Mitch took two attempts to push himself to his feet. I forced myself up, too, and the moment my weight settled onto my heels, pain exploded up my legs.
A sound escaped me, half gasp, half whimper, and I stumbled.
Mitch caught my elbow, steadying me.
We stood there, both barely upright. Both broken and bleeding.
My chin trembled. Tears welled in my eyes.
Mitch pulled me against his chest, one arm wrapping around my shoulders. His heart hammered beneath my ear as I sucked in shaking breaths, trying to force down my emotions.
When he finally pulled back, his eyes softened. "We're gonna get through this."
"I know. Just one step at a time, right?"
Huffing, he nodded, and his thumb brushed my shoulder. “Exactly.” He stepped back, and I squinted at the sun. It was still morning, yet it was bloody hot.
"I bet you wish you had your cowboy hat."
"Yep." A wave of sadness crossed his face.
I dragged my gaze to the landscape stretching flat and endless in every direction. Nothing but red dirt and weeds for miles. "Where are we?"
"Koolaroo Ranch."
"Very funny. So, where's the ranch?"
He shook his head. "Don't know yet."
"What? So, what do we do now?"
"Start walking."
He reached down for the rifle.
Panic spiked through me. "What are you going to do with that?"
A muscle twitched in his cheek. He didn't respond as he hooked the leather strap over his shoulder.
Damn it. With one question, I'd shown him I didn't trust him.
He clamped his jaw tight. "Let's go." He strode away.
"But where are you going?"
"To find my horse."
Shit. He's not waiting. Clenching my jaw, I blocked out the pain and shuffled after him. "You can't get rid of me that easily."
"Wasn't planning on it."
Despite everything, I almost smiled.
We both moved like we'd aged a decade in a day. Within a hundred yards, a blister on my right heel burst. Warm blood oozed inside my boot.
Each step was my own private hell.
But I clenched my jaw and kept going.