Chapter 6: Under the Moss

Laurent moved first.

He slid off Gambit and caught Sable's rein under the bit.

"Down," he breathed. "Now."

I dropped off her into his arms, and he set me on my feet and didn't let go of my wrist.

At the edge of the clearing, the moss hung to the ground off a big live oak, thick as a curtain.

He pushed through it, leading both horses, and pulled me in after.

Inside it was black and close and smelled of wet bark.

The horses stood nose to tail against the trunk.

Laurent put his hand over Gambit's nostrils.

I put mine over Sable's.

Her breath was hot on my palm.

Through the moss I could see the moonlit clearing, every blade of grass silver.

Four horsemen rode into it at a walk.

Armand was in front on his chestnut, a bottle in his hand.

His three friends rode behind him, the same three who had counted money into his palm on Sunday.

"He's not out here," one of them said. "Who trains a horse at night?"

"My brother would train a horse at his own funeral." Armand drank. "Laurent! Odile wants the books!"

The woods swallowed it.

Behind me, I felt Laurent go very still.

"Maybe he's out with a girl," another friend said.

They all laughed.

"Laurent?" Armand said. "Laurent hasn't had a girl since Mardi Gras two years back. One dance, and he mooned about it till Lent."

My hand jerked on Sable's nose.

Laurent's arm came around my waist from behind and held me still.

"Speaking of girls," said the first friend, "your bride's riding in trousers now. My sister saw her on the road."

Keep reading free with an account. Start Sinning with My Fiancé's Twin Brother from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.