Page 12 of The First Day of Breeding Season (Wildfire Ranch #4)

DREW

“You ever unload a bull before?”

Brynn jumps when I point the question her way. “Um, no.”

To punctuate the risk involved, Thor slams into the side of the trailer, rocking it from side to side. That just pisses off Ten Gallon on the other side.

“There’s an art to it.” I fix my gaze just above her head. “You gotta get out of the way real fast.”

“Real fucking fast,” Raul agrees, joining us.

“I can do that.” Brynn starts to climb the barricade we set up.

“Whoa, there.” I launch myself forward, planting my hands on her hips, stopping her momentum.

Holding on to her even for a split-second is both absolutely perfect and a serious mistake.

My heart slamming against my chest, I set her back on the ground.

“I’m going to do it,” I growl. “You watch and learn.”

I vault over the railing before I can pull her into my arms again.

“You gotta listen to their movements inside. Time it just right. When this door swings open, I gotta get clear, because if they push against it, they could crush me between it and the railing.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Brynn nod calmly. “You’ve got this.”

Her easy vote of confidence shouldn’t surprise me—she’s shown me who she is over and over again already—but it still gets under my skin.

I adjust my hat instead of looking more directly at her, and then, when I hear my opportunity, I pull the heavy-duty latch before leaping over the rail to safety.

Ten Gallon comes roaring out of the trailer, mad as hell. He charges into the wood, thinking he’s found freedom. Or maybe we’ll follow him and find he’s already caught the scent of the herd.

Thor bashes his way out of the trailer next, and that’s it. Brynn’s research project is officially under way.

Raul and Brynn work together to get the trailer out of the way and the horses through the gate.

A dull roar starts in my ears.

This is it.

What was meant to be her chance to prove herself professionally has become something far more complicated.

“Ready?” she asks from the other side of the fence.

I take one last look at my truck, which is going to stay where it is in case we need to come back to it at any point over the next few days.

No. Not at all.

“Yeah, all right,” I mutter, raising a hand to wave goodbye to my ranch manager. “Let’s hit the trail.”