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She had no idea how long she cried for. Time didn't seem to have a meaning to her, not after so much pain. All she knew was that Dakota had held her close the entire time, letting her ride out the storm in his strong embrace. He said nothing in that period, rocking her slowly and running a hand soothingly against her back, having enough forethought to end the video call so she did not have to hear anything else. She became dimly aware that others had approached, speaking gently to the stallion, yet she couldn't bring herself to care enough about what they were saying. But it was because of these simple, tender, and kind gestures that the storm eventually did pass, the doe shivering as she rested her head on the stallion's shoulder, drawing in trembling breaths.

"How... how did I not see this before?" AJ sniffled, hugging Dakota and nuzzling into his chest. "What did I miss?"

It was only when she said this that he pulled away, looking down at her and shaking his head. "Don't go thinking like that, AJ. Things like this aren't meant to be obvious, and definitely not to someone like you. It has nothing to do with you missing anything."

"But... but why would he...?" she squeaked.

"C'mon, let's get you off the floor and into a seat," he said gently, taking her hand and wrapping his arm around her shoulders. The shock of betrayal had been so bad she doubted she could muster the strength to stand up, let alone take even a single step; but she found it remarkably easy with the stallion keeping her steady, guiding her back to the booth she'd been using and taking a seat opposite her.

AJ wiped at her face, her throat sore and constricted. "I don't understand, Dakota... I thought everything was... well, not perfect, but I-I thought he was h-happy with me. Why would he have...?"

"Miss, that's something only he can answer, assuming he's man enough to actually explain himself honestly," he told her, eyeing the smartphone with a hint of disgust on his features. "Not that I'd hold my breath."

"But why?" she sniffed. "Why would he even show me that in the first place? Who... who the hell even _does_that to their spouse or fiancee?"

"Your guess is is good as mine," he admitted. "Maybe they wanted to record it and didn't know how, fucked it up and sent you a video call instead. Not that it excuses anything."

She swallowed, considering that. It seemed like Richard had not even heard her when she spoke into the phone, and Richard's lack of expertise with technology in general, added with Roselyn's words supported the stallion's guess; a video to remember Richard by. One last fling before he was married, giving his own cousin a kid as a memento. The thought sickened her, made her shudder in disgust, to know that the man who'd asked her to marry him had sown his seed in another woman. It seemed to make whatever intimacy they'd had together meaningless, moreso given the implications of how long this must have been going on. She buried her face in her hands.

"How did I miss this?" she groaned. "There must have been a sign, some kind of... I don't know, disinterest that I didn't notice."

"Allison, stop it," the stallion said firmly, reaching across the table and taking her hand. "This man of yours took advantage of your trust, figured you wouldn't be clever enough to figure out he was having an affair. It wasn't because you were stupid, or oblivious. The only thing you did was love and trust him enough that you never thought to question his loyalty. And that is not your fault," he emphasized, giving her hand a squeeze. "Think about what you're doing here. You told me earlier you were making this trip alone, going to a place you don't like to meet up with a family you like even less; all to make it work so you could get married and live happy. That, more than anything, tells me you were devoted and loyal, willing to go to any length to make a relationship work. Don't ever think for even a _moment_that any part of this is your fault."

The doe cast her gaze to the table. "You... really think so?"

"I believe that with all my heart," Dakota said solemnly. "I want you to believe that too.

AJ didn't say anything, mulling it over. Painful as it was to think on it, she recalled Richard's remark on the potent scent of his cousin's heat; among many mammals, this could easily bring on rut. But the stallion's words were now preventing her from using that to make an excuse on Richard's behalf. Her brow furrowed, sorrow turning into anger. He could have booked separate rooms had he valued his engagement; instead, he had indulged willingly. He could have at_least_ worn a condom, but any concern of potentially infecting AJ hadn't been enough for him to use one, as long as he could knock up Roselyn. She had informed him of nearly being robbed of her smartphone; but not only had he not bothered to call in order to check up on her, he hadn't even gone to the trouble of at least texting her- and now she wondered if during that entire time her fiancee had been treating his own cousin to a romantic evening, silencing his phone or even ignoring it entirely. That he had every intention to record his infidelity and keep it secret from her turned her grief into a flare of anger.

"That son of a bitch," she muttered bitterly, her eyes falling on her phone. She reached out to grab the device, intent on calling Richard up directly and giving him a piece of her mind. She had just put her hand over it when Dakota's larger hand quickly and carefully covered hers.

"Whoa, hold on there, AJ," he warned. "I see that look in your eyes. You're pissed, and you've every right to be. But the last thing you wanna do is rush into a conflict and make things worse."

"How could it be worse?!" she cried out in disbelief, getting up from her seat and slamming her hand on the table. "I'm stuck in the middle of New Mexico with a broken down car for two days; I'm in the middle of my heat, making it hard to focus even when I'm calm; I had my phone nearly stolen from me by a punk looking to score a couple hundred bucks; and I've just found out my fiancee of eight months has been pumping his fucking nuts into his cousin since they were teens, and has no intention of stopping even if it means dumping his baby into her! Do you have any inkling of how much that kind of betrayal hurts!?"

Dakota looked up at her sadly. "As a matter of fact, I do, AJ."

The doe stared at him, the anger abating in the face of the hurt-looking stallion.

