“Won’t take offense.”
She picked up her bag, gave Rook one last pat, and headed toward Junie’s stall. “I heard you and Maggie figured things out after the party last night,” she called over her shoulder.
How the hell did she know that?He opened his mouth to ask, but closed it again without uttering a word because, honestly, he wasn’t sure he wanted to know the answer.
But of course, River—being River—noticed and answered anyway. “Buddy, the whole east side of the property heard last night.”
Heat crawled up his neck. “Jesus Christ.”
“Ignore him,” Lila said. “He’s jealous.”
“Damn right I am,” River agreed cheerfully. “Been a dry spell for yours truly. At this rate, I’m going to be the only single guy left on the ranch. First Jax and Nessie, then Ghost and Naomi, now Anson and Maggie.”
“Don’t forget Walker and Jo.” Lila emerged from the stall and closed the door behind her. “You’re right, Anson. She’s healing well.”
“Whoa, whoa, wait.” River held up a hand. “Back up. What do you mean, Walker and Jo? Their relationship isn’t new.”
“Oh, you didn’t hear? He proposed last night after everyone went home.”
All eyes snapped to her. Even Rook pricked up his ears.
“You’re shitting me,” River breathed.
“Nope.” Lila smiled, clearly pleased with the bombshell she’d dropped. “I stopped by the main house before coming here, and Jo told me he finally popped the question.”
“About damn time,” was Boone’s opinion.
Bear nodded. “Yep.”
“That’s it?” River threw his hands up. “Our fearless leader finally gets his head out of his ass after, what, ten years, and that’s all you guys say?”
“What do you want, a parade?” Boone’s eyebrows arched up under the brim of his hat. “Not everyone needs to make a production out of every damn thing.”
“I gotta go find X.” River was already backing toward the door. “He’ll appreciate this news properly.”
Anson shook his head and focused on checking the rest of Rook’s hooves, but his mind kept drifting back to Maggie waiting for him in her cabin. Intheircabin, really, since he’d practically moved in over the last few weeks. The memory of her skin under his hands, gold-streaked and warm, made his pulse quicken.
“It’s good to see you happy, Anson,” Lila said.
He glanced up, realized he’d been grinning to himself like a crazy man, and felt heat crawl into his cheeks. He wasn’t used to people noticing him, commenting on his personal life. Before Maggie, he’d been practically invisible by design.
“Thanks.” His voice came out rough, and he cleared his throat. “She’s... yeah.”
Lila squeezed his shoulder and moved on, heading for the barn door. She made it halfway when frantic barking cut throughthe morning air, and everyone froze. He dropped Rook’s hoof and straightened, a cold dread settling in his gut.
It didn’t sound like any of the ranch dogs.
“Fuck, that’s Atlas. Greta’s dog.” Bear was already moving, shoving past River to get to the door when Greta lurched into the barn with Atlas circling her in worried loops. Blood matted her strawberry blonde hair and streamed down the side of her face. Her jacket was torn at the shoulder, hanging open to reveal a mud-smeared sweatshirt beneath. She took two more unsteady steps before her knees buckled.
Bear moved faster than Anson had ever seen him move, covering the distance in three long strides and catching Greta before she hit the ground. He lowered her carefully, one arm cradling her head, the other supporting her back. He touched her with a gentleness that seemed impossible for the size of his hands.
“What happened?” Bear’s voice was deadly quiet. “Who did this to you?”
Lila rushed forward. “Let me see her.”
For a moment, Anson thought Bear might refuse to let go. The big man’s face had transformed, all his careful control stripped away to reveal something raw and feral underneath. His shoulders hunched protectively over Greta’s smaller frame, and his eyes?—
Jesus, his eyes were murder.
