Broken Trouble (Broken Storm Series Book 1)

Chapter 26

I awoke to Storm nuzzling my hand, feeling like I had only slept for a few minutes. We had come home so late last night that I was only able to doze for a few short hours before waking up sometime before sunset. Sleeping in Storm's field seemed like the best option. Storm had been pacing the fence, waiting for me to come back. He had neighed at me when I got home, like he had been worried about me, almost like how normal parents did with their children. When I had went into his fencing, he had huffed and turned away from me, ignoring me for what seemed like an hour before coming to stand over me while I slept.

"Good morning Storm," I murmured as I blinked the sleep from my eyes. I felt his breath on my skin as he sighed and relaxed, his head turning to stare out of the fencing over my shoulder occasionally.

I stood and stretched, pulling out my phone, something I wasn't used to being able to do, to check the time. 5:04 A.M.

Why was I awake this early again? I wondered as I yawned, reaching over to pet Storm. He stood still, enjoying my touch while still keeping a watchful eye over my shoulder. What was he looking at? I wondered, turning to peer into the darkness.

I could hear the sound of footsteps over by the horses, but I couldn't see who it was. It had to be one of the guys, though that didn't stop my heart from pounding in my chest with the thought of it being someone else. Which was crazy, because the ranch was out in the middle of nowhere. I didn't think that anyone would come to visit this early.

In the city, you always had to watch your back. Someone you couldn't see was just another danger hiding away, waiting for the opportunity to strike. I'd never worried about someone dangerous being on the ranch before. It must be my lack of sleep messing with my nerves.

Still, I stepped between the boards of the fencing and took a few steps closer for a better look. It took me a few minutes, but I finally spotted the outline of Wyatt's hat. I relaxed and turned back to Storm. Stupid faulty city instincts.

The sound of a horse approaching stopped me from going back inside the fencing. Wyatt must be going out on an early morning ride.

I turned around and looked up to see Wyatt setting on Brooks, the darkness of the early morning surrounded us. His eyes were hidden, not giving away his emotions. He didn't speak, just reached his hand for mine. When I put my hand in his, he shifted back in the saddle with ease, pulling me up so I was astride Brooks in front of him. I swung my leg over and settled in, my entire backside pressing up against him, reminding me of the time that he had held me on his lap in the truck.

Brooks seemed to move on his own, turning and smoothly cantering away from the ranch and into the darkness. There was shadows around us, blurred from his speed, making me unable to identify where we were going.

Only the fact that Wyatt was completely relaxed with one arm looped around my waist, warming my stomach with the heat of his skin, along with steady rocking motion of Brooks underneath us, kept me from panicking.

In fact, I found myself relaxing with them, just trusting them to take me where they wanted me to go. I didn't openly trust people this easily, let alone unthinkingly. It didn't feel wrong or like I was failing myself, it just felt right.

We rode like that for a while, time slipping by as carelessly as the breeze through my hair. I heard the loud clacking of Brooks' hooves on rocks and I could just make out the sheer side of a canyon on one side and the open abyss on the other. Brooks had slowed to a walk, his steps sure and steady, making me wonder how many times he had went up this path.

The sky had turned into a midnight blue, signally that the sunrise was soon approaching. Brooks walked out into the top of the Canyon, heading towards the front, stopping only a few feet from the edge.