Happy Cow Ranch

Don't Close Your Eyes

I blink a couple of times at Ryan's statement.

"What?" Beth repeats, laying a hand on my shoulder. I turn my blank eyes up to him, the words barely registering.

"There's no exit wound... the bullet's still in her stomach," He swallows hard as though trying not to gag.

"We need to go to the hospital!" Beth cries out, and John frowns, turning around.

"What? Why? The vet can-" Mr. Dutton turns around, then sees the perspiration on my forehead and lifeless position. He reaches back, and I can feel him shake my shoulder, but it feels as though it's outside of me, and I'm just floating in this truck, in between nothingness and pain, not knowing which to choose. "Kid? Come on, come back to me."

I let my head turn to him, and he gives me a soft smile.

"Good, good girl. Stay with me," Mr. Dutton requests, running a hand through my tangled mane before cupping my cheek. "The vet can take care of this."

"What would've made you change your mind? Her being dead?" Beth demands, eliciting a groan from her father.

"Not now, Beth," His voice cuts across the car like a knife, and Beth scowls, opening her mouth to speak again. I let out a whimper when we hit a bump in the road, and all the Dutton's spin to look at me. I tense under all the attention, eyes wide with surprise.

"S-Sorry," I mumble, to which Kayce laughs.

"She's somethin', isn't she?" He glances over to his dad, then shakes his head as he presses the gas pedal down harder.

"Take this next left." Beth swerves her hand to indicate the direction, resting her other hand on my shoulder. Kayce looks back at us, then cocks his head to the right in a small shrug before following her direction. John frowns at his son, and when I notice the caramel-colored roof, I frown too. Then, it dawns on me.

"No." I shake my head, trying to sit up. "No, no, n-no. We're not get... getting him involved."

Beth just pushes me right back down, ignoring my attempts to push her off.

"Why, 'cause you got a little crush? He's gonna have to get used to it if you take him on as your vet."

A blush colors my pallid features, and I stammer even more, glancing to the men in the vehicle who now clear their throats and avoid meeting my eyes.

"I do not have a-a crush! I just don't want a-anyone involved!" I exclaim, pushing away from her.

"So, what? You'd rather die?" She raises an eyebrow.

"Well, n-no..."

"Good." She looks up when the truck is put in park, and the doors fly open. I'm hoisted from the vehicle by Ryan and Kayce, greeted quickly by Logan, whose frown of confusion melts into wide-eyed shock at my stumbling, bloody state.

"Good Lord, what..." Logan starts, reaching out to take me from the boys.

"Don't ask questions," Beth warns him, weaving quickly past us to open the door. When the two livestock agents let go of me, I crumble easily into Logan's arms. He looks me over as he ushers me inside, bowing his head to the four Yellowstone residents, his nervous eyes meeting mine and pursing his lips.

"You'll be okay. I'll make sure you're okay," Logan breathes in my ear, readjusting his hold on me. I suck in a shaky breath, nodding as strongly as possible, but tripping over a pebble. My legs seize the opportunity to lose all functionality and send me sprawling against Logan's chest. Stumbling backward, he winces, then quickly scoops me up and sprints inside.