"It's not the same, I'll give you that," he continued, still holding her hand and bringing it back to the middle of the table. "You're bearing the kind of pain that nobody should have to be burdened with. But I've known betrayal on many levels. I'm not gonna harp on about ancestral lands and reservations, or the loss of indigenous cultures; because if you can believe it, even though I think those things are important, they don't matter to me nearly as much as living a life being able to trust people. Whether it was my old man walking out on my family, a girlfriend giving herself up to another man without a second though, or being more or less cast out of the very reservation I was raised on, save my own mother's house... I've had enough opportunities to learn that it's never easy losing trust in the people you cared about."

The doe sat back down. "I thought you said it was your home," she murmured.

"The operative word being 'was'," he acknowledged. "I... haven't been welcome there in nearly a decade. But this ain't about me, AJ. I'm telling you this because even if it's different, I've been where you've been before. And it always got worse when I was angry and trying to hurt someone instead of trying to be happy being me. It's not a lesson that comes easy, not in a world where we're told infidelity happens because we didn't do enough or try hard enough to make things work; or told that we should have known we'd be cheated on. And it's made worse when we refer to the people we care about as 'soul mates' or 'my better half,' like we're only whole when we're dependent on other people. That's nonsense- but we believe it anyway, and we're willing to get angry when it fails, because it hurts so much. Because we think it feels better to lash out than accept the pain without argument. The world bit us, so we wanna bite back. And that's how we end up losing ourselves and making things worse."

"I don't understand," she whimpered, her eyesight blurring again- but the pain was less severe, her despair morphing into curiosity. "How can you suggest holding back, when he... hurt me so badly...?"

"I don't blame you for wanting to phone the bastard and call him every disgusting name you can think of, or try to get revenge against him for doing what he did," the stallion said, glancing at the phone again with disdain before turning his eyes to her with a concerned visage. "But if you do lash out and find yourself looking back, you might think to yourself that it was how you responded that caused him to do what he did- that he cheated because deep inside you were a terrible person, when in reality you were just someone in a lot of pain. You might think lesser of yourself because you gave in to something so petty, and lose yourself in the process. You might lose trust in other people and, more importantly, yourself. Believe me... it's not a place you want to be," he said gently squeezing her hand.

"What do I do then, Dakota?" she said, shivering.

"Don't focus on the pain and anger; focus on loving yourself," he said simply. "Remember that the only person in this world who should matter most to you, is you. And I don't mean to treat other people like dirt because they don't_matter; but to not put yourself down or make decisions that you'll end up regretting later. The last thing I want to see is you becoming bitter because somebody _else wronged you." He smiled. "You're a good woman, AJ. I've known you less than twelve hours and I can safely say any guy would be lucky to have you. I hope you believe that."

It seemed so impossible, she thought, to see someone smile when she had been hurt so badly. And yet, as she stared into the stallion's amber eyes she felt the corners of her muzzle curve upwards, a blooming warmth in her chest and throat that felt like a potent salve. It still ached badly, but now she was no longer trembling, Dakota's words resonating in her mind. Why this man, who as he said had known her less than twelve hours, had gone out of his way to comfort a recently-made friend, she could not fathom- but as she took in a deep breath and let it out, she dared to hope that he was being sincere. She squeezed his hand, nodding and wiping her face.

"I'm glad I met you," she told him finally. "I just wish I knew why you cared so much."

"Well, I think I'd be a pretty poor friend if I didn't do something to lift your spirits," he said encouragingly. "I know the pain, and I'd do what I could to help someone get past it."

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have assumed you wouldn't understand," she murmured, but he shook his head.

"It's alright, AJ. You were angry, and I get that. You said it out of a place of hurt, not out of malice, and I don't hold it against you," he assured her. He leaned in, still looking concerned. "Do you want me to get you anything?"

She shook her head, sitting up. "No, thank you," she sighed. "I'm just... exhausted." She looked around, noticing the clock was reading 9 PM. "I just feel like curling up and sleeping for a week... or hoping I'll wake up and finding out it's just a horrible nightmare."

"I wish you could, too," the stallion said, rubbing her hand. But as he did so, she found herself privately wishing it wasn't a bad dream; to know that the gentle, compassionate touch she was experiencing was real- that he was real, and that he was looking out for her. The thought seemed to ward away her sadness, her smile becoming a little stronger. Unfortunately, it did nothing to alleviate her exhaustion, making her yawn and relax. He reacted immediately, getting to his feet.

"Here, I've got membership for this place, so let me at least cover your room here," he offered, taking out his wallet. "It'll give you someplace comfortable to sleep that isn't the inside of your car- and it's at a discount for my part."

She straightened up. "Oh no, please, you don't have to- I'm sure you'll be wanting the room for yourself, I can manage."

He only chuckled. "It's fine, I've got a pretty comfortable sleeper cab in my semi, only half a step down from the accommodations here. Besides, I feel like you need it more than I do."

"Dakota... thank you so much," she said, her eyes burning with tears again; not out of anguish, but appreciation for her new friend aiding her during a time of need. "If I can do anything to return the favor..."

"Just remember what I told you," he replied. "That you're worth it, and that you matter."

It did not take long for accommodations to be arranged. Though she had not said it, cashier appeared to have heard the commotion. With a room already reserved for AJ to use, and with a rough idea of what the doe was going through, the hen running the rooms was more than willing to allow Dakota to cover AJ's stay. As soon as she got both of them to sign she gave them two keycards, and with a sincere thanks the stallion put his hand on the doe's shoulder and guided her out of and around the station, carrying her backpack along with him.

