Page 46 of Marrying a Cowboy

“You okay?” heasked.

Emma glanced up to see him walking toward her. His eyebrows were drawn together. Emma touched her face and then glanced down at her finger tips. There was noblood.

“I think so,” she said,straightening.

The cow’s leg was the only thing caught. It was lunging forward, trying to freeitself.

She moved toward the animal. “Come on, let’s get this poor girl out ofhere.”

Austin studied her as if he wasn’t quite sure he believed that she was okay. But then, he nodded and reached out to calm the animal. It kept shifting, but after a few soothing words from Austin, it settleddown.

“Last one,” hesaid.

Emma reached out and kept her hand on the animal’s back. “You’ve got this, girl,” she said, glancing down that theanimal.

Austin crouched down next to the leg and then counted down. Just as he reached three, Emma steppedaway.

The tension on the wire caused it to whip back again. Just as Emma moved, a searing pain shot through her cheek. She yelped and dipped down, covering herface.

“Emma, move!” Austin’s voice was muffled as she closed her eyes, trying to clear herhead.

“What?” she said but it was too late. The now free cow rammed right into her, knocking her to the ground. The world around her spinned as she flew back. Out of instinct, she rolled away, hoping to avoid the hooves of theanimal.

When no other pain shot through her body, she realized that the animal had gone. Her head hurt and her body hurt, but she wasalive.

“Emma? Emma? Are you okay?” Austin’s voice ripped through her thoughts. She felt his hands surround her arm as he rolled her to herback.

She squinted as she looked up at his concernedexpression.

“Austin?” she asked, still confused about what exactly hadhappened.

“Can you move your arms? Your legs?” She felt his hand roam over her limbs. “I don’t feel anythingbroken.”

Emma shifted, trying to right herself. “I think I’mokay.”

Austin had stopped moving or talking. She glanced over athim.

“What?”

He was staring at her face. “Your cheek,” he said as he raised his hand and moved his fingers toward her face. “You’rebleeding.”

“I am?” She reached up and winced as she grazed her skin. When she pulled her hand back, she glanced down. Blood smeared her finger tips. “It doesn’t feel bad,” she said. It stung but for the most part it just feltnumb.

Austin’s jaw tensed as he shook his head. “I need to get you back to the house. I need to make sure you’re okay.” He reached down and slipped his arms under her knees and around her back. In one swift movement, he lifted her off the ground and began taking large strides toward thetruck.

“I think I’m okay,” she breathed. She’d be lying to herself if she said she wasn’t enjoying being this close to him. She wanted to say something, confess the feelings she’d discovered just moments before, but from his strained expression, she could tell it would not be well received. And that wasn’t really how she wanted to declare her feelings. To his pinched lips and worriedface.

He loaded her into the car and slammed her door. In less than a minute, he’d rounded the truck and hopped into the driver’s seat. He stuck the key into the ignition and peeled out of thefield.

The ride back was quiet. Emma kept glancing over at him, hoping he’d say something. Was he angry? She couldn’t image what would have him mad. They’d freed the animal. He should be celebrating. But from the way he’s knuckles had turned white while he clutched the wheel told her that he was far away from beinghappy.

She winced as she shifted in her seat when he slammed on the brake in front of the house. She could feel his nervous energy emanating off of him. Worry crept up inside of her chest. She must have done something wrong. For him to be reacting this way, she must have really made amistake.

“Wait,” he said as he pushed open his door and gotout.

Emma played with the door handle on her side, but didn’t move to open it. If he wanted her to stay, she’dstay.

When he pulled open her door, she glanced down at him. There really was something bugging him. He wouldn’t even look her in the eye. Deciding the best thing to do was lighten the mood, Emma rested her hand on hisshoulder.

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