In a quick second, her horse slowed and side-stepped her instructions for forging onward. Something wasn’t right. What was spooking Pegasus? Had this been the same reason Garrett’s horse was skittish as well?
Quickly, she slowed the horse to a stop and stroked his mane, cooing soft words into his ear. She moved her gaze all around them, hoping to see whatever it was that could have upset the animal. But she couldn’t detect any movement, except of course, for the limbs of the trees bending so far, she thought they’d break.
“Come on.” She ran her palm down his black mane again. “Everything is fine. Let’s hurry home so I can get us into some shelter before it rains.”
When she tried to urge him forward again, he resisted. She frowned. What could be bothering him?
Worry escalated through her. Horses were perceptive animals, and usually correct in sensing danger. Tightening her fingers around the reins, she prodded Pegasus to take slow steps. The animal neighed and shook his head, but thankfully, he continued to move toward home.
More alert, she carefully watched for anything that seemed out of the ordinary. But with the wind tossing the autumn leaves on the ground, it was hard to spot whatever was different about the forest. However, the eeriness crawling over her body testified that something was indeed wrong. Someone watched her, she was certain.
She laughed lightly. What was she thinking? Nobody watched her. She couldn’t believe Garrett’s warning, and especially his tale about the beastly man. What bothered her more was his mention of her abduction. Why would he think she was taken when she was sixteen years old? Wouldn’t she have remembered something so horrifying?
Not far from her, another sound broke through. The cry of an animal. She held her breath and listened closer. When the cry echoed through the air again, terror seized her. The low, menacing growl was closer than she first realized. It wasn’t a lion or a tiger, but she was certain it was related to the feline family.
“Pegasus,” she whispered in a shaky voice. “You had better get us home quickly before we become that animal’s next meal.”
Although fear shook through her body, she maintained control over her horse as she guided him carefully through the woods. Time must have stood still because it seemed as though she was riding for hours. Every so often, the rumble from the unknown fearsome cat echoed through the trees, overriding the wind. The sound wasn’t that far away. Bella felt as though the animal followed their every step.
Finally, through the trees, the image of the family’s cottage became visible. Smoke billowed up from the chimney, and the old house that had once been her great-grandfather’s silently welcomed her home. She’d be safe here as always.
The closer she came to home, the more the quakes in her body relaxed. That wild animal lurking in the forest would certainly have to be killed to keep it from harming anyone. She counted herself fortunate for making it through the woods without being attacked. First thing in the morning, she’d send word to her older brother who’d recently married and have him hire hunters to search for the animal. Living this far away from town would be dangerous if such an animal lurked close by.
She took Pegasus into the barn and dismounted and then removed the saddle. She checked his hooves one last time and then brushed him down. Gradually, the animal’s body temperature cooled, which was good. As she fed him a carrot, she stroked his mane. Already she could tell the horse was more at ease than he’d been while in the forest.
Glancing out of the barn doors toward the house, she frowned. She missed not having her brother around to talk with. Andrew had only been married for a month and had moved into town to take the position of sheriff, but she wished for some normal company. Their father’s mind was almost gone, and discussing anything with him was disheartening, especially because he would never recover and be the father she once knew.
Andrew hadn’t really become a good friend to her until they reached their maturity. As children, he was always teasing her and getting her into trouble. Their mother died when Bella was sixteen, and that’s when Andrew started treating her better. His friends had become her friends, which she greatly appreciated.
Garrett had been Andrew’s closest friend, and gradually, Garrett had become her friend, as well, but in the last two years, Garrett’s reckless behavior molded him into a scoundrel. The man thought he was God’s gift to women, which she would not tolerate.
Not many men took notice of the bookish twenty-three-year-old, Bella Walsh. Garrett continued in his flirty ways, but she knew he was never serious about a long-term relationship. He was certainly not husband material. What she wouldn’t give for a close friend or even a beau.
Unfortunately, that wouldn’t happen while she still cared for her father.
Frowning, she gave Pegasus one last pat before grabbing her book. As she exited the barn, she closed the double-doors tight behind her. The wind became stronger than before, and she stumbled. She held her bonnet to her head as she forged toward the house. Soon, the first drops of rain touched her face. Thankfully, she had made it home before the sky opened and drenched her.
Just as she reached the stone steps to the house, something in the air shifted. Chills crawled up her spine. The same eerie feeling she had not too long ago returned. She didn’t dare peer over her shoulder to see if anyone was there. She didn’t need to. Bella felt a presence. That was enough to keep her focus on the front doors instead of looking back.
On shaky legs, she climbed the steps, trying not to hurry just in case she drew attention to whatever it was spying on her.
