Shackled (The Lord Series) by Carlos

Ansel chuckles. "Did you just make a joke, or were you serious?" I shrug. It's been so long since I last went on a date. It wasn't only the orchard where I would meet with *him*. Sometimes, we would go to the movies or drive to a nearby town and spend the day together. But all that seems like something that had happened to someone else, not me. All that love, all those dreams and plans are now gone. Ansel adds, "Let's go to the stable before Jasper and Mose come looking for us. Mose is already upset that the food is getting cold. Where's your coat?"

"I didn't get one. There wasn't any that would fit me," I try to explain.

Ansel puts something around my shoulders. "My jacket," he says. Up until now, no one cared what clothes I wore or if I was cold or not, but Ansel giving me his jacket, even if my dress is enough, makes me feel warm inside. It's a strange feeling, but I like it, especially because it seems to chase away the darkness that threatens to consume me. Ansel clicks his tongue. "Trust Rueben and Tyson to take you shopping. I should have asked this before but I had a few things I had to take care of, and it didn't cross my mind until now, but which store did they take you to?"

"Oh, we went to a thrift store."

"A thrift store." Ansel seems to choke on the words. "What the fuck?"

My hand finds his. "I like thrift stores. It's like stepping into this magical place where you can find hidden treasures."

After a few moments of silence, Ansel pulls me into his embrace. "Women, especially those who were born into wealth, expect expensive things, but you are different. You have always been different. I think this is one of the reasons why I have fallen in love with you. Because you never looked down on anyone. Especially one such as me, an orphan."

"Just because my family has money doesn't mean I was more fortunate than you. We were both unwanted."

Ansel kisses the top of my head. "We have no saying when it comes to our own blood, but when it comes to our real family, things are different. And I chose you, Olivia, always."

"Why?"

"Because I have no choice. Because I never had a choice when it comes to you. It took me a long time to realize that you are perfect for me."

I frown. "I don't understand."

"You will. Soon. Now, the surprise."

Ansel leads me out of the kitchen into the cold January night. Good thing I've put on the pair of slippers Tyson got for me. While I still can't wear shoes, the slippers are one size bigger, so they don't press on my toes.

The wind blows, whipping my hair around my head. Even with Ansel's jacket on, I shiver, but he snakes his arm around my waist, shielding me from the cold with his body. It might seem a small gesture, but to someone like me, who barely has any nice memories when it comes to men, it means a lot. It makes me think that maybe not all men are evil. That maybe Ansel somehow likes me, even if that seems impossible.

"Just a few more feet," Ansel lets me know. "The door to the stable is open," he says a few seconds later.

When I no longer feel cold, I know we are inside the stable.

Impatient to return to the house and eat, as the last traces of the drugs given to me over the years are out of my system, my appetite has returned, I ask, "Can I take off the blindfold?"

Ansel has me walk a few more steps. "Just a second, it will be worth it. I promise. Jasper, all ready?"

Two sets of footsteps approach me and I am pulled first in one tight embrace, then into another.

"All set," Jasper confirms and finally, the blindfold is removed.

It takes a few moments for my eyes to adjust to the light and I look around. The guys are waiting patiently for some kind of a reaction from me, but when I don't notice anything out of the usual-I mean, they could put a pile of cow dung in the middle of the stable and I would probably not find it out of the ordinary-I say, looking at Mose, "Did you find a new goat? Maybe a male friend for Juniper?"

Three pairs of eyes blink at the same time before all three of them start laughing. Did I say something funny?

Jasper laughs so hard tears run down his face. "Mose, you are officially the goat guy. Although a buck wouldn't be such a bad idea. Imagine all the little goats we will have around here soon."

"They are called kids," I say and they laugh even more. Are they making fun of me? "Why are you all laughing?"

"We want kids around the farm, but not those kind of kids," Jasper replies.

I still don't understand why it's funny.

After a few deep breaths, the guys finally stop laughing.

Ansel steps behind me and puts his palms on my shoulders. "Look at the horses' stalls and tell me what you see."

I do as told, and as soon as I look over at Speckles' stall, I gasp. It takes a lot to get that kind of reaction from me, and today, it happened twice. First, when I found the books and the records, and now. I take an involuntary step. "Is that...?"

"It is," Ansel confirms. "Speckles' filly. You were right about her."