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Cold wind bites into my cheeks. Dolly grabs my hand, squeezing it hard as we both run. My blood is rushing loudly in my ears. Tears sting the back of my eyes as we slow to a walk and enter the barn.
“Do it,” I hear Holden say.
Do what?
We finally reach the rest of the guys, right near the stacks of hay bales packed in for the winter months. Cash is holding a glowing hot branding iron. Holden is shirtless, abs and chest glistening with sweat. He’s sitting on the hay bales, his teeth clenching down on a leather strap. I let out a scream when Cash moves closer to him with the branding iron.
Holden’s dark eyes shift to mine before throwing an accusatory glance at Duke.
“Snitch,” he grumbles. “Do it, Cash.”
Cash pushes the glowing red end of the iron right onto Holden’s chest. He groans, clenching down hard on the leather while the sound and smell of sizzling flesh fills the air.
Dolly shrieks, grabbing my arm and hiding behind it. My fingernails dig into my palms as I clench my fists as tight as I can.
“What the fuck are you doing?!” I scream at him, taking a step toward Cash.
Holden’s muscled arms are taut, veins popping out.
After five seconds, Cash finally pulls the iron back. Holden collapses back against the hay, eyes closed and sweat dripping down the center of his chest despite the cold. He spits out the leather strap.
I look at the brand, and my breathing grows shallow. Right over his heart is the letter R, permanently burned into his flesh.
They have a Redford Ranch brand for the cattle with two Rs mirroring each other, and all the brothers have it on their shoulders or chest. This one is just one R.
“Do it again,” Holden pants.
Cash turns and walks away with the iron. “If you insist, brother.”
I slowly approach him. His black cowboy hat is tilted to the side as he lifts his head with a wry smile.
“Hey, angel. How’s your day been?”
I drop to my knees beside him, grabbing his hand as a tear slides down my cheek. He smiles wider at me, lifting my hand up to plant a wet kiss on my knuckles.
“Duke ruined the surprise,” he says, looking down at his chest.
My eyes follow his, seeing blood trickle down from the front point of the R.
“Why is he doing this to you?” I choke out.
He grips my hand tighter as Cash returns with the glowing iron again.
“Because I love you. And since I can’t just tie a rope around your waist and take you everywhere with me, I want everyone to know you’re mine. Forever.”
I suck in a breath, clapping a hand over my gaping mouth. “So, the R is for …”
“Rosie,” he says, leaning back on the hay as his arm and shoulder muscles tighten.
He doesn’t let go of my hand. My pulse is irregular as my mind scrambles for some kind of response to this bizarre situation and his shocking confession. I squeeze him back as Cash steps closer to him.
“Wait! Why is he doing the R again?” I panic, starting to hyperventilate.
“For Redford,” Holden says, replacing the leather between his gritted teeth. “Do it.”
I don’t have time to process his words before Cash stamps the R on his chest, right next to the first one, burning flesh once again filling my nostrils.
RR. He is unhinged … and so fucking hot.