It felt awkward moving, as if her body was lagging behind the movements she tried to make; a lethargy that caused her to feel mechanical and sluggish, as if only inhabiting the shell of a person with limited control, a body not her own. Even the ambient temperature, which was cold enough to produce a mist with each breath, did not cause her discomfort. The stallion's firm grip on her shoulder seemed to be the only thing grounding her back to earth. She was thankful that Dakota kept pace with her, glancing at her every so often to make sure she was alright. The urge to say something to him bubbled in her chest, yet she stayed silent, letting him guide her toward the rooms- a row of cozy-looking apartments illuminated by a trio of street lights.

"Here you are," Dakota said as they reached her room, fishing out the keys and opening it for her. "Number 3, all yours. You got a TV, sink, bathroom, minifridge, wireless internet, and air conditioning. No shower, but the stalls in the station are always open if you need them," he told her, setting her backpack in a chair and the keycards on the table.

She looked around, dimly aware of the room's comforts. "Thanks, Dakota," she said softly, taking a seat on the edge of the bed.

"Don't mention it," the stallion responded softly, putting his hand on her shoulder and squeezing. "You get some rest. Leave your phone aside, and if your fia--" he stopped short, swallowing. "Er... if he happens to call you, don't answer it, no matter what you think you should say to him. Block his number temporarily, if you can."

"I will," she told him, looking up at him with a sad but grateful expression.

"I'll leave you to it, then," he told her, backing up and stopping at the door. "You ever need me for anything, I'm parked in spot 57; it'll be a sandy brown semi with an extended cabin and small trailer. Sleep well, AJ," he said, backing up to the exit.

"Dakota?"

He stopped at the door and looked back at her.

"Who... was she?" she asked timidly. "The one who hurt you?"

The stallion stared at her, a slightly pained look in his eyes.

"... No, it's okay," she said, all at once feeling terrible for asking an obviously personal and painful subject. "I'm sorry, you... you don't have to answer tha--"

"She was a mare, named Aylen," he said abruptly, cutting her off. "We fell in love, I put myself through college hoping to snag a decent job, planned to marry her. I came back on break and found out she was sleeping with one of the tribe council elders. He proposed the day I went to confront them- I was there when she said yes." He looked away. "I felt so betrayed and hurt that I got... violent. I ended up doing and saying things that I wish I could take back. After that, I just wasn't as welcome among everyone as I had been. I wasn't banished, really. But... it was better for me to just leave."

AJ winced. "I'm so sorry, Dakota."

He gave her a sad smile. "It'll hurt for a bit, Allison. You deserve to be told the truth, where that's concerned. But it will get better. For now, try not to think about the future. Just get through tonight, and take it one day at a time."

"I will," she said. "Good night, Dakota. And... I know I've said it like a hundred times by now, but I don't think I could ever say it enough- thank you. For everything."

He nodded, his smile broadening a little more. "I was happy to help, AJ. Good night."

Whoever had built the rooms and furnished them had clearly put a lot of thought into the comfort of the mattresses. AJ supposed that it was necessary, regardless of the cost, as truck driving and transportation were likely not easy occupations; at least, not from the way Dakota had described it. It was difficult enough getting to New Mexico in a comfortable CRV by herself, so she very much appreciated the full, fluffy pillows and body-conforming mattress.

Not that it helped her get to sleep.

She tossed to her left side again with an irritable sigh, her thighs rubbing together as the ache in her lower belly flared up again. Between spending time mired in her grief and trying to ignore her heat, she found it impossible to rest. The nearby alarm clock read 1:30 at this point, and despite dozing lightly several times she could not get comfortable enough to fall completely asleep. Not even stripping down completely and putting the AC on full cold helped; the warmth was too stifling, and the need was too great.

She sat up with a groan, the tension unbearable. The plan had been to wait until she was tired to pay for her room and then tend to her sexual urges alone. Richard's video call had caused that arousal to spike, and even after the horror and grief of watching him cheat on her, that arousal had not gone away. The sick feeling of loss and uncertainty lingered, but now she was shivering less out of sadness and more out of the gnawing hunger brought upon by her heat. Unbidden images of her fiancee's cock buried to the hilt in another doe's folds, channeling enough cum into her womb to plant a child in it, replayed as clearly in her mind as her smartphone's resolution. A whimper passed through her, the pang of her heartbreak still fresh, but no matter how much she wanted to force the scene out of her head, it would not leave.

"Stop thinking of him," she choked out to herself, her face in her hands, hoping the physical need for sex could be doused with cold, harsh reality. "He hurt you, Alli, it's... it's over." The pain flared, but so did the arousal. It did not matter that the doe was still reeling from the betrayal and loss, her heat smoldering as the minutes wore on and the scene replayed again and again. It was maddening to hear the words in her head, such that she fell back into her pillow with another whine. It had been much easier to ignore those urges when she was engaged in a pleasant discussion with Dakota.

... Dakota.

Her eyes flicked open at an abrupt thought, and almost at once the scene stopped. A rush of exhilaration coursed through her as she realized didn't have to think about Richard.

After a few moments hesitation, she took in a slow, deep breath and let half of it out before spreading her legs apart. The AC-chilled breeze coursing through the room caressed over her netherlips and she shivered, sliding her hand beneath the covers and down her bare belly. Slight tingles of pleasure radiated along the path where her fingers slid, past her navel, and stopping short just inches away from her clit as a little more doubt set in. It was impossible not to feel guilty about what she was about to do- but thinking about Richard, after what he had done and who he had done it with, did much to erase the majority of that guilt.

So she thought of the stallion instead.

