Read Online Beauty and the Beast by Wendy Mass - Free Book Online Page B

that isn’t knee-deep in mud, the four guards hop off their horses and allow the four of us to climb on. It feels so much better up here than in the stuffy carriage. Alexander and I share a glance, and I know he is thinking the same thing.
    â€œMother, Father,” he says, circling his horse around to face theirs. “Shall we ride ahead a bit? The caravan will catch up soon.”
    â€œExcellent idea,” Father says, patting the mane on his large white stallion. “What say you, my darling queen?”
    Mother looks uncertain for a moment, and then a tiny gleam enters her eye and she nods. As much as she tries to rein it in, Mother has a bit of an adventurous streak in her.
    She alerts the guards that we will be going ahead. I can tell by the way the head guard, Parker, has crinkled up his face that he wants to tell my mother it is not a good idea for the royal family to ride alone in unfamiliar territory. I do not fault him for holding his tongue, though. It usually does no good to argue with Mother.
    â€œPlease, Your Majesty, do stay on the main road,” he finally says, glancing ahead worriedly. “We shall meet you at the next pass.”
    She nods and turns her horse back around. Without hesitation, the three of us trot after her, sticking to the sides of the road where the puddles are not as deep. My mood lifts even higher. Out in the open like this, with the fresh breeze in my face, it is easy to forget my troubles.
    I ride up alongside Alexander. “Brother, do you recall the last time we four traveled on horseback together with no guards?”
    He shakes his head. “I believe I like it.”
    â€œI think they do, too,” I say, pointing to our parents, who are riding close to each other, giggling like children.
    We reach the next pass sooner than any of us wants to, and pull off to the side to await the caravan. I pat my horse’s flanks and he breathes heavily. “I think my horse is thirsty,” I tell the others. “I hear a stream.”
    â€œWe must wait here,” Mother replies.
    So we wait. A few moments later, my horse begins to pant. “I truly think he needs to drink.”
    Mother glances at the horse and sighs. “Fine. Let us be quick.”
    We turn and enter the woods, with Alexander taking the lead. We stay close together. The sound of the stream gets louder and louder, yet I still do not see it.
    Father glances anxiously at the road behind us, now all but gone from view.
    We ride a few more moments as the rushing of the babbling water continues to intensify. Still, no stream appears. Just as I am about to suggest we turn back, we ride right into a small clearing. I can see the stream at the far side. It is surprisingly small for such a noisy thing. Other than that, it looks like any ordinary stream.
    The beautiful yellow-haired girl standing beside it, however, with her hand resting on an enormous buffalo, is anything but ordinary.

“You should fight for him,” Clarissa insists as we climb into our beds. I am exhausted from the long, strange day and do not wish to discuss this topic any further.
    â€œI asked you to leave it be,” I tell her, pulling my blanket around me. Papa had recovered enough money to purchase a few more necessities. We now have blankets, chairs for the table, a few candles, and enough food to last three days. Four if we do not eat much.
    â€œBut —”
    â€œLook,” I tell her, sitting up. I can only see her outline in the bed since we are saving the candles for emergencies. “Handsome is my friend. My first friend in years. I am not interested in becoming his bride. I am happy for him if this marriage is what he wants.”
    â€œBut perhaps you two met for a reason.”
    I groan. Clarissa and her romantic notions! “Perhaps we did,” I reply. “But it is not to break up his engagement.”
    â€œFine,” she says, flipping over onto her belly. “I shan’t