Wild Child (7 page)

"Is it dangerous to ride a horse you’ve never been on? Shouldn’t a man be doing this?" He questioned me.

I frowned at him. "It makes no difference, really. It can be dangerous so I’ll try to be careful. Isn’t it dangerous when you do wheelies?"

"Not if you know what you are doing. Can I come watch you?" he asked, smiling.

I was flattered. "Sure! Take the wide trail back to the large barn. I’ll be there for a while before I even ride him. I better get going."

I took my plate and mug back to the kitchen.

"Elena, I am going to head up to the barn. Is anybody up there yet?"

She was cooking, her answer was rushed.

"Stablehands should be and I want Hunter to be up there with you, Kima. Spend some time with this horse before you get on him. If you have
any
doubts about him, don’t ride him. When you’re going to ride send somebody down for Hunter, promise?"

I leaned over to kiss her cheek.

"Elena, I won’t get on him if he seems off. I hate being tossed. Send Jo up when she finally wakes up. She’ll be safer with me than around Nailz."

I knew better than to interrupt Hunter talking, so I stood at the back door waiting to catch his eye. I nodded toward the back and he rolled his eyes.

As I was walking up the trail, I couldn’t help but laugh to myself. Hunter really wasn’t a horse person. He rode and knew all about them but he didn’t really like the stallions. I knew Hunter would be up there before I rode; Elena would be pissed if I didn’t send for him.

When I got to the barn, I asked the stable hands about the horse. He was named Cool Chrome, or CC, and they hadn’t had any issues with him for the few days he was there.

I went over to him, stroking his velvet nose and gave him a few sugar cubes. He was quite the gentlemen and let me pick up his hooves. I was able to brush him and, so far, he seemed fine.

I took CC out to the round pen and put the lunge line on him. He was doing fine so I lunged him for him for a good half hour. CC would walk, trot and canter. I took CC out of the round pen and I wiped the sweat off him. I asked one of the hands to saddle him up with a western saddle.

I saw that Jo was walking fast toward me, Nailz was trailing a bit behind. She sped up, increasing her distance, probably so he couldn’t catch her. Jo reached me and I asked her to run down and get Hunter. I wanted to get this ride over with. She looked relieved and took off like a bolt of lightening.

Nailz was chuckling softly to himself when he came up, he looked at CC in awe.

"You really going to ride this huge beast?" he asked.

I wondered to myself if these bikers were sissies or city boys. "Nailz, you ever been on a horse?"

He looked at me like I was crazy. "Hell no! And I don’t plan to ever get on one, either. I ain’t crazy!"

I had to laugh at him making that silly face. "I’m not crazy either and, of course I’m riding CC. Riding horses is something I love to do."

Hunter and Jo came back and I checked my saddle to make sure it was on correctly.

I wondered why Veiko hadn’t come and was a bit disappointed. But, clearing my mind, I got a stable hand to hold him while I got into the saddle. We rode into a paddock and the stable hand shut the gate.

CC was doing great, he trotted and walked. I couldn’t help but think he wasn’t as green as Elena was told. I suddenly noticed his ears go back, I knew something was wrong.

Oh no!

CC was rearing and I held on for dear life.

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Veiko rode his bike up the trail Kima had told him to take. As he got close to the barn he saw her on a large white horse. It was far bigger than her horse, Sugar. All of a sudden the horse was rearing so V rode faster, hoping to get to her. Hunter was waving at him to slow down.

V cut the engine as Kima flew through the air. Jo was screaming as she saw her friend's body hit the fence. Kima's head bounced off the ground. Stablehands were trying to grab the horse so it didn’t trample her. Nailz was faster and grabbed the reins, handing the horse to a stablehand.

The horse was calm now that Veiko had shut his bike off.

Hunter stomped up to him, fuming.

"V! Didn’t you see the signs on the trail? No motorcycles? You're to blame for this!"

Hunter went running and told a stable hand to get Elena. Kima wasn’t moving and Jo was silent. She knelt beside Kima, checking her hair for blood and vital signs.

Jo looked up, very upset. "I think she needs to get to the hospital as soon as we can get her there."

Elena roared up in her truck and ran up to where Kima was lying, she went pale.

"Oh my God! Don’t touch her - her neck may be broken! Somebody call for an ambulance.
NOW!"

Veiko stood there, thinking about how this was his fault. If this girl was hurt, it
was
his fault for not paying attention to the warning signs.

Nailz grabbed him. "Bro, walk your bike away from here. If the cops come, we don't need them seeing us."

They pushed the Harley back down the trail and waited silently. In a few minutes an ambulance appeared and V turned to watch as it slowly went up the trail.

It stopped and people rushed out, going about their business. They loaded Kima on a stretcher and into the ambulance. Hunter, Elena, and Jo went in the truck to follow it.

V was stricken, panic in his gut.

"Fuck! Nailz, get your bike! We’re gonna to follow them to the ER. It's my fault Kima’s hurt."

Nailz looked at V oddly. "There’s nothing we can do, bro. We’re leaving a party to sit in the ER? Damn, V? You falling for this chick?"

