FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Molly's fur bristled as she came in from the biting chill of a mid-November day. Her breath formed visible steam as she huffed, hauling herself and her bags inside. Violetta's unassuming facade lay fringed with white frost as she bade farewell to the pale sun and wisps of cloud of the outdoors. Slotting her bags in a locker, she stamped her hooves on a nearby mat, rubbing her arms and sides for warmth.

“Another day in paradise," she said with a gloomy sigh. Pausing, surprised at her sullen words.

She didn't know where the melancholy had come from. Perhaps the darkening days of winter had crept up around the edges of her psyche, nibbling at the periphery of her mood. A once-strong sense of fulfilment that waned with the passing of months.

Had she tired of her work?

No...that couldn't be the case. The nights onstage were as vibrant in her mind's eye as ever. She didn't care much for the table service though. Then again, regardless of occupation, who did?

And it wasn't her co-workers. Rebecca had cooled off trying to recruit her once Molly stopped feigning interest to humour their conversations. No matter, she'd find someone else to badger with her pitches to join the gig economy.

Rylan was being his usual supportive self. Emily too. Emily? No, she didn't weigh on Molly's mind so heavily. Some residual guilt deep down for 'experimenting' onstage with somebody who wasn't her boyfriend — but Cade was fine with that.

If it wasn't any of those, then what was it?

She rapped her knuckles on the door to Violet's office.

Maybe Vi? But then...why...?

Violet's voice beckoned her to enter. The door creaked open.

“Hey Vi."

Her friend and boss looked up at her from the desk.

“It must be real cold out there," said the human, “your ears are bright red!"

Molly grumbled in acknowledgement and flicked her ears as if commanded. Little flapping jesters dancing for the amusement of their queen. True to Violet's words, their fleshy interior glowed with a rush of blood.

She chuckled as she took a seat opposite Vi.

“Fur's great, but the cold can still get to you. Through the fingers and the hooves."

“Well you can warm up in here," Vi said, switching on a small space heater, “while I get my business in order."

Molly set aside her puffy coat and grabbed a nearby wooden chair. It creaked as she sat down, prompting her to glance at each leg, scanning for weakness. You'd think she'd buy stronger furniture, she thought, most anthros working here are heavier than humans.

Distracted by her thoughts, Molly didn't notice that Violet had been sitting quietly and patiently, waiting for her to talk.

“That was quick," Molly chuckled.

“It wasn't a lot of business," Vi replied, smiling. “So Molls — what's this about?"

Molly paused before speaking, taking a moment to remove the scarf tied 'round her neck and draping it over her coat. In the rapidly-warming office, all that stood between her fur and the wandering eyes of any onlookers were a loose t-shirt and skirt.

“Well, ya see...the thing is...is..."

She paused. Vi watched her take a deep breath and compose herself.

“Let me start that again," said Molly, feeling a flutter in her chest. “Do you remember way back...our reunion dinner. Me, you, Angie, and Bea. Our college gang back together?"

“Sure I do," Vi said, smiling.

Molly quickly followed up her entreaty: “it was when I agreed to your job offer. And started the whole ball rolling on my new life. Part of why you funded my change and helper me get set up at the club was because you wanted someone you knew, someone you trusted, to go through the process first. And, if all went well, you'd follow suit..."

She sighed. “...well, I think it's time we have a discussion about that."

Vi's smile drooped downwards. “Oh."

“It's been long enough."

“It has been a while, of course. But...uh, maybe you could've let me know you wanted to talk about that. Called ahead and told me before sitting down here."

“And if I told you beforehand, would you have let me come in and sit down?"

“Molly? What do you mean?"

“Either you have a grand plan worked out in intricate detail based on my health and experience as a hybrid or this is the biggest case of cold feet I've ever seen!"

Vi understood what she was getting at. A groan escaped her lips, cut swiftly short by her palm crossing her mouth.

Molly snorted. “Rude!" she growled.

“Molls, now's not the right time."

“Will there ever be a right time?"

Sensing the rising anger, Vi tried to defuse: “we can discuss this another day. Soon. When I'm in the right head-space and have had time to prepare."

“What's there to prepare? You have my medical records. I gave them to you. It was your choice of doctor, your choice of gene clinic. You are as aware of the anthromorphing process as I am."

“Just stop!" Vi blurted out, her hands raised in a posture of subconscious defence.

“No. You owe me this!"

