Frying Pan, Fire by Dawn DeBraal

Cal urged his horse through the desert sandstorm, seeking shelter. His mount was frightened, so he gave Buck over to animal instinct. The paint turned south until the horse came to a full stop before an unseen fairy chimney. The tall formation would make an excellent shelter in the blowing sands.

“Good boy, Buck.” Cal dismounted, pulling the horse inside the rock where he could still hear the wind rattling outside—the sound was deafening.

“Shit,” Cal muttered, his eyes adjusting to the dark interior. The sound he heard wasn’t the wind. The formation was home to thousands of rattlesnakes.