Choso Kamo²

The rain was falling so hard you could barely keep your eyes open.

Your horse was exhausted, just like you.

You'd been on the run for hours after discovering your father had literally "sold" you in marriage to a wealthy businessman to save the family debts.

They hadn't even asked you.

They just expected you to obey.

But you ran away.

And now you were lost in the middle of a storm; the rain was pounding so hard you could barely see the road.

The horse snorted wearily beneath you as mud splashed onto your boots and the wind tore clumps of hair from your face.

" Come on... just a little longer… " she murmured, stroking the animal's neck.

She'd been on the run for two days.

Two days since she'd escaped that enormous house where her father had decided to marry her off to a man she barely knew. A rich man. Old. Cold.

And she'd simply mounted the horse at dawn and vanished.

Then she saw a light through the trees.

A cabin.

Her relief was short-lived when the horse stumbled and almost fell.

But she jumped to the ground just in time.

But then, the cabin door burst open.

A tall man appeared in the rain, wearing a light-colored hat, with long hair tied back in a ponytail, and a hard, cold gaze.

He was carrying a rifle.

" I'm not looking for trouble," she said quickly, raising her hands. "I just need shelter for tonight. "

The cowboy watched her silently.

Then he looked at the exhausted horse.

" Your horse can't go another mile. "

She swallowed.

" I know. "

He sighed.

" Get inside before you freeze. "