Life Changer

Chapter 18

     The stars shined that night. Snuggled in close to Tom was the best night ever. We stayed up as long as we could till sleep pulled us under. With the wind blowing summer air away its getting colder at night but I was toasty warm.

      Waking up wasn't so bad either. Tucked in close his heart thumping strong against my ear I could have stayed like that all night. Slowly he starts drawing circles with his thumb on my shoulder as I smile. Moaning softly he grunts beside me before chuckling.

      "I don't think I've ever seen so many stars out before." He exclaims as I nod against him. Slowly we peel ourselves off from each other as the morning comes to life. Birds sing happily as the sun shines down on us. Humming beside me he's proper himself up on his elbow as I completely sit up. Still wearing his jacket I'm wrapped up in his sent. I don't know what its like but I know it smells like home to me.

     "Mmm, I wish I never had to leave." He whispers before wrapping an arm around my waist pulling me back down. Chuckling against me I can feel his chest vibrate with it. Smiling I roll onto my side facing his beautiful face. those eyes how they search mine like he's seeing my soul. I wish I never had to leave too. Leaning my forehead against his I close my eyes enjoying his warmth.

     "I hope we can do this again some time." humming along to that he pulls back as he lets his arms drop. Missing his touch already the day is burning away and I know he's needed back at the barn. Getting up I shrug his jacket off handing it back as I feel my cheeks heat up.

     "Thanks for the jacket." Turning away I hop down splashing up dust as I take a deep breath in. The urge to turn back and smother him with kisses crosses my mind but I shake it away. "I'll see you around." I toss over my shoulder before shifting and taking off.

     Feeling the breeze in my mane and the ground under me I take off towards Sue's house. I'll return her shirt then get back to the barn. Yay, that's what I'll do then take it from there. As I eat up the ground I turn off into the trees to take a short cut as I slide down the hill in a controlled slide. Creating dirt slides with me I jump to the bottom and take off at a gallop on the open plains. Beating the ground I spot the village before me as I toss my head as I remember how his lips felt on mine. How I could have curled up in his arms and never looked back.

     As I near I hurry to the house before I check to make sure the coast is clear. My heart hammering from the run I feel so alive right now. Shifting my skin is sweating slightly as I knock on the door to make sure I'm not barraging in. Slowly I open the door to find no one home as I hurry to pull the shirt off. Thankful for it I gently place it in the landry basket as I find my old dirty shirt resting on the washer all clean. With most of the stains gone I slip it on over my head.

     As I smile it drops as I hear the door opening. The hinges silently grinding from age I can pick it up as foot steps enter. Frozen should I call out to whoever it is to tell them I'm here or wait. As the door closes the foot fall is too light to be the chief, but too heavy to be Sue's as I suck in a breath. Coming closer I start to panic as my instincts tell me to run. Spinning around the old window in the wash room looks swelled as I grip the sill to shove it up. With no screen it doesn't look like its been open for ages. Cursing myself I shove it up as it groans softly. Cursing it the foot steps hesitate a second hearing it. Double shit as I look to the small opening I've made. As the steps start heading this way I need to leave now.

      My heart hammering in my ears I thrown myself at the hole. My upper body squeezing through till my hips hit the sill making me grunt. Cursing myself I struggle before I'm free. Feeling the rub burning slightly I hit the ground face first. Coughing up dirt I struggle up and run. Shifting I'm gone in the wind. Taking off my hooves are a blur as I gasp in air my muscles desperately need.

     Gone I feel myself tiring to a loping canter as I head towards home. It sounds so good, home. I've never called a place home before and now I think it fits. I've never felt more needed here then anywhere else in this state or the next. I feel I could finally settle down and not worry about much.

     Reaching the barn its quiet like usual as I come in. Walking everyone is gone as I find myself heading to the barn. Finding myself in my stall I lazily slide my door mostly close just in case as I feel myself give out. Laying on my side I let a groan out as last night still playing in my mind I'm just a happy go lucky kind of mood. Nothing can bring me down. That's untill the truck comes rumbling up.

     Perking my ears its different from the ones I've heard in my time. This one has a metal on metal kind of chink to it as it rumbles to a sliding stop. Interested now I sigh as I roll up onto my side. Groaning loudly I manage to get back up on my feet as I hear someone hurrying in. Sniffing the air the breeze carries the smell of old manure and dried blood. Pinning my ears whoever this is isn't good.

     As this man with his boots slapping out on the cement he's not from around here. I hear a chuckle before my door slides open. Like a flash this stranger slips on a halter as he runs to gather more horses. Struggling he comes back for me as three other horses confused follow after him. Caught up with them I hear him chuckle darkly as we come to the waiting trailer. Fighting him we shouldn't be doing this. Panicked I put on the brakes as he comes to a tugging war with me.

     "Come on beasty." He says tugging again. Grunting he drops my rope as he focuses on the others. This is wrong why is he doing this. The other horses are confused as well as he loads them on. No, this is totally wrong we shouldn't be doing this. As he loads the third on he turns back to me as I call out for the others to run. No no no no! Coming for me I know I should run, but what about the others. How will we know where they are when he leaves. He's stealing us, but I need to do something, anything. As he tugs I feel myself following as i make up my mind. Where ever he bring the others I have to follow. Loaded up on that death trap the gate closes behind me as he runs to get out of here. We've been kidnapped and I just hopped on the train. Stupid girl.