Just a short bit for you today, but I'm hoping to make that up with a very productive day tomorrow. I have plans to hit the library early and no plans to go home until they kick me out. For tonight, though, I need to delve more into the mind of Jack, as I find myself struggling to understand his psyche.
It was a cold and rainy day when Mistress Ayodelle came to visit Daisy in her quarters. The sheep were safely in their pens and Daisy had taken the opportunity to do a thorough cleaning of the room she shared with her sister. Her head perked up as she heard voices outside.
“Your father told me to stay with you while he was in the city,” said a low, masculine voice that Daisy immediately recognized.
“That’s so silly. If anything came to try to get me, I could protect myself better than you could protect me. You really don’t have to follow me around.”
She heard a hint of humor in his voice and it made a warm sensation spread through her chest. “Who is to say that I am to protect you from the world? Perhaps I am here to protect the rest of the world from you, Mistress.”
There was a soft chiming sound that Daisy recognized as the master equivalent of laughter. “Well you’re boring and don’t play with me, so I’m going to see Daisy. You can stand and glower protectively from the corner.”
Without knocking, Mistress Ayodelle pushed open the door to Daisy’s room and entered. Daisy knew who would follow her and tried to brace herself, but when those yellow eyes met hers, she still felt it like a physical blow deep in her gut. Jack looked somewhat startled to see her but turned and closed the door, moving before it with crossed arm to prevent anyone else from entering. He had very nice arms, she noted wistfully.
“Hello Daisy!” Mistress Ayodelle said, brightly. “You look very busy.”
Daisy tore her eyes away from Jack like a painful tear. “I was just finishing, Mistress,” she said, ducking her head. “As soon as I have swept the floor, I will be done.”
“Good, then you can take a break now,” Mistress Ayodelle decided, in the way of the young of any race, “And play with me!”
The young Herder enjoyed playing with her Mistress out on the sunny hills around the estate, but now found herself bashful to act silly and frivolous in front of the stalwart West Barrow Hunter. She could see the amusement around the corners of his mouth as he watched her hesitate, but duty to her Mistress had to outweigh the illicit tingles of excitement that his presence gave her and, softly, she asked, “What would you like to play?”
“I want to play seeking, but Jack has to play, too.” Jack’s expression quickly shifted to a frown. Mistress Ayodelle stared at Daisy with eager black eyes. “Can’t you convince him to play?”
Daisy glanced over at the tall human with his beautiful silvery-gray skin and his wide shoulders. He was watching her with a mild look, as if waiting to see how she would react to the request. Her skin prickled at the attention and she had to viciously remind herself that he didn’t care about her, was far too good for her and wasn’t even of her own breed!
Mistress Ayodelle’s hands fluttered impatiently and, with a little whimper of discomfort, Daisy stepped close to the taller man and gazed up at him through her thick, dark hair. “Won’t you play with us, please?” she asked, so softly she was uncertain he would even be able to hear.
She was surprised when he lifted a hand and, careful not to scratch her with his sharp nails, tilted her chin up to look into her eyes. She barely managed to restrain a gasp at the electrical current that jumped from his fingers to her skin. Little lines formed around his eyes as he stared at her, squinting slightly, with curiosity. Daisy froze up under that inquisitive gaze, but she managed to form her lips around the word, “Please?” once more.
He dropped his hand and, with a put-upon look that told her that he knew he would be acquiescing from the start, he nodded. Mistress Ayodelle clapped her hands.
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