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Ranch Hand - II

息2015 CarLOS Penguin

Off Into the Sunset

Preface

Solara has been one hyper-sexual little sheep-girl. Seemed to be a manifestation of her rara avis. She found her place and now the real 'her' can blossom.

We also have a guest visit from one of Cracky's character's, Fluffie. We have given her a mother, M'Lynn.

A great deal of inspiration and editorial genius provided by the tireless and terribly overworked Victoria Fox. I cannot understate the amount of work she does to assist me with these stories. She's practically co-author!

Roll of the Dice

The bus pulled out and drove off around the hill. Solara stood there at the side of the road alone, only with what she could carry in her duffel bag that now lay beside her.

Despite her wearing a parka and snow pants, she felt cold. A gentle breeze blew a wind chill of but -8, but as a being having lived all but a few of her 19 years on a tropical world, it was frigid. There was a layer of snow on the ground, something she had never before experienced. Besides the coldness of the powdery substance, she noticed it made everything quiet.... so quiet.

She pulled up her hood snugly and turned to look at the trail that led up the hill to where she had accompanied her girlfriend and brother earlier that year on a long weekend getaway to the dude ranch outside the town of Ashcroft. It was as if she was visiting for the first time.

Up that trail was hope or despair. She had fallen for the lead hand at that ranch, a Tall, rugged, clean shaven cowboy named Aaron McKenzie. When she started her adventure, giving up her job and comfortable life with her brother Gere and his girlfriend, their mutual lover, Chelsea, it seemed to be the best decision she could make for her future happiness. But doubt crept in.

"What if Gere was right? What if it was just a summer fling and Aaron has all but forgotten me?" She said to herself, wisps of her breath forming before her face. Her heart pounded with self-inflicted anxiety.

After a while of staring at that trail, she realized that despite her thick boots and socks, her toes were tingling from the cold. She picked up her duffel with a grunt and slung it over her shoulder. "At least I can get a coffee and be on my way if it all goes to hell." She sighed and carefully began the slippery trek.

She got to the plateau of the trail head and dropped her duffel, panting heavily. She forgot all about the cold and was even sweating. She leaned against the old wooden fence to rest and catch her breath.

*HEEEEEE, HAWWWWWW! HEEEHEEE HAWWWWW!*

Solara jumped with a shriek, being startled by a raucous bray coming from behind her.

"Jack?" She called aloud to the dark brown miniature donkey that was excitedly prancing towards her with his head up and what could pass as a grin on his face.

The donkey pressed his head to her so firmly, Solara almost stumbled. "Look at you! Your all fuzzy now!" She gave the winter-coated donkey's chin and ears a good rub. "At least you remember me." She said as Jack nuzzled her face.

As the fond memories of the past summer filled Solara's heart removing some of the anxiety she felt, Jack had reached his head through the fence and grabbed Solara's duffel by the carry strap while she was scratching the donkey's back and enjoying the warmth on her cold fingers under his thick coat. Jack playfully trotted back a few steps, her duffel hanging from his mouth.

"Hey!" She shouted, "Give that back! Everything I have is in there!"

Jack clumsily shook his head with the weight in his mouth, then began walking towards the ranch, just out of Solara's reach on the other side of the fence.

"You better not loose that, or you'll be in so much trouble, mister!" She said as if she were scolding her brother.

Jack kept walking with it slowly, his head at an angle keeping an eye on Solara as she leaned over and took the occasional grab at him and he just gave a playful 'hop and bounce' out of her reach.

It was a half an hour, but it felt much shorter to Solara who alternated between amusement and frustration with the donkey. She then realized they were at the ranch house. Solara stared at it, her anxieties returning at what, or what not, awaited her inside.

She felt a nuzzle at her back. She turned and Jack had dropped her bag on the ground near her feet. She smiled, "You just wanted to carry it for me, didn't you?" He gave a nicker as she hugged his head gently, "Thank you."

Picking up her duffel, she took a deep breath and went up to the steps. Knocking the snow off her boots, she walked up, closed her eyes and hoped for the best as she entered.

In the saloon, Aaron and several ranch hands were just finishing lunch. Warming themselves with their last mugs of hot coffee and cocoa, they were telling the usual stories and laughing. Aaron was repeating an old tale for the benefit of a newcomer to the ranch ending the punchline, ".... and the fellow said, 'So no sheep, there I were!'". The guys at the table roared.

Taking the last swig of his coffee and Duncan, the manager, looked over behind Aaron and smiled, "Speaking of sheep..."

Aaron looked over his shoulder. His heart skipped a beat as his eyes widened. "Oh my God..." He said to himself.

• -

The apartment was silent, except for the sound of rain hitting the window. Gere held Chelsea as she silently wept, something she had done almost constantly since his sister left.

Gere had put on a strong face for his girlfriend. Inside he was feeling alone, abandoned, angry, depressed and playing the circumstances leading up to his sister's departure over and over, wondering if there was something he could have said or done different to change the outcome. But time and again, there was no conclusion he could come to that would have changed things.

"We've never been apart this long." Gere said aloud, regretting it as soon as he did, feeling it may have sounded selfish.

"I never had siblings." Chelsea whispered. "I wish I could empathize with what you're feeling."

Gere kissed her behind the ear, "You're feeling plenty enough already, sweetie."

As if matters weren't bothersome enough for the couple, their employment was in serious doubt. The three of them were the famous 'Titillating Trio' on the screen. With just the two of them, they were no longer unique. Their boss, John Spear, was doing his best to come up with alternatives, but so far he was unable to think of any and his movie distributors were not as interested anymore as they were with the very open minded Solara in the picture.

"Do you think she'll be back?" Chelsea asked.

"Reason stands this is a lose-lose situation, honey. If she comes back, her dreams are shattered." He snuggled her closer, "We just have to trust in our love and stay strong."

Chelsea looked up at him and smiled, "And that's the one thing I have no doubt in."

For the first time since his sister left, Gere felt secure.

That afternoon, they got a call from John. He seemed excited and wanted the Gere and Chelsea in his office straight away.

"Hey John, what's up?" Gere said with a quizzical smile on his face, hoping for good news.

"Hopefully a trio again!" He said and motioned for Gere and Chelsea to take a seat.

They looked at each other. Chelsea doubtful in her expression and Gere shrugged as they sat.

John put his hands together on his desk and leaned over with a smile. "What if we added another canid to the roster. Say this lovely fennec girl from California." He tapped on his data pad and a holo-image appeared in front of his desk of a very short, but well endowed vixen.

"Hey, that's She'rel..." Gere's eyes almost popped out of his head as he smiled.

"No." Chelsea said flatly, shaking her head.

Gere threw his arms in the air and leaned back in his chair.

"Hrm." John muttered and tapped his data pad again. This time a beefy male wolf appeared.

Chelsea giggled.

"I don't think so." Gere scowled.

John sighed and tapped his data pad again, this time an image of two identical twin red fox vixen sisters appeared. "These ladies like the ladies. So Gere would be safe."

Gere smiled, "I'm fine with that."

Chelsea rubbed her chin contemplatively. "Well, the only female I have been with was Solara. But she was special. I don't know....."

John and Gere mutually sighed as another image appeared. This one was an older wolfess, somewhat zaftig in figure and voluptuous in her revealing, ankle length dress. Her hair was long and dark grey with a single white streak from the front of her right ear, downward over her shoulder. Her pose was confident, hand on hip with sultry gaze and exposing her perfectly shaped leg through the side slit of her dress that went up to her curvy hips.

"I... think I just discovered a fetish I didn't know I had." Gere said with a smile, rubbing his chin.

Chelsea pondered. "I don't feel threatened by her."

John had a relieved smile, "Shall I set up a meeting?"

Chelsea nodded, "I think so."

Gere just kept staring at the image for a moment, "A... huh? Yeah, why not!"

Reunion

Solara didn't know what to make of the reaction she got as she entered the saloon and pulled back her hood. Aaron turned and when he saw her, looked stunned. The cowboy with a wavy, dirty blonde mullet of hair got up slowly, took two steps then ran to her. He held her almost too tight and lifter her so they were face to face.

"You... you really came back?" He said astonished, eyes glistening with a tear of joy.

Solara smiled and nodded, a tear of happiness running down her cheek, "I promised I would."

They kissed as a loving couple having been separated for far too long.

A young hand, Dipu, who was in his second year with the ranch, had just returned from the washroom and saw Aaron and Solara's embrace. A big grin filled his face, "Miss Golais is back!"

Aaron and Solara nuzzled lovingly. Aaron loved the feeling of her soft muzzle and fur against his face, a sensation he thought he'd never get a chance to feel again. Solara loved the powerful, bony face human men had, but this was no ordinary man - this was the embodiment of a dream.

"I prayed every day that you'd return." Aaron whispered to her.

"I never stopped thinking of you when I left." She said.

He realized he had lifted her off the ground when they embraced. He gently lowered her. Her expression was one of adoration. He felt so undeserving.

"I'll go get a room and check in." Solara said as she picked up her bag.

Aaron gently placed his finger under her chin, "You will do no such thing." He pulled out his old fashioned wallet and handed her a card. "My bunkhouse, such as it is, is yours."

She took the card and smiled sweetly, "Only if you come with it."

They kissed again before she waved and headed toward the door.

Duncan, the general manager who preferred to work in the saloon put a hand on Aaron's shoulder. "You have a special guest. Maybe a once-in-a-lifetime one. Finish your shift today and take a couple days off. Me and the boys can take care of things." He smiled.

"Thanks." Aaron said, still in a state of shock. "I think I'll need it to gather myself."

Solara entered Aaron's apartment in the bunkhouse. It was very small, but inviting and comfortably warm. Basically two rooms and a bath. She put her duffel on the bed and checked out the drawers and closet, figuring out the best organizational arrangement.

After unpacking, she entered the living/kitchen area and found meagre offerings for a herbivore. "I'll have to go shopping." She said to herself.

The counter was somewhat of a mess and so were the appliances. Having been used to a more technologically advanced kitchen, it took her some twiddling of dials to understand a hot plate, toaster oven some sort of refrigeration box instead of a spridge and where was the dish sanitizer unit?

She sighed and figured this would be like this "roughing it" she heard others speak of when they went to get away from all the technology and rest.

--

"I'm surprised!" Gere said as they walked back to their apartment from work. "You're usually incredibly jealous."

Chelsea bobbed her head from side to side, considering how to put her thought into words. "If she tickled every fetish you might have, would you leave me for her?"

Gere gave his girlfriend a 'WTF?' look, "Not in a million years. I love you and no other."

"Exactly." Chelsea smiled.

The meeting took place the next day.

"M'Lynn" The wolfess introduced herself cordially and shook hands with Gere and Chelsea. They sat down at the table with John in the coffee house for a casual introduction meeting.

"Where are you from?" Gere asked. "I've yet encountered an accent like yours."

M'Lynn smiled, "Capella."

"Ah, OK." Gere nodded, the answer being sufficiently vague he got the impression it wasn't something she wanted to really share.

Chelsea got the picture and gave an empathetic nod. "You were one of the lucky ones, then."

"Well, I am now that I'm here." M'Lynn said, wiping the foam of her cappuccino from her whiskers. "How about yourself?"

"I was born in Whitehorse, Yukon. My parents settled here."

"Then you're the lucky one." M'Lynn said with an expression of envy.

Gere looked confused. "I'll explain later." Chelsea whispered.

They enjoyed lunch and casual conversation before talking any business. "So, why are you interested in working with us?"

A sly grin filled M'Lynn's face as she looked Gere over, "I've never tasted a Pegasiian before."

Gere smiled and looked at Chelsea, who now seemed to have second thoughts.

M'Lynn put her chin on the back of her hand and leaned toward Chelsea and said lustfully, "And you are just... so... cute."

Chelsea blushed and fruitlessly tried to stop herself from smiling.

"My turn." M'Lynn said, straightening herself in her chair. "Why did you chose me?"

"You have a classy sex appeal." Gere replied.

Chelsea flatly said, "You won't be able to steal my boyfriend."

M'Lynn laughed out loud. "Born here, but still full of that brutal, Canisian honesty. I like that."

"Why don't we let everyone sleep on the idea and we can meet at my office tomorrow and sign the contract." John said hopefully. They all agreed.

Later that evening, Chelsea and Gere lay in bed, panting after an intense session of lovemaking.

"So nice to have you back to your old self." Chelsea whispered. "Even if you were thinking of M'Lynn."

Gere looked shocked and said with mock indignity, "I.... wha? How dare you think such a thing!"

"It's okay, honey." Chelsea said as she lay on her side and stroked his chest fur. "I was thinking of Solara."

They laughed and cuddled until sleep took them.

--

Aaron and his team were putting away the tack for the day. He was casually speaking to the crew, giving them a roster of priorities while he took some time off to be with Solara when Duncan came running in the tack shed, "Smoke in the bunkhouse! May be a fire!"

Right away the men sprung into action. Dipu grabbed the first aid kit, Duncan the tools and Aaron suited up with a fire fighting backpack.

As they approached the bunkhouse, they saw no flames, but smoke was coming out of an open window. "That's your apartment, Aaron!" Dipu, the hand with the most medical training said tensely.

"Solara!" Aaron shouted with anxiety in his voice and despite the weight of the pack on his back, easily doubled his speed.

Smoke alarms were sounding, but the alarm pattern was that there was no flames in the building, so they entered quickly, keeping their heads down. "It must be confined." Duncan said noticing the lack of smoke in the hallway, hammer-bar in hand, ready to enter any door that was uncooperative.

Aaron having given Solara his lock card, banged on the door, "Solara, are you hurt?"

She opened the door, coughing, waving at the smoke with a tea towel. The men rushed in past her as Aaron rubbed her face and hair as if trying to convince himself she was fine.

"No fire, thankfully!" Duncan confirmed as the three of them looked at a pan on the hot plate, something charred in it, billowing all the smoke.

Solara looked sheepishly at Aaron, "Dinner's ready."

Aaron gave a sigh of relief, as did the team. They began to laugh and Solara joined in the laughter.

Aaron put his arms around her, "How about we... get take out from the saloon tonight."

"Sounds good to me." She smiled, looked at the burned dinner in the pan, then laughed.

"Well, let's get the gear back, Dipu!" Duncan said, knowing when to exit. Aaron handed him his backpack gear as well.

As the men left the apartment, Solara and Aaron looked at each other and he realized now from the scare he got, just what she meant to him, even after that short encounter last summer.

"Uhhh, I'm an absolute mess. I should go an' clean up."

"You're a handsome, rugged cowboy back from a day's work." Solara said, putting her arms around him and smiling as if a wife welcoming her husband home from the office.

They kissed, gently at first. But the intensity grew as did their passion. Forgetting all about the remaining smoke in the room and the open window, they pulled frantically at removing each other's clothes.

Aaron picked Solara up in his arms and lay her on the bed, covering her with his body as well as his kisses.

Solara gasped at his authoritative penetration, as if he was trying to insert his entire pelvis into her. She had many fantasies of their reunion and what it would be like and this one was the best.

She brought her legs up as high as she could, wrapping them around his back. She could feel his balls slapping against her as his pent-up passions for her could finally be satisfied.

As was to be expected, it wasn't long before he gripped her tightly as he gave a loud moan, his penis throbbing inside her in welcome release. Her own groaning in blissful, in mutual climax filled the room.

Their faces pressed close together so they could feel each others eyelashes blinking, he gazed into her large, glistening brown eyes, heart fluttering in afterglow. "Welcome home." He whispered.

Solara's heart skipped a happy beat. No sorrow of parting anymore. In the arms of a dream come true. "Thank you." She whispered back and held him close with that feeling of belonging she sought so long for.

Later, they arrived in the saloon for some dinner that wasn't beyond well done. They chuckled at the events, Solara tried to give him a gift of a home cooked meal. She wished now she paid more attention to how Chelsea cooked flesh.

After dinner, Solara excused herself to use the washroom. Dipu came over to Aaron with a big smile. "Hey boss, next time you have reunion sex, might wanna close that open window."

Aaron looked embarrassed as his fellow hands gave a chuckle.

Night passed and the dawn of a new day approached. "What a beautiful morning!" Aaron said loudly and happily as he threw open the curtains.

"Mmmmm?" Solara murmured from under the blankets.

Aaron sat down beside her, pulled back the blankets and gave her snout a kiss. "Sweetheart, it's the first day... of us."

Hearing that made Solara smile. She blinked several times and looked at him all squinty eyed. "Good morning?"

"Yes, a good morning it is." They kissed tenderly.

Solara looked over at the old style clock Aaron had on his night table. Unable to understand it, she picked up her data pad and squinted at the backlight that shone in her face. "Wha? It's five in the morning?"

"Yup!" Aaron replied. "I even let myself sleep in, today."

Solara moaned and pressed her face to the pillow. "I've fallen for a morning person?"

Aaron laughed. "You'll get used to it. But until then, I'll rustle us up something and you just lay right there."

By the time he returned, the curled little ball under the blankets was snoring away. He leaned on the doorway to the bedroom, shook his head and smiled, "Sweet little city girl." He watched her sleep, wondering how he got so lucky.

The Show Must Go On

Gere, Chelsea and M'Lynn arrived in John's office for the contract signing.

"Let's proceed with a three month trial period. If it works, great! If not, well, we'll just cross that bridge when we get to it." John said to the three. He looked specifically to Chelsea and turned his head a bit, "You're sure this won't cause a problem with you and Gere?"

She nodded, "I'm sure."

M'Lynn gave a humph, "Let's test that." She got up from her chair and stood in front of Gere's. She opened her blouse, her large low hanging breasts swinging in full display as she bent over and gave him a long, full on open mouth kiss.

Gere looked stunned, but melted right into it. When M'Lynn stood up again, Gere sighed and leaned back in his chair with an erection tenting his pants.

M'Lynn buttoned her blouse and sat down again and sized Chelsea up.

Chelsea raised an eyebrow and gave a scoff. "Nice try."

"THIS... could be fun!" Gere smiled, imagining the two girls 'hissing and growling' at each other that moment.

John smiled, "Well, a little friction can make for a hot film."

Papers were electronically signed and they discussed script options for the writers.

Chelsea held Gere's arm as they walked home. He had been quiet since they left the office.

"Something's bothering you?" Chelsea asked.

Gere sighed. "I miss my sister. I wish she'd call."

Chelsea patted his arm. "Things aren't the same without her. But it must be going well for her."

"Yeah, well try and tell that to dad and mum. They ask me almost every day if I've heard from her."

Chelsea moaned, "I know! I take the calls before you get up and they ask me that as well."

"Are canid parents as annoying?"

"They can be." She replied.

"Come to think of it, I've never even talked to your mum and dad. Am I going to meet them sometime?"

Chelsea smiled, "Maybe... maybe a little shock therapy of me dating you would have them realize I am Terran after all and don't have to conform to their standards."

"Oh, yay! I'm a guinea pig." Gere rolled his eyes.

"You asked, sweetie." She said and they continued home.

The pair just finished dinner when the door annunciator rang.

Gere's heart leapt with the hope that Solara was on the other side of the door. Chelsea looked confused. "I'll get it!" Gere offered cheerfully.

The door slid open to a smiling wolfess. "Good evening!" M'Lynn greeted him.

Gere was bewildered by her arrival at their home, but asked her to step in anyway and offered her a seat and a beverage.

"What brings you by tonight? Is everything all right?" Chelsea asked, just as puzzled by the timing of her visit, as neither of them had received a script to consider.

"I just thought we should be better acquainted on a personal level. It's difficult to have a professional relationship like ours if we have no idea the individual personalities involved." M'Lynn said casually as she accepted a coffee from Gere and took a sip. "Booyeah!" She shook her head. "That tastes like the coffee my daughter makes. I'm going to be up for a week!"

Gere laughed, "I like a good cup."

"You have a daughter?" Chelsea casually asked redundantly, fishing for more info.

"Yes. Her name is Fluffie." M'Lynn replied, blowing on the hot cup and sipping it again. "And before you ask, she's maned like a lion. Otherwise looks like me, just... fluffier."

Pulling out her data pad, she proudly showed them pictures of her.

"She's lovely!" Chelsea said admiringly.

"Whatta pair!" Gere added, getting an admonishing elbow in the ribs from Chelsea.

M'Lynn laughed. "I like you, Gere. You say what's on your mind. An admirable quality."

"See, I'm admirable." Gere said teasingly to Chelsea who glared a 'don't encourage him' look at M'Lynn.

"Where is she now? Capella?"

