, months old.

My fists clenched at my sides. My blood began to boil.

I wasn’t the one in the family with the short fuse—that was Jace—but I’d burn the entire world down to protect Ellie. Even if she didn’t know it yet.

Her gaze met mine, shame spreading across her face .

Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her breathing unsteady.

“Colt,” she whispered, stunned in place.

I looked at her bruised body, then back into her eyes, before my gaze dropped again. My chest tightened.

“I can explain,” she said.

I shook my head. “Ellie, so help me if you try to lie to me. I want the truth—now.”

She held my stare for a long moment. The fight in her eyes flickered out, replaced by quiet defeat as the first tear trickled down her cheek.

Before I could say another word, she went limp.

I jumped across the room and caught her before she hit the ground, wrapping her in my arms, shielding her with my tall frame—like an umbrella—protecting her from the storm as her entire world came tumbling down.