I sucked in a breath so deep, I nearly choked. "Husband?"

"Anna," the woman said, extending her hand towards me. "Mrs Anna Lancaster, but you got that already."

I faked a smile as I shook her limp hand.

Her bright blue eyes glittered with energy. She smoothed out her baby pink skirt suit and curled her nose up. "Are you going to take your darling wife home, Mr Lancaster? We have some catching up to do." She licked her lips and winked.

I backed away from Brady, nausea and disbelief swarming over me. "I...I'm sorry, so sorry. I didn't know he was married..."

"Oh, no worries," she said, waving a hand through the air. "I know what he's like with the ladies. What's a woman to do when even this won't keep a man interested?" She motioned a hand over herself and gave a wistful sigh.

Brady glowered at her, distaste mixing around in his eyes. He glanced across at me, his hard edge softening. "Sophie—"

"It's ok," I said. "Honestly, it's fine." I backed up several steps, feeling more than uncomfortable. My mind racing, I jumped to the one thing which always put things in perspective. "I, um, I'm going to take Cody out for a ride if that's ok?"

Before Brady could answer, Anna jumped in with a voice laced in sarcasm. "Ooo. Allowing her on Kelsa's horse? She must be special."

"Shut up, Anna. I'm not sure, Sophie. I wouldn't mind if there were others going out too, but after the fall and everything—"

"I'll be fine. I've got my phone. I won't go far. Just need some time and space."

Anna smirked, reaching out and tracing a long nail down Brady's perfect bicep. He jerked away and scowled at her.

"I don't know, Sophie," he said, turning back to me. "I just don't feel comfortable with the idea."

Anna went back to him, this time curling her whole hand around his solid muscles and squeezing. "My, oh my. Has dear hubby been working out?"

Brady blinked several times and clenched his jaw.

"Please?" I asked, desperate to just get away and spill my tears in peace.

"Get off me, Anna!" He grabbed her hand and picked her fingers from his skin. "Ok," he said, turning back to me. "But be careful. I mean it. It's easy to get lost out there."

I nodded, whirling around and getting the hell out of there as quick as I could. What on earth had I gotten myself mixed up in? Humiliation flooded me as I realised Ben was right. Even Brady's immaculate wife couldn't keep his interest. His comments on city girls began to wander back to me—she was definitely a city girl.

Cody nuzzled at me as I tacked him up, my mind elsewhere. I led him out of the stall to see Brady stalking towards me as if his life depended on it.

"Sophie, before you go, please let me explain—"

"You don't need to, Brady. It's fine, honestly." I continued walking, brushing past him.

"Sophie—"

"Brady, come on." Anna's voice trickled over from his truck, parked only a few feet from the barn. "I do apologise," she said, smiling sweetly at me. "My husband is like a dog on heat at times."

I managed a thin smile but said nothing as I tightened Cody's cinch.

"Anna, get in the truck," Brady said, walking to my side. "I'll be there in a minute."

She stood in defiance, crossing her arms over her ample chest. "So you can kiss your bit of stuff goodbye? You disgust me." With a big sigh, she opened the passenger door. "Oh, nice show by the way. Hopefully I've solved your little love triangle problem."

Brady glared at her, hatred shooting towards her from his dark stare. I ignored them both and led Cody to the mounting block. Swinging into the saddle, I picked up my reins.

"Sophie," he said, grabbing hold of Cody's reins. "Please, just listen to me a minute."

"Brady, please. Can you just give me some time to get my head around all of this? It's been a little information overload this afternoon."

"I was going to tell you," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "It's complicated." He ran a hand over his face and sighed. "Will you come over tonight? Please. So I can explain?"

"I don't think that's a good idea. Besides, I wouldn't want to interrupt anything."

Before he could respond, I dug my heels into Cody's sides and loped off into the dusty landscape.

***

I have no idea how long Cody and I rocked along, enjoying the steady canter across the bleak desert. It was only as the sun no longer bothered me that I wondered about the time. Patting my pockets for my phone, I pulled it out only to realise it was dead.

"Shit."

We slowed to a walk and I allowed him to pick his own path between the dry plants and green vegetation. I glanced around at my surroundings, trying to pick out parts which I recognised. I whipped my head around to look behind me.

Nothing.

I recognised nothing out here. Had I really been that wrapped up in my own thoughts that I'd lost all sense of direction? I was so sure I'd taken the trail to the cookout area where we'd taken the draft horses.

In front of me sat beautiful towering hills, their red setting contrasting against the pale-yellow sunset hiding behind them. Daylight was fading fast and I didn't want to be out here in the dark, alone. I began to panic then as I realised I was on my own, no phone, and no idea of where I was. Perhaps Cody knew the way home?

I loosened my reins and patted his neck. He pricked his ears but only continued to meander forwards. I thought back over the way we'd come. We'd circled around the bottom of a steep hill before trekking out through a bunch of cacti. Then...I struggled to remember. My thoughts had been entirely consumed with Ben, Brady, and Brady's city wife. I should have paid better attention or at best, heeded Brady's warning not to wander too far.

Cody's coat glistened with a soft sheen of sweat. I couldn't push him much more to try and get us back before dark. Judging from the twilight and buzzing of night time insects, I calculated roughly just under an hour before all light was lost.

"Sorry, boy," I said, kissing to him. "We need to cover as much ground as we can before it gets dark."

He snorted but lulled us into a steady lope. After several minutes, we came across a huge pile of rocks. It loomed over us, easily two storeys high. The shadows it cast darkened our forwards path causing apprehension to catch my breath. Several bushes edged its perimeter, making the whole scene just a little creepier.

A sense of fear pricked at me. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Cody came to a sudden stop.

Then I panicked.

His ears shot forwards and he snorted, pawing at the ground. I gulped, a dry lump lodged in my throat. I looked to the right at the mound of stone. There was nothing there.

"Come on boy," I said, pushing him forwards. "It's fine. Just some shadows."

He shook his head and snorted again before running backwards a few steps.

"Cody, come on."

I pushed him on again. He took one step forwards before spinning around. He snatched at the bit, yanking my arms. A spiral of toxicity began to develop as the more nervous I became, the jitterier he became. We fought for several minutes as I tried everything from backing up, side-passing, and loping past the A shaped mound, but every time, he would stop at the same point and stamp his front feet, each time with more frustration.

I sighed and dismounted, the only thing left to try. As soon as my feet touched the ground, a low growl grumbled through the eerie silence. Cody stilled, his entire body quivering.

A fresh sweat broke out all over me. I froze to the spot. The bushes behind me rustled. I squeezed my eyes shut but knew I had to look. I had to know what I was facing.

Turning around to glanceacross the dusky landscape, a dawning horror clawed at me. Here was MotherNature's lethal ugliness to match her serene beauty. She'd treated me to theamazing depths of her wonderful landscape and now it was my time to face the horrificreality of being out here—a snarling mountain lion.