"Oh, no." M'Lynn said in a squeak and sat up, realizing she'd have to tell her story. "No, she's here." With a sigh, she explained, "I left Canisius with her as a pup and made my way to Capella. There I fell in love with a human trader and we both ended up on Earth. Well, Fluffie grew into a lusciously vivacious young lady and ended up in bed with her step father far more than I did." She gave a shrug, "And here I am."

They were quiet for a moment.

"A moving story. I'm sorry for your struggles." Chelsea spoke first.

"Well, It's partly my fault, I guess, we're not together anymore. I demanded he choose me or her. I lost my mate and my daughter that night."

She thanked Gere for the coffee and got up from her chair. "Well, I came to learn more about you tonight and ended up wearing my heart on my sleeve. I should get back..."

"Sit!" Gere said commandingly. M'Lynn did. Chelsea looked surprised at his tone. In a softer voice he asked, "Stay, please."

"A few days ago my sister whom I'd never been parted from for more than a couple of days walked out on us, likely forever to chase her dream man." He leaned forward and twiddled his thumbs. "Looks like we're all in the same shock-and-recovery boat. Maybe it's karmic that we met."

M'Lynn smiled, "Can I have another coffee?"

--

"Grrrrr!" Solara growled in frustration at her data pad. "Why can't I connect to the net? I want to call my brother and Chelsea and tell them I'm OK."

She was nibbling on her re-heated breakfast at the little table in the kitchenette as Aaron was eating his lunch.

"This place is a 'get away from it all' for people. But let me talk to Diane and we'll get your data pad thing cleared for access." He offered.

"Diane?" Solara asked, looking up at him. Her hair was scruffy and was wearing only pink satin shorts. Against her dark grey curly fur and skin, Aaron thought it an amusing sight, but they flaunted her rear well, so he had no objections.

"Diane owns the ranch. She belongs to one of the oldest families in the area. An old lady now, but Duncan's her nephew and between the two of them, keep it running pretty well." Aaron said. "Actually, shower up and let's both go. I'd like you to meet her."

They knocked on the door to the office and entered. Inside was as rustic as the rest of the lodge and to Solara's surprise, not a computer was to be found. Books and papers and all sorts of old fashioned things she had only seen in historical sites.

"Wow, this is a museum!" Solara said, impressed.

"Only everything in here is actively used." A woman's voice came from a side room.

A woman with long braided black hair in jeans, cowboy boots and plaid flannel shirt came out with a pen in her mouth and old style ledger in hand. She removed the pen and smiled at Solara, "So, this is the little darling our lead hand has been pining about the past six months?"

Both Aaron and Solara blushed. "Ma'am, this is Solara Golais. Solara, this is Diane Ashcroft, my boss."

"Nice to meet you." Solara said sweetly as they shook hands.

Aaron cleared his throat, "Ma'am, my lady is some grieved about her data device being locked out. She may be here for a spell, so would it be possible to get her access?"

"Of course!" Diane said without hesitation. "Tell my nephew I said to let her device on, no restrictions."

"Thank you, ma'am." Aaron tipped his hat.

"Yes, thank you." Solara said with a smile.

"Mind if I talk with your lady a while?"

"Oh, not at all, ma'am." Aaron said. "I'll go find Duncan."

He turned to go, stopped and leaned over Solara to give her a kiss with a smile and left the office.

"I greatly appreciate the convenience. And for letting me stay." Solara said with a happy bounce.

"Well, not sure I had much choice on the latter part." Diane chuckled. "Aaron usually asks for permission to do major things. I only heard about your arrival last night." She sat behind her desk and motioned for Solara to take a chair.

"Oh?" Solara said shocked. "I wanted to check in as a guest, But Aaron...."

"Aaron is a man in love. And I can see why." She shook her head, "It's no problem. Matter of fact, I hope you will stay a while, as it would be nice to have another female around here."

Solara cocked her head. "When I was here last, at least half of the staff were female?"

Diane nodded, "That was the 'on' season. This is the off season. No waitresses, no maids, no hostesses, no guides, riding instructors, competitors or full time medical personnel. Now we get hunters, hikers, photographers, nature admirers and the odd athlete in training. All self-sufficient people."

"So, basically the guys are the full time crew that keep the place fixed and the animals fed." Solara nodded in appreciation of the situation. "Can I help out, too?"

"Matter of fact, you can. Take a week to settle in and we'll talk again." She thought for a moment, "How is your knowledge of Terran standard? You speak it well, but can you read, write, etcetera?"

"Fluently, ma'am." Solara said proudly. "I have a bit of trouble with the number system, though. We grew up with a different number base, so other than basic maths... I have to do it in Pegasiian on my data pad and convert the answer to your standard."

"Fine by me!" Diane said with an encouraging expression. "I'm sure you'd like to be in a warm place for the winter and I could use an assistant. My daughter is here only during the on season, so I'm left to my my own devices while she works her regular job in Vancouver the rest of the year."

Solara clapped her hands happily, excited at the prospect of not only being welcome, but being useful to the ranch.

"How many children do you have?" She asked curiously.

"Five. Four boys and my daughter." Diane replied.

"Do the boys work here as well?" Solara imagined a real family operation.

"Nope! But they're cowboys none the less. Space cowboys, though. One's in the Stellar Alliance Reserve and the other three are roughnecks on commercial ships."

"So, you and Duncan are the only family left here?"

"Yep, and I'm not a young woman anymore." Diane said sorrowfully.

"What? You look only forty-something. Don't humans live to a hundred and eighty or something ridiculous?" Solara asked shocked that such a young looking woman would talk like an old lady.

Diane laughed, "Oh, you are such a flattering little sweetheart! I'll be a hundred and fifty seven next month." She saw Solara's jaw drop and eyes widen. "Country living, hon... keeps one looking young."

She met Aaron back at the bunkhouse and happily chatted all about her meeting with Diane. She barely paused for breath, so excited at being part of the ranch.

He just smiled at how happy she was and her excited chattering made him think of all the positive things he heard other guys talking about their girlfriend's and wives. He felt proud that he could be part of that group now.

As much as Aaron enjoyed his single life, since he had met Solara, he realized what he had been missing. He knew from the other fellows stories that there would be good and bad, but he was determined to be the best of the best of them.

"And you know the best part?" Solara said rhetorically, as she straddled his lap and wrapped her arms around his shoulders as he sat, "She's fine with me staying here with you."

He wrapped his arms around her waist, tickling over her tail and kissed her long and tenderly. "That is the best part."

Though Diane's words about Aaron being 'a man in love' was truly the best part of the meeting, she knew enough about human men, especially old fashioned ones like Aaron, to not bring up the 'L' word until they were confident enough in a relationship to accept what she already knew in her heart.

While she herself had not truly given her heart to anyone before, Chelsea came the closest. She knew what infatuation was and she knew all about lust, but this was different.

"I want to give you something special." She whispered in his ear, then nibbled it.

"Well, that sounds nice." He replied romantically and gently cupped and squeezed her soft rear.

Solara kissed and licked his neck which he tilted his head and gave an approving sigh. She lifted her knit sweater and felt her large breasts being gently lifted before she could pull the garment off over her head. Dropping the sweater to the floor, she looked sweetly coy at Aaron as he fondled and admired her femininity. He took a nipple in his mouth making her gasp with pleasure.

She felt her pussy tingle and tighten at his touch. He squeezed her pliable mammaries together, taking both nipples into his mouth. She gave a squeak and quiver as a spontaneous orgasm rippled though her body. She gripped his hair and rubbed her cheek against his head, then reached down and felt his bone pressing hard against his jeans.

She knelt between his knees and undid his belt and opened his pants to reveal his massive, throbbing erection. He moved to get up with the idea of taking her into the bedroom, but she gently pressed on his thighs to remain seated.

Solara kissed and nuzzled Aaron's penis as he gave a smile and groan and leaned back into the chair, sliding his pelvis forward towards her. She licked the salty wetness from his head and gave a gentle suck, making him gasp. He ran his hands gently through her hair, stroking her soft sheep-like ears. He then felt the warmth of her mouth slide over his entire length.

Her tongue massaged him and he felt a gentle sucking on his organ as she slid off to his glans, then back down over his length. It was an act he never had performed on him before and in a few strokes of her mouth over him, he felt his seed well up inside his pleasurably tensing body.

For all her sexual escapades, Solara had never tasted a human before. It was something very special for her now, the man she was falling in love with and a first for her. While her heart fluttered with that warm thought, she felt him swell in her mouth as he panted, ready to cum. She slid down on him as far as she could and sucked gently as she felt a warm squirt hit the back of her throat with some force. She suckled in unison with his climax, feeling his large, powerful hands grip her hair and press her down on him.

He relaxed his grip as she felt him go soft in her mouth and slide out. "Oh.. my.. God!" he exclaimed and gave a huge sigh.

He looked down at her loving smile and those lovely, glistening eyes. "No one's ever done that to me before." He said, caressing her face and chin.

She rested her chin in his hand and smacked her lips, "I meant every bit of that." She said, knowing he would take it as a commitment and an act of unselfish dedication.

"You're making me fall in love with you, you know." He said with an open, honest face as he did when he spoke of his cowboy honour code.

She got up and straddled his lap again, placing her hands on his muscled arms. He held her by the waist and said, "There's heart, body and soul. My body is yours and I've given you my heart...."

"Then let time join our souls." Solara romantically finished the thought.

--

After talking well into the wee hours of the morning, M'Lynn at Gere and Chelsea's request, spent the night. Chelsea was the first to awake and made herself a coffee as M'Lynn lay on the couch and snored as loud as Gere. She chuckled, "Stereo snoring".

Chelsea was reading and had almost finished her first cup when M'Lynn's voice startled her, "Is there another cup of that wonderful smelling stuff?"

"Good morning! Of course!" Chelsea said happily and got their guest a cup.

Though Solara wasn't a morning person, Chelsea missed her company and chatter over lunch. She enjoyed the morning visit with M'Lynn so much, that time flew by unnoticed.

Gere wandered in the kitchen with his eyes mostly closed in his usual 'I just got up, leave me alone!' scowl. He made himself a cup and shoved some kale in his mouth. As he turned and leaned against the counter, he realized that more than just Chelsea at the table, smiling at him... and he wasn't wearing anything.

"Good morning" The ladies said in unison.

M'Lynn stared at him and smiled. "You're a lucky girl, Chelsea."

Chelsea giggled at Gere's expression of surprise and embarrassment. "That I am."

Gere tried to act casual as he chewed and swallowed his leaves, then strutted out to the bedroom for some shorts. He could hear the ladies giggling behind him as he left the kitchen.

It was early afternoon when Gere finished his shower. He gave a refreshed stretch and shook his head, his wet ears making a flopping sound. He stepped out of the shower and reached for a towel when he was startled to find M'Lynn in the washroom.

She was casually brushing her long hair, not paying Gere any mind. "Chelsea said I could use the shower before I went home." She looked at him with a grin, "That is if you left me any hot water."

"I uh, yeah, sure." Gere stuttered and wrapped the towel around his waist. "Is Chelsea still here?"

"She's making you breakfast and her and I lunch. Such a kind vixen you have." M'Lynn replied casually and stripped off her clothes.

Gere couldn't help but run his eyes over her. He had never seen her with her hair down, plus her attractive body that the screening images in John's office didn't do justice to. He also noticed that like older Pegasiian women who have had children, she had a full, fluffy mound of pubic hair, which he found very attractive.

She smiled, "You like, huh?"

"I'm not staring, honest!" Gere lied.

"At least your penis doesn't lie." M'Lynn said and pointed to his crotch, which had a boner pressing against the wrapped towel.

Gere coughed. "OK, I was staring."

M'Lynn rubbed her body against him as she passed, heading into the shower stall. "I like being stared at." She winked and closed the stall door.

As he dried off in the bedroom, Chelsea entered. "What, you didn't offer to scrub her back?" She had her hand on her chest in mock shock.

"I think she was hoping I would." He said as he finished drying and tossed the towel on the chair.

"I'm impressed at your restraint." She smiled and grabbed his still half-hard cock and began massaging it. "Breakfast is ready when you are."

He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. She lifted the front of her skirt and pressed her soft, fuzzy, pussy lips to the tip of his penis as she continued to rub him until he soaked her crotch with his warm, creamy, love.

He gave a sigh, "Mmmm, sweet sticky lips."

"Glad I could relieve a little... steam from the shower room." Chelsea smiled and kissed him. "Naughty you. Now I need a shower." And left the bedroom.

Chelsea walked in to the washroom when M'Lynn was just getting out of the shower. Standing there, wringing her long hair out she asked, "Am I in the way?"

Chelsea removed her skirt, exposing her semen covered pussy with drips and runs down her thighs. She placed a foot paw on the toilet and spread her leg open. "You wanted to taste a Pegasiian...."

The wolfess smiled, "You are a sly one. And protective." She leaned over, whiskers glancing against Chelsea's, "Should I call you 'mistress?' "

Chelsea grinned toothily. M'Lynn smiled, knelt before her and proceeded to make Chelsea's eyes roll with pleasure.

--

"Time to get back to work!" Gere grinned as he read the text message that came in later that afternoon.

He and Chelsea hopped on the couch to read them together. "Letsee, something about a priest, nun and naughty parishioner." Not familiar with Terran theological culture at all, he was completely confused. "Next! Female reporter getting into the men's locker room. Getting more of a story than she bargained for." Not into sports, he failed to see the excitement. "And a doctor and nurse examination of a patient, or a principal at a girl's school."

"We did the doctor one. Was our first video." Chelsea said nonchalantly.

"Well, what's a priest?"

"Something very controversial." She replied.

"I hate sports." Gere scowled.

"So then it's settled. Who will be dressed like a schoolgirl?" Chelsea asked as if she needed to.

Gere smiled, flagging his eyebrows.

Occupational Hazards

Aaron and Solara went for a walk around the ranch and chatted casually about the happenings since she left. Normally on his day off, he'd go for a ride, but with Solara being so unused to cold, he thought sticking closer to home until she acclimatized might be a good idea.

"So I never learned what you do? And what y'all did the rest of the summer?" He asked.

The question was one she knew was inevitable, but dreaded it. He seemed so conservative, what if he told her to 'gowan and git' when he found out what she did?

Her hesitation made Aaron try and comfort her, "You know, I like you for you. What'n ya did won't make me like you any less."

She smiled appreciatively, her little face barely visible through the tightened hood of her parka. "I... was an actress."

Aaron stopped and smiled, "You mean I'm dating one of those glitzy, glamorous red carpet folk? Whoowee!"

Solara chuckled, "Not exactly. More like.. umm.. undercover work."

Aaron's face went blank for a moment. His eyes lit up with a thought of what she meant. "So, you were either a super spy girl or a porno actress?"

She gave a deep breath, closed her eyes, "The latter."

Of all the reactions she imagined he would have, the one he had wasn't one she expected; Aaron laughed so hard he almost fell over.

"Of all the occupations I imagined you might be doing, flaunting your gorgeous self in front of a camera was not one of them." He gave a sigh, "But, I'm not sure how I'd feel about sharing you with others, even for show."

She leaned against him looking up and smiled, "I gave that up. I know what I want now... I want love. I want you."

He stroked her face and said lovingly, "My special little ewe. I want only you in my life, too."

They held each other's hands as he leaned down and kissed her gently until they embraced in a long kiss, removing any sensation of the cold.

They continued there walk, hand in hand. "I haven't seen Jack today?" She asked.

"Oh, he's workin' with the guys. He'll be back with them when it gets too dark." Aaron replied. "He's all bundled up like you, in that winter coat of yours."

"I saw! He's so fuzzy and cute." Solara giggled.

"He'll sure be happy to have you around again. He moped for the longest time when you left."

She blushed and gulped, "Yeah, we had fun playing with that ball and stuff."

Aaron gave a low chuckle, "Yup, sure."

"So, this is the little gal that tried to burn the ranch down, I hear?" Brett, the ranch chef chuckled as he came out to meet the little alien girl that's had the ranch abuzz in talk.

Solara looked embarrassed, "Yeah, I guess."

"Now be nice, you ol' chuck wagon driver." Aaron waved his fork sounding stern but giving a wink.

Brett chuckled, "Well, until ya start helping Diane, why don't you come hang out with me? I can teach ya how to prep 'n stuff and you can see how it's done?"

She smiled, "That sounds like fun, actually. Thanks!"

"No problem, little lady." He said and went back into the kitchen.

"So why did you call him a chuckwagon driver? Isn't he the cook?" Solara asked Aaron when Brett was out of ear shot.

"Because he's the best covered driver at rodeo time. Chuckwagon is the food wagon and he's a chef, so..." He shrugged.

Solara took a few bites of her dinner and paused. "What's the difference between a cook and a chef?

"Training, skill and passion. Like anything else in life. Like for the machines, I'm a good 'grease monkey', but I ain't no mechanic. That's like the difference between a cook an' a chef." Aaron explained.

Solara got the drift of what he meant, but the terms confused her. She would have to look up who this 'grease monkey' person was later.

After dinner, Aaron was going to head back to the bunkhouse. Solara was going to catch up with him after she called her family from the comfort of the lodge lobby and might be a while.

She curled up in a corner of the large sofa by the fireplace, pulled out her data pad and as Duncan promised, she was connected to the net by nightfall. She gave a squeal of delight and tried Gere's number. She got his video-mail with the message that they were shooting a script that night. A pang of yearning hit her for a moment as this would have been the first movie shot without her. But she had no regret for her choice and the feeling quickly passed.

She called her parents next. Dad was relieved to finally hear from her and her mum was tearfully frantic. "I know you're a big girl, but you're just my baby!" She said as both Solara and her dad rolled their eyes.

They had spoken for nearly an hour and her dad promised to contact Gere or Chelsea in the morning before he went to the office. She bundled up in her parka and headed out the door to make her way to join her beau in the bunkhouse.

The bunkhouse wasn't visible from the main lodge. It gave the resident workers privacy from the guests and the guests were shielded from resting cowboys drinking beer, smoking and swearing on their time off. Though the 'sailor talk' as Aaron called it was mild to non-existent whenever Solara was around, with the men tipping their hats and smiling as they passed. She felt special, flattered and on a pedestal by all the chivalry around her. Humans in the city were never like this to her.

To get to the bunkhouse, she had to pass the front corral, the pole barn then follow the path behind that. She was on the cleared path, noticing again how the snow muted sounds when she was startled by a snort. The horses were in the heated barn, so she looked to the side with a gasp only to find that Jack was walking along beside her within the fence that adjoins the pole barn he preferred to spend the night in behind a wind break.

"Oh, hey, you startled me!" She said and gave his chin a scratch. "You shouldn't be in the corral, you're going to catch a cold."

Jack gave a snort and shook his head as if he understood. He leaned his head over the fence and pressed it into her plush jacket.

She gave him a gentle hug and a kiss on his forehead. "I promise on your day off I'll come give you some brushing. You're so, so scruffy." She giggled and scratched his ears.

She felt his nose nuzzle against her crotch. She gave a squeak. "Eeek! Jack, we can't play now, someone will see us."

He lifted his head with his lips parted like an equine having sniffed a mare in heat. She pressed her nose against his and gave him a kiss, "You stop that!" She gave a chortle.

"Solara! Solara?" She heard Aaron call out to her.

Her heart stopped. "Be right there!" She responded loudly. She looked back at Jack with a smile and wagged her finger, "You behave." And scurried off.

"I was getting' worried, hon. Didn't know if you froze out there." Aaron said, greeting her at the main door to the bunkhouse with a smile and a kiss.

"I was on my way when Jack wanted pets." She explained. She shivered, "Make me warm."

Aaron smiled, "That I will, hon." She gave another squeal as he swept her off her feet, into his arms and kicked the door shut with his foot.

Aaron woke the next morning with Solara snuggled against him, her head on his chest. It was wonderful to not wake up alone anymore and he promised himself to never take it for granted.

He leaned down and gave her nose a gentle kiss. She stirred, blinked several times, rubbed her eye and looked up with a beaming grin filling her face. "Good morning, my love." She whispered and yawned.

He put his arm around her and ran his fingers through her arm fur as she snuggled ever closer to him, putting her arm around him.

"You're turning me into a late sleeper, too." He said with a chuckle as the clock read 1000.

"Much nicer, isn't it?" She mumbled.

"My sweet, little ewe." He kissed her head and ear. "You know what day it is?"

"Uh-umm" She mumbled that she didn't.

"Sunday. Jack's day off." He rubbed her arm.

She lifted her head, "I promised I'd give him a brushing."

"He needs one. All scruffy like that. Makin' my tools dirty."

"You guys let him get all scruffy." She flopped her head back down on his chest. "So mean."

