small space of manicured lawn and I suddenly feel the need to hold my breath. Like in slow motion, he turns his back on the deadly animal and descends the fence. I can’t watch, but I also can’t tear my eyes away. He extends the barrel of his gun out and pokes the animal and I seriously consider if maybe his head should be examined. But the snake doesn’t move and I finally find myself able to exhale. Logan shakes his head before turning his face to the sun.
“You’re extremely lucky that I actually hit him.” I didn’t realize I was moving again until Logan’s voice fills my ears. I do realize I’m getting too close to the slithery beast so I stop a few yards away, not daring to get any closer.
“I…I didn’t see it earlier…”
With a heavy sigh, Logan finally turns to look at me. “What did I say about wearing jeans out here? They can’t keep the venom out but they are a much better defense than those shorts .”
“You actually shot that thing?” So maybe I should have my own head checked.
“If I had missed, it could have taken off in your direction.” He shakes his head again. “Why are you running out here? I told you where the gym is.”
“I…I didn’t…” I can’t wrap my head around what I’m seeing right now. “Is it poisonous?”
He points to the pattern on the scales. “See that diamond pattern?” I nod, still unable to form a coherent thought. “Yes. It’s poisonous.” I start to really look at it until I realize that a portion of it has been blown to smithereens, and deciding I don’t need those nightmares, I finally look at Logan’s face. He reaches up and runs a hand over his face, fear and anger mixing in the depths of his bright blue eyes.
“You need—”
“Logan.” We both turn to find Travis on horseback, racing up to parallel himself with the fence. His nose scrunches up when he spots the dead snake behind Logan. “Oh, a rattler. Glad you got ‘em. Thunderstruck got out. He’s down the stream on the south side.”
Logan’s long fingers brush over his face one more time. “Alright, I’ll be right there. Grab Joe and Matt and I’ll bring the truck and some feed. Lord knows that’s all that appeals to that dumb bull. Oh, will you have Dean come out here to take care of this?”
Travis nods and turns back the way he came and Logan focuses on me, annoyed frustration taking over his face.
“A bull got out? Can I come watch you get him back? I’ve never—”
“No.” Just one terse word. Oh, we’re back to moody, uncommunicative Logan again. Yay.
“I won’t be in the way, I promise. I’ll stay in the truck and—”
“Not in those clothes. If you want to observe me on the ranch, that’s fine, but you’ll do so appropriately dressed.”
I look down at my black running shorts and neon green and pink racerback tank. I start to argue that there’s nothing wrong with the way I’m dressed until the wind picks up and a funny, metallic scent picks up in the air, reminding me that there’s a dead snake decaying on the driveway behind us.
“Okay, fine. I’ll get the appropriate apparel and join you in five.” I start to jog back toward the house, giving the snake a wide berth, but Logan’s words stop me.
“Not today, Allie. You can come out later this week, but just…just go back inside and get cleaned up. I’ll see you when I’m done.”
He turns and scales the fence and is back on his horse before I can even argue back. Not wanting to spend any more time with a dead rattlesnake than necessary, I replace my headphones and jog all the way back into the house and into the gym, never taking my eyes off the path ahead of me in case any other rattlers arise to sour my already dreadful mood.
***
Logan and I silently move around each other as we clear the kitchen table of the dishes, not daring to even look each other in the eye. Dinner was painfully quiet. Logan answered with a simple “yep” whenever I asked if they were
“You’re extremely lucky that I actually hit him.” I didn’t realize I was moving again until Logan’s voice fills my ears. I do realize I’m getting too close to the slithery beast so I stop a few yards away, not daring to get any closer.
“I…I didn’t see it earlier…”
With a heavy sigh, Logan finally turns to look at me. “What did I say about wearing jeans out here? They can’t keep the venom out but they are a much better defense than those shorts .”
“You actually shot that thing?” So maybe I should have my own head checked.
“If I had missed, it could have taken off in your direction.” He shakes his head again. “Why are you running out here? I told you where the gym is.”
“I…I didn’t…” I can’t wrap my head around what I’m seeing right now. “Is it poisonous?”
He points to the pattern on the scales. “See that diamond pattern?” I nod, still unable to form a coherent thought. “Yes. It’s poisonous.” I start to really look at it until I realize that a portion of it has been blown to smithereens, and deciding I don’t need those nightmares, I finally look at Logan’s face. He reaches up and runs a hand over his face, fear and anger mixing in the depths of his bright blue eyes.
“You need—”
“Logan.” We both turn to find Travis on horseback, racing up to parallel himself with the fence. His nose scrunches up when he spots the dead snake behind Logan. “Oh, a rattler. Glad you got ‘em. Thunderstruck got out. He’s down the stream on the south side.”
Logan’s long fingers brush over his face one more time. “Alright, I’ll be right there. Grab Joe and Matt and I’ll bring the truck and some feed. Lord knows that’s all that appeals to that dumb bull. Oh, will you have Dean come out here to take care of this?”
Travis nods and turns back the way he came and Logan focuses on me, annoyed frustration taking over his face.
“A bull got out? Can I come watch you get him back? I’ve never—”
“No.” Just one terse word. Oh, we’re back to moody, uncommunicative Logan again. Yay.
“I won’t be in the way, I promise. I’ll stay in the truck and—”
“Not in those clothes. If you want to observe me on the ranch, that’s fine, but you’ll do so appropriately dressed.”
I look down at my black running shorts and neon green and pink racerback tank. I start to argue that there’s nothing wrong with the way I’m dressed until the wind picks up and a funny, metallic scent picks up in the air, reminding me that there’s a dead snake decaying on the driveway behind us.
“Okay, fine. I’ll get the appropriate apparel and join you in five.” I start to jog back toward the house, giving the snake a wide berth, but Logan’s words stop me.
“Not today, Allie. You can come out later this week, but just…just go back inside and get cleaned up. I’ll see you when I’m done.”
He turns and scales the fence and is back on his horse before I can even argue back. Not wanting to spend any more time with a dead rattlesnake than necessary, I replace my headphones and jog all the way back into the house and into the gym, never taking my eyes off the path ahead of me in case any other rattlers arise to sour my already dreadful mood.
***
Logan and I silently move around each other as we clear the kitchen table of the dishes, not daring to even look each other in the eye. Dinner was painfully quiet. Logan answered with a simple “yep” whenever I asked if they were
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