Page 22 of Hot For You

“We have a lot of quail out here,” he said as it scuttled under a bush. “My mom loved them and we even raised some at one time.”

He opened one of the saddlebags and pulled out a plaid blanket. She took it from him to spread it out on a clear place on the ground beneath the trees. They both sat on the blanket and he began taking their lunch out of the saddlebags and placing them on the blanket. He handed her a paper plate.

She took an egg salad sandwich from him and removed it from its plastic baggie. After she took a bite, chewed, and swallowed, she smiled at him. “This has got to be the best egg salad sandwich ever.”

He gave an amused smile. “It’s the country air. Makes everything taste better.”

“I’ll say.” She slipped her hand into the corn chips, pulled out a handful, and placed them on her paper plate. “Is this the ranch you grew up on?”

He nodded. “From the time I was born. My brother and I inherited it but he signed the ranch over to me when he got back from traveling abroad.”

“I live in a small apartment and don’t get out of the city much.” Carilyn pulled several grapes out of a baggie and set them on her plate. “All of this space is just incredible to me.” She looked out at the pasture. “I can see how this land would be inspiring. I like to go to coffee shops to get out of the house and work on my laptop. Might do that in town.”

“There’s a great bakery in Prescott called Sweet Things,” Cody said. “Not too long ago, one of my cousins married the woman who owns it. She has tables and chairs that you can sit in and a big picture window to stare out of.”

“Sounds great,” Carilyn said. “I’ll have to check it out.”

She enjoyed talking with Cody. He was so easy to talk with, so comfortable to be around.

Even though they’d been there well over an hour, it seemed that they finished lunch too quickly and it was time to pack up. She helped gather up the trash and stuffed everything into a saddlebag, which he slung over his horse and secured.

When he helped Carilyn mount her horse, she felt a flurry of nervous excitement in her belly. All too soon his hands were no longer on her and he was mounting Holly.

When they set out and Carilyn smiled at the gentle sunny day and her enjoyment of her time with Cody.

As the horses headed back toward the ranch house, Carilyn heard a strange noise, like the rattle of a pressure cooker.

Molly whinnied a loud terrified sound, and reared up on her hind legs.

Carilyn screamed as she lost her grip on the reins.

The next thing she knew, she was flying off the back of the horse.

She hit the ground hard, air whooshing out from her chest. Her head struck something.

Stars blinded her and then everything went black.

Chapter 8

Cody’s heart thundered as he saw Carilyn being thrown from her horse. At the same time, he un-holstered his pistol and aimed it at the rattlesnake just feet from where Carilyn landed. He pulled the trigger. The snake collapsed as Cody hit it in the head dead-on with the snake shot.

He dismounted Holly in a rush and ran to where Carilyn lay flat on the ground, motionless. As he reached her a breath of relief rushed out of him when she stirred.

She groaned and started to move but put her hand to her head and grimaced.

“Shhh.” He crouched beside her, one knee on the ground, and touched her shoulder. “Don’t move.”

She blinked. Her pupils were dilated and she had a dazed look about her. “What happened?” Her speech came out a little slurred.

“A rattlesnake spooked Molly. You got thrown and you likely have a concussion.” He saw blood on the rock behind her head. “You also have a head wound. I’m not sure if you have any other injuries.”

“My head hurts.” She tried to get up but he lightly but firmly pressed her down by her shoulders.

“Relax the best you can.” He let out his breath. “Give me a moment and I’ll get the first aid kit.”

He went to the saddlebags and from the bottom of one he pulled out a first aid kit and a clean bandana that he kept for working in the heat. When he turned around he frowned when he saw that she was now sitting up. She had one knee bent and she was resting her elbow on it, her forehead in her hand.

When he went to her, he knelt and set the kit aside with the bandana on top of it. “I told you to relax.”

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