Page 20 of Fated to the Wolf Cowboy (Cowboys of Collier #1)

Tricia

It was different seeing the ranch through Brady’s eyes. He was so excited to share it with me too. Seeing yet another side of him that I could easily grow to love was a bit unnerving though.

Where was my man of fire who was so passionate in fighting and in kissing?

That man had infuriated me, but I guess I understood him better.

This sweet guy made me nervous. He felt too safe and I couldn’t afford to fully let my guard down.

What did that say about any possible relationship we might have?

I couldn’t keep my witch side a secret forever.

It was a big part of who I am. And it felt like a lie withholding it from him as he opened up to me.

We spent the evening walking around: first the farm where I learned he was overseeing this new project; then the dairy which Ruby managed; and finally, the ranch.

“This is where my heart lies,” he informed me. “I’m a cowboy through and through. I appreciate the opportunity for management with the new farm. But my passion is ranching.”

“I love animals,” I confessed.

“Me too. See, another thing we have in common.”

His dimpled grin was definitely something I could get used to.

“You know the mate of a cowboy doesn’t always have it easy. I should be honest with you about that. I’ll be on the farm project for the next few years, but given the opportunity I eventually want to move back to cattle wrangling. I love being out on that range.”

“Why?” I blurted out. “It’s terrifying out there.”

“What? No, it’s not.”

“Yes, it is. How do you think I got stuck here?”

“I don’t know, actually.”

“Well I was passing through using the bus stations and staying as lowkey as possible. You know, only staying in motels that accept cash and no questions asked. That sort of thing. But money was running low and cities were becoming fewer and farther apart. So I decided to take to my fur. I didn’t even realize I was in a Pack’s territory until it was too late.

And then it was so dark and there were these weird noises and so many stars in the sky.

It was nothing I had ever experienced before.

I really am a city girl and there were no buildings, cars, or unnatural light of any kind for as far as I could see, even with my enhanced wolf vision.

And it was so dark. I could barely see my hand in front of my face.

I was terrified. Then an animal made a noise.

I think now it was a cow, but I had no idea what sort of beast was out there at the time.

I got spooked and ended up breaking my leg in the process. ”

“What did you do?”

I shrugged. “What could I do? I was injured, in my fur, and stuck out on the range. No one knew where I was to even look for me.”

At one point I’d even prayed that maybe the trackers would find me just so I wouldn’t die out there all alone. I didn’t confess that to Brady, but it was the truth.

I also didn’t tell him about how the animals had helped me, because I would have had to tell him about my powers. That was not a conversation I was ready for.

“And then they just stumbled across you out there?”

“Yup.”

“How many days were you alone out there?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. A few.”

“Weren’t you starving?”

“Mm-hmm.”

I had definitely been hungry, but not exactly starving.

The animals had helped me as best as they could and I was so certain Clementine was coming back with everything I needed.

I’d never intended to come into town. That had been a necessity when a group of cowboys stumbled across me and took control of the situation.

Brady didn’t need to know any of that.

It was hard to imagine how close we’d come to missing each other. What if we’d never met at all?

I was surprised to realize how sick that thought made me feel. And suddenly I was terrified that him opening up to me today had just put the nail in the coffin on my fate.

That left me with two options.

I considered these as we walked into the barn.

I could live my life in secrecy and pray no one here ever discovered what I am. I could come clean and tell.

Neither option seemed all that appealing.

“Hello Tricia. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I said before I realized it had been a female voice talking to me.

“What was that?” Brady asked.

“Huh?” I asked as I looked up.

Shit. We were in the barn and Clementine had been talking to me.

“This is nice,” I said, trying to cover my screw up.

“You’ve already been here before. Why are you acting like you haven’t?” Clementine asked me.

I glared at her trying to silently beg her to shut up.

Now was not the time.

“What’s going on?” another voice asked.

My eyes darted around until I saw a small foul two stalls down.

“So, this is Clementine, but then you already know her, right?” Brady asked.

“Uh, no. I don’t think so. Why?”

“Didn’t you ride her?”

“No,” I said before I realized what he was getting at.

“But your scent was all over her. It was so strong that my wolf mistook her for you.”

“Oh,” I said trying to stall as I figured out a valid excuse.

“Brady, can you come here for a minute?” Kenneth yelled through the barn. “Sorry, Tricia. He’ll just be a minute.”

I sighed in relief when he left. With any luck he’ll have moved on and forget what we were talking about before he returned.

I didn’t have to speak aloud to communicate with the animals.

But it was natural to me that I didn’t always realize if I was speaking with them aloud or telepathically.

One would think by now I’d have trained myself to never talk out loud to them.

But their voices were as clear to me as any human’s so it felt unnatural not to respond as I would with anyone else.

“Is that your mate?” Clementine asked.

“Yes. He is.”

“He’s not too bright. He thought I was his mate at first.”

“I know. I didn’t mean for that to happen. What were the odds that you’d find him while under my command? It turned into such a mess. He can never find out about that.”

“Find out about what?” Brady asked from behind me. “Who are you talking to?”

“Nothing,” I assured him. “I didn’t hear you return.”

“Clearly. Who were you commanding, Tricia?”

“What? No.”

I was stuck. He was going to see right through me. I was horrible liar and I’d just been caught red handed talking to a horse.

“Tricia.” His tone left no room for argument. “Who were you talking to?”

“No one,” I whispered, unable to meet his eyes.

My heart was pounding in my chest.

“Tricia, who were you talking to?” he barked, and I cracked.

“What do you want me to say? I’m the freak who talks to animals.

I can command them and sometimes I accidentally send a bit of myself along with them.

I guess that’s why Clementine smelled like me.

It’s not like I did it just to drive you crazy.

I was injured, stuck, and starving so I used what resources I had to get help. I will not apologize for that.”

I raised my chin in defiance and stared him right in the eyes.

His jaw locked as he glared back at me. The fire in his eyes set my body on fire. I didn’t know if I wanted to pound his chest in frustration or climb his perfect, hard body and beg him to take me right there. In the end, I did neither.

That wasn’t something I openly shared with anyone. It wasn’t safe. This man had infuriated me to the point that it had all just bubbled right out of me.

He was my mate, my one true mate, but as the hairs on the back of my neck rose, I heard Clementine’s voice in my head.

“You’re not alone, Tricia.”

Her words were laced with warning. I broke the stare down I had with Brady to look around the barn. There were others there and they were watching us.

How long had they been there?

Had they heard my secret?

My heart began to race as my fight or flight instincts engaged.

I turned and ran.