V was tired of waiting while the ambulance was getting further away.

"If you want a patch over from Hunter, don’t you think it would be wise to show some respect? It was my fault."

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The men were able to find the hospital easily. The ER wasn’t busy so Kima had been rushed for x-rays. Elena was on a pay phone talking to somebody, looking pissed off beyond belief.

V walked over to Jo. "Why is Elena looking so angry? Is she blaming me?" Jo shook her head. "I think, from what I heard, that Kima’s family is drunk. I doubt they’re in any shape to come to the hospital."

Drunk?
V thought.
This time of day? Normal people drank this early?

Jo continued, "Every weekend's an excuse to have a party for the Regan family. If Kima was home she’d have to babysit, or take her cousins crabbing, or something. She avoids being home as much as she can, because they usually get too drunk. It happens all summer long."

V felt a rage building up inside of him. Fuck it! Her parents could rot, as far as he was concerned. He was the one who had caused this. If it came down to it, he was going to stay and be there for Kima when she woke.

Grimly he sat down and waited for any news on her.

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Jo sat in the waiting room. Elena was still on the pay phone, shouting at someone, and Hunter was pacing. V was sitting there like a statue staring off into space.

She was wondering where Nailz had gone. He’d probably left to get a drink. The redhead really hoped he wouldn’t be coming back.

She started to settle in for a long wait. She said a silent prayer to God that Kima would be alright. Jo was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn't see the large shadow of Nailz loom over her, she looked up, startled.

Nailz smirked down at her, looking like a cat eying a mouse.

She thought;
Here it comes. Payback time!

Jo shifted away as he filled her entire space. She really shouldn't have let things go that far, in which she and Kima now termed 'the ass crack incident.' Sometimes her temper really did get the best of her.

"Well I finally got you cornered," he drawled wickedly.

Nailz sat down beside her and snaked his arm across the back of her chair. Casually, he glanced around the room.

Jo wondered what was up with this guy? Did the big jerk enjoy amusing himself at her expense? Again her temper started to boil.

Nailz leaned down and growled in her ear, "Don't think for a moment I’ve forgotten about your little stunt on the beach."

Jo retorted, "How's the sand in your ass, Nailz? Did you finally get it out? I don't recall inviting you to sit beside me. There are plenty of other chairs for you to choose from." She shifted uncomfortably again; if she moved any further she would fall right off her chair. Exasperated she snipped, "Why don't you make yourself comfortable, Nailz. While you're at it, feel free to take up all my space."

Nailz gave her an amused look and teased, "Don't mind if I do. You don't have a problem with me sitting here, do you, Josephine? I have to keep my eye on you, just in case you want to play with my ass again."

"Well, that’s what you get for stealing my towel and not giving it back, moron,."

Nailz just smirked at her. "Well, Chickie, you'd better watch
your ass.
You're a lil' brat. I’ll give you a reprieve on account of what's happening with your friend, but don't think for a moment I'll be forgetting. When you least expect it, I
will
get you back. Payback's a motherfucker."

Jo snorted, "Oh don't worry! When this is over, I don't plan on being anywhere near you. Good luck trying. Um - Nailz - isn't the correct term payback's a bitch?"

Nailz shot her a challenging look. "It's whatever way I want to say it.
You
will get it, Josephine. Trust me!"

Really?
She entertained the idea of getting up and moving to another chair but knew Nailz would only follow her, just to aggravate her.

He was so close to her, she could feel the heat of his body flowing into hers. It was a very unexpected feeling and a good one. What on earth was happening to her?

He was
so
not her type! Yet, she got these little fluttery feelings in her stomach when he was around and had this warm wet feeling between her legs.

Jo flushed as she remembered his gorgeous firm ass. She also remembered some other parts of him  too. That memory played repeatedly in her mind.

V looked over at Nailz, making a motion for him to get up and go for a walk.

Nailz turned to her as he got up, a sly smile on his face.

"Josephine, watch my seat for me, please."

Jo sighed, hating the long form of her name being used. Her parents called her that when she was in trouble. She watched those two fine ass bikers walk away.

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Veiko was upset. "Nailz, her parents aren't even coming to the hospital! What the fuck kinda parents wouldn't be here?"

Nailz kept a blank face. "V, you gonna save the world or just this chick? This ain't like you, bro."

"Yeah, well maybe I feel like this is my fault and if I wanna get with her, I ought to take care of her. Kima got under my skin."

Nailz looked at V seeing determination on his face. "I knew that fallen angel put a spell over you. Next you'll be making her your old lady."

V glared at him. "Maybe I will. Lets go back inside and see if the nurses know anything."

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I woke up sore all over. My head pounded and my ribs were killing me. I looked around and saw nurses.

Oh shit! I was in the ER in Beach View hospital.

I could hear one of them talking. "Poor thing. Her parents refuse to come to the hospital and did you see those guys waiting out there?"

I was wondering who all was out there?

A doctor came in and asked me if I could talk.

I replied "Yes."

The Doctor recited, "You had a loss of consciousness after your injury. Do you recall anything from the time you were injured?"

I tried to shake my head but it hurt too much.