It was initially difficult for her to begin, having little in the way of perspective and no intimate knowledge of what her newfound friend looked like while naked; but as she gently slid her fingers against her swollen netherlips she found it easy to attach his face to the various male models and porn stars she'd watched and fantasized about in her youth days. A gasp tore through her and she squirmed, tracing the mons with gentle, vertical caresses with her fingertips. It felt as if her body's sensitivity had been dialed up to eleven, every nerve tingle and pulsating as those fingers slid inward, until they were tracing the slit leading into her body. But for all the pleasant sparks of bliss she felt by her own literal hand, her mind was focused on the stallion alone. Any combination of attractive features would have worked in tandem with his handsome, dark bay complexion; and so she envisioned him standing above her, his athletically toned nude body bent over her as his fingers, not hers, teased the supple lips that sealed her entrance. Next to her was a set of equine genitals that she could only describe as divinely impressive, a perfect match to his striking form despite them not yet stirred by arousal. By now she was already sopping wet, her cleft moist with a dew that smeared against her fingers; a heady aroma of a female in dire need of breeding filled her nostrils, and though it did nothing to heighten her arousal she could only imagine what the stallion's reaction would have been.

The guilty part of her faded away completely in less than a minute, the ache of heartbreak and reluctance in sexually fantasizing about a good friend vanishing as she tossed herself into a sea of bliss; it felt wonderful to give in, to self-gratify thinking of anybody but her fiancee for a change, an act she had neglected herself of during her eight months of engagement. Her heart hammered as she envisioned the stallion's cock spilling out of its sheath before her face, and almost reflexively she opened her mouth as if to receive his flesh, picturing herself willingly swallowing his thick length with a level of skill seen only in porn. Nearly every horsecock she'd seen in erotic content could only be described as "big," far too large for the doe to handle without intense practice; but as she drove two fingers into her slick snatch and cried out, it didn't matter- in her mind, Dakota was just big enough to satisfy her. To imagine what such a shaft would taste like, the scent of a virile male dripping with precum and staining her tongue and throat with it, brought a deep blush to her cheeks and a tremendous surge of sexual innervation, causing her lower belly to flutter.

Her fingers delved deeper into her slit, eliciting another pleasured sigh. Hot shivers rushed through her spine and caused her back to arch, her heavy breasts rising and falling to the sound of her gasps and moans. Her free hand slid up her body and cupped her right breast. In her mind the scene had changed, with Dakota sliding in behind and embracing her close to his firm body, his steadily-growing cock grinding against her backside while his thick, powerful fingers continued to spear into her cleft; and it was his left hand, not hers, that began to fondle her. Her imagination grew all the more wild, as Dakota now leaned in, lips pressed against her collarbone; he traced up to her neck with gentle kisses and nips, drawing waves of elation and satisfaction from the doe as she continued to envision someone- not just anyone, but someone who had treated her decently- treating her body with a mixture of affection and raw desire. Digits buried to the knuckle, she curled her fingers inward and scraped her fingertips against her coveted g-spot; as if a trigger to her body, her back arched again and she chirped with rapture, feeling a smile crease her lips as she swirled her fingers in her glistening honeypot. Every revolution she made sure to grind her fingertips against that sensitive roof, leading to bursts of pure electric pulses that coursed delightfully through her belly.

She paused, panting as she struggled to reclaim her breath. The scene changed again, and now she could see herself in the same bed Richard and his cousin had been using, with the handsome stallion hovering over her, his long locks of ebony hair draping around his head and amber eyes regarding her with nothing less than pure affection. Her heart swelled at the sight of his smile, even as it hammered in her chest, and a wild smile played across her face as he rolled his hips in. Her fingers slid back into her cleft at that moment, and while her fingers weren't nearly thick enough to compare to her imagination, she fancied she could feel his cock burying itself into her body; a girth that split her netherlips apart. Yet another searing-hot shudder of ecstasy channeled through her spine as she frigged her honey-hole vigorously, letting out incoherent moans which matched the intense pleasure roiling around her womb. She could now imagine the tall stallion rutting her thoroughly, pounding his prick deeper than Richard had ever done with enough force to cause his heavy horseballs to clap loudly at her supple ass. To be held so close to such a passionate lover, stirring her cleft up with rolling pistons that barreled his girth through her gripping inner walls, brought a tremendously hot blush to her face.

What had started as a slick dew cooling her netherlips had at this point become a thick glaze of sticky discharge that dribbled down her inner thighs and asshole, staining the sheets beneath her. Only the sweltering heat exuded from her pussy kept the wet patch from chilling. Combined with the desperate pinching of her nipples, rolling her breast in her palm, the whole of her body seemed to smolder with deep warmth. Nerves throughout her lower body seemed to tingle as the tension built, signaling the fast approach of her orgasm. She drew in a deep breath to prepare, then shifted her thumb up and slid it across her clit.

A delightful jolt of hot ecstasy burned through her loins the moment her buzzer was grazed, making her cry out as she drowned herself in a sea of lust; both thumb and forefinger worked in tandem to assault her slick folds, her core wracked with searing-hot pulses of pleasure. She relinquished her grip from her breast and used it to aid in her self-gratification, sullying her hands with the viscous sexual secretions and doubling the pleasure with both hands working in unison. Despite the burning ache in her arms from continuous flexing she did not stop, the lurid fantasy playing out in her head more than enough to fuel her efforts; for now, Dakota was no longer simply fucking her. The scene had become far more intimate, his strong arms holding her up while his lips kissed her nipples, breasts, and up her neck. The desperate thrusts of his hips signaled the coming of his own impending orgasm. Finality arrived as those same lips let hers in a deep erotic kiss- so starved for love and comfort, the doe's chest burned furiously, a beautiful stinging sensation in her eyes as tears of joy trickled down her face. It was all she needed to see to be driven over the edge.

