Chapter Thirteen #2
“Right,” she said slowly, and then, shaking her head, Cassandra gestured to the mare with a sigh. “I’m normally good with horses, but not this one. And I’ve given her two apples. They’ve assured me that she’s the most docile horse in the barn, but she dances when I’m on top of her.”
“Are you a nervous rider?”
“Not usually,” she admitted. “But, I’ve never been on a hunt before.
Not even with Papa. I don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing, or where I’m supposed to be.
And then there’s…” Cassandra looked away, and under her breath, she said a soft syllable that sounded like the word ‘you’.
He stole a glance at her mouth, where he saw a hint of her teeth as she bit down on her lower lip.
Seth forgot how to breathe.
He wanted to be alone with her. Somewhere she could drop her guard and let him in, as she had done in the library.
There was so much unspoken between them, and questions that needed answers.
Tell me I’m not alone in this. The letter burned in his pocket and tugged painfully at his heart.
Tell me this isn’t a love letter to someone else.
Forcing in a breath, he looked at Cooper, still in deep conversation with Mr. Sanderson.
Not now.
“Horses can sense your fear,” Seth said, instead. “You should try relaxing.”
“Oh yes, brilliant idea.” Cassandra crossed her arms, glowering. “If only I had thought of that.”
Preparing to depart, Seth unhooked his rucksack and bedroll and placed them in the lower branches of a tree.
“Did you sleep outside?”
He nodded.
“I was ordered to.”
“Matthew ordered you to sleep outside?” She redirected her glower at her brother. “On the ground?”
Cooper turned his head to them, frowning. “I could care less if he sleeps on the ground, a roof, or a raft on the ocean. The methods don’t matter as long as I get the results that I want.”
“That is certainly your motto.” Cassandra rolled her eyes.
Seth chuckled while Cooper shot her a speaking glance and opened his watch before snapping it closed.
“It’s time. Silence from here on.”
***
Deeper into the forest, the mare seemed to dance underneath Cassandra.
Was this its first time away from Hollingsworth Manor?
The sounds of the woods coming to life, animals scurrying, birds wrestling out of their nests; every noise made the creature’s eyes shift and widen.
The horse’s nervousness extended to her rider, and in turn, Seth.
He would have recommended that Cassandra stay in the clearing had that not meant leaving her alone.
The best thing would be to turn around, but that meant leaving her alone with him.
Then again….
His presence wasn’t strictly necessary, was it? He thought to ride up and ask Cooper for permission, but Cooper raised his left arm in warning, and then pointed.
All horses stopped.
Grazing in the grass of a meadow at the forest’s edge stood the largest red stag that Seth had ever seen.
Standing over seven feet tall, its antlers branched out with twelve, no—fourteen points.
And he was right there. As if sensing something amiss, the stag paused and lifted his nose in the air, his nostrils expanded and his dark eyes dilated.
He smells us.
Cooper took aim, finger steady on the trigger.
BANG!
The stag groaned and ran into the trees.
“Blast it!” Cooper lowered the rifle as a whistle sounded nearby. “A second too late!”
Seth meant to speak, but the sound of a high-pitched zip whistled past his ears. Time slowed. The mare reared up on its hind legs. Cassandra half-dismounted. Sliding. Hands slipping from leather. A cry of alarm.
BANG!
The sound caught up with the round, and time doubled. With a frenzied squeal, the mare sprinted into the clearing. Seth didn’t have time to think or breathe. All instincts ignited. He didn’t have to tell Sabre to run. The horse already knew.
Now!
Sabre gave chase, four days of pent up energy fueling him to go faster, faster.
The mare’s reins flapped freely in the wind as Cassandra held onto the saddle.
Catching up, Seth reached for her.
“Seth!” Cassandra cried out. Her hair whipped wildly, her hat flew off, trampled beneath the mare’s hooves. Sabre’s presence only spooked the mare further, but Seth had to try.
“Put your feet in the stirrup! Try to grab the reins!”
“I can’t! My skirts!”
The wind screamed in his ears, heart pounding, as they weaved through branches and raised roots.
Winding. One misstep would break the animal’s leg.
As if on a mission, Sabre brought Seth parallel to the mare after flitting around trees until they hit another meadow.
Up ahead, they were running straight into dense woods.