“I don't owe you shit Molls — can we take a rain-check on this and I'll get back to you later? I promise we'll talk soon."

She was still hesitant, Molly realised. Still refusing to put herself under the knife (or 'Grayson-Trimble Applicator Device' to be a pedant) and renew her body. It felt like no amount of choice words would make her budge — but Molly had to try, despite how pissed she was.

“Oh come on!" Molly spat. “Talk is cheap. Look at me — you think I had misgivings? Of course! But I took the plunge, why can't you?"

The room went silent. Eerily silent. Vi stared intently, a nervous twitch in her shoulder. Molly frowned.

“I don't know!" her boss eventually blurted out, “I don't...know...alright!?"

Molly softened her expression. “But why?"

“I can't shake the feeling something bad will happen."

The antelope hybrid snorted. “What is happening, Vi, is that you're overthinking this shit. You've done the same thing a thousand times before — it's a miracle you finished your undergrad with the amount of fretting you did over exams! It's an ever bigger miracle you got the club up and running but hey, I wasn't around for that so I could be wrong, and you changed."

“So what if I did, Molls? Does that make the prospect less daunting?"

“Daunting my actual antelope ass! What the FUCK are you worried about!!?" Molly bellowed. Violet was taken aback by the volume and the anger in her voice. Her friend, her employee, rose from her chair and leaned over the desk.

Molly's gaze narrowed. She had Vi in her sights, and no amount of bellyaching would deter her aim.

“Do you think this was a walk in the park!?"

Vi slowly shook her head.

“No? Of course not Vi! There was discomfort. There was pain, far less than what you seem to believe..."

Molly stood straight. Her arms flew over her head and gripped her shirt at the shoulders. With a single motion she tugged it free — dragging it over her head and off her body completely. With a scowl she tossed it in her boss' face. It struck Vi with a minuscule 'fwap' sound and unfurled over her head. When she had removed it, Vi was greeted to a view of Molly stripping off her skirt.

“...and yeah, it took some getting used to..."

Molly growled as she kicked her skirt aside. Next came her bra. While she unhooked it she maintained eye contact with Vi, her stern expression yet to waver. She may be her boss, but as a friend she knew how to cut through the bullshit of professional hierarchy.

Her chest swelled with newfound freedom. Breasts bared for Violet's eyes alone. Casually tossing the bra overhead, Molly slid her thumbs along her waist and under the elastic of her panties, catching each one and pushing down, revealing a patch of unkempt fur and then—

Nothing you haven't seen before, she thought.

“...but look. Just look! What the fuck's wrong with this!?" she barked, showing off her bare body.

“..."

Not waiting for a response, she barrelled ahead with her rant: “correct! Nothing, that's what!"

Violet grimaced and tried to look away, to which Molly ordered her attention return with an aggressive, animalistic snort.

“I know you put on airs of a successful go-getter and that might tide everybody else over, but I'm your friend Vi. I'm one of your oldest friends. Let your guard down for once, okay? You can do it, just like I could."

She stomped on the floor. A loud clatter careened through the room as she came right up to Vi's desk, right up into her face, and stared deeply into her eyes. Antelope, human; hybrid, classic. Confronting Violet with a vision of her furred future.

Come on, Molly mouthed, hoping her friend would understand. Words failed her, now when she needed them most. If only she could open her heart and pour her feelings, however chaotic they may be, out in front of Vi — to communicate perfectly how she saw herself, her transformation, and that she was making a whole load of fuss over nothing at all.

Instead, a steely gaze peered right back at her.

“I'm worried something will happen," Violet repeated, her jaw clenching as she spoke. “I'm worried there will be some kind of complication. Some kind of accident or shitty roll of the dice that fucking kills me!"

“Are you kidding me!?" Molly groaned.

“Yes. I'm scared. I'm not you. You always took the most risks out of all of us."

“That's not how I remember it."

“Yeah well it's how I do. Do you think Beatrice, or Angie, or anyone else from our college days would have agreed to do what you did? And all I did was offer you work. A job that you happily accepted after laughing about the absurdity of the whole thing!" She looked away. “It was absurd. But I was serious about you working for me. Look at how much better off you are..."

Molly retreated, standing straight, her nudity corrupting this heartfelt scene with comic inappropriateness.

Vi continued: “I'm sorry, that came off wrong. I meant to say you look happier, healthier. It's like I said — the gene therapy can knock twenty, thirty years off you. Who wouldn't want to not just feel younger, actually physically be younger. I just...I just can't shake the knot in my stomach about going through it myself!"