Aaron laughed out loud, "Cowboys aren't exactly the pedicure and brush-each-other's-hair types."

She looked at him with a crooked mouth, knowing he was teasing her. "Well, he should get something special on weekends. He works hard."

"During tourist season, we wash him and the horses down weekly. He rolls in the dust right after. So purtying him up in the off season can be your department, hon. Just no lipstick or hoof polish, 'k?"

She gently smacked his arm, "You're as big of a brat as he is sometimes."

Aaron put his hands behind his head and winked, "And you love us that way. Keeps life interesting."

It took Solara well over an hour of brushing, de-matting and fussing, but Jack looked show quality. She stood back, arms and hands sore and gave a satisfied sigh and a smile. "Perfect!"

Aaron had been watching for the past five minutes. "Well lookie you! All ready for a parade." He gave Jack an appreciative scratch. Leaning over to his ear, he said, "We got ourselves a pretty special girlfriend, don't we?" Jack nodded and pawed at the ground. "Just be careful if she shows up in yer barn with bows and ribbons." Aaron laughed and Jack heehawed as if he understood the joke.

Solara had an eyebrow raised with an 'I'll get even' expression that made it all the funnier.

--

Gere was sitting behind a desk, thumbing through papers and making the odd note. He was wearing a suit and had half-moon glasses low on his snout.

M'Lynn came into his office wearing a long, black raincoat and black fedora. Her long, dark grey hair with white stripe fell soft and styled over one eye and down over her shoulders.

She closed the door quietly and leaned against it, hands behind her back, looking at Gere with a sultry expression.

Gere looked up, first confused, then annoyed. He removed his glasses, "Can I help you?"

M'Lynn smiled, "I hope so, Mr. Principal." She sauntered over to his desk and leaned over, her nose almost touching his and said in a low voice, "It's about my daughter."

Gere replied sternly, "I'm sorry Mrs. Charms, your daughter's grades have been too low. She won't graduate this year.... at least."

M'Lynn stood up and unbuttoned the top two of three buttons her coat and lowered it over her shoulders to reveal a low cut, tight fitting, red satin dress. Her nipples pressed hard enough against the fabric, it appeared if they were going to tear through.

"Is there any way I can convince you to let her pass?" She said sweetly with an equally sweet smile.

Gere's stern expression wavered and the corner of his mouth upturned in a smile. "You have my attention. What do you propose?"

She unbuttoned the last one and let the coat drop to the floor. The dress was as high cut on the bottom as it was low cut on the top, exposing curvy hips. M'Lynn bent her leg to reveal its shapeliness. "An unforgettable night, or two. Perhaps a week, even."

Gere ran his eyes up and down her body. With a full smile he conceded, "Perhaps... I could review her file."

She came around behind his desk. He turned his chair towards her. She sat on his lap with an arm around him and running her fingers of her other hand over his moustache, "I would be... most... grateful."

She kissed him as he cupped one of her breasts and fondled it through the dress. Reaching in, he freed one of them from the restraint of the dress and running his muzzle over her soft fur and began suckling.

"I feel.... something straining for release against my body." She said as she kissed and nibbled on his ears while stroking his hair.

She stood up and straddled him as he unzipped his pants. His long, pointed, reddish-pink penis popped out and as if he needed any more incentive, she pulled aside the front of her dress to expose her fluffy pubes.

Gere grabbed her by the hips and buried his muzzle in her crotch, making her gasp as he did. He gave a few quick licks with his long tongue making her give panting yips as she gripped his hair. He lowered her on himself, sliding in her well lubed pussy effortlessly.

Her hips began to thrust on his lap and their breathing got heavier. She whispered in his ear so no one could hear, "D... damn the script, cum inside me, baby!"

"HOLY....GODS!" Gere growled and arched his back lifting M'Lynn off her foot paws while still on him. Her head went back as she let out yips. Her eyes wide and her entire body quivering, she leaned back with her arms wrapped behind Gere's neck as he held her by the hips. As he gave a moan and settled back in the chair, wrapping his arms around her, M'Lynn flopped her head over his shoulder, panting and murring.

"mum!" Chelsea shouted out loud coming into the office dressed as a school girl in a white shirt that was unbuttoned almost to her navel and a plaid miniskirt. "You can't keep doing this for me." She said coming around the desk.

"I have to work up my grades myself. I have to.... WHAT THE HELL?" She shouted going out of character and standing straight up, her fur doing the same.

"CUT!" A voice shouted from the other side of the prop wall.

"Mmm, just keep it rolling and roll with it." M'Lynn said looking over her shoulder.

"Just what did you think you're doing?" Chelsea snapped.

M'Lynn rose gently off of Gere, leaving behind no small puddle. Gere's head was still tilted back as he sighed, seeming to not notice his girlfriend's rage growing.

"Listen you little fluff-cake, improvisation is the heart of this industry and you, Solara and Gere did plenty of that." She snapped back, her hands on her hips.

"Fluff... cake? You grey muzzled old bitch! WE are the stars of this trio and without us, you wouldn't even BE here!"

"Ohhhh, how DARE you!" M'Lynn growled back indignantly and pulled hard on Chelsea's pigtails.

She squealed and reached up to grab M'Lynn by the hair and pulled her ear instead. She yelped in pain.

Gere realized the drama going on and slowly wheeled the chair and himself over to the prop wall and knocked gently on it. "You guys getting this cat... errr... dog fight?"

Chuckling was heard from behind the wall.

Gere and Chelsea were returning to their apartment after the eventful day. Gere punched in the code to open the door, still chuckling.

"Stob lafbing already!" Chelsea tried to sound scolding, but knew how ridiculous she sounded from her bandaged nose.

They entered the house and saw they had several messages. Scrolling through them, they forgot the day's drama. "Hey! Solara tried calling a few times." Gere said as they both smiled and watched the video message.

M'Lynn returned to her flat and stood in the doorway of the darkened room. Colourful, flashing city lights reflected off the walls and the sound of the traffic was endless. She turned on the lights and stepped in.

She sat down at the vanity in the one room suite, barely larger than a hotel room. But it was tidy and it was hers. She turned on a music player and began a track of Canisian classical music. The composition wasn't unlike some Terran genre's of music, but with the instruments tailored for the much wider hearing range of the canid, it sounded odd to humans in many passages.

She looked at her reflection and gasped. Her eye was red and swollen far worse than she felt it was. "I deserved that one." She said to herself, having been knocked clean out on the floor by Chelsea, after she had broken her nose by knocking the vixen across the room. Her heart sunk and her eyes widened as she looked closer at her teeth to discover half of one of her canines were broken off. "That's going to cost some to get fixed."

She sighed and looked at a picture of her daughter, Fluffie, that was in a little frame on the vanity. After staring at it for several minutes, she laid her head down in her arms and began to cry.

"Well, it looks like Solara's dream has come true." Gere said with relief that his sister didn't face heartbreak, but a little selfish sadness because she wouldn't be returning.

"Ad least dat makes one ob us." Chelsea said and curled up on the sofa and picked up the data pad with her novels.

Gere sat beside her. "Hey, you had a bad night. We can still continue the dream of being rich and famous stars, can't we?"

Chelsea scoffed. "Stars? I'b luggy John didn't fire me on da spot."

"You heard what he said, wasn't the first time girls got into a fight on the set and won't be the last." Gere said with a smile.

"Yeah, bud da first tibe two Canisian's did! We destroyed the set! It'll cost hib a lod ob money to fix." She hung her head embarrassed.

"I have a feeling he'll make that up." Gere said with a wink, knowing the cameras were still rolling for the fight.

"Since we'll be off for a couple of weeks while you two heal up, why don't we make plans and arrange for this spring to visit Solara and your parents?"

Chelsea smiled for the first time that evening, "Dat sounds wonderbul!"

--

"Ya feel like goin' for a short ride today before dinner?" Aaron asked Solara as she got out of the shower. After spending most of the late morning and early afternoon outside grooming Jack, she definitely felt the need to warm up under some hot water.

She thought of the coldness outside, but that day the wind was calm and the sun shone bright, so it wasn't too objectionable. "Sure" She replied with a smile.

After she dried off and bundled up again, Aaron led her out to the stalls. There was a measure of heat in them for the more bitter nights and the horses wandered freely in and out all day when they weren't working.

"Shisha!" Solara smiled at the sight of the white Welsh pony mare that she rode last year. The horse trotted over and nuzzled her. "You remember me?"

"How could she forget?" Aaron said as he got the tack. "Poor little thing usually gets stuck with the rambunctious youngin's of the guests. You were one of the few to treat her like another person. Like a real cowgirl would."

"Awwwww, people are being miserable to you?" She talked to the pony like she would a child and fussed over her, to the horses delight.

Aaron handed Solara an English saddle pad. She took it and looked confused.

"The pad goes under the saddle. For her comfort and yours." He said with a nod.

Solara laid it on Shisha's back.

"It goes the other way 'round." Aaron explained. "Flaps to the front, the edge just touching her shoulders."

Solara turned it around, adjusted it and looked with an expression of, 'Like this?'

"There, ya got it!" He said and she smiled.

He handed her a light English saddle. She put it on backwards at first and Aaron was about to correct her. "Ah, ah..." She said raising her finger, wanting to figure it out herself. "Ah-ha!" She said, turned it around and adjusted the position until she was confident.

"You're a natural." He said approvingly. "And until ya get used to it, we'll use the neck harness strap as well as the billet." He showed her the way to strap in tight enough to be secure without chaffing Shisha. He showed her how to add the bridle. "And you're all ready!"

He effortlessly swung his western style work saddle over his thoroughbred and strapped it on like he could have done it blindfolded.

"Remember how to mount up?"

At this point, it was like riding a bicycle. Once she'd started, the memory all came back to her. She took the reigns, put her hands on the pommel, one foot in the stirrup, and with two hops, gracefully was on Shisha's back.

Aaron pulled up beside Solara and they looked at each other long with wordless, mutual adoration and hit the snow covered short trail.

Brett was busy in the kitchen preparing dinner for the crew as Diane helped, as she often did when she either had enough of the office or she was caught up on her work.

There was no issue as in other professions, where someone might say, "That's not my job", if work needed doing, whomever was free did it. It was a real team effort and because of that, the full time members of the ranch felt like a big family.

"So you're going to have little Solara working with you, eh? I was hoping to have her in here with me for a while." Brett said as he prepared the mise-en-place before firing everything up.

Diane was cleaning up the prep area. "It'd be good for her to learn as much as she can. She might be with us for a while, if her and Aaron get along fine."

"He deserves to be happy." Duncan said as he sat out in the saloon at a table with Dipu, continuing the conversation among themselves as if they had heard the one going on in the kitchen. "That little alien girl and him hit it off right last summer from the get go."

"She surprisingly fits in quite well. One would have thought such a cultural difference might stand in the way. But if I had been a blind man, I'd take her for an earth girl with an European accent." Duncan said as he played solitaire.

"If I can become a cowboy, she can be a cowgirl." Dipu said, pausing from his book of complex mind puzzles.

All the workers at the ranch grew up in the area. Dipu grew up most of his life in India and had his mind on being a medical technician for the Eurasian Guard. He was too young at the time to join the military, so continued his medical studies as he visited the Canadian district of United North America with his parents at the behest of relatives. One life event led to another and his family never returned to India.

His dad, a trained chef and his mum together opened a multicultural restaurant in Ashcroft that is still very successful. Dipu however, was not the 'shop' type of fellow and sought to make his own way. He got a job at the ranch with the idea of making enough money so in a few years he could return to India, finish his medical training and join the Eurasian Guard. But the place quickly grew on him and while he still has his goals, he's not fulfilling them with the earnest that he had when he arrived.

"Did you ever find that 'one girl', Duncan?" Dipu's young curiosity got the best of him.

"A few times. Married a couple of 'em, too. Never got it to work. How about you?"

Dipu smiled and shrugged. "Not sure what to expect from myself yet, let alone in a partner."

"Safe answer!" Duncan laughed.

Time had passed quickly and Diane mentioned that dinner would be along in about ten minutes. "Aaron and Solara return yet?" She asked looking around.

"Not yet. She's been outside so much today, I'm surprised she isn't a little sheepsicle." They all laughed.

"There's the happy couple now!" Duncan said as her and Aaron walked in.

"I'll catch up with you in a bit, hon." Aaron said and kissed her.

He waved to Diane, "Can I have a word?" They went out of the saloon into the lobby area.

After retiring for the evening to the bunkhouse, Solara thanked Aaron for the invitation to join him on a ride. "That was wonderful. Time went by so fast and it was romantically relaxing."

He wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed her neck. "My sweet little ewe, you have no idea how it feels to finally have someone to share a ride with. It's my way of meditating, escaping the day and putting the work behind me."

"I can see why." She said, crossing her arms over his. "My people have lost so much touch with nature, outside of preserving it. We spend our lives in the cities."

"Tell me, do you like Shisha? Horses are pretty much the method of transportation out here." He explained.

"I love her! It's like she knows what I want or where I want to go." Solara said fondly of the animal.

"Well, that's what I talked to Diane about earlier. If you want, she's yours."

Solara gasped in amazement and turned around. "Really?" She said excitedly.

"Yep! Matter of fact, We can go to town and get you your very own personal tack for her, instead of borrowing the ranches."

Solara began to cry and held him tightly. "That's the nicest gift anyone's ever given me."

He stroked her hair and kissed her. "My pleasure, sweet thing. She's all yours. No one else can ride her anymore unless it's OK with you."

Tears of joy and words of appreciation spilled from Solara freely that evening, followed by pleasures Aaron never even dreamed he could receive in real life.

It was six in the morning the next day. The air was crisp and clouds rolled in as a heavy falling of snow had been predicted for that afternoon and evening. The hands were instructed to keep close to the ranch house and maintain minimal duties.

By eight, Solara couldn't sleep anymore. She was so excited by her gift that she was in the barn tending to Shisha. Normally cleaning the stalls and feeding fell on Aaron and Dipu. But today at least, feeling special, responsible and very grateful, anything to do with Shisha, Solara did herself.

Solara wanted to go for a ride with Aaron, but was very disappointed to learn of the restrictions Diane had ordered because of the weather.

"But it looks fine right now?" She protested.

"Hon, in the mountains, things can change quick and get real dangerous. It's not like the coast where if it rains, you just go have a coffee for an hour until it passes. If you're caught unprepared in a storm here, you die."

"You're not exaggerating, are you?" She asked doubtful.

Aaron gave her a serious look like she'd never seen him give, then his face filled with sadness. "If something happens to someone, I'd be leading the search, or recovery team. I don't want to do that for the girl I love."

Solara grinned, then smiled. Aaron realized what he had said. Solara got tears in her eyes, "Y...you love me?"

Aaron leaned over and stroked her cheek. With emotion, he said, "Yes ma'am, I do."

She threw her arms around him and again cried tears of joy, "This is the happiest day of my life."

After a long kiss, Aaron admitted, "And mine, too."

Old Wounds

Gere had removed the bandage and was treating Chelsea's nose with a regenerator as the doctor instructed him to do twice per day. Less than a centimetre of bone had been shattered and despite the neural neutraliser, she could still feel some pain as well as discomfort from the swelling.

Her nose was red and very swollen and he hesitated to touch it, fearing he would put her in more discomfort than necessary, but it was a treatment that had to be done, lest her delicate features be permanently deformed.

"You're still beautiful, to me." Gere said encouragingly, bringing a smile to her face.

The door annunciator demanded attention. "What bloody timing!" Gere grumbled with a sigh. He went to answer the door as Chelsea delicately re-bandaged her nose.

Gere opened the door to find M'Lynn standing there. Her eye was a swollen shut lump matching her swollen lip.

She might have broken Chelsea's nose by knocking her across the set, but Chelsea completely messed up the wolfess' appearance in the screaming rage of flailing fists that followed, knocking the wolfess unconscious before the studio security team intervened.

"Not quite sure you're welcome here just yet." He said flatly.

Her expression was completely remorseful. She said demurely, "Didn't think I would be. Just came to say I'm sorry." She turned and walked away down the hallway.

M'Lynn exited the elevator and had placed her hand on the apartment complex exit door when she heard Chelsea's voice behind her, "Waid a mindute."

She stopped and turned around. She looked down, unable to face Chelsea.

"I just want to dnow... why?"

It was a few moments before she could answer. "I'm not good with vixens. Or any non-wolf females."

"Dat needs expladation. Come bag upsdairs."

Still unable to face Chelsea, M'Lynn turned around and followed her back into the apartment.

M'Lynn sat in the chair Solara used to sit in while playing her games. Gere and Chelsea on the couch. M'Lynn twiddled her thumbs, head down looking for the words. Gere and Chelsea stared, he with his arms crossed, her with her hands on her lap.

"No one knows this besides my ex. Not even John or my daughter." She looked up and at Chelsea for the first time. "When you hear it, you will probably understand." She nervously played with her hair for a moment, "I'm the fifth wife of Alroch..."

Chelsea gasped.

"What?" Gere asked, looking at her like he missed something. "Who's Alroch?"

"I thought you looged fabiliar." Chelsea said and turned to Gere, "Alroch is the Alpha of Canisius. Dough I don't gare aboud Canisian politics, or politics in general, by parents would instruct be on da leadership of Canisius and whad it was they were and why dey left." She looked back at M'Lynn, "If they knew you were here..."

"I would be extradited and likely executed as a deserter." M'Lynn finished her sentence for her. "Yes, I'm a coward. I ran away because I didn't want to just be one of his harem girls. So I disguised myself and claimed to be of mixed coyote heritage and a refugee. I had no idea I was pregnant at the time until I was on Capella. When an opportunity arrived to make it to Terra, I took it. Fluffie was born Terran and therefore out of the Capellan and hence, Canisian record system."

"So, with her being like a princess, this Alroch would definitely want her back." Gere surmised. "Not a good scene." He rubbed his chin, "But if Chelsea thought you familiar, why make videos instead of laying low?"

M'Lynn shrugged. "Tired of running? I'm very bitter toward my people, hence my abrasiveness with Chelsea. More so because I was taught we wolves were superior. I guess I still believed it. My daughter is safe, what happens to me is irrelevant."

"Buz Gere your 'crowding glory'?" Chelsea asked.

"Pegasiians and Canisians generally despise one another. When I saw him with a Canisian girlfriend, I knew he was different. If Alroch saw me getting banged by a Pegasiian, it would be like the ultimate revenge."

"Did he beat you? What did he do to deserve this?" Gere asked.

M'Lynn laughed, "Just the opposite, whatever my desire, I had. I lived in a palace with servants and more riches than you could imagine." She paused for a moment and began to cry. "What Alroch wants, Alroch gets. He wanted me. I was in love with a young coyote farmer. We had secret rendezvous. After my marriage to the Alpha, one of the guards discovered my love for him. A coyote and a wolf in love? It would have led to a scandal. So he ordered it be taken care of."

"Oh by gods, dey killed him?" Chelsea said empathetically.

M'Lynn wiped the tears from her face, "Not just him. They erased his whole family so no tales could be told."

"I think you should consider claiming amnesty or whatever it is. Earth people are pretty free on granting it." Gere suggested.

"I lied about my status and identity when I came here." She reminded him.

"We won'd tell anybun." Chelsea said comfortingly.

Gere and Chelsea now understood why she was who she was. Filled with concern, they suggested that she spend some time with them, not wanting her to be left alone in the state she was, especially after her revelation.

M'Lynn slept on the couch as Gere and Chelsea retired to their bedroom. Gere stroked her hair and fur, wishing he could do more for her painful condition.

"You don't bind her staying?" Chelsea asked, worried Gere was withholding his feelings.

"Mind?" He smiled, "I'm not only banging another guys wife, which is hot in itself, but the Alpha of Canisius' wife! What an ego trip!"

Chelsea rolled her eyes and laughed. "Males! You're all the same!"

--

"Shisha White Smoke. That's such a pretty name." Solara said, smiling, admiring the fact that her name was now on the registry deed for her pony.

"Does our dear know what a shisha is?" Diane asked Aaron.

"Probably not." He said, shaking his head.

Solara looked at them with a blank face.

"It's a flavoured tobacco smoked in a fancy type of pipe. The exhaled smoke is white, hence her name." Aaron said.

Solara smiled, "So, she's named after a bong?"

Diane laughed. "No dear, you don't get stoned on shisha. We have one in the saloon for guests."

"Oh, I think I've seen it. I thought it was a sculpture. In the corner opposite the entrance."

"That's the one." Aaron said with a wink.

