In the mirror behind her, he saw the yellow-gold shimmer around his irises.
(I’m here, his Beast purred. Waiting.)
Cassidy froze in her spot, her eyes wide. He saw her own animal spark golden hues in her eyes and he felt her nails extend into his shoulder. He was dangerous in this state and—siblings or not—her mama bear would tear his head from his shoulders before she let him rampage around her children.
Guilt cinched around his heart. He leaned in closer to Cassidy, dropped his voice, and murmured so only she could hear, “What do you think I’m doing now? Holly will change everything. When I’m with her…she calms my Beast. She marries me; I’ll be able to control the bear. Then we don’t have to worry about any of this.”
“I hope to God you’re right,” Cassidy said. Her nails retracted and she picked up two plates, swiftly carrying them to the table. “Who wants dessert?” she asked cheerfully.
Chapter 12
When Jacob returned to his seat beside her, Holly could tell something was wrong. She slipped her hand over his and whispered, “Is everything okay?”
He pulled his hand back and murmured, “It’s fine.” But he was cold now, like stone, and she felt him pulling away from her.
Had it been something she said? Miserable, Holly offered a smile and forced down her slice of pie. Jacob said nothing over dessert, so neither did she, and conversation continued around them. After dessert, she helped Mama Mae clean the table and then excused herself to go outside. She needed a breath of fresh air.
Evenings took on a particular charm on Red Moon Ranch. Out in the distance, she could see the silver glow of the Marble Mountains, dotted with green oaks and firs. The sun dropped behind the mountains, framing them with a golden-red, fiery hue. So that’s a red moon, she thought to herself. Trees—large, looming giants—hung over the edges of the ranch, thinning out as they got closer.
At the bottom of the hill, Holly had a good view of the Red Moon Ranch. Her eyes followed the serpentine dirt road up to Cassidy and Dave’s wide ranch house with a robin’s-egg-blue roof. Further up, to the right, perched Brent’s less-taken-care-of shack. Then at the top of the hill, as though watching over all the others, loomed Jacob’s cabin. Around the back of Mama Mae’s house ran a picket fence and Holly followed it, her heels making indents in the soft dirt, until she came to the stables.
The smell of horse—that sharp, earthy smell, but not unclean—was the first thing that hit her; it was clear Mama Mae kept her stables in good condition. Red-stained wooden enclosures kept the animals tucked away and piles of hay flowed out from corners. Holly counted two horses in their stables, a dark black stallion and a softer, chestnut mare. She approached the mare, extending her hand over the divide.
“Nice to meet you,” she murmured as she patted the animal’s snout. She swore those eyes could see straight through her. A bucket of oats sat beside the fence and she took a handful and held it out for the mare, who gingerly nibbled them out of her hand with massive teeth. Holly laughed as the animal’s large tongue tickled her palm.
The stallion balked suddenly, pacing backwards and puffing. Holly swiveled around and saw Jacob standing at the entrance of the barn. He lifted his palm towards the horse as though in self-defense, then glanced over at Holly.
He shrugged. Almost sheepish. “The horses aren’t much fond of me.”
“Shhh, it’s okay.” She stroked the stallion’s snout, petting the soft, velvet hair around the horse’s nose. “I won’t let meany Jacob touch you.” The horse huffed once and then calmed down substantially.
“You’ve got a way with animals,” he said. He sounded almost…what. Hopeful?
She gave him a little smile. “I like animals.”
Jacob was staring off again, that gargoyle frown back on his face. Holly couldn’t stand the stale air between them.
“Are you mad at me?” she asked, breaking the silence.
He blinked in surprise and, instantly, his expression softened. “Holly…no. I’m not mad at you. Look.” He reached into his back pocket to fish something out. “I was gonna wait until we got home to give this to you, but…now seems as good of a time as any.”
She perked up. Present? When she saw the size of the box, her heart began to wallop against her chest. He set it in his hand and opened the small velvet case, revealing a shimmering diamond ring inside.
“You like it?” he asked as her tongue tied itself in knots.
“I, uh…” Was she sweating? She felt like she was sweating. She swallowed hard and said, “I still have four days--”