Escaping Reality (Hart Ranch Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

fast. Please just trust me and stay put.” The boy set his jaw out stubbornly but obeyed. Logan didn’t wait for him to respond but forced his horse into a gallop in the direction of the screams. His first instinct was to pray—something he hadn’t done in a very long time. Logan’s heart hammered in his chest as he rode in a haphazard fashion through the trees.
    God, please help me get there in time.
     
    ~ ~ ~
     
    Addison drifted in and out of consciousness. When she managed to open her eyes everything looked blurry. Loud screams pierced the air. Too wild to be human.
    Her mind slowly pieced together the events before she blacked out—the horse rearing up and a mountain lion emerging through the brush. She was too dazed to think of how to get away from the danger. Her head pounded so hard she had to close her eyes again.
    Seconds later the sound of hooves approached. Addison blinked and tried to call for help as someone in cowboy boots approached. I’m here…please…help. She couldn’t seem to push the words past her lips.
    A man knelt at her side. “Addie, can you hear me?”
    She blinked hard and stared at him.
    “Please…say something.” His hands framed her face. They were rough and calloused but surprisingly gentle. “Are you hurt?”
    She trembled in fear. “I-I don’t think so. The m-mountain lion…where?”
    The man let out a sigh of relief. “It’s gone. I think it chased the horse. You’re safe.”
    Addison relaxed as the man’s sky blue eyes filled her vision. “Oh, it’s you,” she whispered. Logan looked so different clean shaven that she hadn’t recognized him at first. Was that a tear on his cheek or just a rain drop?
    He let out a nervous chuckle and wiped his cheek with his hand. “Yeah. We really have to stop meeting like this. Just stay still so I can make sure nothing’s broken.”
    Addison stared at his handsome face in a daze as the storm clouds blanketed the daylight.
    His eyes narrowed. “What is it?”
    “Nothing, it’s just…” She paused, feeling dizzy. Then a silly grin formed on her lips. “I was right. You really are a beautiful man,” she mumbled before passing out again.

Chapter Six
    ~ ~ ~
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    A ddison opened her eyes but couldn’t make out much of anything in the dim light. Rain pelted above her but it sounded louder then rain on a rooftop. Her body rested on the hard ground with something cushioning her head that smelled like campfire and leather. Maybe someone’s jacket? She sighed and drifted back off.
    The next time she woke up, a dull light glowed above her and the rain had slowed to a sprinkle.
    She heard a man’s voice in the distance. “We’ll start out soon … no, she’s okay. Just in shock.”
    Addison touched a small bandage on her forehead and scanned her surroundings. She was under some kind of a tarp or a makeshift tent, but what happened? Where was she?
    The man outside chuckled. “Well wouldn’t you be disoriented if you saw a mountain lion and fell off a horse?” He paused. “Just relax and prepare the horses. I’ll go check on her.”
    Now Addison remembered everything—the disastrous horse ride and the mountain lion. The memory sent a tremor through her body.
    Footsteps approached and a large hand lifted the edge of the tarp. Just enough light filtered through to highlight Logan’s handsome face. He smiled at her. “Welcome back.”
    She relaxed and rubbed her eyes. “Where are we?”
    He crawled through the small opening and sat next to her. “We’re still in the woods. The storm’s over, but we should try to make it back before nightfall…if you’re okay to travel. If not we can camp here for the night.”
    The thought of spending the night in the woods forced Addison to sit up. “Yes, let’s get out of here.” She winced and held her head as dizziness plagued her. “My head feels a little funny but I’m fine.”
    “You bumped it when you fell and you have a mild abrasion on your