A burst of light and color filled her eyes as a tremendous orgasm tore through her lower body. She cried out and arched her back, fingers drilled in as far as the knuckle as her body reacted, a splash of femcum splattering against her palms and soiling her netherregions with the boiling secretions; a burst of satisfaction seemed to blossom in her heated womb, and she fancied she could feel her stallion lover's thick seed pouring into her body, quenching her fertile belly and securing it as his own, all while his lips remained locked with hers. Nearly a minute passed with her body seized up, before finally relaxing and reducing herself to a panting, sweaty mess. The last traces of her fantasy disappeared, though the warmth of affection remained even as her breath slowly came back to her.

Time ticked away as the doe basked in the afterglow of a wonderful session of self-love, feeling both rejuvenated and exhausted from the act. Little by little her thought processes returned to her, and with it the knowledge of what she had done, and why. With slight difficulty she summoned the strength to sit up, leaning back against the headboard and letting out a long sigh; not issued by a being troubled in any capacity, but relaxed and peaceful, as if her intimate session had been a balm against the heartache she'd suffered.

"It's... it's okay," she told herself, a shy, smiling blush on her face. "I needed that." It had only been a fantasy, albeit the most intense she'd ever had and involving a man she'd known for less than twenty-four hours. Reason told her that a combination of his attractiveness and compassion, to say nothing of her heat, had been the reason she'd gravitated towards using him as the focus of her fantasy. If anything it was a compliment to the stallion that she'd done it, she figured. It would have been better for her sake of mind and self-worth to imagine him for just a night, than to keep lingering on Richard and not get any sleep.

She sighed again, and this time there was a little discontent in it. Richard. Now that she felt more clearheaded and less horny, she found herself wondering what she was going to do now. No longer could the stag be envisioned without the doe feeling a shudder of revulsion for what he'd done. It wasn't even the incest or his sexual history that troubled her, at least not nearly as much as his willingness to lie to her while giving his cousin a child that, as far as AJ knew, he had no intention of raising or acknowledging. No longer was there a guarantee that if she _did_decide to marry him (a future that she knew she didn't want to be a part of) that he would stay with her; not if the only committed relationship he seemed to have had was with a member of his extended family.

Her emerald eyes flicked to the nightstand, her phone still face down. A slight urge to pick up the phone and call the stag came and passed. By now it was 2:15, 4:15 on the east coast. He'd not yet told her what time his flight was leaving, but now she wondered if he was even going to leave at any point in the day. A small surge of bitter anger filled her as she suspected he'd instead spend the whole day fucking his cousin again, now that he knew his fiancee would be a few days late getting to Charlotte. It was only the words she been told earlier that stayed her hand.

Don't focus on the pain and anger; focus on loving yourself.

She reflected on those words, the anger abating as that soothing sensation returned- and then chuckled softly. It would be fair to say she had certainly "loved" herself pretty thoroughly. The brief amusement passed and she drew her knees up. Tired though she was, the need to make a decision weighed on her. Even if she had at least another day to decide, having some idea of what to do and where to go would make things easier. Should she push forward and confront her fiancee in Charlotte, where he would have the support of his family in spite of any claim she made; or return to San Diego and make preparations for his return, whether that meant calling off the engagement and moving back in with her parents until she could find a place?

Like that's even a hard decision, she scoffed to herself, shaking her head. Articulating it just made it so much easier to choose.

Feeling less stressed than she had been earlier she lay back down in bed, cuddling her extra pillow close for comfort. It would, as Dakota had said, be painful- but she was already appreciative for his foresight and words. A light blush and small smile appeared as she started to doze off again.

She'd have to talk to him again, in the morning.

Dakota was nowhere to be found once the sun was up, the doe noticed with some dismay, but she easily found his semi parked in spot 57, so he had certainly not left as she had initially feared. During the time she looked for him Richard had sent at least one text to her which she did not open to read, still angry at the stag and resolving to follow her new friend's advice not to reply in any capacity. But with all day to figure out where he was, she cut her search short to deal with the growing problem of her hunger.

Despite her diet not particularly omnivorous in any capacity, AJ couldn't deny that the smell of the diner's eggs and sausage were potent enough to make her mouth water, and she almost regret not ordering them in the end, settling on coffee and pancakes instead. That regret vanished on the first bite, giving the doe one more reason to be thankful that she'd been towed to the truck stop; whether it was because the diner had a vested interest in making sure its customers returned to the stop for their food, or because the cook was simply that good, she'd never tasted a better stack of flapjacks in her life.

"Heh, and I thought I was the only one who thought they were great," a voice said behind her. The doe swallowed and turned to see Dakota smiling down at her, eyeing her half-eaten stack of breakfast with interest. His hair was a bit shinier, and the scent exuding from him clued her in on the fact that he'd likely gotten an early shower.

"I'd tell you to get your own," she said, managing a smile in return, "but after everything you did for me last night, I'll gladly cover your breakfast in return."

"I appreciate that, but you're a bit late," he chuckled. "I already stopped by to eat, I'm used to waking up early and getting a meal in. Are you doing alright, AJ?" he asked, gesturing to the seat.

The doe nodded and sighed. "I'm still hurting, but I'm better. Not completely up to scratch. I don't know that I would have been able to sleep without..." she stopped short, clearing her throat and looking away. "Well... I have a lot to thank you for, I guess is the best way to put it." She looked up. "And I'm sorry, if I'd asked something too personal last night. I hope I didn't make you angry or hurt by doing it."

He shook his head. "It was years ago, when I was young and stupid in a lot of ways. But it's a lesson I'm willing to impart so nobody else makes the same mistake."

