Summon Toren(35)
He pressed lean hips against her, his hot gasp and massive hard-on drawing a whimper from her. She clutched desperately at his shoulders while he worked on unbuttoning her shirt the hunger in his kiss reckless and delicious.
Kassie’s scream pierced the air, startling both of them. “Shit!” Sam gasped and reluctantly pulled back with a moan that told of years of unmet need.
“Glory is delivering now!” Kassie screamed from the bottom of the stairs.
“Oh no!”
“What?” Toren demanded.
“She’s a rogue. She tries to kill every human within reach."
Toren flew down the stairs after her and they both ran to the barn.
** ** **
Samantha was glad Toren stayed right on her heels this time as she bolted out of the house and across to the truck. She didn't have time to explain the rush and just popped the clutch and let the truck bounce across the frozen ruts as he pulled the passenger door shut. The truck dropped into the deeper rut that led to the barns and a low grunt escaped Toren as his head banged against the upper door frame.
"Oh shit, sorry." She spun gravel and snow across the yard, bouncing over another deep rut, cracking Toren’s head against the top of the truck this time.
“I am so sorry,” she muttered, keeping her eyes riveted to her destination. By the time she skidded to a stop in front of the long low barn surrounded by small pens, a small gash trickled blood above his eye. And somewhere along the way, he'd collected a long scratch across his right pec. "Where's your shirt?" She slid out of the truck and took off a dead run to the mares pen. Just what she needed, to come running up with a half-naked man by her side.
Toren jogged alongside her. "On the floor of the bathroom. I didn’t quite have time to put it on." His eyes dropped briefly to her chest. “Button your shirt.”
Without breaking stride, Sam did, slightly annoyed with his demanding tone. “You say it like it’s my fault.”
“It is your fault. You make me crazy for you. But I don’t want another man looking at you.”
Oh God. Had he just claimed her for himself? The idea should have set off alarms in her rebellious and un-claimable spirit but instead, her body throbbed with the need to…have an orgasm of all things. Right in the middle of running toward the barn to save a horse.
A horse's angry squeal broke through the normal sounds of a winter day, toward the short end of the barn.
Hooves rang against wood, spurring her on. A male voice cursed, too loud and too sharp. Joe. Idiot.
Sam slowed to step around the corner and into sight, somehow trusting Toren to follow her lead. Trust. That was an entirely new concept and feeling she'd take time to examine later.
Four men stood huddled outside the nearest pen. Inside, the silver mare practically floated in an animated trot. Nervous whistles fluttered distended nostrils and her eyes rolled in near panic. "What's going on?" Sam approached the men, keeping her voice low but full of authority. She wanted the message clear. Her horse. Her say.
Joe barely glanced over his shoulder and didn't reply. Jonas, the youngest of the full hands, barely staying upright from the looks of it, turned to her, ignoring a nasty glance from Joe.
"I came out to feed and saw the mare had dropped her foal. I watched and it ain't movin’. Called Mr. Josephus and he tried to get a look, but the ole girl kicked at ‘im. I got a little better look then. It's breathing but too slow. And it's real little."
The third man turned and Sam nearly sighed with relief. "Doc, what brings you this way? I know you didn't come out for a couple of old women whining over a foal."
Doc Jansen, the vet the ranch used when necessary, grinned, fully aware of the animosity between Sam and Joe. "Hey, Sammy. Nah, I was here checking on the mare I brought to your cutting stud. Came out when I heard the commotion." He nodded toward Sam's mare, weathered face serious. "That foal needs looking at, but the mare's done put your men back over the fence."
Finally, Joe turned to her. "I just brought my rifle out. Going to settle it once and for all. Like I should have to begin with." He worked the bolt and sent a round into the chamber.
Fury shot through Sam. "What do you think you're doing?"
Joe turned to face her fully and allowed the muzzle of the rifle to drift in her direction. "I'm putting that damn rogue down. The bitch is dangerous and is going to hurt somebody. I won't stand by and let that happen."
If she didn't know better, she'd have sworn Joe’s eyes glowed blood red in the shadow of his hat. Then his words sank in. Her heart slammed into her throat. He wouldn't dare. "That animal is worth tens of thousands of dollars. You kill her, you'll pay back every cent. The financial stability of this ranch lies in her bloodlines since you talked my father into mortgaging the place to the hilt with that harebrained mining scheme of yours."