Forbidden Passions by India Masters Read Free Book Online

She released the saddle rope strap and approached the massive bull slowly. “Move along, Bubba.” She waved her rope at him and urged him back toward the fence.
    As the bull crossed the property line, she squinted her eyes. “Ah, man, he’s got half a dozen head of our heifers in this pasture, Alex. I’m gonna go round ’em up.”
    “I don’t know, Lib; he’s—”
    But Libby ignored her sister’s concerns and jogged toward their cattle, gathering them up. “Let’s go, cows.” She woo-hooed, whistled, and waved her rope, driving the cows through the fence. The enormous bull followed, much to her dismay. She turned her horse and waved her rope at him, then got close enough to swat him on the rump. Which was when things went from frustrating to downright dangerous. The bull spun and charged, startling the little sorrel, which commenced to bend his legs and shoot straight into the air.
    “Holy crow!” Libby was too startled to curse as the frightened horse spun and reared.
    The bull snorted and pawed the ground, advancing on the bucking horse and rider. When he bellowed and lunged, the terrified gelding leaped, kicked out with his back legs, and connected with the now-bellowing bull. Cinnamon shrieked in alarm, reared again, and tumbled backward to the ground. Libby leaped from the saddle and somersaulted away before the horse could roll over on her. When she staggered to her feet, she was face-to-face with twenty-five hundred pounds of pissed-off bone and muscle.
    This is so not good . “Oh shit. Alex? Now might be a good time to put this sucker down. I don’t fancy getting gored or trampled to death.”
    “Take a step back, baby. Slow and easy. Let’s see what he’s gonna do.”
    Libby took a step back. The bull took a step forward. “Now, bull. You don’t really wanna do this. You go on back to your side of the fence, and we’ll call it even, dude. Neither of us has to die today.” She took a couple more steps back, and the bull stayed put, as if weighing her assessment of the situation.
    “Easy, Lib. I’m gonna shoot at his feet, back him up some. Lord, I hope this works.”
    Libby glanced at her sister. “Ya think?”
    “Just be ready to move. You good to go?”
    Libby took a deep breath, slowly let it out, and nodded. “Ready.”
    A shot rang out, and Libby dived sideways. Two more and she raced toward her skittish mount. “Sum bitch!” Cinnamon bolted, heading back down the mountain. Then all hell broke loose.
    There were more shots echoing off the mountains, along with sounds of an enraged bull, the pounding of hooves, and the shouts of men. She squeezed her eyes shut, hoping death came quickly.
    “Libby!” Someone was screaming her name, and she opened her eyes to see Bodie Cade racing toward her on horseback.
    She wasn’t stupid; she knew exactly what to do. She adjusted her stance, raised her left arm, and jumped when Bodie’s hand connected with her arm. She sobbed when she felt the solid heat of his back and wrapped her arms around his waist as he chased down her horse.
    When Bodie had a firm grip on Cinnamon’s reins, he pulled his own mount to a stop. Libby slid off the horse’s rump and sank to the ground, shaking like an aspen leaf. Bodie was beside her in a second.
    “You okay, baby?” There was an urgency in his voice that caused her stomach to clench. This man really cared about her. For the life of her, she couldn’t figure it out. He’d been so cruel in high school. Still, she couldn’t stop the shuddering as Bodie’s hands did a quick assessment of her condition, checking for broken bones. She’d always been honest with herself and acknowledged that the trembling wasn’t just about her near miss with the bull.
    When he was sure she was okay, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her wildly. She wrapped her arms around him and held on tight as he tumbled her to her back, kissing her as though his life depended on the feel of her mouth against his, her body