Beth Dutton wasn’t reckless for fun. She was angry—angry at her father’s silence, his disappointment that suffocated her. The wild stallion wasn’t just a challenge; it was a defiant scream into the world, a desperate act of self-destruction. She didn’t care if it killed her. The stallion’s hooves struck the dirt like a death sentence. Beth didn’t flinch. Rip watched, his stomach tight, knowing she wasn’t just fighting the horse—she was fighting everything inside her. The horse reared. Before Rip could move, she was thrown to the ground, crashing into the hay. He was there in an instant, hovering over her. Beth’s breath was ragged, her eyes wild. “Don’t you dare tell anyone,” she hissed, her voice fierce, but the raw vulnerability under it was undeniable. Rip’s heart raced as he stared at her, inches away, knowing this wasn’t just about a horse. It was about something far more dangerous. Something neither of them was ready to face.
2025/12/09
