Free Hellfire, Texas (Hellfire #1) by Elle James Page A

ground.
    Kinsey followed on the four-wheeler, jostling over the uneven ground. Already, her injuries didn’t hurt as badly as they had the day before.
    Becket tied the barbed wire to the back of the four-wheeler. “You’re driving. But this time, ease forward slowly.”
    She knew the drill. Stretching fence wire involved a fine line between tightening the wire gently, and pulling too hard and breaking it. With her hand on the brake, she barely touched her other hand on the throttle lever. The ATV rolled forward.
    “More,” Becket called out over the roar of the engine.
    She eased forward a few more inches.
    “Stop.”
    Kinsey pressed the brake and held it.
    Using solid strokes, Becket nailed the wire into the fence post. “Okay, back it up a little to ease the tension.”
    Kinsey did as instructed.
    Becket cut the wire, bent it over, and nailed it again. With the wire in place, the fence was as good as new.
    A sense of pride washed over Kinsey. She hadn’t worked on a ranch since she’d lived next door. She missed the outdoors and the sense of accomplishment in doing something physical. Switching off the ATV, she climbed down and admired Becket’s handiwork. “You’re pretty good at that.”
    He shrugged and loaded his tools into the toolbox on the back of the ATV. “I’ve mended a few fences.”
    She jerked a thumb over her shoulder. “What do you suppose broke this one?”
    “That bull.” He pointed out in the pasture. “He’s huge, he’s ornery, and he’s a staunch believer in ‘the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence’.”
    Kinsey turned to see a huge black bull running toward them. “Uh, should we be concerned? Will he stop?” She backed up, bumping into Becket.
    His arms came around her. “Sometimes he does. Doesn’t look like he’s going to, this time.”
    “Becket?” Kinsey turned and buried her face in his shirt. “Let’s get out of here.”
    His arms tightened. “I think it’s too late.”
    The thunder of heavy hooves against hard-packed earth filled Kinsey’s ears. She glanced back at the bull, then grabbed Becket’s hand, and tugged hard. “He’s going to kill us. Move!”
    Becket stood still. “Get behind me.”
    “What good will that do? If he hits you, he’ll take out both of us.” Kinsey’s heart hammered against her ribs. “We need to climb over the fence. Now!”
    The more frantic she became, the calmer Becket appeared. He stuck his hand into his jeans pocket as if he hadn’t a care in the world.
    The bull charged forward.
    Becket pushed her behind him, where she clung to his back, trying desperately to pull him aside. A bull weighing close to two tons could kill a man.
    “Please, Becket. Don’t let him hurt you,” she whispered, her heart leaping to her throat.
    The bull was almost upon them when it skidded to a halt, a cloud of dust rising at his feet.
    Then, as pretty as you please, Becket held out three lumps of sugar in his palm.
    With a sniff, the bull reached out with his fat bovine lips and gobbled up the sugar cubes. Then he nuzzled Becket’s jeans, looking for more.
    “Go on, you big mooch.” Becket shoved at the bull’s head.
    With no more sugar to be had, the bull wandered off.
    Kinsey rounded on Becket, glaring. “You could have told me you had a pet bull, instead of letting me believe we were going to die.”
    “And miss the drama?” He chuckled. “You should have seen your face.”
    “What? The look of stark terror?”
    “Well, yeah.” His chuckle returned. “You have to agree, it’s funny now. Boris is nothing but a big teddy bear with a love of sugar.” He pulled her into his embrace. “Besides, saving you from Boris gave me a chance to prove I can protect you against man or beast.”
    “I’m beginning to believe you’re the beast.” She smacked his chest softly. “I really thought that bull would kill us.” Her lips twitched, and laughter bubbled up her throat. “Then he stopped and ate the sugar…”