"I nearly did," the doe agreed. "But I held to what you told me, and I haven't spoken to Richard- yet. Not that I'm sure what I would even say." She paused long enough to get another mouthful of food, giving the stallion enough time to order a coffee from a passing waitress. "Though I've decided I'm not going to North Carolina, now. Better to just break off the engagement."

"You're sure?" Dakota asked. "Not that it's any of my business, I'm just curious if this was a snap decision, or if there were other factors that made it easier."

"The cheating hurts like a bitch," AJ replied, feeling a dull heartache again, "and yet that's only a moderate concern to me. I mean..." She paused, setting her fork down and giving her words some thought. "If he had told me that he'd been in a sexual relationship with his cousin in the past, I don't think I would have judged him very harshly, if at all. It's been going on long enough that there's got to be some kind of love there. So if you can believe it, the incest part bugs me the least."

"But you don't feel you can trust him," Dakota said shrewdly.

"And that's the bigger issue," she acknowledged. "I can't know for sure that he's going to be faithful to me even if he tried to make up with me. He didn't trust me enough to tell me that _this_had happened in the past. Assuming he _does_want to marry me, how can I trust a man who fathers a child whose life he's never going to be a part of? Should I _expect_him to be committed to me?" She sighed. "As much as it hurts, maybe it's _better_if he sticks with his cousin over me."

"I wouldn't articulate like that, as if assuming she has any key advantage over you," Dakota told her. "And it won't help you to think that you're not worth it, either- his cousin knew he was engaged, it's as much her fault as it is his. But I think you've got the right idea of how to view it all."

"So... what do you think I should do?" the doe asked quietly.

"Nuh-uh, nope, not going to answer that," the stallion chuckled nervously. "At least not directly. I'm just a strange new friend that you met less than twenty-four hours ago, the last thing I want to do is tell you how you should live your life."

"C'mon, you're a friend," AJ pressed with a smile, interested in his thoughts. "I'm willing to at least hear advice- you've done good so far."

"I appreciate that," he smiled, giving her a considering look before shrugging. "I guess it helps to have a roadmap or GPS when you're out on the road, to know where to turn and what alternate routes are available; but neither of those things are useful unless you know your destination. Where do _you_want to go with your life? Did you have an idea, say... five years ago, where you wanted to be?"

The waitress returned with his coffee, giving AJ time to think it over. The last time she'd been asked that had been before attending college, and by then she'd known music would be central to her life. The experience at community college had been pleasant, time enough to cultivate her goal towards getting into sound mixing and editing; between her job working commercials and low-budget online advertisements, and commissioned work she took on now and again, she was not lacking for money. She was, at least in this instance, where she wanted to be.

"Here, I guess," she finally answered.

"Here... with Richard?" he asked. "I mean, was getting married on the table for you that long ago?"

"Well... no," she admitted. "I suppose I just figured it would happen eventually. I only met him a little more than a year ago."

The stallion looked hesitant, then spoke. "If it's not too painful to bring up... how did you two meet, if you don't mind my asking?"

AJ stared at him, the heartache building a little more as she pushed her plate away. If it were anyone else asking, she would have said nothing; but because it was Dakota, and because she had asked him a question just as personal the night before, she found herself straightening up. Her eyes fell on her engagement ring and the act became much easier.

"I met him during a job working for a higher-level advertising group. I'll spare you the boring details, but his work involves monitoring advertisement effectiveness. My work had become a bit popular, at least to those who had an ear for my work, and my name was referred to him. It started off as just business, I guess, but he said he was taken by my looks, talents, and motivation for work." She shook her head. "After that, he and I started dating. He met my parents a few times, and my sister. They didn't seem to approve, but they understood I was happy with him. It felt good being around him, even when we moved in together."

"Any rough patches?"

"Some," she admitted. "He would sometimes make decisions without consulting me first, though he always apologized after. And he didn't seem to want to spend time among my family if he could help it- maybe he was a little distant." She shook her head. "I dunno... maybe that was a red flag I didn't see before."

"Maybe," he said fairly. "Did it ever seem like it was going too fast?"

"A few times, I suppose," she said, thinking about it as her brow furrowed. "Three months into dating, that's how long it took."

"And he proposed eight months ago, I remember you saying," he said, frowning. "So... that happened a month afterward?"

AJ blinked. He was right. Between getting an apartment near the beach and moving in with him, to a date at an expensive restaurant where he'd gotten to one knee and revealed an engagement ring, barely a month had passed. Everything had seemed like a massive change happening at once, and now she was beginning to feel like she'd been swept up in a series of moments without being able to completely process them.

"I mean, look," the stallion said abruptly, a slightly guilty look on his face- he seemed to have noticed her pensive expression. "I don't wanna suggest you went too fast. It's not like every relationship is the same." He glanced to the side, spotting the bull whom he had helped the night before at the diner counter, digging his way through an enormous omelet, and gestured to him. "Hell, Miguel met his old lady and fell in love in a couple of days. He's out on the road three weeks out of the month and only gets to spend a few days at a time with his wife and daughter, but he made it work."

"It must be hard," AJ murmured.

"It can be very hard if you aren't prepared," he acknowledged. "But if you love something or someone enough, you do all you can to make it work. Miguel loved his family, so he put in as much time as possible on the road to provide for them, and kept up to date with technology so it was easier for them." He smiled fondly at the bull. "He hasn't yet missed out on any of his daughter's choir performances, his wife streams them via smartphone so he can watch his little girl- and he's always in attendance when he's at home."

