She Bought the Bull Nobody Could Handle…Every Rancher in the County Was at Her Gate by Spring.
Chapter 9
Emma ran barefoot through the mud.
“Midnight!”
No answer.
The moonlight was weak.
The pasture was empty.
She followed hoofprints toward the creek.
Then she saw him.
Midnight stood beneath the trees.
A rope was hanging from his neck.
Emma stopped.
Someone had tried to catch him.
The bull was trembling.
Not angry.
Terrified.
Emma approached slowly.
“It’s me.”
Midnight turned.
She removed the rope.
He pressed his head against her shoulder.
She wrapped both arms around his neck.
“I’ve got you.”
Behind them came an engine.
A truck appeared on the road.
Wade.
Two men jumped out.
Emma stood between them and Midnight.
“You need to leave.”
Wade stepped forward.
“Move.”
“No.”
“He belongs to me.”
“You don’t own him.”
Wade smiled.
“You don’t know how ownership works.”
Emma reached for her phone.
“I’m calling the sheriff.”
Wade’s smile disappeared.
“You have no idea how many people owe me favors.”
“Maybe.”
She raised the phone.
“But I know one thing.”
“What?”
“Midnight isn’t afraid of you anymore.”
Wade looked past her.
The bull was standing behind Emma.
His head was lowered.
But he wasn’t charging.
He was waiting.
Wade laughed.
“You think you’ve tamed him?”
Emma shook her head.
“No.”
“What then?”
“He chose me.”
Wade’s men approached.
Midnight stepped forward.
The men stopped.
For the first time, Wade looked uncertain.
Then headlights appeared behind them.
Sheriff Tom Reynolds arrived.
Two deputies followed.
Wade stepped back.
“Sheriff.”
“Wade.”
The sheriff looked at the rope.
Then at Emma.
“What’s happening?”
Wade smiled.
“Animal escaped.”
Emma shook her head.
“He tried to steal him.”
Wade laughed.
“That’s absurd.”
Emma held up the rope.
“Then explain this.”
The sheriff looked at it.
His expression hardened.
“Wade, you need to leave.”
Wade stared at him.
“You’re making a mistake.”
“Maybe.”
Wade climbed into his truck.
Before leaving, he looked at Midnight.
The bull didn’t move.
The truck disappeared.
Sheriff Reynolds turned to Emma.
“You need more than a rope.”
“I know.”
“What are you going to do?”
Emma looked toward the pasture.
“Find the other three.”
The sheriff frowned.
“What?”
“My grandfather said there are three more bulls.”
The sheriff sighed.
“Emma…”
“I need to know where they are.”
“And if you find them?”
Emma looked at Midnight.
“Then I bring them home.”