The mare wouldn’t be able to stop at the breakneck speed.
It had to be now!
He stood in his stirrups as he urged Sabre to run faster. Faster!
Lungs heaving, Seth reached again for the reins. His fingertips closed on air.
“Reach for me!”
“I can’t!”
Cassandra held onto what she could of her saddle and squeezed her eyes shut. She was too far away, sliding from the saddle once more. Holding on, she called for him, “Seth! Please!”
The woods rushed toward them, a solid wall of trees.
“Cassandra!” He yelled, “You have to jump!”
Panic-stricken, she cried back, “I won’t make it!”
“I’ll catch you!” he promised, and he begged God not to make him a liar.
Tears fell from the corner of her eyes.
“I’ll fall!”
“I won’t let you fall!” he yelled. “Cassandra! I won’t let you fall!”
With his eyes, he tried to portray a thousand promises in the span of seconds.
The words settled, and determination etched into her face.
A modicum of relief. There’s my girl.
Closing in, he could catch her—he would catch her—but she had to jump.
Muscles screaming, Seth secured his feet in his stirrups, dropped the reins, gripped Sabre with his thighs, and with both arms, he reached for her.
Fly, little bird.
“Now!
Time suspended as she jumped, arms open and flailing.
One of his hands grabbed her arm while the other grabbed her waist. And with all the force he could muster, he yanked Cassandra firmly across his lap.
Gripping the back of her dress, Seth kept her in place, even as gravity fought with his will to keep them steady as the thoroughbred slowed.
Without a rider, the mare reared up against the edge of the trees and fell onto its side with a pained grunt, then stood and limped into the forest. Sabre stopped completely.
With a growl, Seth tore the detachable riding skirt from Cassandra.
The heavy fabric fell to the ground in a heap.
She would never wear one again—he swore his life on it.
With her help, he awkwardly moved her to sit on his lap.
He held her with one arm hooked under her legs, the other around her shoulders.
Limbs shaking, Seth gripped her trembling form to him, sheltering her with his body as he struggled with his senses.
His lungs heaved, every muscle hurt. He smelled the lavender of her soap and the heady mixture of their sweat.
Underneath his palm, Cassandra’s heart thumped erratically.
Hair wind blown, tickling at his cheek, warm tears fell on his neck along with quiet whines of, “Can we please get down?”
As gingerly as he could, he dismounted, and she threw herself into his arms. Again, he caught her and tried to place her on her feet, but her knees buckled.
Moving quickly, he controlled her fall, and she melted, wrapping her arms around his neck.
He held her closer, needing to feel her shuddering breaths as she burrowed into his shoulder.
“I have you, you’re safe,” he promised. Softly, his hands roamed over her, searching for injuries, before cupping her face. He lifted her head until she met his eyes. “Are you hurt?”
She shook her head.
Thank God.
He could have lost her. Traded her for a lifetime of nightmares. He couldn’t lose her. He needed her. He needed—
“Cassandra.”
Her lip trembled, and his control snapped.
Crashing his mouth to hers, he took her bottom lip between his own, holding it there, breathing her in, so soft and safe.
She made a sound of distress and he pulled away.
Squeezing her eyes closed, she grabbed his shirt and brought him back down to her lips.
No finesse, but raw bruising force. His eyes widened, but in a split second, all thoughts were gone once more.
Delving into her mouth, he dragged his tongue along hers, roughly taking what he had wanted for so long, what he only dreamed of.
He buried his fingers deep in her hair, and she moaned in his mouth.
The sound vibrated in his throat, and he could have devoured her right then and there, because she was alive.
Instead, he parted from her lips and tucked her under his chin, both of them breathing raggedly.
Not now.
But soon.
Chest tight, he held her to him. Even as another rider approached, even when she shifted in his arms to get him to let go, he didn’t release her. He couldn’t. He physically revolted at the idea of her leaving his arms.
Cooper lept from his horse and ran to them, panic in his eyes at the sight of the two of them on the ground.
“Has she been injured?!”
“I don’t think so, but I don’t know for certain.” Seth’s voice came out broken. “I… I got there in time, Cooper... I caught her in time.”
“Thank God,” Cooper breathed as he lowered. With one knee on the ground, he opened his arms. “Give her to me, Reeves.”