Solara didn't understand the attraction to smoking. Aaron smoked little cigars and she liked the smell of those, but she nearly coughed up a lung when she tried it for herself. It was a common habit with Canisians on earth as well, especially the males.

"Since you're going to try various tasks around the ranch, we should get you outfitted. Want to go shopping?" Diane asked Solara.

"Would I ever!" She replied excitedly, her new boss hitting the 'shopping' keyword.

"Just keep in mind the size of our closet, honey." Aaron said as he kissed her and left the office.

Aaron dressed warmly and opened the door. He stood in the doorway, overlooking the paths that led to the lodge or the barns. It was as if he was looking out of the bunkhouse for the first time. A thick, well worn leather jacket over top his sheep skin vest, he pulled his scarf up over his ears, put on his hat and gloves and headed outside and back to work. "That week flew dang fast." He said to himself.

He was a fellow who always took but one day a week off, Sunday, even that felt too much of a break for him. His sense of duty coupled with the passion for his lifestyle made him edgy when he was just sitting around reading or listening to music. It's not that he didn't feel he deserved it, he knew he did. It was that his work was so much a part of him that a day without it would be like a day without eating. The exception was his daily ride. That was his time to let it all go. It was made even more special now that he had someone to share it with.

He was impressed by Solara. Not just a pretty, greenhorn city girl he was attracted to, but she had an inner strength and a sense of adventure he saw in few humans. And with her, what you saw was what you got; no agenda, no goals of 'fixing his flaws', just plain and pure honest and real person. He wasn't a man that was easy to impress and for the first time, was happy to be in love.

He picked up a clipboard and read the duties that needed tending to that day. Dipu had already initialled the ones he was going to take, leaving a relatively simple, but important task for him, 'Perimeter maintenance survey: north-east.'

The ranch lands were large. Divided into three sections: north-east, south-east and main. The main part contained the lodge, corrals, barns, bunkhouse and arena. But that was only a fraction of the property. The north-east and south-east were much wilder with the trails, a small lake, seasonal creeks, hills, arid meadow and grasslands. Each section would take an experienced rider who knew them, ten hours to make a round.

The entire property was enclosed in wire fence. Nothing fancy or technologically advanced, just posts with barbed wire. No cameras, no sensors and other than a few areas, not even electrified. Diane took pride, as they all did, in the place being pretty much as it was when the Ashcroft family founded it almost four hundred years ago.

Being old-fashioned, something always needed maintenance or repair. Aaron got the tool bag together and whistled for Jack to come. He served as his companion and pack mule on the perimeter rides. "Ya ready to go to work old buddy?" He said as he heard the donkey respond to his whistle. He turned to load up the animal, "Oh, for Pete's sake!" He laughed, "Solara got you all ready for a prize show, didn't she?"

Jack had been brushed, combed, cleaned and fussed and looked like a big, fluffy dog with his winter coat all primped. He gave a proud prance in a circle and nodded. "And you're just loving the attention, ain't ya?" Aaron smiled, shook his head and loaded the donkey up. "No wonder you like her so much."

Jack seemed to snicker. "Sometimes I think that you think you're human."Aaron said as he gave the donkey a scratch behind the ears. "Let's get on. The faster we start, the faster we can get back."

--

"I don't understand why such a fabulous guy like him hasn't found anyone. Lucky me I guess." Solara said to Diane as they were looking through some of the traditional fashions for the area. These were completely different than in the city, they were simple, practical and durable. Solara wanted to see absolutely everything the store had to offer.

"As long as Aaron's been with the ranch, I've never seen him date. For you to have caught his eye must make you someone really special." Diane replied, absorbed with Solara's fascination with what she considers such mundane accessories. "But there are rumours...."

Solara stopped and gave Diane her attention immediately. "Rumors?" She asked with curiosity and concern.

Diane waved her hand, "Aaah, just rubbish, I'm sure."

Solara looked like her curiosity was going to make her head explode. "What? Tell me?"

Diane smiled, "Well, I did hear mentioned from his old school mates that he doesn't like... human girls."

Solara replied, flattered, "Then I guess I'm a good match for him."

Diane's grin turned into a smile. "My dear, of that I am absolutely positive. And he deserves someone so sweet."

Solara's heart glowed at the compliment.

"Speaking of rumours, I hear you were an, ummm, entertainment actress?"

Solara chortled, "A porn actress? Yeah, I guess I was a star."

Diane put her hand on Solara's shoulder. "Dear, if you were to look up in the night sky, you see a lot of stars. Big ones, small ones, bright ones, dim ones and in all the colours. They're all different, but they're all stars." She smiled at her and put both hands on her shoulders. "There is none of this 'was' a star, you still are."

Solara smiled in return at this heartfelt wisdom.

Diane went back to sorting Solara's choices. "Every person has their secrets. What one has to determine is will they be a deal breaker for a relationship in the long run." She turned back to her, "Best to get them in the open as early as possible. That way if something's a problem, it can be dealt with before too much is invested."

They returned to the ranch before Aaron finished his perimeter. Diane helped her with her trove of spoils into the apartment. "Wow! Look at this place." She said most impressed. "Last time I was here, there was clothes all over, the kitchen a mess and some of his fancy macram辿 rope work half finished on the table ."

The apartment was clean, tidy and had decorations of a female touch as well as the sweet perfume scent of incense. Solara thanked her and said proudly, "Aaron says I made the place a home. Our home."

"I've learned something that never occurred to me." Diane said still looking around, "Worlds and cultures apart, feminine aesthetics are universal."

Solara thought of how in many ways her brother, Gere, was like Aaron. "In my experience, everyone has more in common than they have differences."

"I wish I was as wise at your age as you are." Diane smiled as Solara sorted the groceries. "I might have been able to keep one of my marriages together longer."

As Diane left the apartment, she reflected on those words. Then there was Duncan, who had been married twice. This idea of partnerships failing repeatedly was a foreign concept to her. On her home world, partnership terminations as divorces were called there, were so rare with such severe social stature consequences, that both parties worked very hard to stay together. But this culture didn't have such repercussions.

But the fact was that love, like any entrepreneurial venture, was a gamble. And there was no pay for no play.

It was dusk when Aaron and Jack returned. Cold, tired and muscles sore, he sat down at a table in the saloon and placed his face in his palms. Not so much for his tiredness, but to let his breath warm his cheeks, which he could barely feel other than for a painful tingle where is warm palms touched.

"Can I take your order, Sir?" He heard Solara ask in a friendly manner.

He looked toward her to see her dressed in a puff sleeved country plaid shirt, pleated ankle length skirt, her hair long and styled with a flower and a big smile. She did a twirl, her skirt lifting just enough to show her new strap heels and her toenails as manicured to perfection as her fingernails.

"What do you think?" She asked sweetly, obviously seeking his approval.

He forgot all about the cold, his aching muscles and tingling extremities. He stood up and removed his hat. "Miss, if you aren't the prettiest country rose I've ever seen, then I ain't a cowboy. You're absolutely beautiful."

His enamoured girlfriend smiled coyly and wordlessly whispered, "Thank you."

Looking from behind the bar, Duncan and his aunt Diane couldn't help but smile at the love birds. "So nice to have a love story unfolding again in here." Duncan said.

"Sure is." Diane replied. "Sure is."

She was rather proud of her handiwork done with Solara that day in town. As she thought she might be, she was happy to have another female around.

The sun hadn't even broke above the horizon yet and the bunkhouse was coming to life with hands awakening for their day. Through the window it could be heard a cock crowing and impatient horses waiting for their breakfast treats,

Solara in such a short time was becoming a morning person. Her first shift to train in the office began at 0700, leaving the afternoon free to meet the few guests that were booked to come to the ranch.

In the summer, Diane warned Solara that she was in the office usually by 0500. Then an afternoon nap followed by tending to guests into the evening. Solara groaned at the prospect, but with no cocktail parties into the wee hours of the morning, it was manageable she told herself.

She had coffee on and was nibbling a vegetable she had fallen in love with, broccoli, as she made a bacon and egg breakfast for Aaron. Before she never understood why Chelsea did this with no complaints, but being in love now herself, she understood. She also appreciated why on his day off, Aaron always brought her breakfast in bed with a smile.

Aaron came out of the bedroom wearing his boxers, squinting and scratching his head. He wrapped his arms around Solara from behind and greeted her with his usual morning kiss and words of adoration for her.

After eating and finishing his second cup of coffee, he was what he called himself 'reasonably coherent', though to her, he was more coherent right out of bed than most she had met at their peak.

"What's on your agenda, today?" She asked.

"Breaking a neighbour's bronc. Totally wild one they roped up in the Caribou district. If ya have time, you should check it out. One of us guys usually gets knocked on our ass." He chuckled and sipped the last of his coffee.

She looked at him blank. Realizing why, he explained bronco-busting. She looked completely impressed. "Wow! We use drugs on our world to docile an animal. I thought bronco-busting was just a rodeo program."

"Well hon, those are tame and buck on cue. This fella's a psycho I hear. So I'll be handling him and Dipu will be standing by with his kit." He rubbed his chin, "Drugging an animal seems pretty barbaric to me, no offence to your culture. Seems disrespectful and all. This way it's a contest of wits between the man and beast. If the man wins, the beast lives comfortably at his side. If the beast wins fair and square, he gets his freedom back and the man gets sewed up and hobbles on a cane for a bit."

Solara listened to him completely enamoured by his words. 'Knights in shining armour' on her world meant a suitor of high social stature. She was an oddball in that stature meant little to her. Perhaps it was because her family was of low social stature, or she just subconsciously longed for the days when the pursuit of property, wealth and stature meant far less than he or she who was most honourable, had the comfortable life, respected by all.

They were putting dishes in the sink when he came from behind her, lifting her housecoat and pinning her to the counter. He nuzzled at one of her long ears, nibbling and licking. "Since you're up early, why don't we go for round two before the sun comes up."

She giggled sweetly, "I haven't showered. You don't want a sticky, stinky cowgirl for... *GASP!*" In mid protest, she felt him poke gently at her vagina from behind then push into her. She clasped his arms that were around her as her mind went to mush at his assertiveness.

She wondered if this was what it would be like if her mare was mounted by his thoroughbred, a tonne of muscle overtaken by the sheer instinct to mate, satisfying his lust on the smaller horse who was helpless to overcome his desire.

She cried out in pleasure with a bleat, as her thoughts triggered an intense squirting orgasm that sprayed and soaked Aaron. He moaned and began thrusting harder and faster, slapping at her jigging ass with his muscled torso.

His quick orgasm was just as intense, uttering a loud grunt as his seed shot inside her, striking her cervix with a painful power behind it.

"S.. sweet thing..." He said panting as she felt him pulse inside her.

The sensation of his pulsing penis gave her more fuel for her vision of being the mare under a stallion. As she came again, she called out in a quivering voice, as her body shook with pleasure, "Ah... gods... Jack..."

The intense pleasure turned into an equally intense, heart-stopping coldness in her body as she realized what she said.

Aaron held Solara and kissed at her neck. He softened and slipped out of her, holding her silently. She was beginning to wonder if he even heard what she said. With luck, his orgasm had been so riveting, he never noticed her slip. She began to relax, she was safe.

"My sweet, little ewe has some fantasies, does she?" He said gently.

She swore her heart stopped.

"He's probably having some about you, too." He chuckled and gave her full hips a squeeze and ran his hands gropingly over them. "Especially after you teased him the other night."

Solara gasped, "You saw that?" She felt nervous. Would he be angry with her?

"Uh-huh. I went back and called out to you. Didn't want to embarrass you."

"Are you... angry with me?" She said sheepishly.

"Nope." He said and turned her around gently. "I figured out that last year during your visit that there might be something a bit... special between you two." He gave a chuckle. "You aren't the first curious gal to discover he don't like his own."

On An Even Keel

By the third day, Chelsea's bandages came off and in two more days of regeneration therapy, it would be like the fight never happened for her. She was just happy to not sound like she was talking with a severe head cold. Gere however had been amused by the 'cartoon voice' she spoke with during that time.

M'Lynn's swelling had gone down in her eye, but she still sported a prominent 'shiner' and was still missing half of one of her top canine teeth. She refused medical treatment partially out of wolf pride, but also guilt. She started it and she deserved it. It was a badge of battle honour and a reminder of what happens when others aren't respected on this world.

"I for one am glad to get the apartment back to ourselves." Chelsea said referring to M'Lynn returning to her own place after a few days with them.

"It wasn't that bad. It was like having Solara back. Well, a less fun version of her, anyway." Gere said as he cuddled her on the sofa that was no longer serving as a guest bed.

Chelsea chuckled, "Less fun as in personality, or less fun in that I wasn't the 'girl in the middle' in bed."

Gere smiled, "Both."

"Well, I never stopped you from inviting her in bed with us." She said to his surprise.

"Last time I had my dick in her, you nearly killed her." He said.

"She broke my nose!" Chelsea squeaked. "It had nothing to do with you coming inside of her despite the script saying that I was to ride you as she sat on your face. Obviously there was nothing left in you for me with that swimming pool leaking out of her as she got up and....."

"Gods, females!" Gere cut her off, slapping his forehead. "You've always been calm and reasonable. Listen to yourself, you sound like a human."

Chelsea was going to retort angrily, but she realized he was right. What was wrong with her? She got up and quietly went to the bedroom.

She always did have a jealous and possessive streak, but this was getting out of control, even for her. She looked in the mirror. In the background of the reflection, their bed. She remembered fondly when it was just the three of them. Just as it was ever since they met. Solara was the one that helped her realize that she was bi and not only was it OK, but fun. Something her parents always said was taboo on Canisius and growing up and being inculcated in such beliefs, was something they never shook despite being among the open and sexually liberated Terran culture.

"That's it!" She said to herself and smiled. With a happy hop, she turned and returned to the sofa.

"Cured. I think." She said to Gere who raised an eyebrow. "M'Lynn is a wolf and subconsciously, she represented something I really disliked about my parents and my heritage."

"Aaaaand?" Gere asked sceptically.

"I've identified it and accepted it." Chelsea nodded confidently.

"Uh-huh." Gere said like he was being sold a line. He wanted to believe her, but made a note to remove sharp objects from easy reach next time they worked together.

Winter on the coast was passing into spring and the days were getting warmer and dryer, much to Gere's delight.

Also putting him and his family in good spirits was the positive direction Solara's relationship had been moving. Their dad, Aerton and mother, Riah were both talking how there might be a wedding on the horizon for their daughter.

"They seem devoted to each other and have already begun the property merger." Aerton said as Riah smiled and bobbed happily beside him.

"A joint bank account doesn't mean a wedding is on the horizon, dad." Gere said shaking his head.

"Yes it does." Chelsea said casually from out of the frame.

Gere looked at her annoyed, then back to his dad with a smile, "She hasn't even declared a Sien'breah towards him."

"She's done so with her heart." Chelsea said again.

"Fine, you talk to them and give your female intuition opinion!" Gere said annoyed and turned the screen toward Chelsea as he got up for something to drink.

Aerton looked confused as Riah waved her hand dismissively in Gere's direction. "Gere thinks too much. We know feelings, right my dear?" She said to Chelsea, who smiled.

"I don't think he likes the idea of his wild little sister settling down without him around to take care of her."

"I think he was expecting to be married first. It's an older sibling rivalry thing. My brothers did the same with me when I married Riah before they were joined." Aerton said.

"I'm an only child, so I was spared the competitiveness." Chelsea said with a relieved expression.

"I hope we get to meet those who spawned such a lovely vixen, soon. We will all be family eventually." Riah added, leaning over into the camera field.

Chelsea's smile faded and she gave a sigh. "I know my parents and they'll have a fit when I introduce Gere."

"Maybe we could go there with them?" Riah whispered to Aerton loud enough to be heard.

Gere sat down again with a glass of a popular Pegasiian refresher whose scent Chelsea found repulsive. She scrunched up her nose and blinked, waving her hand to fan the smell away. "From what I've heard, the air is so cold it liquefies. When it's not, there are carnivorous insects the size of cats with wings of barbed steel."

Gere's parents went silent with eyes wide.

"He's exaggerating!" Chelsea said with an eye roll and shoving Gere aside.

Gere's parents looked at each other, then back to the screen and began laughing.

After the call ended, Gere began calculating travel plans for cost effectiveness. "You know, with four of us going, we would save a crap load of money."

"Prices change almost daily, honey. When the warmer weather comes, your calculations will be moot." She said as she leaned against his shoulder, watching his long, skinny fingers fire across the manipulator board.

"I'd rather face cold than biting bugs. How's next week?"

Chelsea was surprised by his uncharacteristic impulsiveness. "But I need to call them and make arrangements. Call my friends and see if they're there. Look up acquaintances who might have moved and...."

"Then stay and do so." He scowled.

"I'm not winning this one, am I?" She asked as he shook his head. "Well, I'll leave it to you and your parents. I'll contact John and explain our plans."

Gere's scowl turned into an almost cartoon-like smile.

YXY

Welcome to Whitehorse Terrestrial Spaceport

United North America Aerospace Administration

The rotating, multi-language electronic sign greeted Chelsea, Gere and his parents as they exited the aircraft.

"Either my native language is getting rusty, or they welcomed us to an animal stable." Gere said with a raised eyebrow.

Chelsea chuckled, "The name of the city probably doesn't translate well."

The spaceport was on a plateau overlooking the river valley whereon the city was built. Riah and Aerton looked out the large pane windows at the landscape. "It looks so desolate." Aerton said. He looked over at Chelsea, "No offence."

"None taken." Chelsea replied. "The place looks very different in the summer. The lake areas are also beautiful." She smiled, "If you aren't afraid of insects the size of horses, we could camp there."

Gere's parents eyes once again grew as wide as searchlights. Chelsea laughed and they knew they were 'had'.

Klondike gold is what brought people to this region of the north and the lust for the earth's minerals kept them here. Chelsea's parents found work in the mines and their offices. Her parents also invested in real estate and did quite well, creating an office for themselves and casting off the need for a boss. The building Gere and Chelsea live in was still owned by her parents.

But, there were people here long before settlers. When not in school or doing chores, Chelsea spent most of her time with her friends who were of the Kwanlin D端n First Nation. There she learned to be a part of the land and ride free on it. It freed her from what she saw were the shackles of her parents lessons of a caste-driven world.

They exited the terminal building and the scent of the ice in the air brought back a flood of memories for Chelsea. She closed her eyes, raised her head and sniffed the air like a Terran canine looking for the scent of a meal.

"Gawwwwwwww!" Gere growled. "I should have purchased a parka like my sister." He looked around for a bus or taxi or something warm to get into.

"Can't say I blame you, son." Aerton said as he pulled the collar of his coat closed and Riah huddled against him.

A valet notified the group that their baggage had been transferred and they happily boarded a shuttle bus that was welcomingly warm.

"How rustic! This reminds me of pictures Solara sent of the ranch lodge." Riah said of the hotel as they got off the bus.

Gere felt something impact him and brushed snow off his jacket. "What the...?" He looked over at Chelsea who had a mischievous grin.

"Snow can be fun, too." She giggled.

Gere smiled and picked some up. He tried to compress the powdery mixture, but it fell apart as soon as he opened his hands. Chelsea had just given another a puff of her breath in her cupped hands and had another ready to lob.

"No fair! You're an experienced winter warrior!" He complained as the lightly packed snowball landed on his nose, making it look like he was wearing a snow-cone. His parents laughed.

"Good thing Solara isn't here. I hear she's got quite good at these... 'snowball fights'. I think they're called." Aerton chuckled as Chelsea readied another.

"Aiiieeeee!" Gere squeaked and ran into the hotel lobby, making a note to become adept at these 'snow soft rocks' later and have revenge.

Gere and his family chowed down on some room service, nobbling away at the strange taste of the vegetables adapted to the northern climate and grew fresh in all but the deepest part of winter. Chelsea hadn't touched her caribou stir fry, despite looking forward to having the northern speciality for some time.

"I can't seem to get hold of my parents", She said downhearted after trying for the umpteenth time.

"Leave a message." Gere suggested with his mouth full, getting a light swat from his mother for the bad manners.

"They don't have it on." She said puzzled, given that they owned a business. "Odd." She put down her computer and began eating. At the first taste, her eyes rolled in delight and she temporarily forgot about why they came.

--

"Yeeeehaw!" Solara shouted loudly as the lasso landed perfectly about the calf's neck. With two loops of the rope around the horn of the work saddle she used that day. She pulled on the reigns and brought the calf and her horse to a stop. "I did it!" She shrieked with elation as the watching hands applauded.

"Congratulations, hon!" Aaron said as she hopped off Shisha and into his arms and he gave her a kiss. "You're getting the hang of it."

