Page 132 of True North

Crack!

The air ricochets with a shot fired.

The echo rings, over and over.

The wolves tear away from the calf, disappearing into the timber. Darby bursts through the trees, faster than I thought it was possible to go through this dense mountainside. Harry’s off the gelding and manhandling the terrified calf a moment later.

He ropes his legs together and lifts him onto Darby in front of the pommel.

My heart flings against my rib cage.

“You good, Lou?” His glance is brief before he dashes back the way he came.

All I can do is nod to his retreating form. The herd is most likely scattering with the shot. I shake my head, resetting my composure.

Right.

Good.

I push Mara back the way we came and follow Harry’s too-quick pace.

That was too close for this girl’s comfort.

The grumble of the storm overhead reminds me we are far from out of the woods. We still have to get down this mountain tomorrow. When Harry and I have the herd back under control and tracking along, the growly storm has turned to misty drizzle.

It’s freezing.

We should have done this weeks ago.

In hindsight, it would have eased the burden, but we can’t predict the weather any more than we can the mortgage rates.

This has to come out the way we planned. There isn’t a plan B this time ’round. On the northernmost side of the mountain, we find a sheltered hollow and drive the cattle into it. With legs aching from riding all day and exhaustion that’s started playing with my vision, I slide from Mara.

The cattle mill about, settling down for the night as I lean against Mara’s side while Harry sets up camp. When I can feel my butt again, I pad to where he is rolling out our bedrolls under an overhanging ledge.

I pluck up any dry wood I find around the campsite and start a pile for a fire. I turn back to find Harry watching me, something that takes all the exhaustion, every last aching muscle and weary bone, and sets it right.

“Come here, Louisa May.” The low rumble of his voice moves me without thought.

The last of the daylight disappearing behind the mountain, I fold into the man I love.

“Whiskey time, darlin’.”

ChapterThirty-Three

HARRY

Amber liquid slips from the mouth of the bottle, dripping onto Lou’s hard nipple. A man’s never been this thirsty in the history of all mankind. Her silky skin is pure heaven under my calloused hands. One hand on her hip, the other bracing on the bedroll beside her, I dip my head and take the hard peak between my teeth.

She arches into me instantly, sending my cock impossibly hard.

Damn, this woman.

Lovin’ her will never get old.

I lose the nipple with a pop and drench the next one with whiskey, repeating the process. This time, I’m rewarded with her drenched pussy pressing against my rigid cock. It’s fuckin’ heaven.

Her mouth opens, so fuckin’ hungry for me.

---