Chapter 18: His True Colors
Zella heard Nashua drive up in the driveway.
Hearing her door opening a few minutes later, pretending to sleep. She felt Nashua staring at her, then felt him hovering over her.
"I hate to tell ya this but you're a terrible actress, I can tell you're not asleep," He whispered in her ear.
She could hear him smiling. Opening her eyes she smiled back.
Ella jumped on the bed meowing.
"Hey Kiki," Zella didn't look away from Nashua.
He bent down to kiss her on the forehead just as Ella pounced on Zella's stomach.
"Ow!" She howled in pain.
Nashua swooped the cat off her and put her on the ground, "Are you okay?" He asked.
"My ribs are hurting again but i'm fine," She winced, "I want to see Cupid," She said a few minutes later.
"Why now? Don't you want to rest?" Nashua asked her.
"I've had all I can stand. I'll go crazy if I stay here any longer," Zella said.
"You think that's a good idea?" Nashua looked uncertain about it.
"Why not?" Zella said, getting up slowly, holding her ribs.
"I don't know. I just don't think we should," Nashua frowned.
"Aw c'mon," She tried to to pull his arm but it woudn't budge an inch. Zella felt it pull her ribs, "Just for a hour," She pretended to pout.
"Oh what's the use," Nashua gave in.
Nashua saddled Cherry while Zella told her dad where they were going. He didn't like it much because she was supposed to be resting but he let her go anyway.
She didn't tell Nashua she was scared of riding horses, but as she watched him kick his boot free from the stirrup and lean down to grab her hand and hauld her up she started shaking. She locked her arms around his waist tightly.
"Zellie, can you--ugh--loosen up a bit?" Nashua asked, almost to Golden Ridge where Kody was.
"Sorry," Zella's voice trembled. She loosened her arms.
"Are you okay? You sound worried," Nashua said.
"Fine," She said, trying to to sound calmer than what she was.
Nashua wasn't buying it.
Gold Ridge was two times larger then the Mackienzes Ranch.
Nashua steered Cherry toward a big oak tree.
Zella let go of Nashua embarressed.
Nashua got down to tie Cherry's reins to the trunk, then helped Zella down. He gave her a long look, not saying anything for a while.
"Let's see Cupid," Nasua said finally.
As they walked toward the corrals there was suddenly a hiss behind them.
"Watch out!" Nashua shouted, thinking fast he pulled Zella down with him.
"Ow!" Zella gasped as they hit the ground.
Whatever it was struck the tree in front of them.
Nashua who was sheilding her got up. Zella did too, ribs hurting from hitting the ground so hard.
Nashua pulled an arrow out of the tree.
"Sorry," A yell split the air into, "Didn't see ya," Kody yelled 40 feet away.
"Yeah, you're gonna be really sorry when I get done with you, you little rat," Nashua growled, the arrow in his hand snapped in half then fell to the ground.
"No, Nashua don't!" Zella grabbed his arm as he headed Kody's way. She felt his bicep tense as he turned on her.
"Why not?" He said, eyes blazing with some sinister look as his father...Then she realized he was more like his father then she thought.
"He's not worth it," She forced a whisper feeling afraid of Nashua.
"Not worth it?" He gave a have a harsh bitter laugh, "He almost killed you! Yeah he's worth it alright," Nashua started to get quiet.
"Please for me, don't beat him up," Zella said voice trembling, letting go of his arm.
He met her eyes.
"Please," She begged him.
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