Solara had been practising her rope handling throughout the winter as hobby. She'd been watching some of the hands practise for the summer rodeo and wanted to try roping, but had little success until Aaron suggested she keep her eyes on where she wanted the rope to go, rather than on the rope itself. "Throw it to where you're sure the animal will be, rather than where it is."

"We're gonna have to celebrate." Aaron said. "How about coming with us to town tonight. You earned it."

"Really? She said, excited. "You want me to come to your guy's night out?"

Dipu put her hat back on her head, "You're one of us now."

"Well, tonight anyway." Aaron said. "We can hold our belchin', hollerin' and smokin'... maybe... for one night." He said with his wink and tongue click.

The group of five walked in and sat down at their usual table at the Roundup Bar & Grill in town. Even though the d辿cor was done in western fashion, the place still had the feeling of a 'tourist trap' with all the baubles, knick-knacks and overpriced, low quality cowboy hats of a tourist stop.

"Five beers!" Aaron bellowed loudly to the nod of a waitress across the room who had smiled and waved at the regular group.

Solara scrunched her nose.

"Whaddya have, hon?" He asked, noticing her expression.

"Horla stout, please." She smiled.

Aaron's face looked blank, but he hollerred back to the waitress again, "Make that four and a horla stout."

The waitress brought five bottles and a pint of black liquid. She handed the men the beers and looked around with the pint, "Who's the tough guy?"

"That would be me." Solara said sweetly, catching the waitress off.

She shook her head and wordlessly mouthed "O...K..." as she placed the mug in front of the tiniest member in the group.

The guys sipped their beers and gave a refreshed sigh. Solara downed half her mug in one shot.

"Can I taste that?" Aaron said, curious.

Solara slid the mug over. He picked it up, sniffed it, smiled and took a sip.

"Gall dang it!" He shouted and cringed. "That's rotten socks in moonshine!"

Everyone laughed and Solara did so hard, she almost fell out of her chair.

"It's a Centaurian drink." Solara explained. "You get used to it."

Brett waved over the waitress, "I'll try one of those."

Aaron coughed and raised his eyebrows. Brett added, "A new culinary experience. Maybe we can cook with the stuff."

"God dammit man, not in my food." Aaron said and everyone laughed again.

Three steaks were served, a roasted half chicken for Dipu and a Roundup vegetarian burger for Solara. Her eyes went huge when she saw the size of the burger, the patty weighed a full kilo _after_cooking!

"Holy jeloba fruit! This isn't a city burger." She mumbled.

"I had the same experience my first time here." Dipu said empathetically. "Just take it home and have a meal for two days."

They finished dinner and ordered another round of drinks. Solara had three-quarters of her burger packed up to go.

Brett studied his second mug of horla stout, "I can make a barbecue sauce from this." He sipped it, smiled, "Ashcroft BBQ Sauce. get my picture on a magazine or something."

"I'd buy some of that sauce." A fellow patron said having overheard the conversation. "Barbecue up some lamb chops." He and his female friend laughed.

"Here we go." Solara mumbled and pulled her hat down a little.

"They're drunk." Duncan said. "They won't remember anything by tomorrow."

"Hey, your coat would look pretty good on my wife." The stranger taunted Solara again.

"So would a flea collar." She shot back, sharply.

The man was so drunk, it took a few moments for him to realize the insult. When he did, he staggered to his feet. "You little... alien... BITCH!" Grabbing his beer bottle, he threw it, hitting Solara square in the face.

That's when all hell broke loose.

* Bleeble, bleep! Bleeble, bleep! Bleeble.... *

"Uh, hullo?" Diane reached over to her night table, eyes still closed and answered the call.

"Ms. Ashcroft, this is Constable Ross from town...." The voice said as she cut him off.

"It's Mrs. Ashcroft and what the hell is it Clay..." She looked at the clock that read 0155. "It's two in the morning. My ranch better be on fire."

"Sorry Diane, but it kind of is. Not physically, well, it physically is but fire control isn't needed. Well, it is, but with your boys from the ranch." The constable stumbled over his words. Diane used to baby sit him when he was a child and Clay Ross still had trouble thinking of her as anything but an elder and authority figure in his life. "Can you just come down here?"

"Yeah, will do." She said and hung up on him.

She tossed the blankets off, sat up over the side of the bed and ran her hand through her hair. The chill of the air caught her attention and she woke up more and turning on the light, looked for her housecoat.

Putting it on, she paged her nephew, Duncan, via the intercom only to not get a response. "What the? Where is he?" She mumbled to herself.

She got dressed and was walking down the hall that joined the lodge part of the ranch with her and Duncan's living area. It was dark, chilly, silent and seemed a very different place. She never was up at this time in the off season. At the peak of the tourism months, there was a homeyness about the place, knowing it was filled with guests. Not this time.

She arrived at the constabulary and was greeted by Clay. "Sorry to wake you, but... well, there's been an incident."

"Just explain what the hell you got me out of my nice, warm bed for." She grumbled in a manner she did when she was scolding him for being an unruly child.

"I have I think your whole ranch in my lockup." He placed his palm on a scanner and the door released. He led Diane downstairs.

There were only three cells for the small town police station and they were all filled. In one was the wife of the drunk patron, her face cut and swollen and she obviously spent most of the night crying. In another were Diane's five guys; Aaron lay on a bunk, appearing to doze. Duncan on another, staring at the ceiling. Dipu and Brett were sitting on the floor with scowls on their faces. In the third cell, Solara sat with her arms around her legs, knees to her chin as she rested her head on them. Her left eye was swollen and red.

Diane's anger swelled, but subsided, then she laughed. "You all look like an album cover for a badass country group in that cell."

The men all jumped to their feet. Solara's eyes just looked over. Then she began to cry.

"What's the charges, Clay?" She asked.

"Public mischief, disorderly conduct, assault causing bodily harm, assault and battery with a weapon and damage to private property over one thousand New Euros."

Diane whistled, "Some bar brawl, eh? Tore the place up pretty good, did you?"

"Yes ma'am." The guys said together and bowed their heads shamefully.

She looked at Solara, who was sobbing. "You're a feisty little thing. I'm impressed!"

She looked up at Diane, "You're not going to fire me and throw me out?"

Diane laughed loudly, "Sweetie, if a cowgirl getting into a scrap in a bar was grounds for firing, I would have been gone long ago." She winked, "But don't get in the habit.... THEN we'd have a little problem." She explained with a far more serious expression.

"These brutes tried to murder my husband!" The stranger shouted, pointing her finger at the group.

"That road apple hit my gal!" Aaron snapped back and an argument erupted.

"Gaw, jeeez!" Clay said and motioned for Diane to follow him upstairs. "They've been arguing all night. They finally calmed down when I called you." He then continued to explain the details as he got from the witnesses to the fight.

"So, let them sober up and send them back to me in the morning. I can deal with that lot." Diane offered as that was going to be the end of it.

"I can do that for all, except Mr. McKenzie and Miss Golais." Clay said, regretfully.

"What, why? And Solara? She defended herself!" Diane objected.

"Aaron hit Mr. Finch hard enough to break his neck. He had to be airlifted to Kamloops trauma centre." He sighed, "And Solara is on a visa here. She's not a permanent resident or immigrant. The Pegasiian embassy had to be called. They're sending someone from Vancouver."

"The hell I'll let them deport her. I need her at the ranch and Aaron needs her in his life." Diane demanded, slamming her hand on Clay's desk, making him jump.

"She hurled the bottle back at Mr. Finch, he ducked and his wife caught it on her cheek. Assault with a weapon is criminal enough to begin paperwork. She can defend against it, but it's not our side I'm worried about."

"What do you mean?"

Clay explained, "I mean the Pegasiians demand exemplary conduct by their citizens. An incident like this will likely cause them to 'recall' her home." He shrugged, "It's politics and out of my hands now."

Diane's heart sank. She was determined that that was not going to happen. "How much time do we have?"

"If the representative gets recall authority, they could leave the station with her in tow and bring her back immediately." He rubbed his chin and smiled craftily, "But they do honour legal 'red tape'. God knows they create so much of it themselves. If I were you, don't wait until morning, get your lawyer out of bed."

Morning came and Solara hadn't slept a wink. Mary Harrington, the day shift constable released everyone except Aaron and Solara. "Mr. McKenzie, you'll have a hearing at 0900."

"Fine." He replied simply.

"Golais, Solara. Your consular official will see you now." She said, which brought Aaron to his feet.

"I'm her boyfriend. I need to be there." He said.

Mary ignored him as she led Solara up the steps to the council and interrogation room.

Aaron looked on as the door closed, cursing himself for getting her into this mess.

Solara was sat at a table that was separated by a transparency. Another Pegasiian was looking back at her with a smile. "I am Bey Housnell, representing the Pegasiian government in this district." He spoke to her in her native language.

"You're my lawyer?" She said in English.

Mr. Housnell frowned at this, but switched to her language of preference. "No, I'm here to take you home. You've been recalled." He said as if it was the greatest news she could get.

"NO!" She shouted and stood. "My life is here."

"Your government differs with you, young lady." He said seriously.

His communicator signalled and he answered. He muted the intercom with Solara, who was angrily shouting Pegasiian expletives at him.

She realized he couldn't hear him and sat back down, arms crossed. Whomever called the government rep, didn't make him happy. He ended the call and paused. Turning on the intercom, he said, "It seems we have to see a judge at this time. I will see you again in the court room." He got up and left.

As Solara was being led back to her cell, this 'bad dream' was becoming very real and very scary. The thought of having to leave her new home, her job, her friends, her family and Aaron was overwhelming. She was past the point of tears, she stared at the wall, blank faced. Her emotions were so overloaded, she felt nothing at the moment.

"What the hell did you do to her?" Aaron said in a dangerous voice to Mary.

His tone was intense enough for Mary to get two more day shift constables to escort Aaron to the room to see his council.

Aaron sat down at the same table Solara was in a few minutes ago. A rather scruffy looking fellow in a dishevelled suit sat across from the transparency.

"I'm Mark Chole, Diane's attorney." He introduced himself.

"Never mind me, help my Solara.. please." Aaron pleaded.

Mark nodded, "That's just what I'm going to do. But it depends on you, if you're willing to beat them at their own game."

0900 came and the judge dealt first with the charges facing Aaron. Given that Mr. Finch, a CEO of a large company was going to have a full recovery and having been informed of his conduct, considered the press this would garner and for the sake of his shareholders, he insisted that the charges be dropped. He also paid the damages to the steakhouse as a gesture. Aaron was free to go.

Solara however was brought into the prisoner box, humiliated with restraints.

"Is that really necessary?" Aaron objected.

"McKenzie, sit down and shut up or you'll be right back in there!" The judge ordered.

Bey Housnell identified himself and presented his recall orders for Solara. He requested that she be released into his custody immediately.

"Any objections.... other than from Mr. McKenzie?" The judge looked over where the defence desk was.

"Yes, your Honour!" Mark Chole stood up and identified himself. He then proceeded, "Under Pegasiian law as recognized by the Terran government, any legal contract negotiation in progress cannot be disrupted by a government agency. Neither Terran, nor Pegasiian, lest the government be accused of favourable or otherwise biased interference of commerce."

"And what commerce does this member of the Golais family have that is in progress?" Bey asked with a doubtful expression.

Mark gave him a smug grin and looked to the judges bench, "The contract of property merger negotiations between Solara Golais and Aaron McKenzie, your Honour!"

Bey Housnell's expression formed such a frown, it was like the corners of his mouth were to hit the floor.

The judge looked over at Aaron, "Mr. McKenzie, is this true?"

He stood up, "Yes, your Honour!" He said.

The judge looked over at Solara, "Ms. Golais, is this true?"

Everyone crossed their fingers that she'd catch on to the legal ploy that would be her only way of escaping an immediate recall to her home world.

She was snapped out of her melancholy state and looked over at Aaron. Her face broke into her happy smile. "Yes, yes judge, it is!"

"There we go!" The judge grabbed his gavel. "Stay of recall is granted. Under reciprocal agreement, Solara Golais, you're free pending outcome of contract negotiations." Gavelling, the judge got up for a recess.

"Objection!" Bey snapped unhappily.

"What now?" The judge grumbled and sat back down.

"I wish to submit that she be remanded into custody as a flight risk!" The Pegasiian demanded.

The judge blinked, "Mr. Housnell, the young lady is in love with a Terran. Where is she going to 'fly' to?"

Bey's head looked like it was going to explode. "I... withdraw... the request, your Honour."

The judge nodded and left through his exit. The bailiff called a fifteen minute recess.

Aaron picked up Solara in his arms and kissed her like when they were reunited.

"Good trick." She whispered. "You must have Pegasiian blood."

"Trick my ass, my little ewe. Will you marry me?"

"I... I..." Solara was again overwhelmed, but this time in a good way. Though they had known each other a short time, she was not afraid of taking chances, especially when the pay off could be her fairytale dream. "OH MY GODS, YES!.... YES! YES! YES!"

Bey Housnell overheard this and realized any appeal was doomed to fail. But he got another idea. One that may get her to go home, willingly.

The Price of Repatriation

Chelsea, Gere and his parents went to where she had last known her parent's office to be. The building was vacant and locked. She still couldn't get hold of them on her communicator. "This is damn odd." She said.

They travelled to the house where she grew up. The four got out of the taxi and stood on the pavement.

"Well?" Riah asked. "Should we see if anyone is home?"

Chelsea had a mind full of nostalgia, good and bad. She left here not on the best terms. But this was her call to make. She walked up the pathway with Gere beside her. Aerton and Riah kept back a few paces.

She rang the annunciator. Her mother answered.

Gere saw an ageing vixen, shorter than Chelsea and looking much more tired. He wondered if she was ill.

Her mother squinted at her, then said surprised, "Che'alsa? Is it really you?"

"Hello mother." She responded, unsure.

"Brenn, BRENN! Che'alsa is here!" Her mother called out excited into the house.

They heard padding down the stairs and her father appeared. He looked at her stern and didn't even look at Gere. "Che'alsa. You have returned?"

Chelsea looked uncomfortable. "May we come in?" She asked.

It was only then that her father noticed Gere and his parents several metres behind them. "If you must."

He opened the door further and she was the first one in. Her mother touched her arm with a smile as she walked past and then walked beside her, cutting off Gere. Gere looked behind at his parents with an expression of 'Oh, joy...' and entered the house with them.

The house was small, but clean and comfortable. The furniture was unspectacular and practical, typical of a Canisian family. There was a wooden bench for a sofa. That's where they all sat down.

Brenn looked annoyed as they did. Mi'tsu, Chelsea's mother was kind enough to bring glasses of water, then sat on a stool closest to Chelsea.

"Daughter, we would have contacted you with the news. We did not mean for you to find out this way." He mother said.

Chelsea was confused, "Find out what?"

"Oh, dear...." Her mother said and turned away, looking as if she said something she ought not.

Brenn stood, holding his water as if it were wine. "We sold the business. Your mother and I are going home. Our attorney was going to inform you after we had left."

"Sold the business? Going home?" Chelsea said, shocked. Her mouth hung open as she turned from her father to her mother, looking for an explanation.

"Canisius is our home. You know why we left. The Alpha has offered amnesty for all should they return." Her mother explained.

"W... why didn't you tell me? I would have understood. You're my parents!" Chelsea said, becoming emotional and agitated. "I'm your only child."

Mi'tsu bowed her head and began to cry. "I can't do this, Brenn. She got up and left the room."

"Do what?" Gere asked, as confused as everyone else.

Brenn looked at him annoyed again, but answered. "Che'alsa has made it very clear since she was a youth, that she is Terran. She rejected her heritage, refused to learn her culture. As part of the amnesty deal....." Brenn lost his stern posture and averted his gaze upon them. He sat down on a stool across from them. "As part of the deal, we had to.... on paper at least.... just to sever ties with any conflicts of interest.... disown you as our daughter."

Chelsea gave a few anxious gasps and hyperventilating, she passed out. Gere caught her before she fell forward on to the floor and laid her sideways across his lap, tilting her head in a recovery position, opening her mouth and letting her long tongue hang out so it didn't obstruct her breathing.

"I know the story from her view and she has never said a cruel word about either of you. What did she do to deserve this?" Gere asked, trying to control his anger.

"She is still our daughter. We had to do it on paper to sever ties to other worlds as we swore allegiance to the Alpha as part of the repatriation process." Her father repeated himself, trying to make it like he had no choice.

Aerton had enough. He stood with righteous indignation, "Actions speak louder than words. You Sir, are revolting. My wife and I will take our leave of you."

Chelsea moaned, coughed and slowly sat up. She looked at her father and said quietly at first, "How could you do this to me?". Regaining her strength, she shrieked angrily, "HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?"

"You did this to us. You rejected us when you denied your heritage. You are Canisian, not one of these Terran primates and certainly not one of these sheep creatures that you're whoring yourself with!" Her father snapped back.

Gere stood up, angrier than he's ever been in his life, "If this was my world, I would demand a duel for insulting her honour!"

"And if this were mine, I would have killed you for touching my little girl, you filthy goat!" Her father said no longer restraining his annoyance.

Chelsea walked over to him, "As YOU have made it clear, I'm not your little girl. I don't think I ever was."

The group left the house and began to walk down the street. Gere called for a taxi as he tried to keep pace with Chelsea. His parents lagged far behind.

Chelsea finally stopped as the events of the day sank in. She fell to her knees and cried uncontrollably. Gere held her and comforted her.

A neighbour popped his head out of his door, "Is everything OK? Should I call for help?"

"Not unless there is help for stubborn stupidity!" Aerton replied back to the helpful neighbour.

The man smiled, "You must be referring to Brenn. He's changed since his daughter left. We think he went mad."

Aerton pointed to the sobbing vixen, "Well, she returned to nothing. I quite agree, he is mad."

"Oh gods, did you hear that?" Chelsea whispered through her sobs to Gere, "This is all my fault for leaving!"

"Oh no, you're not going to bear the burden of guilt for someone else's bad judgement. You can't live your life for someone else." He said comfortingly. "C'mon, let's go home. OUR home."

Chelsea shook her head. "We were going to visit Solara on the way back. I'm not going to ruin that, too."

Gere rolled his eyes at her implication that 'she' was ruining things.

"Are you sure, dear girl?" Aerton asked. "We can do it another time."

She nodded, "I need to see her. I need her cheerfulness."

That night, they were flying to Kamloops, then having to take a smaller connector to Ashcroft. Chelsea stared ahead silently, wiping the odd tear. Gere never let go of her other hand.

"I'm sorry this happened." Riah said to her son. "She must feel terrible. I can't imagine ever doing anything like that to you or Solara."

"I can't imagine doing that to family for personal gain." Gere scoffed, "Maybe I have a moral weakness in procurement?"

"No son, we raised you right. Family and honour is greater than money." Aerton added.

"We're poor, but we can feel good about ourselves, right?" Gere said mockingly, but realized the truth in that.

"I just wanted to ask him for his blessing." Gere mumbled.

"Oh?" Riah said with a smile.

Gere made a 'shhhh' with his finger over his lips. "Now is not the time, mum. I want it to be perfect." He winked.

Chelsea had nodded off after the eventful day. Gere sent a message to Solara that they were on their way earlier than planned. He received a swift reply catching him up on some of what happened, but was going to wait until they were all there to explain in detail.

Gere was almost in hysterics and covered his mouth so he didn't wake Chelsea.

"What is it?" His mum asked.

"Solara.... she was a jailbird yesterday." Gere said, snickering. "Seems the cowgirl got in a knock down, drag-out in a bar."

Riah gasped and Aerton face-palmed. "Is she OK?" She asked.

"She has a black eye, but apparently the guy that instigated it is in hospital and his wife looks like she's been shredded by a cat. Solara seems rather proud of herself, too!" Gere replied, imagining his little sister scrapping like she did a few times in school. "I wonder what Pegasiian words they learned from her little mouth?" Gere couldn't restrain himself any longer and laughed out loud, waking half the passengers on the night-flight.

Chelsea, exhausted physically and emotionally, didn't stir from her sleep.

Riah was shaking her head, "First dear, sweet Chelsea. Now Solara. What else will go wrong?"

Aerton's mouth was hanging open as he stared at the message on his communicator. "The Terran's say, 'famous last words'. It seems Riah, that I have been made redundant from my position at the end of my term in the fall and we've been recalled."

Family

The flight from Whitehorse to Kamloops only took an hour, but the small commuter didn't leave for another six hours. It was one of the few big city airports that didn't have spaceport services, but acted as a large hub for connecting terrestrial flights.

