Chapter Two
Scrappy drug herselfinto Ranger’s stall.The gates were finally closed for the night, and most everyone had left.She hooked the bucket of grain up for the horse and then unwrapped the hamburgers she’d bought for her and Jaxx.She made herself eat half of one and gave the rest to the dog.She would have normally given him all of it, but she hadn’t eaten since the night before, and she was feeling weak and shaky.
She brushed both animals, making them look as good as she could, then rolled out her blanket and settled in for the night.
Jaxx came and lay down beside her, his head on her stomach while Ranger stood over like he was protecting her.Between the two, they made her feel safer than she’d ever felt, and she knew it was going to be hard to let them go, but she knew it was the best thing for them.
“Hey, my friends,” she whispered.“I want you to know I’ve found a place for you, somewhere safe to call home.You won’t have to worry about your next meal or if someone will hurt you.”
Jaxx whined.
“I know.I’ll miss you.You’re the only family I’ve ever had, but I have to think of what’s best for you.I can’t be selfish because I love you both so much.”
She couldn’t keep the tears at bay anymore and let herself weep for the only family she’d ever had.She hugged Jaxx tightly and cried herself to sleep.
She had no idea how late it was when Jaxx woke her, growling.
“Shhh, let me listen,” she told the dog and held him close against her chest.
She heard men’s voices, and her fear grew instantly.No one was supposed to be around after Percy closed and locked the gates at night.She heard a scuffle and a few grunts before everything went quiet again.
For the rest of the night, she sat against the back wall with Jaxx’s head in her lap.It didn’t matter how tired she was, the adrenaline wouldn’t lessen enough to let her rest.There had been too many times since she’d left the convent when men had tried to hurt her.So far, God had watched out for her, but she knew the chances of something bad happening grew larger every day.
Scrappy listened to the people arriving and the animals waking as the morning sun lit the inside of the stables.She stood and stretched, grimacing when her muscles pulled in her neck and back.She patted both animals.“You both will be so happy.”
She blinked back the tears burning her eyes and turned away.She rolled up her blanket and set it by her backpack.She planned to get them after the animals were gone.She had no idea what she was going to do.The fact that she would need money to move on made her stomach knot.It was going to be hard enough to be without her family, but to see the empty stall would make it so much worse.
Scrappy caught sight of the man who was taking her family, standing next to her boss.She ran over to them.She suddenly felt shy when the man turned his full attention to her.
“You remember Thomas, don’t you?”her boss asked.
She nodded.
“Good morning,” Thomas said.
She cleared her throat.She knew the next few minutes would be the hardest of her life.“Good morning.My family is ready for you.”
Thomas put his arms behind his back, clasping his hands together, and stared down at her.Her nerves grew as the seconds passed.
“You’re still taking them, aren’t you?”she asked.
He tilted his head forward.“I am, but you’ll have to come with them.”
She blinked a few times.“What?”
“I’m taking all of you.”
