Accidental Knight: A Marriage Mistake Romance(38)

Because I think it’s pretty flipping awesome. I think it must be Opposite Day, somewhere, in whatever part of the world where 'awesome' means torturing Bella Reed out of her mind.

Using the tip of one finger, I touch my lips, my nose. That’s where the blood oozes from. I trace lower. My cheek is on fire.

Ouch. I wince when I feel the gravel embedded in my skin.

“Assholes,” I mutter harshly.

Drake tugs on my arm. “Hey, look up. Look at me.”

I shake my head, not wanting him to see my face before I have a chance to wash away the damage, the mess, the blood.

He pulls harder, though, twisting me toward him until there’s no choice.

“Shit. Come inside. We’ll get you cleaned up.”

It’s not the worst idea in the world.

But a shrill snort sounds, and then another, so I twist past him to where Edison now stands, craning his big black head out toward me.

I pull my arm from Drake’s hold and wrap both of them around Edison’s neck.

“Oh, bud,” I whisper. “I’m sorry. So sorry. You’re okay now. You’re gonna be okay if I have anything to say about it.”

He leans against me softly, calmly as if to say, “You think I’m not okay? Puh-leaze. I’d have run them over.”

“We have to call the sheriff,” I tell Drake. “We need to report this.”

“We will,” Drake says. “After I get you inside and cleaned up. See how badly you’re hurt.”

“I’m fine.”

“Bull. I know fine, darlin’, and you’re not it.” He loosens the rope on Edison’s neck. “You hit the ground so hard you nearly rolled. You’re coming inside, and I’m gonna have a look. That’s what I’m here for.”

I chew my lip. It doesn’t make sense why he keeps sounding oh-so-concerned after his cover was blown. But he does for some reason.

Whether he cares or not, he’s my only real option. The closest urgent care is thirty miles away.

Sighing, I release Edison so Drake can pull the rope over the horse’s head. “I don’t even know what I tripped over.”

“Trip wire.”

“Trip – huh?” Sure I misunderstood, I ask, “What do you mean, wire?”

“A trip wire. Crafty fuckers planted it where you wouldn’t see. I’ll make sure you don’t trip over it on the way back to the house.” He pats Edison then takes hold of my waist with both hands. “Tell Edison to wait at the barn. I’ll lock up the corral after I get you inside.”

My brows knit together. The more I find out, the less this makes sense.

Why the heck would anyone booby trap the ranch over stealing an ancient horse?

“I can get inside on my own, thank you very much, but where’s this trip wire?”

“There.” He points with one hand. “It’s stretched across the driveway, tied to the two pine trees. I yelled at you, told you it was there. Almost had a hold of you when you hit it and went down, but I was a second too late.”

I try, straining my eyes through the dark, but don’t see anything. “I don’t see it.”

“It’s filament line, fishing line, so nearly invisible. Nearly down now, the bastards drove right over it on their way out of here.”

I shake my head. “How’d you see it?”

“Habit. Training.” He forces me to take a step. “I won’t let you trip again.”

“Um, okay. But I don’t think I’ll forget this any time soon,” I say, still searching for the line. A soft, thread-like glimmer appears as we start walking. Then I see it, barely hanging above the ground. I also see skid marks.

Mine, from when I impacted. “Did you say you yelled? I didn’t hear you.”

“Yeah, no surprise. You were too focused on running.” He stops, pulls out a pocket knife, and cuts the line. “I’ll pick it up in the morning.”

A stinging in my knee makes me flinch as we start walking again. “Why would they do that? Put up a trip line? Why would they even want to steal a thirty-year-old horse?” I glance over my shoulder. “No offense, Edison.”

He’s trailing at a distance, farther from the barn than he should be.

“Why’s he following?” Drake asks.

I shrug. “Because that’s what he always does when he knows things aren’t right. He’ll go back to the barn when we get in the house, though. I’ll bring him his candy cane later.”

Later, because right now, I really need to sit. I’m starting to hurt all over. My arms, my hands, my knees, my face.

The few steps to the porch hurt, especially my right knee.

As soon as we’re inside, the flight of stairs to the bathroom fills me with dread. “I’m going to use the bathroom off the kitchen.”

Drake doesn’t reply, but his hold on me tightens. He has one arm around me, holding my hip, and the other on my arm.

I don’t mind.

Just like I hadn’t minded when his hold helped me up the porch steps. I must’ve hit the ground hard enough to jar something loose in my head. There’s no good reason I should take any comfort in this stranger touching me, holding me, leading me, but...

But I do.

Whatever Drake Larkin really wants, he’s still a tattooed god. And right now, his Hercules grip is the only thing between me and a face full of floor.