In the waiting area of the airport, the group was able to get a few more hours sleep after eating. They had almost missed their flight, if it wasn't for a porter waking them.

"Thank you for the wake-up call, good sir!" Aerton said and kindly tipped him as he yawned.

They arrived in the town of Ashcroft and gathered their bags. It was 0730 and Gere's body still craved sleep, being normally a late sleeper while his parents and Chelsea were beginning to feel more awake.

"What are we going to do until the afternoon when Solara gets up?" Gere said as he studied the list of connecting transit to the ranch and debated on that or just calling a taxi.

But before they could decide on public transit or private, a van bearing the ranch colours and logo pulled up to the 'Arrivals Pickup' area and the horn honked several times.

They looked toward the vehicle making the racket and while they didn't recognize the driver, a young east Indian fellow smiling and waving at them, Solara came running out from the passenger side and towards them with a shriek of happiness and arms open wide. She almost bowled all of them down when she connected.

After a hug and a kiss, Gere stepped out of the way and introduced himself to the driver.

"I remember you, Mr. Golais. Dipu Patel, a ranch hand."

Gere looked around, "Just call me Gere. Mr. Golais is the old man over there that's my dad."

Dipu smiled, "Solara's stories are true. You are funny!"

"My sister has been telling stories about me? Lies! All lies!" Gere protested straight faced and waving his arms, sending Dipu into a fit of laughter.

As Dipu drove back to the ranch, Solara was happily chatting about her time and of course, her recent engagement to Aaron. "I thought the lawyer and him pulled it as a trick, the only way to keep me from being recalled, but he said he wanted me for his wife the third day I was here and was waiting for a time to propose so he wouldn't scare me off!" She scoffed and waved her hand, "Like that would have happened. He's my dream fulfilled."

"My little sister, the country wife. Who would have thought that?" Gere said, happy for her. "Your party days are over, eh?"

"Ha! It's been one big party since I got here." She then said excited, "Speaking of party, you're all just in time for the spring hoedown at the ranch this weekend!"

Gere and his parents looked blankly at her as Chelsea explained, "A country style festival with music and dancing." She grinned, "That might be just what we need right now to cheer us up."

"Oh?" Solara asked with a confused expression. "What am I out of the loop on?"

Chelsea explained what happened to her on this trip and her dad explained the message he got. Solara's heart sank and she began to cry.

"How about we forget about the happenings of the last few days for the rest of the day. We've brought our daughter from laughter to tears. Let's have some of this... how done and be happy for today." Aerton offered.

"Hoedown, dad." Gere corrected. "Good idea. Anyway, I could use a nap when we get to the ranch."

"I will instruct the staff to leave you in peace for the afternoon." Dipu offered with a wink. "Don't need anyone falling asleep on the dance floor."

"Dancing?" Gere grimaced.

"Yes honey, dancing." Chelsea said with a cute look and batting her eyelashes.

Gere just made an 'I got trapped' expression and rested his chin on his fist.

As the group checked in to the ranch, Solara got changed for her office duties that morning. The outfit she liked for 'administration' was a short skirted red dress with light grey wool blazer and a red hair band. She wore her pair of skinny-strap high heels to match.

"Professional and sexy!" She gave a satisfied chipper squeak and headed to the office from the bunkhouse.

It had the effect she hoped for as she got smiles and hat-tips from all she passed. Another thing she liked since her arrival was never having to open a door if there was one of the guys around. "City people could learn from the gents, here." She said to herself, appreciating the meaning of 'being on a pedestal'.

Taking her seat at a desk, her knees together and her legs tilted to the side and her hands on her lap awaiting instructions from Diane, she was not sure how well her outfit was received as Diane looked her over with a straight face.

"You're used to being the centre of attention, aren't you?" Diane asked.

"It's... not appropriate?" Solara looked confused, not having any problems with such a getup in the city before.

"I wouldn't go that far." Diane said. "I trust my staff to only touch you with their eyes, but we get some unruly guests with no such inhibitions."

"You think Aaron, or any of the others of the family will allow that?"

"I would think not. I would hope not! I guess you are the 'little sister' here." Diane chuckled. "But I wish I could pull off something that pretty the way you do."

Solara smiled, "Then it's good that you to have another female here." She stood up and rubbed her hands, "MAKEOVER!"

Though Diane was flattered immensely, she had not had a makeover since boarding school. And that was a long, long time ago, even by human standards. "Oh, don't be silly. That's for young women." She waved her hand dismissively.

"They're for anyone. Do you think my mum is stylish?" Solara grinned convincingly.

"Well...."

"She's not much younger than the equivalent of your years." Solara rubbed her hands again, "I do good work. Trust me."

Diane thought for a moment and relented. When would she get another chance like this, anyway? "Oh, all right. But just for the hoedown."

Solara bounced and clapped her hands happily.

Gere and Chelsea lay down on the bed to relax and get a nap. Gere turned on the video entertainment unit to see what news was on before falling asleep. As he scrolled through the program options, one caught his eye.

"Uhh, Chelsea? Take a look at this." He said as she had her head on his shoulder, eyes closed, already dozing.

"Hmm?" She mumbled and opened her eyes partly and turned her head.

Gere had the program selector on adult entertainment and there was a new release from John Spear productions - 'Bitches Gone Crazy!' Gere couldn't help but hit the 'Preview' button.

"Until now, they were calm, rational visitors..." The announcer said as the screen showed a tender moment between Gere and Chelsea. "Think again." The scene changed to when M'Lynn had knocked Chelsea across the room and they saw her fly across the set. She stood up and shrieked at the top of her lungs in anger, fists clenched. The following scene was of her behind M'Lynn, gripping her by the hair and pounding her head into the desk Gere was using in the script, shouting expletives. "Bitch! Whore! Boyfriend stealing SLUT!" Chelsea screamed, each time ramming M'Lynn's head down until she rolled off, unconscious.

Gere was in absolute stitches, laughing so hard he rolled off the bed. "See? I... I told you he'd make up the damages!" He continued laughing so hard he was snorting.

Chelsea face-palmed in extreme embarrassment, "Oh... my... gods."

Aerton and Riah freshened up and left their room to check out this ranch Solara spoke so much about and to meet this cowboy she was so much in love with.

In the saloon, they met Duncan and Brett. Brett was telling the embarrassing story at how Solara's first meal for Aaron had caused chaos and how he taught her to cook without setting off any alarms. He was also happy to have learned from her vegetarian cuisine and even using fancy alien ingredients, which he had no knowledge of beyond a salad before working with her.

Duncan sang her praises in how quickly she learned tasks and how useful she was at anything she applied herself to. "She still can't grasp our numeric system, but once she knows what the original numbers mean, she does them in her head, no machine, in Pegasiian. Then just uses her little pad-thingy to convert the result into ours. Flawless so far." He smiled and nodded, "Aaron got lucky. She's pretty, smart and real nice."

After lunch, they found their daughter in the lobby with Diane, learning how to book-in guests. Good timing too, as they were coming in not only for the hoedown that night, but for what the party stood for to many visitors - the heralding of the spring hunting season.

"I do wish she dressed more... covered." Riah whispered.

Aerton chuckled, "The humans have a saying, 'When in Rome...do as the Romans do'. She's just fitting in. My own secretary dresses similar."

Riah gave him a glare, "I know."

Aerton blushed.

Donning their thick jackets, they went outside. "The air is so much fresher here." Riah said as she inhaled deeply.

Aerton noticed the animals and patted his wife on the shoulder. "Look! Look! Parallel evolution of equines?" He was pointing to a group of horses.

Riah was admiring the animals, thinking of their own Equuleusian neighbours. Then they saw a few playful pygmy goats run and hop up hay bales and onto the roof of one of the barns and stare down at them curiously from above.

They stared at each other for some time and didn't notice Aaron ride up on his thoroughbred. He looked at what Solara's parents were looking at and the goats looking down, back at them. "Yup! Seems we got more in common than not." They both turned to Aaron, startled as they didn't hear him ride up. "Kinda neat how some worlds choose their own species of masters, don'tcha think?"

"You must be Aaron!" Aerton said, reaching his hand out in greeting.

Aaron dismounted and shook his hand, gripping too tight at first, then remembering what his girlfriend told him about differences in strength. "You must be pa Golais." He then tipped his hat at Riah, "And you must be ma."

They looked at each other, "Pa? Ma? We don't understand that, but it's really a pleasure to meet you, Mr. McKenzie." Riah said with a smile, seeing now what her daughter found so attractive in the rugged human that towered over them.

"Call me Aaron." He said with a smile. "And 'pa' is a short form of like, dad or father and 'ma' is the same for mum, or mother."

"Well then, that is very appropriate." Aerton said. "And thank you for choosing our daughter. I guess we can soon call you, son?"

"Sounds good to me!" Aaron gave a nod. "Family is good and we're all one family here."

Aerton cringed as the memory of the message ordering their recall entering his mind for a moment. But he was determined that at least for that day, there will be none of that weighing on his mind.

Aaron offered to take them on a tour of the workings of the ranch and they accepted.

--

M'Lynn was in her apartment, a picture of her daughter in her hand. She had seen the release of the unexpected film and while the royalty deposits to her account were definitely larger than she expected, she wondered how long it would be before...

* knock, knock, knock *

She was snapped out of her melancholic mood and padded silently to her door. She used the video security to see who was there. A fennec of shorter than average stature stood on the other side. His dress in the traditional fashion of Canisius told her that he was likely there on business.

* knock, knock, knock *

"Just a moment." She said as she went to the desk and hid the image of her daughter. Straightening out her dress, she opened the door.

"Yes? What is it?" She said curtly.

The fennec bowed respectfully. "I am but a humble messenger, my Lady." He said in English with a thick Canisian accent. He handed her a bound scroll and a sealed box. He turned and left.

She closed the door and looked at the items. "Well, that was fast." She said and hopped up on her bed, untying the scroll. The message written in formal Canisian read as follows.

By Order of the Alpha of Canisius

You are granted indefinite leave of exile.

The order to leave you to your life has been given.

Should you return to any world within Canisian borders, will be taken into custody as a traitor for public execution.

Generational Law of Sins of the Parent are hereby commuted.

That last line made her heart skip a beat. How could they know? What did they know?

She looked at the box. On it was the sigil of the ruling house. For all her canid strength, she could not open it.

But the safety of her daughter came first. She felt she had to move her and move her now! But if those from Canisius were watching her, she could not go herself. It was likely her communications were being monitored as well. Was she just being paranoid? Where her daughter was concerned, better paranoid than not enough action.

"You want me to what?" John Spear said, not believing what his actress was asking him to do.

"Use your contacts, pull some favours, I don't know what you need to do, but please somehow relocate my Fluffie."

"This is what I'm hearing - get mixed up in some interstellar cloak and dagger and get myself killed?" He said with an annoyed expression. "Being in this business, I already have enemies. I don't need a government as one of them."

He re-read the message at the pleading expression of M'Lynn. "Look at that last line where it says, 'Generational Law of Sins of the Parent are hereby commuted'. That's telling me that they know of your daughter and will take no action against her." He tried to sound consolingly.

"But...." M'Lynn protested with the worry of a mother.

"Look, one thing I have are very good lawyers on payroll. They are versed in interstellar law. Why don't I make a copy and run it by them" John said, hoping to calm her. "In the meantime, I suggest getting that box open will answer some questions. It stands to reason, if the letter was for you that the box is for Fluffie?" John suggested. "Take it to her."

M'Lynn shook her head. "Impossible. We had a... falling out, you could say."

"Hrm." John rubbed his chin. "What about I contact her and she views the box in my office? You could wait in an adjacent office and watch everything on video."

She thought for a moment, "That... that might work." She sighed, "I would get to see her again, even if on a screen." She gave John the last contact details she knew of for her daughter.

--

"Housnell, what the hell are you doing over there?" A scowling face appeared in Bey's monitor in his office, startling him so much his arms swooped and dropped half the data pads on his desk to the floor.

"Wha... what... why do you mean, Ambassador?" He asked nervously, tapping his fingers together looking from side-to-side as he did ever since a child when he got caught doing something he shouldn't.

"The recall order you issued, without my authority I might add, on these Golais children?" The Ambassador glared.

Bey then smiled confidently. "Ah yes, that. There was an incident with her getting into a bar fight..."

"So, recall just her." The Ambassador interrupted.

Bey nodded, "I tried. But she's in a property merger negotiation with a Terran and a local judge disallowed the recall order."

The Ambassador shrugged, "So, then she will be his problem. What did the Golais boy do?" He said looking at a data pad with the family names.

Bey grinned as if he had his ace-in-the-sleeve. "He has declared sien'breah to a Canisian girl, it seems."

The Ambassador's eyebrows nearly jumped off his forehead. "Betrothed to a species declared Enemy of the State?" They then furled back into a scowl. "That is scandalous! Do what you can to get the children back here. Arrest Gere if you have to for collaboration. That should get them all back here."

His screen went dark and Bey reclined in his chair, tenting his fingers with a scheming expression. He keyed the intercom to his assistant, "Regarding the Golais file... do the paperwork up for an extradition order for Gere Golais on the criminal charge of collaboration with an Enemy of the State."

Party Like It's 1899!

"Hold still." Solara protested as she was attempting to curl Diane's hair and was fidgeting.

"Whatever you're doing is tugging at my head. What are you attempting to do?"

"Give you wavy hair, but this curler isn't working on human hair very well." Solara said in frustration, putting the device down.

"Why didn't you say so? I have one that does in the drawer." Diane said and pointed to where there were two drawer chests, one a dresser and one a vanity.

Solara opened a drawer on the dresser and picked up what she thought was a human hair curler and realized after pulling it out, it wasn't.

"NOT THAT DRAWER!" Diane shrieked, turning beet red.

Solara non-nonchalantly replaced the device and opened the vanity drawer and picked up another long, pointed device and looked at Diane inquisitively.

"Yes, yes, that's it." She said, still red, sitting down again with her head in her hands.

Solara began working with the curler, "Oh yes, much better." A few awkwardly quiet moments later, she added, "You should see my collection."

Diane gave an incredulous gasp, then laughed out loud. "You are absolutely shameless!" A memory stirred of when she had less shame. "I was as ostentatious as you once. Mind you, I was quite a bit perkier then, too." She said as she lifted her sagging breasts.

"No worries, those are next."

"What?" Diane turned her head.

"All part.... of the makeover.... package." Solara said musically.

Diane gave a giggle, feeling younger, much younger again.

Evening fell and the saloon had the tables cleared to the edges of the room. A small stage was set up for a band and colourful decorations were hanging from the walls and the ceiling.

The guests were gathering with most ladies wearing colourful gingham style dresses and petticoats and the men looked straight out of a vintage western movie. Other than of course those who were there for the opening of the spring hunting season and the one table where Chelsea, Gere and his parents sat at.

"Isn't this wonderful! This is just was it was like when we vacationed here last summer." Chelsea commented as she wished she brought something more festive to the time period, like on her visit.

Gere sat in his chair half scowling and grumbling, "I can't dance."

"Oh, honey. If it's like the square dance when Whitehorse had their Klondike Days, you just have to follow the caller." She comforted her boyfriend.

"This is going to be fun!" Riah whispered to Aerton who was admiring a colourful cocktail that he was sipping.

"Going to be? It already is. These Terran's can make good drinks!" He gave a toast motion to his son and had another sip.

"Your dad is right. Have a few drinks and you'll loosen up." Chelsea suggested.

Gere shrugged and waved over to Dipu, who was functioning as waiter that night.

"Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the Ashcroft Ranch hoedown, 2231!" Duncan said from the stage dressed in white shirt, skinny western tie, black leather vest, black pants, boots, hat and oversize gold buckle. The applause and holler of the crowd showed their interest in getting the party started. "First a few words from the lady herself, Diane Ashcroft!"

Entering from the kitchen area, a woman looking like a 19th century southern belle in an ankle length pleated blue satin dress with lace trim. Her black hair was styled tall and wavy with a shine to match the dress. Thanks to a corset suggestion from Solara and makeup, she didn't look a day over 30. Those who worked with her were stunned and hats were tipped throughout the room.

"That's the same woman we met earlier?" Aerton asked, surprised.

"I do good work, dad." Solara winked as she brought a tray of drinks for him and her brother, helping Dipu tend to the guests.

Everyone at the table gasped as they saw Solara in a similar period fashion that she wore when tending the saloon, with a few petticoat layers under her long skirt and her favourite cowgirl boots instead of heels.

"Wow!" Gere remarked, never seeing her in something like that before. "I dunno weather that's funny or beautiful!"

Solara stuck her tongue out at him and winked.

"Sweetie, you're absolutely beautiful!" Riah said and gave her a hug, as did Chelsea.

"That's my baby girl!" Aerton smiled proudly.

"Keep up all the flattery and I'll have to cut you all off as drunk!" Solara chided and skipped off across the floor, happily.

Gere and Chelsea looked at each other in complete surprise, "Petticoat and barely any cleavage hanging out?"

After Diane's words of appreciation for the support of the crowd and glowing appreciation for her staff at keeping the place perfect all winter, she declared the party started.

Duncan introduced the band, who were playing all traditional and unpowered instruments. He himself played fiddle in the group.

The dance floor filled with a few couples, then more. Chelsea was clapping and tapping along with the music. "Oh c'mon honey, give it a try?"

"Maybe later." He shouted above the music.

Chelsea sighed and rolled her eyes, but an observant fellow saw her frustration. Dipu came over with a smile, removed his hat and bowed and held out his hand.

Chelsea looked back at Gere, who just shrugged. She hopped up and joined Dipu on the floor with a twirl and a hoot.

"Gere, dear. She's your girl. Sometimes you need to do things to make her happy even when you don't want to." His mum leaned over and suggested. Straightening up, she gave Aerton a poke in the ribs, "Isn't that right, dear?"

"I... huh? What?" He was distracted from his inspection of yet another cocktail almost consumed. "Yes, sure dear."

"I'm glad you agree then." Riah said as she hopped up and taking her husband's hand, pulled him up off the chair looking confused as to what he just agreed to and they went on to the floor.

Gere now alone, felt relieved that he had no one left at the table to natter at him. He leaned back with a smile and crossed his hands behind his head.

"Mr. Golais? Are you not having fun?" Diane came over and asked.

"On the contrary, I am now!" He replied.

She sat down beside him. "This morning, your sister got me to agree to something that I had not done in over a hundred years. Let me tell you, I was not comfortable with it at first, but I think it turned out well."

"The makeover? Yeah, you look great!" Gere smiled.

"So, can an old woman do something you can't?" She taunted.

"What? Hell no!" He raised an eyebrow, "I'm not getting a makeover, am I?"

"Just your feet!" She said as she took his hand. "Up, up, up!"

"Eeek!" Gere squeaked as he was literally pulled up and out of his chair.

She placed her arm through his and held it tight. "Don't think, just do as I say. SKIP!"

Gere did a skip as did Diane.

"Same thing again, one to the left, one to the right, then turn around. SKIP! One, two, SKIP!" She said as Gere followed perfectly.

"Ok, turn which waaayyYYYY!" Gere was asking as Diane halted and turned having Gere pivot about her.

"Three, two, one, SPIN ME!" She said and guided his hand over her as she twirled.

"Now, same steps, back to the table. SKIP!" Diane said as Gere just hoped he could get through this without falling or stepping on her.

They arrived back at the table, Gere gave her a final spin and sat himself down on a chair as if his rear was an anvil. "See, I told you I can't dance."

"HA!" Diane smiled, "You just did."

"Wha?" He said, surprised.

"Your lady is waiting. Dipu needs to get back serving." She said as she was spun off by Brett, back out on the floor.

"I did?" Gere said to himself proudly. "I can do this? I CAN do this!" He stood up with a new confidence and with a tap on Dipu's shoulder, he bowed, Dipu tipped his hat and Chelsea with absolute elation in her sparkling eyes, kissed Gere and danced with him.

After the group of songs ended, Duncan fiddled the seven chords that have signalled a square dance for hundreds of years. Half the room erupted in cheer. "Twenty minute trough break folks. Then get your partner ready." He said to more whistles and cheers. "Single folk, we'll have a line dance following."

"Honey, you did extremely well!" Chelsea said, proud of her boyfriend. "You can do anything you want to."

"Well, thank that pushy human cowgirl. Like she gave me a choice." He said, downing something called a whiskey shot and grimacing. "But, life is good." He said with a hoarse voice.

"Hey, you guys gonna stick around for the square and line dance?" Solara asked as she sat down at the table with them for a moment. "Aaron, Brett and I are going to do the lead-in!"

