Cowboys & Horses

Chapter 28

I'd barely ran more than a few steps before I bumped into a solid, familiar body. Without even thinking, I buried my face in his chest.

"Hey, hey, hey." He curled his arms around me, wrapping me in his warmth. "Sophie, what's wrong?"

I shook my head, trying my hardest not to think about my smarting cheek. I clutched onto his soft cotton shirt, needing just a bit longer to make sense of the last minute or so.

He moved a hand to the back of my neck, nestling me into him. When he leaned his head against mine, a deep yearning ached inside me. I could be in the middle of a war zone and this, right here, would be all I would need to feel at home, safe, wanted.

"Soph, you're trembling."

It wasn't until he said this that I realised I was shaking like a leaf in a storm. He pulled back slightly and moved a hand under my chin, tilting my face up to him. For just a split second, his chocolate eyes exuded care and concern.

And then they changed. He changed.

Like a roller shutter door, a hardened glassy stare fell over his eyes. His handsome face contorted into a picture of horror, and then ire. The clench of his jaw was so great, I could hear the chilling scrape of his teeth grinding together. With nostrils flaring, he pulled his lips into a thin line and turned my cheek towards him. I closed my eyes to stop a fresh wave of tears from rising.

"Did he...did he do this? Did he hit you?" Beneath my hands, his chest was rising and falling with rapid breaths. "Sophie, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have been such a..." He let out a growl of frustration before pressing his lips to my hair. "I—"

"What the fuck is this?"

I startled at the sound of Ben's voice. Dread flooded me.

"I could ask you the same thing," Brady said.

He moved away from our embrace, stepping to my side, and then in front of me. Peering around his shoulder, I saw Ben stood outside of the chalet doorway, his arms folded and pure hatred dripping from every part of him.

"You could ask," Ben replied. "But it doesn't mean you'll get an answer. After all, it's not like my fiancée is any concern of yours, nor is our business."

"From where I'm standing, she's every concern of mine."

Ben smiled before switching his attention across to me. "Sophie, come here."

I shook my head.

"Sophie." His voice reminded me of the way my father would call my name when he was about to tell me off. "Come here."

I shook my head again.

"What is this, Soph? Hmmm? You in love with him or something now? Or are you just being naïve to the fact you're just another English girl for him to bang?"

"Watch your mouth," Brady said. "You don't know the first thing about me."

"I don't need to know anything about you to be able to tell you go after anything female. Using my fiancée's vulnerability to get you laid is not something I take kindly to."

"But her sister is something you do take kindly to?"

I cringed and squeezed my eyes shut.

"That is none of your business," Ben said. His tone was icy cold and sent chills down my spine.

Silence descended over all of us. No-one moved, and no-one said a word. Several agonising seconds ticked past.

Ben's stare returned to me. "So, is this it now then? You're going to play happy ranch life with this...jumped up cowboy?"