“I've heard this before, Vi. But...at least you're not dodging my question..."

Molly placed her hands on her hips and rested her weight on one leg.

“Human or hybrid?" asked the irate antelope. “At this point I don't care what decision you make. Just make one. I'm done fuckin' around waiting for my friend to choose. Is that going to be a problem between us? Is having me around gonna cause issues?"

Vi stared at her, a cold silence descending.

“No," she muttered, “no it won't."

“Okay," Molly harrumphed, “because I have a good thing going here thanks to you. I don't plan on changing that. If you want my advice: go with something elegant, graceful...like you helped choose for me. Or you can stay the same as you are now, and continue to not trust me like you once did, nor anyone working here who's a living testament to the simple fact this isn't the god-damned dark ages of underground anthromorphing and you're fretting about risk when you shouldn't be!"

The antelope hybrid gathered her strewn clothes and redressed, saying nothing until she had the door handle gripped firmly in-hand:

“I'm gonna take a personal day, if you don't mind. I need some time to process."

Without waiting for a response Molly exited Vi's office and shut the door behind her. As soon as the threshold had been crossed and sealed, a wave of unease washed over her.

She braced her back against the closed door and exhaled, cursing her temper. Then, she stood up and walked back the way she came.

* * *

I'm gonna take a personal day.

The words echoed in her mind.

Ballsy, she told herself. Then again, I could've gone further. Could've torn up my contract right in front of her eyes — but that would leave me without a job.

And if there's one thing I like about this place, it's the steady paycheck.

...and good company.

...

Two things I like about this place...

Molly grabbed her balled-up t-shirt and screamed into it, muffled by the item of clothing. Her head burst from the mass of cloth with a gasp, and she shut her eyes and let her lungs empty in a long, hoarse exhale. Her bare naked top half jiggled as she unravelled the t-shirt.

At least it's normal for folks to be nude in this place, she surmised, because the last thing I want to do is answer any awkward questions about my state of dress.

She glanced around the changing room. Still alone. She dressed herself and checked her bag for her phone and keys, hoping to slip away before anyone noticed her absence. She wasn't on the roster for today — not any more, thanks to a judicious pulling of favours to get her shift covered. A rapid-fire write-up of texts to her co-workers with a plausible-sounding excuse was sufficient to let her slip away. Undetected.

“Hey Molly..."

Almost undetected.

Molly turned to meet the source of the familiar voice and received a full view of Rebecca bounding towards her, stark naked with glittering make-up painted around her eyes and flapping ears. Her fluffy coat had recently been groomed, and puffed up around her cleavage and collar. The collie skipped over and sat on the bench beside her.

“Not in the mood Rebecca."

Her canine compatriot tilted her head in confusion. “In the mood for what?"

Molly paused, then shook her head. “Oh, sorry...I thought you were going to ask me to cam again."

“No...I just..." Rebecca whined like a hurt puppy as she sidled up closer to her colleague. “I just saw you and wanted to say 'hi'. Esper said you were sick or something and weren't performing tonight."

“Yeah I'm taking the rest of the day off."

There was a brief silence, punctuated only by the flapping of Rebecca's powerful tail. It swept behind the bench and tickled Molly's legs. The canine inched closer, her legs now kicking the air impatiently as her furry flank pressed against Molly.

“Becca..."

Her ears lowered. “But you'd be sooooo good at it! I love watching you onstage, and that's the type of showy sexiness you need to succeed online!"

“Not doing it."

“Urgh!" barked Becca, until a strong stare from Molly cooled her jets. “Sorry," she said, “I know you're not interested. I should 'hound' (tee-hee) somebody else..."

“It's not that you're annoying me," she said softly, “well, it is annoying when you keep asking me to become a camgirl, but we can get past that. I'm sure you can tolerate people turning down joining your hobby."

“It's more than a hobby Molls. It's a great money-maker for a gal like me."

“I know, I know. That was reductive, sorry."

“No-no-no! I'm sorry. I keep pushing this on people. I should take a hint."

As if signalling her mild despair, Rebecca's body slung low, her posture shrinking away from Molly.

“So...uh...are you sick? Do you need me to cover for you?"

“No, but thank you," Molly said, smiling at the aloof collie, “I've arranged all that already."

“Cool."

