Hearts Aflame by Ronica Black

Author:Ronica Black [Black, Ronica]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
ISBN: 9781602823013
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books, Inc.
Published: 2007-07-10T04:00:00+00:00

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Solemn from Tillie’s tale, the group climbed back on the horses and set out into the afternoon sun. Rae’s heart bled in her chest, pained for Tillie and pained for her own loss. She watched Krista intently, noticing her change in behavior as well. After the heartbreaking story she seemed less angry and more sad. She kept to herself and started roping again.

Rae couldn’t help but admire her perseverance and smiled when she finally hit her mark. Krista tugged back on the rope quickly and Adam whooped at her success. The calf struggled and Krista nearly fell from her saddle trying to get to it. Grinning, she removed the rope and hugged the calf.

“You’re a stud!” Adam said.

Krista took off her ball cap and bowed, but when her eyes caught Rae’s, their sparkle faded and her smile mellowed a bit. She tugged her hat down tight and limped to her horse. The wound on her leg was bothering her and Rae’s concern was growing. Krista’s jeans were dirty and a stain had started to spread on the knee. Rae knew she would have to insist on cleaning it later that evening.

As her thoughts and eyes remained on Krista, Cody came riding up from the front once again. “Doc, I think there’s something you should see.”

“What’s wrong?”

He slowed his horse and squinted. “You better come have a look for yourself.”

Rae waved Frank over. “I need you to pull the horses for a while.”

“You got it.”

She helped him tie on the supply horses and then she took off, following Cody along the side of the creek to a heavy wooded area close to the neighboring ranch’s property.

“I was riding ahead,” he said as she came up next to him, “checking the trail when I heard it. I couldn’t figure out what it was.”

They were off the trail now, and from the tall grass ahead, Rae heard the high-pitched whines of an animal. Cody drew back on the reins as the sound grew louder. He slipped from his horse and waited for Rae to do the same. They approached slowly, and by the sound, Rae knew what she would find nestled in the high grass. Rae could smell her but couldn’t yet see her. “Where is she?”

“Over here.” Cody moved along the fence several yards to a disturbed patch of grass. A female coyote lay dead, her foot held captive in a steel trap. Her pup, a dirty brown ball of fur, scampered away as they knelt.

“God almighty.” Rae knelt, overcome with emotion. “If I’ve told them once, I’ve told them a thousand times. No more steel traps.” She swatted away the flies and the stench.

“I didn’t think it was legal to use those anymore.”

Rae stood, scanning the surroundings for the orphaned pup. “It’s not. But ranchers are using them to kill off bobcats and coyotes. Protecting their herd and animals at any cost.”

She found the little coyote scurrying through the grass and picked him up. He yelped in fear, and she laughed as she held his writhing body up for examination.

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