"Oh honey, good for you!" Chelsea said happily as her parents looked proud of their daughter.

"You're really taking centre stage wherever you go!" Gere said and gave her a pat on the shoulder.

"Finding ones true self really helps." Solara replied as she noticed Diane waving her back to the bar to help out. "Gotta go!"

"When did she get so wise?" Gere scratched his head.

"I for one am very grateful." Aerton said. "I was worried about her for the longest time."

"She was in good hands, dad." Gere said. "Chelsea and I looked out for her."

"And we're very grateful for that." Riah commented. "But what about you? How are you doing without your sister, now?"

Gere paused. "It... takes some getting used to. But I'm still needed." He looked over adoringly to Chelsea, who smiled.

"More than ever, honey." She said and kissed him.

The intermission ended and the music started up. The group decided to sit and watch what this 'square dance' was all about and it looked like spectacular fun, but it depended on following the caller, who was speaking in local colloquialisms, which to Gere and his parents, may as well have been a language not from any star system they were familiar with.

Chelsea however, was having a blast.

When Aaron, Solara and Brett came on to end the square dance and lead in to the line dance, their moves were like from a choreographed play.

"Didn't they do something like that on that ancient film you took us to a few weeks ago?" Aerton asked, impressed his daughter's short little legs could keep up with the humans twice her height.

"Yeah, what was it called again? Seven Brides For Seven Brothers. I have a leg cramp just watching them!" Gere said as he somatically rubbed his calf.

As the evening ended, people were retiring to their rooms and the staff was cleaning up. Solara had her arms full with trays of empty mugs and food baskets, but was still full of bubbly, talkative energy.

"You guys have to come over and see our little place. Not to mention my pony! Shisha was a gift and is so wonderful to ride. Who needs a vehicle license? I've even gone into town with her, but it was cold." She talked a non-stop pace as she moved around doing chores.

Gere and his dad were half drunk, tired and their eyes were glossing over. Riah and Chelsea were helping carry some of the rubbish as they followed Solara around, listening to her cram months of events into minutes of conversation.

"I think I'm going to bed." Gere said as he and his dad propped each other up.

"Good idea, son. See you in the morning."

--

"You wanted to see me?" The young, busty wolfess said as she cautiously entered John's office.

She was accompanied by a much older human, who looked around with a smile at the posters. "So, this is where it all happens?"

"Please, have a seat." John said and sat back down behind his desk.

The couple looked at him quizzically, wondering why out of the blue a pornographer would not only invite them for a meeting, but pay for transport and accommodations.

"If you're recruiting, I don't think we're interested." Fluffie, the wolfess said flatly.

"Now hold on dear, let's here what he has to say." The man said.

John picked up the box M'Lynn had left with him and offered it to her. "Do you know what this is?"

She looked over at it and shook her head."

"You can examine it, it's fine." John said and held it out further.

Fluffie took the box and with a click, the lid popped open partially. She opened it and gasped. "Wow, it's beautiful."

She pulled out a sparkling necklace with large oval pendant. The chain and crystal pendant seemed to glow and they men couldn't help but come over to look at it closer.

"That's Canisian script." The older man said as he handled the pendant to take a closer look. "I can read it!" he said almost as if he was impressed with himself. "It says, 'House of the Fifth, blood of the Alpha'."

Fluffie looked at John, "I don't understand."

John sighed, "Well, it's not my place to tell. But suffice it to say, this is yours."

"But...." Fluffie said confused, "I'm Capellan. Why would some piece of royal jewellery be mine?"

The older man put his hand on her knee, "Sweetie, I think it's time to call your mother."

"Why... what do you know of this?" She became annoyed that this man, her step father and lover, was holding some secrets.

A side door in John's office behind his desk, clicked open. M'Lynn came out and closed it behind her.

Fluffie stood up and gasped with an expression of outrageous indignity. The man just nodded, everything coming together in his mind.

"M'Lynn." He said flatly.

"Thomas." She said coldly.

"YOU TRICKED US!" Fluffie accused John.

"You need to know the truth. You need to know who you are." M'Lynn said calmly to her daughter.

Fluffie grabbed her handbag and turned, "I'm SO out of here."

"Sit down!" Thomas said commandingly in a voice he hadn't used since he commanded his trading vessel that brought them to earth.

Fluffie stopped and silently took her chair again.

"I will give you some privacy." John said and exited through the same side door.

--

Gere opened his eyes to a fuzzy blur and turned his head. The chronometer on the night table read 1305. He sat up on the edge of the bed and pain streaked into his head and a hurricane strength storm blew in his stomach. "No more of that whisky stuff." He moaned and attempted to stand.

Half an hour later, he exited the room and stammered into the hallway. There he met his dad, suffering from the same effects.

"Mom with you?"

Aerton shook his head. "Her and Chelsea had brunch with Solara and they went out."

Gere nodded. "Follow me. I know where First Aid is from my last visit here. They'll have something for our ills."

Within twenty minutes, they were feeling reasonably normal again and went looking for the ladies.

"Excuse us, Diane." Gere said cheerfully to the first staff member he found. "Have you seen our ladies?"

"They went for a ride up the lookout trail after brunch." She said and noticing their bloodshot eyes, "Survived your first experience with whiskey, I see?"

"With a little pharmaceutical assistance." Aerton said, rubbing his head.

Diane laughed. "Good to hear. Solara wanted me to tell you two when you got up that you're invited to her and Aaron's for dinner tonight."

"Oh great!" Gere grumbled. "We survive the hangover only to be poisoned by my sister's cooking."

"Oh, I think she'll surprise you. She's adapted from city girl to country wife pretty good." Diane said.

"Wife? She got married last night?" Aerton said, shocked.

"It's an expression, Mr. Golais." Diane said.

"Well that's good. I would have hated to miss the open bar of a wedding!" Gere said, smiling.

"Still hungover and you're already talking about that next drink. You'd get along good with my men here, Gere." She gave him a good, stiff pat on his shoulder and carried on with her duties.

"Oh dear. Oh, oh, oh, my!" Riah mumbled to herself as her heart pounded with some fear and held on to the saddle horn so tight she was getting white knuckles.

She was in the middle of the three as they went for a gentle ride. Solara wanted her mother to experience the things she did and see the ranch as she saw it. Riah thought it was a good idea at the time. Then she got on the horse.

"Are you OK up there?" Chelsea said from the rear, riding as confidently as any of the riders at the ranch.

Solara looked behind her and saw her mum having problems. She halted Shisha until her mums horse came along side, then she continued. "Mum, you can't ride like that. You have no control."

"My dear, I am well aware I have no control." She said nervously.

Solara sighed. "Ok, let's fix this." Without even slowing, she pulled a short rope off her belt, made a loop and slipped it through the bridle ring on her mother's horse. She gave it some slack and trotted up ahead. "You just hang on, I'll steer."

Chelsea was impressed with the skill Solara showed. Not even a year ago, she hadn't a clue how to even get on the creature, let alone do anything skilful like what she just did. This lifestyle was obviously something of a passion for her.

They arrived at a lookout point with a view across the Highland Valley to the Thompson river in the distance. Solara and Chelsea unmounted their horses and helped Riah off of hers.

"I think I can use the rest. Riding this animal takes some getting used to." Riah said, rubbing her backside.

"Take a look around and tell me it wasn't worth it, though?" Solara said with her hand outstretched to the view.

Riah was stunned and admired what she saw for some time. "This... this is like the arid regions of home!"

"With less settlements." Solara added. "This area from the Fraser Canyon to the south all the way to Cache Creek was declared heritage. It's development and protection was left to the native councils a couple hundred years ago, I'm told."

"I'm surprised Gere didn't want to move here, then." Chelsea pondered.

"Not enough cities or technology." Solara shrugged. "He likes his toys, I like my boys."

Chelsea and Riah chuckled at that comment. "Well, one boy I hope." Riah said with a hopeful expression.

Solara sighed, "Yes mum, I'm exclusive with Aaron."

Riah smiled with relief.

"And my Jack." Solara whispered to Chelsea, who gave a surprised smile and shook her head with an expression of 'I should have known'.

Riah drank from her canteen and continued to admire the scene as the younger pair walked a few metres away.

"Does Aaron know?" Chelsea asked, nosily.

"Of course! I don't hide anything from him." Solara replied.

Chelsea gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "You found a place where you can happily be who you are."

They all met up again in the afternoon for a coffee and pie snack. The girls were relating the story of their trip to the lookout trail and how on the ride up, Riah was too scared to actually do more than hang on.

"So, what made you go without 'training wheels' on the way down?" Aerton asked.

"I... I think I understand what this place is about, now." Riah said. "We don't have anything like this back home, because we chose never to keep our history anywhere but in the records."

"Sounds like this culture is growing on you, mum?" Gere asked.

An announcement from Duncan interrupted the conversation. "The first successful hunt of the season! Dinner and drinks are on the house for the Collins party!" The patrons in the saloon applauded and cheered.

"Hunt? They mentioned this hunting season yesterday." Aerton asked. "What is that?"

"Part of the land management is to take game animals for food ." Solara explained.

"Mmmm, sounds delicious. Will we have some?" Chelsea licked her lips.

Gere's parents looked at her with a mortified expression.

"Hey, we carnivores and human omnivores have to eat." Chelsea mumbled.

Aaron came in, his clothes muddy and dirty from working. "You should see the buck they brought in! Probably the biggest taken in these parts in ten years!"

"Must we?" Riah asked.

"Nope!"

"We'll stay then." Aerton said.

Chelsea got up to follow Aaron and Solara and Gere couldn't hold back his curiosity.

"I want to see what a 'buck' is." He explained to his parents as they were surprised he wanted to go.

Going out through the back employee door, they went to where the semi-open pavilion used as the kitchen and eating area for the rodeo patrons and as a game dressing area for the hunters in the off season.

"He's a good ten pointer!" Aaron said happily as the hunting team was working on the animal.

They had just opened the chest cavity and began removing the entrails.

"Now that's wicked cool!" Gere exclaimed.

"I just ate, but I'm hungry again." Chelsea said, her nose twitching.

Solara knew of the ranch hunting functions, but never seen them. With a gasp, her eyes rolled and she fell forward and to the side into her brother, almost knocking him over.

"AH! HEY!" He said and saw his sister fall. "Sis!' He said with a panicked voice and knelt to her as did Chelsea and turned her on her side.

Some of the hunters chuckled rather than being concerned, earning a spiteful glare from Gere.

"It happens now and again, Gere." Aaron said calmly as he rolled up his jacket, placing it under her head.

In a few moments she jerked awake with a gasp. She looked up at Gere, then Chelsea, then Aaron. "I'm sorry, honey."

"Oh, now you don't have anything to be sorry about, my little ewe." He propped her up and put her hat back on her. He gave her nose a gentle tap with his finger. "It happens. Heck, Dipu threw up on his first hunting season here. Dunno how he's gonna handle being a soldier medic like he wants."

Solara chuckled and stood up slowly. Her large eyes looking adoringly at him, "Even when I'm being silly, you make me feel special."

"Silly? Jack's silly. You're never silly, my sweet." Aaron put his hand on the side of her face and she nuzzled him.

"Oh God, they're maple sugar curing our deer before it's even cold." One of the hunters said as the rest of the party laughed. "Must be newly-weds." Another said.

Gere shuddered. "Guh, the mush." He took Chelsea's hand and headed back through the employee door. "She sure broke that bronc of a cowboy, huh?"

Chelsea giggled, "Remember when we first went out? Or even better, when Solara and I came out about each other?"

"That was different." Gere replied with his nose up.

"Why? Because it was you in the picture?" She said with a crooked mouth.

"Yup!" He said with exaggerated haughtiness and went back in through the door and held it for Chelsea.

She sighed with a smile and shook her head, "Ego. A universal constant with you guys."

"Yup!" Gere said smiling, giving Chelsea's butt a swat as she entered the building.

"Dinner's ready!" Solara said as if anyone needed calling. Aaron and Solara's bunkhouse apartment was room for one, tight for two and well, six people were definitely an obstacle course.

Aaron helped set the table, but the expression on his face when he lifted the cover on a bowl was rodeo clown material. "Uh, what is it?" He asked cautiously.

"Palak paneer." Solara replied as she put down a plate of flat breads. "These are chapatti. She pointed to another bowl, "Masala rice."

Aaron nodded, "Been hangin' out with Dipu, I see."

"Yes!" Solara said happily. "And here's something for you and Chelsea." She placed a tray of reddish coloured meat and vegetables. "Chicken tikka!"

Chelsea's eyes lit up, "Sweetie, this looks and smells wonderful!" She tried some of the chicken and her face melted into an expression of ecstasy. Followed by melting as she realized how 'authentic' the spicing was.

"Dipu made the spice mixture for me. Said it takes time to learn." Solara said, finally sitting down herself.

"YEEHAW!" Aaron hollerred. "This beats the buffalo wings at the Roundup."

Gere took a cautious taste of the green spinach curry, palak paneer, then poured it on his bread and rice. "This is awesome! I wish you cooked liked this when you were with us."

"You know dear, we should try Terran foods more often." Aerton said to Riah as he was shovelling it just as enthusiastically as his son.

"Indeed, the flavour is well." She said while fanning her face and sweating.

Solara was beside herself with elation at the compliments.

"Cowboys are famous for their chilli, aren't they?" Chelsea asked. "I do a pretty good chilli."

"Heck, yeah. But it's a might fierier than this, even." Aaron replied.

"Come visit us." She winked. "We'll see who gives."

"Challenge accepted, young lady!" Aaron smiled.

"Oh by gods! You make that chilli stuff again you are SO sleeping on the couch." Gere winced. "She set off the toxic vapour alarm last time she ate that stuff. The whole floor had to be evacuated until building maintenance cleared us to go back in."

Everyone laughed except Chelsea who buried her face in her hands and Gere who was straight faced offering his warning.

The Last Blow Unanswered

The next day was their final full day at the ranch for their visit. After breakfast, they went outside to view the commotion going on in the back corral that they overheard staff talking about in the saloon.

A young bronc had been brought in from another ranch from across the river, unable to be broken by their riders.

The horse was very deceiving; halfway to a pony in size, looking very tame and taking to bridle handling reasonably well. But any attempt to saddle or mount it so far resulted in broken fencing and broken ropes.

Aaron was the one to closest get on it, but was thrown repeatedly enough that Diane had to order him to take a rest.

Diane was reasonably good at bronc busting, but the horse backed away from her whenever she got close.

Having heard of the difficulty Aaron had, Solara had brought him a Thermos of hot coffee with a shot.

"But he looks so harmless?" She said as Aaron dabbed his split lip with a handkerchief.

"That's why he's so darned dangerous." He said, tired. "This one's gonna take time."

Solara walked toward the beast as Dipu tied the bridle rope to a hitching post.

"I wouldn't go near him Miss Solara. He didn't like Diane. Maybe a woman beat him?"

Solara was able to get right up to the horse. She pet it, talked to it, it nickered and nuzzled her.

"You just needed someone to understand you, that's all." Solara said to the horse and turned to Aaron. "Try now."

Aaron was impressed. "Hon, you amaze me every day." He gave her a kiss as they passed.

He unhitched the rope, petted the beast calmly and carefully got on. "You got the magic touch, sweet thing!" Aaron said as the horse was calm for the moment. "Maybe we should haaaaaAAAAAAA....." His compliment was interrupted as with lightning reflex, the horse sent him flying over top and Aaron landed hard.

Solara shrieked at his fall and Dipu and Diane ran to him immediately. Her face filled with rage as she looked at the beast standing there. "You son of a bitch! Ch'inchi shroola!" She swore in English and Pegasiian, marching up to the bronc. "He's going to be... my.... HUSBAND!" She shrieked and gave the animal the best right-cross to the head she could.

The horse staggered sideways and fell over with a thud.

"Solara!" Diane shouted, running to and restraining the cursing little sheep-girl. "We don't do this, here!" She said angrily, having been proud of running a humane ranch that never drugged animals or even used cattle prods or electric fencing.

Within moments though, The bronco's head popped up with a shake and he got to his feet. He also came of his own accord to the two females.

Solara stopped ranting and Diane let her go. She looked over at Aaron who was now leaning against a fence post and nodded. Dipu also gave a 'thumbs-up'.

Diane got on the bronco... and stayed on.

"He just needed to be broken, 'down town style'." Solara smirked.

Diane looked down at her from the horse with a straight face. "Miss Golais, in my office... NOW!"

Solara quietly left the corral. She saw Gere, Chelsea and her parents had been watching and was even more humiliated. She quickened her pace inside.

"She didn't know, Diane." Aaron said with a pleading voice.

"She will now, McKenzie."

Aaron and Dipu knew then that the boss meant business with that reply.

"She's a bitch." Gere whispered.

Chelsea shook her head. "I grew up around ranches. If she doesn't show an unmoveable strength of will around her men, they'll lose respect and walk all over her."

Solara felt cold. She shivered as she sat in the office waiting for Diane. Her heart skipped a beat and she gulped when Diane walked in.

She sat down behind her desk and just stared.

Solara couldn't maintain eye contact and looked down.

"Would you kick a dog?" Diane asked calmly.

An image of someone kicking Duke, a dog she recently knew came into her head. "No!" She snapped.

"All animals here, regardless of their temperament, are under my care and are like a dog or cat." Diane said.

Solara looked down again.

"You're suspended from all duties for two weeks. I also want you to review our guidelines and the laws on animal treatment. I will test you on them. If you pass, you may resume your duties." Diane said firmly. "Dismissed."

Solara got up and want to the office door. She stopped and turned, "What If I don't pass?"

Diane looked straight faced at her. "Normally I would put you off the ranch. But if I did that, I would lose Aaron. I can't afford that." She paused and starred unwaveringly at her, "But don't force me to make that choice."

Solara's heart sunk with anxiety, "No, ma'am!" She quickly left.

"I hope Solara's not in too much trouble." Riah said as Aerton and Gere sat melancholic at a table in the saloon.

Chelsea joined them. Gere asked concerned, "How is she?"

She shook her head. "She went right past me, crying."

After settling the bronc in and feeding him, Aaron returned to his apartment to clean up after the bashing he took.

He removed his coat, boots and shirt with a groan. He went into the washroom to see a bloody sight in the mirror. "Dang! No wonder my sweetie was all fired up. I look a mess." He said to himself.

As tough as he prided himself on being, he admitted his limitations and took a pain killer, washed his face and decided to rest his aching body a bit before showering.

When he entered the bedroom, he was surprised to see Solara there. Laying on her stomach on the bed, her head turned away, sniffling. He sat down beside her with his hand on her back. "She was pretty hard on ya?"

Solara didn't answer right away. "Are you mad at me too?"

"No." He gave a chuckle, "Actually I thought it was pretty darned funny. Right out of an old movie called Cat Ballou. Pow!" He laughed. He realized in a few moments that Solara wasn't sharing in the amusement. "Well, guess you gotta see the film."

"She said she might have to put me off the ranch." She said above a whisper.

"Oh, shit." His jovial mood vanished. "She's gonna give you that damn test?"

Solara rolled over towards him. "You know about that?"

He sighed, "Oh yeah. Had to do it a couple times myself. Gawdamn helicopter mother she is."

"What did you do? You're perfect on the ranch."

"HA!" Aaron scoffed, "Hon, you're about to have your hero image shattered. The first time was an honest accident. Was working on the roof and the tool bag fell. Killed one of the goats flat. Got read the riot act about keepin' everyone and all the animals clear when workin' up high." He shook his head, "You ever try and tell a goat where he can and can't go? It's like tryin' to herd cats! They just up and damn well do as they please."

Solara gave a bit of a chuckle, remembering an animated skit of a similar situation done in comedic style. But the smile faded as she liked the goats there. "What about the second time?"

"Well, that one nearly cost me my job here. I was training for the rodeo, doing jumping tricks. Up on the saddle, whirling a lasso over my head and all." he crossed his legs and was obviously injured by the memory. "I lost my balance and the lasso went around my own horses neck just behind his ears. I fell off still holding on to the rope and it caught on the jump. Broke my horse's neck with a loud crack." He rubbed his face. "I loved that old girl. She was special."

He gave a moan of pain and laid down beside her. He gingerly put his arm around her. "You'll do fine. You're smart. Just study them idiot footnotes and major law cases for her questions. And don't try and bluff! If you don't know something, say so. She'd rather you admit that than try and impress her with bullshit."

The analgesic kicked in and he quickly dozed off, mumbling, then snoring.

"You're still my hero." She whispered, knowing he wouldn't hear. She snuggled against him, feeling safe in his arm and fell asleep as well.