AJ stared at the bull, who had taken out his phone and seemed to be fiddling with it. Though she couldn't see what was on the phone, she wondered if perhaps he was simply looking through family photos. After a few moments, she turned back to Dakota.

"What about you?" she asked. "Was this where you figured you would be five years ago, or whenever you started truck-driving?"

The stallion laughed and shook his head. "Not at all. I almost didn't make it past my first year, everything felt so hard. I gained a bit of weight while doing it, too; until I put myself through morning routines to keep the weight off. But I also didn't have anyone to work for but myself and my mother, and I was able to save a pretty solid nest egg. Otherwise, I just get my entertainment for free, when I can."

"So where did you want to go with your life?" she pressed curiously. "And you don't need to answer if it's too personal, either. I know you said you like the idea of taking unexpected paths when they show up, but now I'm curious what you mean by that- or what it means to you."

Dakota peered at her for a few moments, looking as if he was trying to decide if he should tell her. But a smile formed before long and he leaned back in his seat, setting his coffee down.

"I wanted to be a writer."

AJ cocked her head. "A writer?"

He nodded.

"What kind of writing?"

"Anything, really. Maybe put my experience on the road or at the places I've been to use. That was pretty much what college was for, but an actual_career_ in writing requires a lot of research. The best writers write what they know and love, and share it with others. I could talk about the places I've been to and how they've changed over the years, the thoughts and feelings those kind of places evoke. Kinda like Henry David Thoreau or Mark Twain, I guess." He chuckled. "Or I could just write smut, if I wanted- the few people who have read my work said I was good at it."

The doe laughed, blushing and trying very hard not to think about her private session the previous night. "I suppose there's always a market for that. But... after your own heartbreak, did you ever still want to settle down?"

"Someday, yeah," he admitted. "Although I don't think I'd ever be able to get rid of wanderlust completely. I'd want to keep going, keep visiting places- being able to make a living writing could let me do that, I feel. But if I do, I think I'd prefer having company with me- and not have to drive a semi just to do it," he added with a half-smile.

AJ smiled and folded her arms. "I guess, looking back, neither of us are where we really wanted to be."

"I think those who are _exactly_where they want to be are rare to begin with, sadly," Dakota sighed. "But I can be content just enjoying what I can each day, especially if that's the company of friends." He gave the doe a warm smile. "I think this it the first time I've connected with someone while on the road in a few years. I only wish we might've met during better circumstances."

"I agree," she responded, smiling shyly. "Maybe before I met Richard, ideally."

She'd said it automatically, but processing it caused her to go rigid and upright, swallowing as her heart hammered. Dakota seemed to look stunned for a moment, before looking away with an awkward yet pleased smile.

"I mean... I"m sure that could have been real nice," he muttered with a nervous chuckle. The sincere and bare expression caused the doe to smile in turn, the stirring in her chest not at all unpleasant.

A buzzing on her left thigh caused her to jump with a gasp. So engrossed in talking with Dakota, she had forgotten she was still carrying her phone. Even as she fished it out she could tell it was not a text message, but a full phone call- from Richard.

"He's calling," she said quietly, feeling slightly sick. Her eyes flicked up to the stallion. "I... know you said I shouldn't--"

"I_suggested_ you shouldn't confront him immediately," Dakota said evenly. "It was your choice, and I'm glad you took it. But the ball is in your court, if you know what you're going to say to him."

AJ stared at the phone, still buzzing in her hand. It went silent before she could decide. But, knowing he might call again, she resolved to speak as if everything was normal- just to hear what he was going to say. A minute passed in silence, with the doe glancing at Dakota briefly- he said nothing, only nodding as if he understood what she was going to do. Then, as she expected, the phone buzzed again. Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, she accepted the call and brought it up to her ear.

"Hey, hon," she said, attempting a cheerful tone. "I was wondering when you were gonna call me, I missed you."

"I know you did, baby," the stag boasted. "That's why I'm calling, to make you smile like only I can. Did you get my text message?"

"I didn't realize you'd sent one," she lied, wondering if he'd even seen the one she had sent him. "What'd it say?"

"Just that Roz and I were taking an early flight to Charlotte, we're getting close to landing now, actually. How's the heat over there? Are you okay where you're at? Just say the word and I can wire some cash your way."

Holding back her sigh took an enormous amount of difficulty. She looked up to Dakota, the urge passing as he peered curiously at her. "It's alright, Richard. All things considered, it could be a lot better- but I've made a fast friend here to pass the time with, he's been helping prevent me from getting bored. I also got a room to stay at while I wait for the car to get fixed. At least the food is great, and the AC works."

"New friend, huh? I guess that's good news. Just watch yourself, AJ," he warned. "If you're running the I-40 like you had planned, then you know how close to the border you are. Don't want you to get caught up with some dangerous hitchhiker or illegals."

It was bad enough that he was suggesting any stranger in the state was an illegal immigrant, but to immediately assume a good friend of hers couldn't be trusted rubbed the doe the wrong way. Moreover, it was all the proof she needed to know that he had not read her previous text. "He's not like that. He's a trucker."

"Oh, is that it? That's fine, then, just make sure you keeping your wedding band visible- don't want him getting the wrong idea, y'know?" he chuckled. "Let him know you're spoken for by someone with an actual job."

"I'll keep that in mind," she responded, balling her free hand into a fist and resolving to toss her ring into the desert the first chance she remembered. It would have been dishonest for her to say she hadn't heard Richard speak like this before, but she had always let it slide for some reason or another. Anxious to change the subject she broached a more relevant topic, steeling herself as she managed to get through her next words. "So, uh, how's your cousin?"

