Page 155 of Colt

“Oh my God,” Layla murmured again, her tearful eyes following Sunny who screamed her lungs out.

Finally, the elk began to slow down, obviously exhausted. “I’ll grab the left side,” I offered.

Bowie pursed his lips. “I’ll get the right.”

“I’ve got the rope,” Cash shouted, following behind us as we tried to corner the massive elk.

The beast tossed its head and let out another loud trumpeting call.

Sunny wailed.

We approached slowly. “We should hold our hands out, so Horny doesn’t think we’re a threat,” Cash suggested.

“It’s an elk, asshole,” Bowie muttered. “Not a fuckin’ prisoner of war.”

“How the fuck does your kid get herself in these messes?” I asked, keeping my voice low as we edged closer.

“God knows,” he murmured. “She gets it from her mother’s side.”

We neared the elk. “Slowly,” Bowie said gently. “Get to the side of the fuckin’ thing, and grab Sunny.”

“On it,” Cash replied quietly. “Don’t make any sudden movements.” He crept up to the side of the elk, and as soon as it tossed its head, he grabbed Sunny off its back. “Got her,” he yelled, sprinting for the kitchen, with Sunny tossed over his shoulder.

A loud roar went up as everyone began shouting and clapping.

“Run!” Bowie yelled, turning on his heel and sprinting back toward the kitchen.

“Fucker,” I muttered, twisting my body, and following hot on his heels.

The elk let out another loud trumpet from behind us as we raced toward the kitchen.

“Get the kids inside,” Bowie bellowed. “It might bolt for ‘em.”

“Horny won’t hurt us,” Sunny cried, looking up from Cash’s shoulder with a tear-streaked face. “He’s a good horsey. He likes carrots.”

“Sunshine,” Bowie barked. “It’s a fuckin’ wild elk, not a horse.”

“Five dollars please, Daddy,” she said, stretching her hand toward Bowie as Cash ran inside the kitchen with her.

Everyone else trailed in behind them from the yard, all talking at once. He handed her over to Layla who bent down, running her hands over Sunny’s body to check for injuries. “Are you okay, Sunshine? Are you hurt?”

Sunny shook her head. “Horny didn’t mean to scare me,” she insisted. “He’s a nice horsey and he loves kids.”

Layla stood to her full height again, face shocked. “How long have you had him?” she asked, her voice tight with fright.

Sunny’s bottom lip wobbled.

“Since the day we got to the club,” Kai admitted. “Horny wandered down from the woods, so Sunny took him to the old barn the club used years ago for storage. He’s been living there ever since.”

Layla’s eyes widened. “She’s kept a wild elk in a barn for nearly six months?” Her gaze slashed to Sunny who stood there pouting.

Kai’s eyes lowered. “Yip. I wanted to tell you, but if I did Sunny wouldn’t talk to me and I’m not a rat.” He looked up at Breaker and rolled his eyes. “You know what women are like.”

Kennedy raised a hand to cover her laugh.

“I just wanted a horsey,” Sunny murmured. “And you saids no.” Tears filled her eyes and she let out a tiny sob.

Prez’s back snapped straight. “Prospect!” he yelled out the kitchen door.

---