Reluctantly, Seth transferred Cassandra into Cooper’s arms as if she were a child.
“I can walk,” she protested, but her entire body shook. Nervous giggles escaped her, even with tears free-falling down her face. “You can put me down, I’m fine.”
“No.” Cooper’s face became as solid as ice.
“I’m fine!” she yelled and wiggled as Cooper stood.
“You’re crying.”
“I’m fine! I’m not hurt, I’m not—”
She brought a hand to her face and glanced at her tear-stained fingertips in wonder.
Her giggles turned into a choked sob.
Seth’s heart broke.
“Brother,” she cried. “I was scared.”
“You’re safe, little sister,” he said, as if he were convincing himself as much as her. He turned to Seth, and it looked like he was on the verge of shattering. “Thank you.”
Not trusting his voice, Seth swallowed hard and nodded.
After her tears subsided, Cooper set Cassandra on her feet. Wrapping his coat and his arm around her shoulders, he kept her to his side.
“I don’t ever want to be on a horse again,” she mumbled as Duke Kendall arrived with Lord Bolderwood. The former appeared delighted, while the latter looked murderous.
Dismounting, Duke Kendall skipped to them. “Has she been injured?”
With his teeth bared like a snarling dog, Cooper twisted Cassandra from the Duke’s view. Seth moved in front of them and tried to school his expression. Where had the Duke come from? He prickled at the morbidity of his interest.
“I don’t think so,” Seth answered for the family.
Duke Kendall’s face fell, but he said, “Good. Good.”
“What happened?” Lord Bolderwood demanded, his face red.
Bishop emerged from the woods side by side with Sir Reginald and Mr. Nott, with a victorious smirk, white teeth brilliantly beaming.
“I won,” he gloated. “The stag should be dying as we speak, bubbles in the blood. He ran right past Mr. Nott, if we track him now—” He stopped and took in the scene. “What happened?”
The atmosphere charged with hostility and Cooper pushed Cassandra behind him. She wobbled on her feet and grabbed onto the back of his shirt, leaning her head against his back as Cooper seethed.
“You spooked her damn horse is what happened!” Cooper spat, fists clenched, poised to strike. “The round whizzed right past my ear! You could have shot any one of us!”
Bishop stomped forward. “I fired one round and my aim was true. Maybe it was your monstrosity that misfired!”
“I heard two shots, I’m sure of it,” Mr. Sanderson said to the Earl. “One after the whistle.”
“You can check my rifle,” Mr. Nott said at once. “I haven’t fired it since the target competition.”
“I can attest to my nephew firing one round,” Sir Reginald said.
“Am I to understand that a spare round magically materialized in my forest?!” Lord Bolderwood bellowed.
“Admit that you shot twice!” Cooper snarled at Bishop. “Didn’t trust the first shot so you decided to give it another?”
“Are you calling me a liar?!” Bishop barked.
“My sister could have died!”
“And it would have been your fault!” Bishop snapped back at him. “I would never have put her life at risk the way you did this morning. Who brings a woman on a hunt?! She shouldn’t have been here to begin with!”
Seth moved, ready to defend Cooper, but he stopped.
There was an ugly truth to Bishop’s words, and when Cooper flinched, he knew it too.
Hunting accidents like these happened all the time.
She wore green. She could have died. Bile churning in his stomach, rising in his throat, he struggled not to retch as the words bounced around his mind.
She could have died.
If he had been a second too slow, if Sabre was tired, or if he had been a less experienced rider, less strong, she would have died, or suffered severe injuries.
And it would have been Cooper’s fault.
Cassandra’s small voice silenced everyone.
“Matthew.” She curled her fingers in his shirt. “Please, can we go?”
“I’m taking her back to the manor,” Cooper announced. Turning, he picked up Cassandra again and walked to his horse. A tiny protest escaped Cassandra that sounded like, “please not another horse.”
“I’ll accompany you. She’ll be looked over by my physician,” Lord Bolderwood said gruffly, following suit.
“I expect everyone in my study! Nobody steps foot outside of the manor until a complete inventory is taken, every round and every gram of black powder will be accounted for. And Colonel, if you’ve lied and put one of my guests in danger, you will be disqualified. ”
Bishop spluttered with indignation.
“And for God’s sake, someone go find that horse!”