Gosh, they’re pretty to look at.I swallowed hard and pointed at my truck. “Follow me to the ranch.”
When I looked back up at the sky, my stomach twisted just like the funnel forming. We needed to get to the house.Now.
I sprinted to my truck and launched into the front seat, slamming the door shut. The tires peeled over the gravel as large raindrops pelted the windshield, the wind rocking the cabin as I whipped around to speed back toward the ranch.
My gaze flicked to the rearview. The stranger was speeding right behind me, as if the devil were breathing down our necks.
“Fuck.” The funnel touched the ground behind us.
It was gonna land. Now the question was whether or not it’d follow us.
It’d been a long time since we’d had a storm season quite like this, and the thought of Rainbow Ranch being swept away by a tornado was a worry I had every year. Everything could be gone in the blink of an eye, and then what? What would I do? What wouldwedo?
I wasn’t religious. Never had been, never would be. But still, I sent up a silent prayer, a wish, a hope. All I wanted was for them to be safe. My family. The ranch. The animals.
The truck jerked. My knuckles whitened as I gripped the steering wheel, my boot pushing the pedal into the floorboard.
Even going this fast, it’d take a few more minutes to get back to the house. Adrenaline was a wild bronco in my veins, the earth torn up piece by piece by the tornado behind us. Sweat dripped down my back, my body trembling as we raced against mother nature.
“Please go. Please let up.Please.”
My throat was dry. Every muscle in my body was so rigid, I knew I’d hurt tomorrow.
The horse stables loomed in the distance. My eyes darted from what was in front of me to the horror behind me.
Fuck.Fuck,we were gonna be okay.
The funnel was going a different way. I slowed down, trembling as I pulled to a stop on the road. I blew out a slow, deliberate breath as the stranger stopped behind me.
“Fuck. Shit. Damn it.What the fuck?!” I needed to get all the curses out while I could.
I kicked open the door and stepped onto the road, my knees feeling like Boone’s strawberry jelly. The stranger got out, raking their fingers through their green hair.
I approached them, a lump forming in my throat. Maybe it was just the storm that had me all riled up, but there was just something about them that was undeniablyhot.
“Well, that was one hell of a way to meet someone,” they said, offering a smile.
I couldn’t help but grin. “I’m Beau Adams.”
They held out a hand. “Sky Williams.” They turned their head to look at the retreating clouds, their expression turning wistful. “Wish I could have grabbed a few pictures of that one. Glad it went the other way though, otherwise we would have been sitting ducks. I take it this is Rainbow Ranch?”
The corner of my mouth tugged as I shook their hand. Their skin was mighty soft against my calluses. “What gave it away?”
Sky planted their hands on their hips. “Well, for starters, you’re the only ranch I’ve seen in hours with the pride flag and trans flag at the gate. Plus, I’veheardof this place.”
I raised a brow. “Good things? Bad things?” A lot of locals had a lot to say about us, and depending on who you got the story from, it was either about Rainbow Ranch being a paradise orliberal hell. “Are you looking for a place to stay?”
“Well,” they hesitated. “Maybe? Johnson Springs didn’t exactly feel like the friendliest place for a nonbinary person. Not that anywhere in this state really is…”
“You’ll be safe here,” I promised.
Sky cleared their throat, their pretty brown eyes dropping down. I realized I was still holding their hand. Their cheeks flushed as I released them, taking a step back.
“Sorry,” I added. “I think I’m a little scatterbrained from the storm.” What the hell was this heat creeping up the back of my neck?
“That was a close call,” they agreed.
“How about you come in for breakfast with everyone and we can talk afterward? Could use some food after that scare. My brother makes the best breakfast in the state.”
