Tackling Summer by Kayla Dawn Thomas

hoped he wasn’t surrounded by an entire pack and wondered if there were any limbs on the nearby trees he could grab so he could climb up. Before he could move, a shot rang out, and Maddox felt his feet leave the ground. He looked around wildly, not sure what to do in his panic. Eyes forward again, Maddox found the trail empty. Where had the wolf gone? Bile rose in his throat. The damn wolf was hiding somewhere ready to attack. Someone was shooting at him. He was having a hard time catching his breath.
    “Maddox!”
    He spun around to see Mitch emerge from the trees. Never had he been so excited to see another human being, but before he could speak, his stomach buckled and he threw up.
    “Easy there!” Mitch said coming alongside him, putting a hand on his heaving back. “You okay?”
    Maddox righted himself and drug his forearm across his mouth. “I will be.”
    Mitch grinned. “Got a good look at him, didn’t ya.”
    Maddox nodded. He could feel the cold sweat covering his skin.
    “He’s gone now. Let’s head home.”
    Unable to find intelligible words, Maddox pulled on his shirt and followed Mitch. Half an hour later, they came to the main road. Maddox was grateful for the older man’s silence. Most guys would have harassed him for getting lost and teased him for freaking out.
    “I gave her a talkin’ to,” Mitch said when the ranch buildings came into sight.
    “K.”
    “I know you don’t like taking orders, but life’ll be easier for you if you listen to her.”
    Maddox clenched his jaw at the offered wisdom.
    “It’s okay to be quiet and learn sometimes. We don’t have to know everything.”
    They were in front of the barn now. Maddox appreciated Mitch’s quiet correction. It was easier to swallow than the bellows from the coaching staff or the sharp disdain he received from Chanel.
    “Thanks,” Maddox said. “You won’t tell anyone I…”
    “Nope. We all have our moments. If it had been me, I woulda shit myself.” Mitch’s eyes danced, and his lips turned up just a bit.
    Maddox laughed. “I’m not sure that I didn’t. Think I better go do some laundry.”
    Mitch laughed and turned toward the barn. “See you in the morning, son.”
    Son. Maddox’s dad had never called him that outside of formal introductions.

CHAPTER EIGHT

    Chanel handed Maddox a horse brush and currycomb, keeping a set for herself for demonstration purposes. “Okay, let’s get you started brushing Rosalind.” Chanel led the way to the stall where a gray mare was tied. “She’s Dad’s horse, but she’s getting up there in years, so she doesn’t get ridden much these days. Sometimes Dad takes her out for an easy ride on Sundays.”
    When Maddox hesitated, she heaved a sigh. She was tired and hot after a long day of moving cows. More than anything, she wanted a long shower and to stretch out on a lounger on the deck. “Get in here. She won’t bite. Just set your hand on her butt as you come in, so you don’t startle her.”  
    “Yeah, right. She’ll probably kick me in the nuts then bite me on the head when I’m doubled over,” Maddox muttered taking a tentative step toward the stall.
    “What’s that supposed to mean?”  
    “After your little stunt yesterday? I don’t trust you.”
    Needing something to do with her hands, Chanel began working through Rosalind’s mane with the currycomb. She probably shouldn’t have left him in the forest. Mitch had hiked out and found him wandering in the opposite direction of the ranch, sunburned and ticked off. He’d told Chanel at dinner that the kid was spooked out of his gourd after his first wolf sighting.
    Chanel had laughed and confessed to telling Maddox about the wolves and showing him her gun. Mitch had glowered at her and told her leaving him was childish. She’d protested saying she took off down the trail they’d just come up on, and it was on Maddox for not following her.
    “Whatever it is that’s eating you about him, get over it. I’ve got