Free Bearing It by Zenina Masters Page A

men and women in her family were large and ferocious. She was the most even-tempered of the lot and that wasn’t saying much.
    “I think I am going to have to make a call.” She fished her cell phone out of her pocket.
    A few numbers later and she had the person she wanted to talk to. “Trevor. I need some help.”
    “Sure, babe. What do you need?”
    “A consult for transport to the Crossroads.”
    “Sweet; you are going to do it?”
    “I am going to try, but I need you to send me there. Buzz speaks highly of you, so let’s knock this thing out.”
    “I can come by this afternoon. I know you have a ritual space, so it comes down to having the window.”
    “I think Ezzy’s friend Kris can help with that, but I want you to do the send through.”
    She could hear the grin on his face. “I would be honoured. I will bring the preliminary stuff to you today. You need to decide where you want to stay and a previous option is back on the availability list as long as you don’t mind djinn.”
    “Wherever you recommend is good enough for me. Let me know what the transport schedule is.”
    “Will do. I am gathering the documents right now. Can I come over tonight?”
    “Sure. Come through the front though, there is a party scheduled.”
    “Thanks for the warning. See you later.”
    She disconnected the call and chuckled. “Well, that was that. My mother is going to kick my butt.”
    Steffi snickered, “I thought Verna wanted you to get married.”
    “She does and have little cubs and live next door. I have no idea if I will end up with a guy with a territory of his own or not. I don’t even know what species he will be.”
    Steffi winced. “Oh, right. The rules of the Crossroads. All species are equal walking the roads.”
    “Yup, and all species have to uphold the union when the couple returns.” That part made Fred more nervous than anything else in the entire procedure. If she picked a man that didn’t get along with her family, she had no idea what she would have to do. Choosing between a mate and a family was never a good thing.
    “Don’t borrow trouble, Fred.”
    “How did you know what I was thinking?”
    “I have known you for years. That face is your looking into the future and seeing trouble face. Don’t worry about it. Buzz came home with Ezzy and that worked out great.”
    “Yeah, but Ezzy is great. I might pick an asshole.”
    Steffi howled with laughter. “Honey, you wouldn’t let a man who wasn’t right anywhere near your home and family. You will pick a good one, I can tell.”
    “How can you tell?” She grumbled.
    “Because no one in your family would pick someone they didn’t want to make a life with. The fact that you haven’t picked one of the dozens that your family has paraded past you in the last decade shows that you are going to be choosy in your selection process. I have faith in you.”
    Fred sighed and refilled both teacups. “Thanks, Steffi. Are you good to run the place for a few weeks if necessary?”
    “I stand by ready to assist. Nina has been waiting for a chance to help out. She drools at the thought of your fields.”
    Fred laughed. “She is welcome to frolic all she likes, you can even have the grandkids over for a picking party if you like. My berry farm is your berry farm.”
    “What about the bees?”
    “Devlin will take care of them. I was just checking for queen cases today.” She grinned. “Just keep the party away from the hives. It is all that I ask.”
    “I will keep them away. I promise.” Steffi crossed her heart and held her hand in the air.
    “Then, I suppose I am out of excuses. Tonight, I will make arrangements for the Crossroads.” There, it was out. She had said it out loud and there was no taking it back. The universe had heard her, and it was going to do what it chose to. She only hoped it was kind.
     
    * * * *
     
    Hektor paused and tilted his head. It was time. If he wanted a life, a family, a home, he needed to make his way to