"She's doing fine, I spent some time catching up with her. I think she needed it, too, she went through a bad breakup a couple of weeks ago."

"I can sympathize," AJ responded, keeping her voice even even as her anger surged- even assuming it wasn't a lie, the fact that he had not said anything about AJ's text informing him of her phone nearly being stolen was unacceptable. "Let her know I said hello, then- and say hi to your relatives for me. I'm hoping they won't mind me being a couple of days late."

"I'll make sure to explain everything to them," the stag assured her confidently. "Trust me they're gonna love you, especially now that I'll have a few days to butter them up before you get here. About the only thing you'll need to do is smile, be polite, and come to a couple of Sunday services. Ma will probably want you to sing in the choir, that'll be your moment to shine."

"Sounds great," she said. "I... can't wait to get there."

"I know that tone, AJ- you're worried. And that's fine, it's natural. But I'm gonna take care of everything, just you wait. Huh?" There was a brief pause. "Wait, hold on a second, babe- flight attendant's getting my attention." The sound of a hand being placed over the receiver could be heard, muffling his words for a moment. Then his voice broke through clearly. "Alright, I gotta go, the no phone sign just lit up! I love you, Alli!"

"I love you too, Richard," she replied, the words feeling hollow and making her shudder. "'Bye."

She did not let out her sigh until she ended the call, looking up at Dakota. The stallion looked sympathetic. "I'm sorry, AJ. It didn't sound like the call you wanted."

"He didn't even ask about my nearly being robbed- probably too busy fucking his cousin to bother looking at his phone," she murmured bitterly. "Some of the things he said... they were so casual, and I've heard him say those things before in the past, but this time they just sounded mean and offensive. I can't believe I used to just let it slide."

"What did he say?"

"He suggested you might be an illegal immigrant, then told me to tell you I'm spoken for by someone with, in his words, 'a real job.'"

Rather than look chagrined or outraged, the stallion only chuckled. "He's not necessarily wrong. My old man was born south of the border, and whatever else his faults were, he did immigrate legally. And as important as it is, I'd gladly concede that trucking is less of a job and more of a form of self-punishment."

The jest brought a smile to the doe's face. "I suppose you'd know better than he would. Still... I'm sorry that he suggested such unkind things about you. I don't know why I never gave him a piece of my mind before, it's not the first time he's said these kind of things."

"You don't need to apologize on behalf of that jerk," he assured her gently. "Sometimes we accept the flaws of the people we care about, even when they're deep. Even when they're wrong. Just so we can make our relationships work without asking anybody to change for the better, hoping they'll change without having to confront them."

"Speaking from personal experience?"

"My dad was a bastard with only a few glimmers of gold in him, and my mother and I let him get away with far too much," he grunted, folding his arms. "We put up with it because fighting back would have made things worse, we felt. But we were wrong- we were better off without him. This might be the same, if your ex is being consistent."

"Well, this was Richard's second strike. And I'm feeling like he may have made his third while talking to me," she added.

"Meaning?"

"I'm going to check something real quick," she told him, flicking her smartphone to the app store. "He told me he and Roselyn were already on their flight. I can't imagine it takes more than a couple of hours to get from New York to North Carolina- assuming he actually left."

"You think he's still in New York?" the stallion asked, cocking his head.

"Technology is great, like you said," she said dully as she found the app she needed, installing it. "It can keep families together even when they're on the other side of the country, like it does for Miguel. I'm sure if you bought yourself a powerful laptop, you'd have the means to write to your heart's content while you drive for weeks on end. And as for me?" She lifted her phone up and faced it towards Dakota just as the GPS phone tracker loaded up, showing a list of phone numbers. "I can use it to figure out how much I'm being lied to." She set it before the stallion with a sigh. "Or you can, at least."

"Wait, why me?" he asked. "Don't you want to know if he's lying?"

"Yes, but I'm also still hungry and I don't want to lose my appetite by seeing his name again so soon," she said with a wan smile. "I trust you to tell me the truth, at least."

His response was not immediate as he gave her a curious stare. But rather than argue the point he picked up the phone carefully and ran his finger along the screen. "Richard... 'R'... no... Schultz, Richard?" he asked.

"That's the one," she acknowledged, sliding her plate back in front of her and getting a forkful of pancake.

He was silent for a few moments as they awaited the results, the doe chewing slowly- it helped get the bile-tasting sensation she'd been experiencing having to talk to her fiancee. Eventually, however, he shook his head and set the phone down. "I'm sorry, AJ."

She nodded, swallowing and leaning back in her seat- the ache still hurt, but far less than it had before. "Yeah... I knew it. Actually, I was afraid that he was going to hang back and spend time fucking his cousin, now that he knows I won't reach Charlotte for another three or four days. Now that I know... it's just not going to get better. I know that now." She looked back up at Dakota. "I need to just... cut myself off from him."

"He doesn't respect you enough to be honest with you," he nodded. "Can't build a relationship on that. So... what's your next move?"

"I can't make any, not right now," she said. "Not until my car is fixed. Once it is, I'm gonna head straight back to California, hire some movers, rent a storage space, and start looking for an apartment of my own."

"So soon?" the stallion asked, looking slightly disappointed- he quickly changed his expression. "I mean, I'm glad you have a plan already. You're a lot tougher than I expected you were, and I already thought you were capable of getting through this."

Despite the situation, she smiled at him. "I have you to thank for that, Dakota. And... no, I don't think I'll want to leave _that_soon. I kinda want to try something, while I still have time, and while you're still here."

"What's that?" the stallion asked.

"Dakota... would you like to go on a date?"