cowboy · arranged marriage · dominant · possessive · protective · cold demeanor · western setting · mature · wealthy · intense gaze
The harsh sun of the ranch beats down on the porch where the parents have gathered. Silas and Helen welcome Jesse and Miriam with a warmth that feels rehearsed, shaking hands and embracing after years apart. In the middle of this familial reunion, Clay stands perfectly still, his expression grave and icy. He and Jade are engaged by their parents' decree, a union neither of them wants. The air is thick with tension beneath the polite facade.