Page 30 of Marked

“Don’t be dramatic, city boy.” Percy held out a rope halter. “We’ve been working with Whiskey for weeks. He’s practically tame.”

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“It’ll show me you’re willing to go to any lengths to keep her safe and happy.”

“I’m gonna need a shot or ten of whiskey if I survive this.” I snatched the rope out of his hand and climbed over the fence. Glancing back, I narrowed my eyes at my future father-in-law. “And not the cheap shit either.”

Percy flicked his head toward the horse. “You get that around his neck, I’ll crack open the bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue I’ve been savin’ for a special occasion.”

“Deal.”

Grass crunched underneath the weight of my Timberlands, as I took step after cautious step toward the center ofthe field where the massive beast waited. I needed a plan, some way to take back control of the situation. Problem was, I didn’t have the first damn clue what I was doing.

“Easy, big boy.”

I raised my hands in front of me, slowing my pace further when Whiskey shook his head and stamped his foot in the dirt. There was such intelligence behind his deep-brown eyes as he tracked my every move, probably plotting my imminent demise.

When I was less than twenty feet away from meeting my maker, I heard her.

“I’d stop right there if I were you, Cowboy.”

Lanie sounded equal parts amused and worried, which did nothing to calm my pounding heart. My only consolation was with her right there, I didn’t think her dad and brother would take a chance with my life.

“Little busy here, Darlin’,” I hollered, never losing sight of my target.

Trickles of sweat dripped down my spine. It wasn’t balmy outside, but with the sun blazing down on me, it felt considerably warmer. Or maybe it was the fact I was staring death in the face.

“Unless you’ve got some sugar cubes in your pocket, you won’t get anywhere near him.”

“Oh yeah? How do you know?”

I nearly jumped out of my skin when she stepped past me, putting herself between me and the four-legged tank. Her ass would be wearing more of my marks after that move, so long as we both made it out of the pasture unscathed.

“Because Whiskey is mine.”

Without waiting for my reply, she was on the move. Unlike mine, her steps were steady and sure.

“I’ve missed you, my beautiful boy,” she cooed, reaching into her pocket, then holding her hand out in front of her, palm up.

Whiskey whinnied, bobbing his head up and down as his long legs ate up the distance between them in seconds. I was about to grab on to her sweatshirt to pull her behind me when she let out a sound that stopped me in my tracks. She giggled, which turned into a full-blown laugh as the horse lowered his head to her hand.

I watched, awestruck, as she cradled his long face between her hands, peppering kisses along the bridge of his nose. In all the years I’d known her, I’d never witnessed this side of Lanie. She was in her element and I fell just a little more in love with each passing moment.

“My girl always did have a way with him.” Percy sidled up next to me, a ghost of a smirk on his face. Looking around, I saw his partner in crime had vanished, leaving him to take the heat for their little stunt.

“You led me to believe he was vicious.”

“No, I just didn’t correct your assumptions.” He shrugged.

Asshole.

“Noah, come here.” Lanie beckoned me closer with a wave of her hand. She called…I went. That’s the way it was, I’d never been able to say no to her, probably never would. Denying how much she had me wrapped around her gorgeous finger was futile.

“You’re full of surprises. I never imagined you as a horse person, Lanie.”

“Beth and I used to ride the trails around here for hours. We wanted to give horseback tours through the Colorado Rockies after high school.”

“I’m sorry you lost her.”

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