Page 6 of His True Mate

I loved the horses. Sometimes a little too much. Dane always fussed about me spending too much time with them. They needed to keep that wild side. We’d had to let go of a few over the years because I tamed them too much, or so they told me. I’d learned my lesson through heartaches along the way.

For the most part, nothing in my life ever changed. Sure, new place, new people, yet it still remained the same.

“It’s a good life, Winnie. Hot meals, dry shelter, and enough money to save for retirement,” my father would say.

The thing was no one ever retired from this life.

“Do you think Alfred and Miriam will stop by for a visit?” Maxi asked. “We’re in their territory now.”

I wasn’t sure the duck shifters she was referring to had a territory. Though, whenever we were in this part of the country, they tended to make an appearance. They were an interesting duo who mostly lived in their feathers, but every now and then, they’d come out in their skin and sit around one of the fires at night and tell us all sorts of unimaginable stories of things they had witnessed.

I never knew for sure if I believed them, but it was fun to hear anyway.

“You never know. They come and go as they please. No rhyme or reason. Are you busy this morning?”

“Nah. I don’t have to work until tomorrow. Skeevy Stevie has me on one of the hotdog stands again. I swear he’s been doing it on purpose ever since I announced I was vegetarian.”

I groaned. “He’s the worst. Well, I have to feed the animals. Want to tag along?”

“Sure. I’d much rather take care of the animals then serve them up on buns. So gross.”

We chatted about everything and nothing at all as we walked over to the temporary stables. I had to admit this place was nicer than most.

Denver, my current bronc, seemed a little spooked.

“What’s wrong boy?” I asked as I tossed in some hay and pulled a carrot from my back pocket that I’d saved just for him.

Maxi climbed up on the fence and looked over the wall that kept us out of view of the spectators.

“Whoa, what’s that all about. There’re so many animals.”

“What are you talking about?”

I shoved her aside so I could climb up and take a look.

“Slaughter or auction?” I asked out loud.

Maxi disappeared and returned a few minutes later as I was finishing up filling the watering troughs.

“Where’d you run off to this time?”

She held up a piece of paper for me to read

“Auction.”

“Yup. Thank goodness. I was a little worried.”

“I mean some could be auctioned off for slaughter.”

She groaned. “Why do you have to say such things?”

“Because it’s true.”

“But I don’t need to hear them,” she argued.

“Whatever, help me muck out this stable while Zeb’s testing the new saddle on Pretty Boy.”

“No thanks. I’m just here for moral support.”