"Evelyn, Happy New Year."
He took out a small rabbit he had carved from wood and placed it in Evelyn's palm. The little rabbit was only the size of her pinky, and it was exquisitely crafted.
"Did you carve this over the past few days?" Evelyn was born in the Year of the Rabbit, and Ronan had made her a rabbit puppet for her zodiac year.
Ronan smiled. "Mm, it took me two days."
Evelyn caressed his palm, and Ronan held her hand back. "This leaf has been around for some years, hasn't it?"
"I picked it up back when I was at Broken Cloud Mountain."
Ronan raised an eyebrow. "Very meaningful, then."
The barks of the wolf-dogs echoed from outside as the wind picked up. Evelyn glanced at the time—1:30 AM. After they finished a New Year's film, the roosters in the coop began to crow.
The next day, Evelyn gave the farm workers three days off. But before she had even gotten out of bed, Ethan Dawson had already come looking for her.
