Mia lifted her head in time to see Ford take a flying leap from the horrible monster's back. He hit the coverlet with enough force to bounce her slightly, and she flinched.
"Ford!"
The animal let out a hiss, but seemed to sway slightly despite the stability of so many legs.
In its rage, it lashed out at the man who was now rolling away from it–towards the edge!
Scrambling, Mia fought against her skirts to reach him. Caught between an enraged beast and a fall the distance of her farmhouse, she didn't know which end Ford would rather suffer.
The monster's hiss fizzled, and its front legs shook, though with its claws it still flailed out towards the perpetrator of its injuries.
"No!"
Mia's word didn't even distract the huge creature. In its death throes, as it bled out, it had eyes only for Ford.
And how many eyes!