Page 69 of The Lies We Told Ourselves

My eyes darted along the yard, an impending sense of danger setting me on edge.

Something was wrong. Something was different. And after what had happened yesterday, just one slight difference had my subconscious screaming in alarm.

Bullet sensed the tension in his reins again, his ears flicking back as he stretched out his neck, picking up speed.

We pushed into the herd of horses in front of us. It wasn’t something I’d ever do normally. It was stupid, and it was dangerous.

But not as dangerous as Xander and Reece standing in front of the galloping herd with the gate completely wide open. The horses were going to charge straight through. They wouldn’t stop at the fence line, not when there was an opening in sight. That wasn’t how animals like this worked.

One mare slammed into the side of Bullet, and my ankle screamed in pain as I hunched into my saddle, leaning into the gallop that Bullet had started, urging him to go faster.

Even as he veered to the side from the impact, I could see the next horse coming. We were in too close quarters now. There was no avoiding them.

And I had no intention to.

All I needed to do was stay in the saddle and push through to the front of the herd.

Maybe I could reach the gate first, maybe I could…

My senses finally returned to me as the fact that it was impossible slammed into my mind.

There’d be no closing the gate. That was why I always made sure it was secured before I rode out to bring the herd in.

I was so sure I’d done it this time, too. I always did. I…was completely loved up and distracted by Reece.

Fucking hell, had I done this?

Two of the herd closed in on either side of Bullet, pinning him between them, and he thrashed his head, turning to bite the one that was pissing him off the most.

I got one foot on the horse’s flank and pushed it back to give us some space, but Bullet had already slowed down.

His ears were pinned flat to his head now, and I knew he was about to throw a Bullet-sized tantrum that would most likely end up with me on the ground if I didn’t get him under control. The ground was a place I definitely didn’t want to be right now.

But then I heard Xander screaming my name, and I looked up as the relief felt almost overwhelming.

“What the hell are you doing?” Xander screamed.

Reece had her hands covering her mouth, and I could see her eyes wide with fear as she watched another horse slam into Bullet, who stumbled and nearly went down.

The entire herd was panicking now. They didn’t understand why Bullet and I were diverting from the norm, and my panic was probably flowing through the herd as well.

“The gate!” I screamed, standing up in my saddle and madly waving my arm in its direction.

Bullet slowed down, and I let him. I wouldn’t be able to reach it and close the damn thing. I needed to get him to the back of the herd and then find a way to slow him down before we reached the yard, which was just meters away now.

Xander sprinted for the gate, and I felt a tear prick my eyes as my gaze locked with Reece. She looked so scared, but not for herself. I didn’t even know if she’d realized what was happening yet.

Everything seemed to move in slow motion then. A horse slammed into Bullet’s side, snapping at his neck in agitation, and he reared up, suddenly twisting to the side. Reece’s hands reached out as if she thought she could catch me. Her mouth opened, and I watched her lips form my name.

And then I was falling.

My eyes stayed on her for as long as I could. I didn’t want it to end this way, but at least, for a moment, I’d been happy.

I’d had her.

As she disappeared from view, my shoulder slammed into the hard dirt ground, and Bullet came down practically right on top of me. Every part of my body screamed in pain, as I felt like I took a hit from every side.

Then everything went black.

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