Free Escaping Love by Debra Smith

wary at the same time. So she talked to him, careful to stay on the outside of his corral until he got used to her.
    “Good morning. Seems like it’s going to be a beautiful day. In case you haven’t noticed I smell like a cat, but don’t worry. I already ate breakfast so you’re safe.”
    She smiled at her lame joke , but he seemed un-amused.
    “You have quite the reputation for a troublemaker, but I don’t think it’s deserved. I think the stupid wolf is having a laugh at my expense. You know I usually hate all dogs. Even though wolves refuse to consider themselves in the same species as their canine cousins I think they just don’t like the idea of being related to something that sniffs each other’s butts.”
    Gus’s ears swiveled, and he started to move forward. She found a little trough with a few pieces of grain in the bottom and emptied the contents of her scoop into it. He sauntered over, taking all the time in the world to get to his food. Stopping just before it, he just stared at her.
    “Don’t worry, it’s not poisoned. I cross my heart.”
    And she did too, with her fingers over her chest to show her sincerity. Alex really liked having someone to talk to that didn’t judge her, remind her of her duty to her family, or just plain get on her nerves. So it all came out, everything she was feeling. She leaned against the fence, making herself comfortable.
    “I feel bad for getting Clint swept into my trouble. He looked like he was about to kick me out of the bar. I didn’t have any other choice but to invoke Hospitality. I could release him.” She shrugged. “But I still need him. I don’t know who found us at his cabin but if they find us here, I couldn’t bear Clara getting hurt. I wonder if my father sent Carlos after me. He’s the one that popped my cherry. He was cute enough, but he was too damn bossy for my taste. Always telling what to do, what to wear, and when I could speak. I am not that kind of girl so I ended it. He scared me after. He got all quiet. Nothing good ever happened when he became silent. As my father’s Beta he took on the hard jobs, the ones my father needed to be separate from, you know the bloody ones. Clint doesn’t seem like that type. He seems protective and all but not really bossy. I hate bossy, unless it’s in the bedroom.”
    She winked at him. “Any -who, the truth is, I like Clint, a lot. I like Clara and Jesse too. I wish after everything was over I could come back, but if the queen doesn’t return from her honeymoon soon then there will be nothing I can do. I’ll be stuck in a loveless marriage. Barbaric, I know.  Looks like you’re done with the grain. Time for your second course. I’ll be right back.”
    Walking toward the barn , she noticed his water seemed a little low. She’d fill it after she gave him his grass. She restrained herself from doing a happy dance. Clint couldn’t be more wrong about sweet little Gus.
    The bales of grass were bound by an orange twine. Looking around she found a knife on a shelf and used it to free the grass. It broke apart in sections. At least she could guess what a leaf was. She carried them out and threw them into the larger trough next to his one for grain.  Next she needed to get him some more water.
    One problem presented itself. The nozzle for the water couldn’t be reached from outside the fence. Gus seemed content with his muzzle buried in grass. Slipping between the rungs in the fence, she made her way over to the water container. The faucet protested , but she managed to turn it on. Water flowed, quickly filling the container.
    She turned to check on Gus when she swallowed a lump in her throat. The little bugger pawed at the ground with a devious gleam in his eyes.
    “Hey there, big boy, I’m just getting you some fresh water. I’ll be out of your hair in a moment.”
    Her soft -spoken words didn’t seem to deter him. She inched her way back to the fence when he charged, reminding her of a bull