They sat for a moment. Molly finished packing her bag and a ding from a nearby half-open locker prompted Rebecca to stand and fetch her phone — no doubt to answer another patron of the Snap-X app she was so fond of.

“So, um," came the rambling from across the way, as Rebecca sauntered back over, “I heard shouting in Violet's office earlier. Was that you? It sounded like you."

“Guilty."

A look of shock appeared on Becca's face. “Oh gosh! When I said it sounded like you I don't mean I think you're a bitch or anything! I uh—sorry!"

“Relax, Becca. I knew what you meant."

“Then what happened?"

Molly stood up. “Y'know how Vi's been planning to undergo anthromorphing for a long time? Well today I just told her to nut up and fucking do it!"

The collie's eyes widened.

Molly corrected her tone with a curt sigh. “Not as rudely as how I phrased it. But in the same ballpark."

“I don't play sports."

The obliviousness of that statement caught her off-guard. “It's...ahem...a turn of phrase."

“Hey, well, you do you!" Rebecca said, as she rose with her hands planted firmly on her hips, exuding confidence as she supported her colleague. “I'm sure it's what she needed to hear."

“Thanks," said Molly with renewed warmth in her voice.

“You going home now?"

“Yeah. Getting ready to."

“Well hope you feel better. And if you want to swing by later, I'm around until late. Got some things of my own to work out." Rebecca smirked and leaned close, shielding their conversation with her raised hand. “I can sneak you back in tonight if you wanna avoid the boss; text me and I'll smooth things over with the Guard Dogs. Maybe you wanna watch a show rather than be in one for a change!"

Now that you mention it...

* * *

The grand, captivating opulence of Stage One drew patrons' eyes to the spot-lit performer, swinging from trapeze with the skill of a practised gymnast. An avian anthro, her true name hidden behind a theatrical nomen — but Molly knew as her Angelica. The svelte sparrowhawk she'd met a few times in the back rooms of Violetta. Always teased in conversation with the prospect of witnessing her soaring performances. Always blocked by scheduling, or the long periods between such expensive shows due to rehearsal time and safety precautions. Always...until tonight.

Seated far from prying eyes in an alcove behind the audience, Molly lay against her boyfriend in darkness — the occasional flitting shaft of deep purple lamplight illuminating the pair's faces.

Rebecca had been right. This was a nice opportunity to de-stress, take her mind off of Vi and her job. She could put herself in the head-space of a horny customer, eager to sample the delights Violetta offered to any and all comers.

Angelica swung from rope-to-rope, skirting the ceiling and tossing the occasional piece of what little she wore to the crowd. A mid-air display of disrobing...the ravenous masses beneath, eager to spy any glimpse of her nakedness beyond a fair brown blur above their heads. That was the trick. Keeping one's distance. Made them hungry for a close-up.

Molly rubbed her head against Cade's shoulder.

“Blew up at my boss today."

“Is that why you invited me out all of a sudden?"

“I needed you."

Cade smiled, his eyes moving between Molly and the show. “You got me."

“I know," she said softly, a warm sigh following soon after.

Angelica returned to the stage, grabbing a hold of one of a set of dancer's poles that ran from the stage floor all the way to the ceiling. She swivelled a couple of times, then let herself slide down slowly. The music thrummed in the background, an otherworldly dance beat resonating through the room with deep bass.

“I've had enough excitement for one day," said Molly.

“Great answer. Makes me sound boring."

“No, not what I mean, dummy!" Molly swiped at him, catching his lip with her finger and recoiling at the sudden damp. “The bad kind of excitement."

“Getting mad at your friend isn't worth this much concern, is it?"

“I don't know. Depends on if she's still a friend. If I pushed it too hard..."

“And me? And this?" he asked, pointing to the ongoing show.

Molly frowned and took a moment to respond. “Like I said: distraction."

“I think I clash with this scene."

“No you don't."

“Yes I do. Molly — do you want to be thrilled or be comforted. Or could you not decide?"

“That. Yes. Not decide. So why not have both at once?"

“Because it'd be weird and confusing."

Molly chuckled. “Weird is normal in some respects. Like me. Like us. Like this..."

She reciprocated Cade's gesture towards the stage, where Angelica had now scaled another pole and was preparing to dive and catch a swinging bar.

“Did you ever think it would feel any different?"

Cade looked at her. “It feels normal to me. Us, I mean. Having a hybrid girlfriend. The exotic dancing business I got used to pretty quickly. Although..." he looked back at Angelica onstage, “...haven't seen that before."

