Free Big Sky Eyes by Sawyer Belle Page B

said. “I saw you with Brent
and…just reacted.”
    “Forget about it,” Mackenna said before moving to the right
side of the horse.
    “You’re going to mount from the right?” Kelly asked.
    “Yeah,” Mackenna grunted as she did just that.
    Brent was busy saddling Jake as Ty called out across the
meadow.
    “Come on, Red! Let’s get a move on!”
    Kelly ran back to her cousin and Mackenna waited by Jake
until Brent was through saddling him. She unrolled her leather duster from the
back of her saddle and put it on, fastening it up to her collar. Now that she
was away from the fire the brisk mountain air was chasing away all of Brent’s
warmth. He kicked dirt on what remained of their fire and as the smoke curled
up into the clear night sky, he returned to his horse. Mackenna picked up her
reins.
    “I hope you don’t mind,” she said, “but I’m going to run
ahead. I don’t want to be out here for another two hours.”
    Brent stretched his own coat over his arms as he spoke. “I
had the same thought myself. You lead. I’ll follow.”
    She nodded and set her spurs to Sass, who complied
willingly. They sped passed the Thing easily and disappeared into the dark of
the forest. Mackenna had no fear here, knowing that horses see better at night
than they do in full daylight. So, she placed her full trust in her mount and
leaned forward to avoid any wayward branches. Her cheek nearly rested on Sass’s
neck as she fought the stinging pain in her leg.
    An icy wind raced passed her bare face and ears and her fingers
felt like stiff rods clasped around the leather reins. She scolded herself for
not having the good sense to slip on her cowhide gloves before they left. The
only sound was the echo of metal horseshoes pounding into the ground. It was a
quick and quiet ride and they made it back to the ranch in half the time.
    Bev and her husband, Grant, were sitting on a wooden porch
swing, gilded in the golden light spilling out from the inside of their cabin
home. They stood when the pair came riding in. Bev’s
face sagged with relief to find them well. She descended the wooden steps to
greet them.
    “Thank God you’re both fine,” she said, but then her eyes
latched onto Mackenna’s ashen face. “You are fine, aren’t you?”
    Mackenna nodded groggily, not feeling at all fine. She was
sure her pain was etched all across her face. Wearily, she dismounted. As soon
as her foot hit the ground, she yelped and tumbled. Brent was beside her and
caught her easily. Bev ran around to her side, pushing Sass away.
    “What’s wrong?” she asked with worry.
    “It’s my knee,” Mackenna strained, no longer feeling the
need to lie. “Buddy slammed into it and it’s swollen
pretty bad. I think this last bit of riding just pushed me over.”
    “I thought you said you were okay,” Brent said, sounding
irritated. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
    “It wasn’t this bad when you asked, and by the time it was,
there wasn’t anything to do but wait for Ty. I didn’t see the point in adding
to our troubles.”
    Brent opened his mouth to scold her, but instead just shook
his head and huffed. You brave, little
fool, he thought. When she asked for his and Bev’s shoulders to lean on,
Brent scooped her up into his arms. She gasped in surprise and wrapped her arms
tightly around his neck so that she wouldn’t fall.
    “Where do you want her, Bev?” he asked.
    “Put her inside on the couch. I want to see what we’re
dealing with here.”
    He did as instructed while Grant took care of the horses.
Brent helped remove her duster. Next, he unbuckled the straps of her chaps
while Bev went to get a pair of scissors. It was obvious in the full light of
the cabin that they would have to cut Mackenna’s jeans. The swelling was nearly
the size of a melon around her left knee. She thanked him for removing her
chaps just before he was replaced by Bev.
    She worked the scissors slowly up over Mackenna’s boots and
calf. When she got