Page 3 of Simply Yours

It was worse.

Themotherof the kittens.

Except they weren’t kittens.

And she wasn’t a house cat.

A fully grown bobcat crouched in the shadows, ears flattened, her eyes locked on us with the kind of feral intensity that sent ice down my spine.

“Back up…” Matthew whispered.

The bobcat hissed, her sleek body tensing, muscles coiling, ready to spring.

“She’s pissed.”

“Uh, ya think?”

“I’d like to slap you on the back of the head right now, but I’m scared to move…”

“I’m gonna slapboth of youon the back of the head once I handle this…”

Both Matthew and I turned in unison, and there—standing behind us like some avenging angel in a crisp white church shirt and Levi’s—was Jason Baird.

“Y’all back away,” he ordered, his voice as steady as steel.

“I can’t move. I’m scared.”

“You should be.”

“Oh, I am.”

Jason was three years older than Matthew, which might as well have been a lifetime. Where Matthew was wild, Jason was calm. Where Matthew was reckless, Jason was responsible. And where Matthew got her into trouble, Jason was somehow always there to get her out.

“You’re gonna be okay… just come toward me.”

Matthew obeyed instantly, stepping behind his brother.

Which left me…

Alone.

Between Jason and the bobcat.

Tears burned my eyes. “This is your fault,” I hissed at Matthew.

“Caitlin,” Jason murmured, his voice softer now, soothing, like he was talking to a spooked horse. He reached out a hand. “C’mon and take my hand. I’m gonna protect you. Okay? Do you believe me?”

I swallowed hard and nodded, even though my throat felt too tight, my body trembling like a leaf in the wind. I didn’t want to cry. Not now. Not in front of him. But the bobcat let out another bone-chilling hiss, and instinct yanked my head back toward her—just in time to see her step forward, her muscles coiling, ready to lunge.

Panic surged through me. I was going to die. Right here. Mauled by a wildcat almost as big as I was.

“Caitlin, gimme your hand now,” Jason ordered firmly, and I turned back to him, putting out my hand… only to feel him nearly yank my arm out of my socket as I flew almost five feet back, thrown against Matthew. Before I could look or say anything, I heard the scuffle nearby as well as the howl of the angry animal.

My head whipped around just in time to see Jason grappling with the wildcat, one arm wrapped around its body, the other clamping down over its snapping jaws. Claws flashed, razor-sharp and merciless, slicing at his arms as he wrestled the animal with sheer brute strength.

“GO!” he roared.

Matthew didn’t hesitate. His fingers clamped around my wrist like a vice, dragging me away, my legs stumbling to keep up as we tore through the dirt and grass.

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