“Yeah. I wondered when I'd get a chance to see her perform. There's not many bird or avian hybrids around. Well done Vi for recruiting someone like that."

Angelica pushed against the slender pole and catapulted herself forward — her body flew through the air, wings outstretched to glide a good distance between positions. A murmured chorus of 'oohs' and 'aahs' as many had never seen such a thing in real life. She quickly reached another suspended rope and caught it, twirling in a wide arc above everyone.

“Compared to this I am boring," he said.

“Cade!"

“What? It's true. Isn't it? That doesn't mean you should feel bad. For me or you. It's just who I am at this point in my life. A boring ol' teacher."

“And if you wanted to change that?"

Cade smirked. “Who better than you to guide me?"

“Well...I think I'll keep loyal, reliable Cade around. Boring schmoring! I love you."

“Focusing on the positives?" he asked jokingly.

“Mmm." Molly nodded and kissed him lightly on the cheek.

He blushed.

“Don't get any more self-conscious now," she added, “you're mine!"

“So are you gonna make things up with your boss/friend?"

“Give me a few hours, and I'll work something out. I told her I like working here and that I don't plan on leaving...so I guess she'll either say nothing and stew for a while, or fire me."

“What sounds more likely?"

“At this point," Molly hissed and stretched, “I don't actually know."

* * *

Exiting the performance, with a suffusing sense of wonderment at the aerial display, Molly sneaked about the rear stairwell, Cade in tow. Their leaving was kept curt; she saw no need to hang around and potentially end up in an awkward conversation with Violet. As the awe faded from the fore of her mind she returned to a less enjoyable mode of thought: thinking over what she'd say to soothe tensions between them.

She remarked as such to Cade.

“Giving a piece of your mind to an old friend usually isn't as complicated — they normally aren't also you're boss," he mused quietly as they stepped onto the ground floor. “Lucky you!"

Lucky me indeed. Molly sighed in agreement and led him through the back of the club. The music thrummed through the walls as it wound down, its resonance dimming the further away they got.

Her luck didn't change when they shuffled their way through the building and stumbled across Rebecca; the collie sat on a bench with her legs crossed, arms propping up her weary head. Wearing a puffy black jacket that exaggerated the impression formed by of the long strap of her purse as it hung from her shoulder, and an old worn-out pair of denim jeans; the canine hybrid looked fully dressed and ready to bounce. Her own departure now paused for a moment of greeting as she noticed the couple.

Molly spoke first: “hey Rebecca. You heading out?"

“Ye-yeah," she said, trying to control her volume as if startled. Noticing Cade standing beside the antelope, she sent an exaggerated wink his way. “Hey there good-lookin'."

Rebecca rose from her seat and nearly toppled over, revealing her inebriation. Clued in to this, Molly picked up a small clear bottle. “What's going on Becca?"

She looked embarrassed, averting her eyes from the sober pair. Her posture now steadied, she focused on answering Molly. “Thought about you today," she said, taking her time to pronounce her words clearly — a sign to all but the most ignorant of her drunkenness. “Y'know, the way you gave the boss lady an earful...got me convinced I should just go with what I want...leave the club and go full-time on my own."

“Rebecca..."

“I needed some courage is all," she said sheepishly. A hiccup followed soon after.

“Okay, you had something to drink. Please don't tell me you were planning to drive home in this state?"

“No...I..."

Molly's expression became stern. Serious.

“I was gonna call a cab," Rebecca clarified. “I'm not that drunk! And besides," she added, blowing a kiss toward the pair, “this bitch is off the clock!"

“C'mon, don't act this way. Do you need a ride home?"

Cade tapped her shoulder. “Molly," he ventured in a whisper, “are you sure—?"

His voice tapered off upon seeing the glare in her eyes. It remained dominant, before rapidly softening.

“Hey, Cade...leave this with me, okay? Let me handle it."

Her boyfriend slowly nodded. She smiled.

“Trust me. We'll drop her home. She'll be outta our hair in no time."

Turning back to the collie, Molly maintained her offer of a ride. However Rebecca appeared reluctant. She kicked her heel off of the floor and looked away.

“Uh...I can get a taxi...you don't have to take me..."

“Of course we can take you. How far is it?"

Rebecca sighed. After some probing from Molly she admitted she couldn't remember her exact address.

