Cowboy In The Crossfire(23)

"You're scaring me."

He donned his Stetson. "I'm being cautious. It's probably nothing."

He exited through the back of the ranch house and moved toward the sound of the unsettled horses. They snorted and he could hear them racing around their pen.

A series of far-off barks made Blake's stomach clench. "Leo!"

The dog didn't come.

From out in the pasture the rumbling of a tractor roared. What the hell? He whirled around, then stopped and stared at the snow-patched terrain in horror. Hundreds of feet away, the small figure of Ethan flailed on the tractor, bouncing as the machine barreled across the frozen terrain. The thing had to be going at least thirty miles per hour.

Leo chased after him, keeping pace with the equipment.

Cursing the infamous "Billy" for teaching Ethan to start the thing, Blake scanned the yard. He could take the truck from behind the house, but getting to Ethan would require Amanda's help. She didn't have the strength. Not with her injury.

He glanced at Maddox's prized quarter horse, Ginger, who shifted restlessly in the corral, a fence away from their prized bull. The breed could run fast. At least faster than the tractor. Easier to maneuver than the truck. Although, despite everything, at this moment, he wished he had Sugar. That horse could really fly. Blake raced to Ginger and mounted her bareback. With a flick of his boots, he set the horse to a strong gallop. He grasped the mane and leaned forward as they leaped the fence.

"Come on, girl. Catch up with him."

The tractor looked small. It had to be running at full speed. Urging the horse onward, slowly, they closed the distance. As Blake got closer, he watched Ethan turn around in the seat and wave, a big smile on his face.

Unbelievable. The kid had no idea of the danger he faced. With the ice, one sharp turn or bounce and the machine would roll over. Ethan could be maimed or crushed.

Blake's heart galloped against his chest. He refused to let Amanda go through what he'd experienced. He could still picture the cop coming up to him in the police station, his face solemn. "There's been an accident. I'm sorry, Blake. Your son didn't make it." Even the memory of the words made Blake's heart bleed.

"Ethan, hold on!"

Even as Blake yelled, he knew screaming was useless. Ethan would never hear him over the roar of the motor. He kicked the horse's flank, and she increased her speed. They were gaining.

The tractor hit a bump. Ethan bounced in the seat. He nearly fell off the side. His smile faded. Panicked he opened his mouth and shouted something. Blake's gut twisted. He could make out the words. "Help me!"

Leo leaped toward the boy, but the dog could barely keep up with the speeding tractor.

"Hold on, buddy." Blake bent forward close to the quarter horse's neck. "Come on, girl. Get me to him."

Ethan sank into the seat and grabbed hold of the edge. At least he hadn't fallen off. It could've been so much worse. The joyride was no longer a lark. If only he would keep his wits about him.

The horse's muscles shifted under Blake's thighs. He squeezed tight, urging the animal on. No saddle made the ride more dangerous, but he'd done his share of midnight capers across the Western plains. Still, as he chased the speeding machine, he considered his options. He might be better off jumping from the horse and onto the tractor, not risking slipping off the sweat-slickened horse's back when he reached for Ethan.

Blake scanned the ice-covered ground ahead of the tractor. His heart dropped. An irrigation ditch. No way the tractor would miss it.

No way Blake could stop the tractor in time.

"Come on, Ginger. Faster." He gripped her mane.

As if sensing his urgency, the horse quickened her gallop. Blake gauged the distance remaining. It was gonna be close. Soon, the rumbling of the tractor screamed in his ears. The horse didn't wince at the loud noises. Thank God. Sugar would've been a nightmare here. Blake guided the animal alongside the equipment while Leo veered off slightly, giving Ginger more room.

Ethan turned his head and stared at Blake, eyes wide with fear. He didn't know if the near fall had stunned the boy or if he saw the danger ahead.

He reached out one arm. "Grab on to me, Ethan!"

In a move Blake couldn't have repeated, he scooped the boy into an arm and, with all the strength he possessed, tugged at the horse's mane. "Whoa, girl."

The galloping animal pulled back and veered sharply to the left, stopping on the edge of the irrigation ditch. The tractor dived headfirst over the edge. The equipment tumbled onto its side with a loud thud and a hiss of steam.

Blake strengthened his grip, snagged Ethan up and sat him on the horse's back. Together they watched as the rumbling mechanical beast gasped and sputtered dying breaths.

"It's just like Billy's tractor," Ethan said as he gaped at the mass of metal. "But it's too big for me."

"Yeah," Blake said, letting out a loud sigh amid Leo's rabid barking. He steadied his horse, slid off the animal and grabbed Ethan. He sat the boy on the ground and then patted the horse's neck. "Good girl."

Leo whined and butted Ethan's hand. The boy patted the dog and stared up at the animal who'd saved his life. "Can I pet her?"

"In a minute." He took Ethan aside. "Stay here."

Blake scrambled into the gully and turned off the still-rumbling tractor. "I owe Maddox a big one," he muttered, before climbing out of the ditch. He saw his savings dwindling mightily once he settled the debt.