“Cherry Gardens...Cherry Grove (or was it Cherub Grove?)...the one with those big apartments beside the main road..."

“Don't you have it on your phone — or anywhere for that matter?"

She shrugged. “Battery's dead."

“If you can't remember your address, and your phone's dead, how were going to get a cab home?"

There was a moment of silence.

“..."

Rebecca groaned once the penny dropped.

“Fuck!"

Molly approached her. “I don't know what you were drinking, or how much — but it was too much! Here," she said, placing an arm around her colleague, “you can stay at my place tonight."

“You sure? What about..."

She looked at Cade, not Molly, who smiled and said: “fine by me. I can drive. You and Molly can sit together in the back."

“Great idea," Molly chirped, tossing him the keys. As they made eye contact she silently mouthed her thanks for his patience, and begged for more: just give me this...

He nodded, then walked ahead of the two ladies into the midnight air.

* * *

The drive was uneventful. Molly and Rebecca sat in the rear, and shared a few words from time-to-tome. Mostly Rebecca's profuse apologies over imposing herself on their night out — challenged only by Molly's respectful reminder that she was no trouble at all.

Cade kept to himself. He didn't have much of an opinion given the circumstances. He didn't know this person, but Molly's work friends always came across as on the level. Based on what she'd told him anyway. What was one unexpected favour every so often? He was surprised her work life hadn't spilled over into their private lives more. Chalk it up to the professional outfit Molly worked for, he guessed. They do keep a lid on their performer's privacy.

Halfway through the journey a conversation emerged between the two hybrids.

“Ugh! Could you imagine if I had walked into Violet's office like this!" Rebecca groaned, rubbing her eyes.

“Having second thoughts?" Molly asked.

“Yeah..."

“You'd wanna be sure about quitting. It's a big leap."

Rebecca acknowledged the major flaws in her plan, and mentioned to Molly she regretted even thinking about leaving — she was fully caught in the throes of doubt, with an unwelcome helping of paranoia seeping into her foggy state of mind.

“I know..."

Starting wistfully out the car window, the collie fell into a stern silence. Nestling against the headrest, she curled away from Molly and sighed, exhausted.

Once they had pulled in to Molly's driveway, she roused again to exit the car. Clambering to her feet as the dark of night surrounded them, the two hybrids shuffled forth as their human chauffeur locked the car and made sure everyone's bags were accounted for.

Cade walked up to Rebecca and handed the collie her bag. She stuffed it underarm and continued to the front door, glancing at Cade with a hard-to-discern expression — embarrassment seeping through her stupour, and apologetic look in her eyes as they avoided his. The understanding soon became clear: sorry for ruining your night...

Molly noticed the shared look, and implored Cade to keep quiet.

He agreed. “I don't mind tonight, but this shouldn't become a thing — you bringing strippers home from work!" he whispered to her with a hint of mischief.

She smirked and answered dryly: “all part of teasing you my dear. Ah...well. I'm worried about her — never seen Rebecca like this before. She's been looking for allies in this whole 'independent camgirl' career track she's boasting about. People who'll nod their heads and tell her what a brilliant idea that is; avoiding all the pitfalls of a move like that. Or even folks who'd say 'yeah, great idea — I'll do it too'!"

Cade nodded and grumbled in reluctant agreement.

“Don't be like that," said Molly, “best I can do is moral support. Heh...reckon she feels a lot like I did when I started at this whole gig. I think, ultimately, she just wants a friend or two to shoot the shit with."

Her boyfriend seemed to consider her words with cautious empathy, but even his polite facade couldn't hide the fact he was indeed annoyed. Molly sensed this, leaning close. Kissing him softly, her lips gliding over his own, pressing flesh 'gainst flesh, she sought to soothe him. Her body shifted closer, as if to physically apologise for the unexpected interruption to their night together.

Breaking the kiss, the pair reached the door, beside which Rebecca waited patiently to be let inside. Once the house was open, and the trio tramped dirt into the welcome mat, they entered.

“Leave her with me," Molly said, “you go up to bed."

A gentle pat on his back made the decision for him. Cade kissed her goodnight and climbed the stairs.

Molly sighed and returned to Rebecca, who had wandered into the living room. With a sweeping hand gesture the antelope offered her any available couch to crash on. Picking the nearest, Rebecca fell face-first onto it, her rapid descent capped off with immediate snoring.

Molly chuckled and fetched a blanket, draping it over the collie as she lay there — already in a deep sleep.