"Solara in shit. You and mum are recalled and Chelsea disowned. What the hell else can go wrong this 'vacation'?" Gere grumbled to his dad, fiddling with his empty cup of coffee as his.

"Maybe something a little stronger?" Duncan offered.

"Yes." Gere replied.

Just then, Constable Clay Ross entered the saloon and looked around. Accompanying him was a uniformed member of the Pegasiian Protectorate Guard. That turned heads as most of the guests had never seen the like of Gere and his parents in real life before their visit and here was one in some sort of uniform with a weapon at his side.

The guard looked around the room and pointed to Gere. Clay and the guard approached the table and the guard put his hand near his weapon.

"Gere Golais?" Clay asked.

"Yeah? Let me guess, you're going to make my day even crappier."

"I have an extradition warrant for your arrest from your government." Clay said as he showed him a data pad with the official order.

"What for?" Chelsea and Aerton said simultaneously.

"Collaboration with an Enemy of the State." The Pegasiian guard said.

"What enemy?" Gere snarled. "I have done no such thing!"

The guard nodded towards Chelsea. "You declared your intent to merge with her. You know the law regarding Canisians."

"I'm not Canisian, I'm a Terran!" Chelsea said in protest, standing up quickly.

This move startled the Pegasiian guard enough he took a step back and drew his weapon.

"Stop!" Clay shouted as a loud 'click-click' was heard from behind the bar counter and a red light shone on the guard's forehead.

"Clay, explain to your floppy-eared colleague the earth term, 'Mexican standoff'." Duncan said calmly as he aimed an ancient laser-sighted .30-30 at the alien official.

"My prisoner!" The Pegasiian said.

"No one pulls a gun in my bar." Duncan replied.

As if it were rehearsed, Gere stepped in front of Chelsea and Clay in front of the guard. Both lowered their weapons.

Gere was restrained and led away by the Pegasiian and Clay angrily went over to Duncan, "You could face thirty years for that."

"And if he shot that vixen, his people would face a century of race-riots on this planet. Wouldn't that be real messy for the Alliance." Duncan said raising an eyebrow.

Clay couldn't argue that and left.

" Amistad"

Chelsea, Riah, Aerton and Diane had gone to Aaron's and Solara's apartment to tell them the news.

"This is all my fault. None of this would have started if I didn't come here and get into that damn fight." Solara lamented.

"No one is blaming you." Riah said consolingly.

"Maybe I should go." She continued.

"You go, I go with you!" Aaron said.

"Stop... thinking with your emotions and feeling sorry for yourselves." Diane said. "No one is going anywhere. I'll call Mark."

"Who?" Chelsea asked.

"The ranch lawyer."

"This isn't your problem, Mrs. Ashcroft. We'll find someone for our son." Aerton said, waving his hand.

"Family is family. He's her brother." Diane insisted. "We have to act fast, anyway."

"You were right to act fast, Diane." Mark Chole said on the video phone. "Cases like this where there is a perceived misconduct of their citizens abroad, Pegasiians like to clean up their messes quickly and quietly. Problem is this is political and a power play. But I happen to know a judge or three that's immune to such influences. I'll get a hearing set up straight away." The call ended.

Riah gave a sigh of relief. "All of this for what? Gere and Chelsea have been dating for years."

"Legal trickery." Aaron said. "They tried to get rid of my sweetie. They couldn't, so they recall you and arrest your son, my guess is hoping she'd follow and the whole family is disgraced and back home where they can boast about their perfection abroad."

"You know our people well, Aaron. Did Solara explain the complexities of Pegasiian life?" Aerton asked.

He shook his head. "Nope. Treachery is treachery and isn't indigenous to one world. Humans are masters of it as well."

"Then those on Canisius perfected the art." Chelsea added.

"I so envy Equuleusian culture." Riah sighed.

"When you only live twenty five or so years, you don't have time for bullshit games like we do." Diane said. "You're all welcome to stay until this gets resolved. We'd be stronger together than apart right now."

"But your hunting season? Your guests need rooms that we're taking up." Aerton said reasonably.

"Not a problem." Diane said with a smile. "We don't have a summer compliment of staff, so I can get you a couple of apartments in the bunkhouse." She called for Dipu to arrange the quarters.

Aerton and Riah were settling in to their accommodations as Chelsea was in hers. When she came across Gere's bags that had been transferred, she grabbed one and held it. She didn't know if she'd ever see him again and cried like she never had before.

It was evening when the call came in from Mark Chole. "That was close!" He said with a visible sign of relief. "I found a judge willing to grant a hearing. The message was communicated as Mr. Golais was in the holding cell at YVR spaceport. If they had broke orbit, we'd have lost him for good."

"Good work, Mark!" Diane congratulated him. "So we attend the hearing in Vancouver?"

Mark shook his head, "Whitehorse, Yukon."

"What? Why all the way up there?"

"Only place I could get a judge to hear the case. No one down here wanted to touch an interstellar matter." He rolled his eyes, "Politics and all."

Diane's mind went to Chelsea. Could she take another trip back for possibly more bad news?

All Chelsea could think of was being in Gere's arms again. She didn't care what it took to get him back.

She was tired, emotionally, mentally and physically. She hadn't slept in two days and ate very little. Solara tried to comfort her, as did Riah and Diane, to no avail.

"She's at her breaking point." Solara said to Aaron, scared for her dear friend.

"All rise!" The bailiff commanded and the people in the courtroom rose. Chelsea stumbled but was quickly helped to her feet by Aaron.

Chelsea felt cold and shivered, despite the temperature in the courtroom having been raised to 25C. for the comfort of the Pegasiians attending.

"His Lordship, the Honourable White Raven presiding." The Bailiff continued as an elderly human with long, straight white hair in black cloak stepped up to the bench.

He sat down and said to the crowd, "Be seated."

He looked over the room, his eyes crossing everyone in it as if he took a personal interest in them. It was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop as he did.

"Does the lady of the vulpine require medical attention?" He asked.

Chelsea stood uneasily, "Not yet, your Honour." She sat down again as Aaron on one side and Riah on the other steadied her.

The judge nodded. "So, why are we here today? Mark Chole, you called this hearing, state your reasons."

Mark stood up and cleared his throat. "Your Honour, a valued member of our society, Mr. Gere Golais has been extradited to his home world based on a false accusation. I ask that the extradition order be cancelled."

"What is he accused of?" The judge asked.

"Collaboration with an Enemy of the State."

Murmuring was heard throughout the room until the judge gave a snap of the gavel.

"Where is the accused. I would like to see him." The judge asked.

"Still in a maximum security lockup at the YVR spaceport, your Honour." Mark said with a glare towards Bey Housnell. "They deemed a 70Kg, twenty-two-year-old of fractional strength to a human too great a threat for their security."

Chuckles were heard in the courtroom.

Judge White Raven read some notes from a data pad. "It says here that Mr. Golais is here on a visitor visa with his family. He has not applied for residence and none has been granted. He has solely Pegasiian citizenship. What right do we have to interfere with the Pegasiian people wanting one of their own returned?"

"In the three years that Mr. Golais has been here, he has worked and played and loved as one of us. He has functioned well in our culture and broken none of our laws. He is an exemplary example of an immigrant as well as a Pegasiian citizen. He is betrothed to a Terran and has made his wishes known to many that he wishes to join with her and live as a Terran. It is his wish to claim Resident by Naturalization." Mark summed up and sat back down.

The judge made notes and turned to Bey Housnell. "The Pegasiian government wishes the return of Mr. Golais to face trial for collaboration with an Enemy of State."

Bey stood up. "Yes, your Honour. The defence made our case for us. Mr. Golais is betrothed to a Canisian. The Canisian home world is still legally declared an enemy world by my government. Mr. Golais forming a relationship with one of their citizens is collaboration under our law, even if no security threat is perceived. It is therefore our wish that the extradition is allowed to continue."

The judge made more notes and stared at his pad for a moment. "Mr. Chole, why do you say the Pegasiian's accusation is false? Are my eyes deceiving me, or is she not a Canisian?"

"Eyes can be deceiving, your Honour." Mark began carefully. "Chelsea, is a canid but not a Canisian. She was born right here in Whitehorse to parents who fled from the same war that my esteemed counterpart, Mr. Housnell, refers to that made her people an enemy of their world. Neither she, nor her parents partook in any action against the Pegasiians or their protectorate. As a matter of fact, she has no ties to the Canisian home world at all. Just a few weeks ago, her own parents filed for and were granted legal separation of her status as their child."

Hearing this cold, hard fact being declared openly in a court was too much for Chelsea in her weakened state. She fell off her chair, gasping.

"Bailiff, call for a medic!" The judge ordered.

Within minutes, two medics entered the courtroom and began diagnosing Chelsea, who was drifting in and out of consciousness. The courtroom was silent as everyone was looking over with hopeful anticipation it wasn't major.

One of them read the complex medical scanner and looked up at the bailiff from their kneeling position. "Systemic stress. Typical canid response, she went into acute renal failure some hours ago according to this. We need to get her to a hospital, stat."

The bailiff nodded and Chelsea was transferred immediately.

"Hon, I know what she means to you. Go with her." Aaron whispered to Solara.

She looked anxious, back and forth between Chelsea being loaded up on a stretcher and the judge. She looked at Aaron with a panicked expression, unable to make the decision of staying to learn her brother's fate or go with her friend and former lover.

"Daughter, we know what the lady means to you. We will stay for Gere and let you know anything as soon as it happens." Her dad said and she took Chelsea's handbag and jacket as well as her own and followed the medics.

"Your Honour, may we approach the bench?" Mr. Housnell said and the judge waved him and Mark over.

Bey looked over at the medics leaving with Chelsea and back to the judge with a serious expression. "Your Honour, this case is very traumatizing to all involved. A simple and quick release of our citizen to us would end the torture on the families and not make bad press towards the court for getting involved in internal, interstellar matters of politics."

"Hmmmm." The judge nodded. "If you weren't so highly accredited by your government and our law society, I would have sworn I heard a threat in there, Mr. Housnell."

"Your Honour, how about I just cut to the chase about my case and we can be out of here as soon as possible, so my esteemed colleague can get back to his basketball game or whatever he's so desperate to roast my client quickly for."

Bey's expression turned to one indignant. "Your Honour, if this ambulance chasing hack would let us do our job instead of wasting valuable court resources and time, maybe none of this would have happened!"

"You shouldn't talk about yourself that way, Mr. Housnell...."

"SHUT UP! Both of you!" The judge shouted, cutting Mark off in mid sentence. "You are officers of the law, not daycare attendees! Back to your places."

The lawyers returned to their desks.

"Finish your argument, Mr. Chole." The judge said calmly.

He stood, "As I was saying your Honour, no crime has been committed by Mr. Golais here, or on his home world. The canid he is accused of collaboration with is not and never has been a Canisian citizen."

"Objection." Bey snapped up from his seat.

"Yes, Mr. Housnell?" The judge sighed.

"A blatant lie on the part of my colleague, Mr. Chole, your Honour. She was born of a Canisian family and that family, has returned to Canisius under their repatriation offer. That is public knowledge as announced in the local media."

"Rebuttal, Mr. Chole, or shall I sustain?" The judge asked.

"True enough your Honour, Chelsea's parents are from Canisius and they did return. But as I was saying earlier, they had to disown their daughter to do it. Why? Because she is NOT a Canisian!" Mark emphasized the last point.

"We fortunately have access to the Canisian database pertaining to their citizens here on earth." His hands glanced across a keyboard provided by the court attached to the desk and information showed holographically in front of the judge's desk, large enough for all to see. "We see the birth records for Brenn and Mi'tsu. We have the record of their marriage and we have the Capellan record of their amnesty claim, which was forwarded and approved by the Terran Interstellar Council for receiving them for settlement here."

The screen went split as mark did a comparison. "Here's where their records on earth begin. Work, residence, land title ownership and of course, the birth of their daughter, Che'alsa, in 2211. But notice on the side of the screen for the Canisian records? Blank. Blank until their application for repatriation. An application made as a couple, by a couple, no mention of any children."

He turned off the holograph. "Your Honour, Chelsea was never even registered as a Canisian birth. Whether an oversight on their part, or deliberate, it doesn't matter. Chelsea, born Che'alsa, not even registered here on earth as being given her parents Canisian surname, has zero ties to the world of her parents and that makes her 100% Terran by law."

The murmuring in the courtroom was loud and the judge allowed it for a minute before gavelling. "Order."

He looked at Bey, "Did you not know this before making your extradition application based on your accusation?"

Mr. Housnell slowly got up, "Your Honour, Pegasiian's do not have the access to the Canisian database as your people do. However, the fact stands that he is our citizen and as you have said yourself, has no title to remaining here. I ask that he be released to our custody based on that fact alone."

The judge made his final notes and announced, "We will recess for an hour and a half for lunch. I will make my decision when we reconvene at 1300 hours."

"I'm not hungry." Riah said as she sipped her coffee in the caf辿 and the waiter came to take a food order.

Aerton just shook his head and waved the waiter off.

The waiter looked at Aaron, who did order a vegetarian wrap. "Solara will probably be hungry, even if we're not."

When they arrived at the hospital, they found Chelsea sleeping sedated as machines are attached to her and Solara in a chair beside her, leaning her head on Chelsea's arm, holding her hand.

"Gere?" Was the first word out of her mouth.

"The judge will decide after lunch." Aaron said and offered her the wrap.

Solara shook her head that she didn't want it.

"C'mon hon, eat half. I'll nibble this bunny food with you. Don't need you in here, too." Aaron said as she smiled and accepted half.

A nurse came in to check on the equipment. One was clamped to Chelsea's other arm, lights blinking.

"What is all this?" Aaron asked, pointing to the gadgetry attached to Chelsea.

Without taking her eyes on the screen on the wall as she adjusted the machine, the nurse replied, "Dialysing her blood before we restart her kidney functions."

"Will she recover OK?" Riah asked.

"Canisian's are tough, they usually do. As long as her other organs don't have latent, concealed damage. She had a lot ofcortisol and epinephrine from stress, poisoning her system." The nurse said and left.

Aaron knelt beside Solara, taking her hand and kissing it. "She's going to be just fine, ya hear? And so is Gere."

She smiled and nuzzled his face with hers, then leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Isn't that sweet." Riah whispered to her husband who smiled at their daughter's adoration of him. "Still room for tenderness in the depth of crises."

"She's got a good man. I hope she can keep him." Aerton whispered back and they left them be and waited in the hallway.

"All rise!" The bailiff said as the court resumed after lunch. The judge sat and bid everyone be seated.

After clearing his throat, the judge began reading his decision from the data pad. "Today this court heard a case that is really not within the realm of a Terran civil or criminal court to hear or give judgement on."

He looked over the top of his data pad at Mark Chole and Bey Housnell, then continued. "I heard this case when many other judges refused because of an injustice perpetrated on an individual for being nothing other than a young male falling in love with a member of a race hated by that young man's people. I as a judge and Kwanlin D端n elder know something about injustices perpetrated on someone for no other reason than racial bigotry!"

The judge stood, as did everyone in the room. He leaned over his desk and glared straight at Mr. Mousnell. "You Sir, are greatly offensive to me, this court and our people. Not just my people, but the very race of humanity I represent here today. But I cannot allow myself the luxury of letting that influence my decision."

He sat down, as did everyone in the room.

"Does this court have the jurisdiction to interfere with internal Pegasiian politics? No. Does this court have the authority to judge what laws of the Pegasiian people can and can't be enforced on earth upon their own citizens? No. Therefore, can this court cancel the extradition request for one of their own, regardless of the accusation, baseless or not? Regretfully, no."

Riah was lugubrious and began to cry out loud. Aerton pulled her to his chest.

"Oh, my God! I don't believe this." Aaron was aghast.

The judge took no notice of the disruption and continued. "However, an official representative of the Pegasiian government has made a serious charge against a wholly Terran individual as an Enemy of the State. In this accusation, is the government of the Pegasi Dominion and Protectorate be of the mind that the Terran system also be an enemy? It would seem to me that this individual would single handedly wish to make the treaty of the Tri-Stellar Alliance fall to dust. It is my final decision that this matter be referred to the Earth United administration and Terran Interstellar Council for clarification."

Bey Housnell's eyes went wide, jaw dropped and heart sank at how the judge interpreted the accusations, based of their lack of knowledge of Chelsea's citizenship status.

"It is also my final decision that because Mr. Golais is involved with the Terran accused of being an Enemy of the State, he is to be placed in Terran custody as a witness and will appear at any hearings set out by the Earth United administration and Terran Interstellar Council. Given his desire to become a naturalized resident and is unlikely to return to his home world because of the serious criminal charges he faces there, this court does not deem him a flight risk and he is hereby ordered released by his own recognisance until called to appear at the aforementioned hearings. Leave to Appeal is not applicable. Case adjourned."

"Thank you your Honour!" Mr. Chole said and joined Gere's parents.

"What happened? What does this mean? Our son is still in custody?" Aerton asked, comforting his wife.

"It's legal babblegab meaning your son is free and can stay with Chelsea. Now if you'll excuse me, I have paperwork to file to get him released." Mark said happily.

Bey Housnell tried to slip out unnoticed, but Aerton pulled him aside. "Will you have the decency reinstate my position and cancel mine and Riah's recall now?"

Housnell looked annoyed and confused. "I know nothing of your recall. Maybe ask your employer?"

Aaron and Solara's parents quickly went to the hospital to tell Solara the good news. She collapsed in Aaron's arms with tears of relief and joy. Chelsea was still sedated and couldn't be told just yet.

"Sounds like all went well!" The doctor said as he came in the room, having heard the commotion. "I understand the lad the little vixen likes will be soon free."

Riah looked confused, "How could you know doctor, we just learned this ourselves not a half-hour ago?"

He smiled, "It's all over the media. Someone had tipped them off that there was a hot case being tried right here in Whitehorse. Your son and his lady here will be rather famous soon, I would think."

"When can you wake Chelsea so we can tell her the good news?" Solara asked.

"Twelve hours." The doctor replied. "Looks like everything else is fine and her system has been purged of the stress garbage. We already started activating her kidneys and they'll take ten to twelve hours to come back up to eighty percent. We'll keep her out during that time because it is an extremely uncomfortable procedure for anyone."

_ Rogue Diplomat Declares Earth Citizen Enemy. End of the Alliance? _

_ 20thCentury Human-Like Thinking Corrals Caprids _

_ Pegasi Prejudice vs. Caste Driven Canisius. Pot Calls Kettle Black _

_ Exemplary Citizen Act of Pegasi - Practise What You Preach! _

"Nice going, Housnell." The Pegasiian ambassador said, reading the headlines for that evening. "A simple case of recalling a little girl has disgraced our entire planet!"

"How the hell was I supposed to know that the canid wasn't a Canisian or that a media sensation was going to ensue?" Bey exclaimed, just as angry and humiliated as his boss at losing the case. "The judge overreacted by misinterpreting my accusation, anyway. Humans have short attentions spans. One of their popular actresses will be pregnant tomorrow or something and humans will forget about today all together." He leaned back in his chair.

"Do you know how much damage control I have to do?" The ambassador growled. "Housnell, tell me this.... why, WHY didn't you just cancel Golais' visitor visa and deny a renewal?"

Bey's face went completely blank.

"Exactly." The ambassador said. "You are incompetent. Incompetent and FIRED!" He left Bey's office.

Bey just stared at his blank monitor. His ambitious gamble not only didn't pay off, but secured his family's disgrace. He was right, humans do have short attention spans for sensationalized headlines. But his people do not.

It hadn't been his intention to ruin anyone's lives the way he did so well. Just use craftiness in getting what he saw a pair of wild youth back home. He had no expectation that they would fight so strongly. None had before this. Would they again? He began to resent the humans. "They fight a speeding ticket as they would a home invader. Savage warrior species. No better then those damned canines." He said and poured a drink from a bottle in his desk drawer.

And so the resentment grew. Old wounds festered and spread into new ones. Like any infection, if not caught in time, could weaken the whole body.

--

Chelsea's whiskers twitched. Her head jerked from side to side with a moan as if waking from a bad dream. She blinked.

The light was painfully bright for her as she opened her eyes. Everything was blurry and she couldn't feel her arms or legs to move them, other than an annoying tingling sensation.

The bright white fog dimmed and a pair of silhouettes formed into faces. Smiles grew on them as things came into focus. "Hey!" One said in the familiar voice of her boyfriend. The other leaned over and hugged her tearfully.

"Gere?" Chelsea said weakly and tried to raise her hand, but could only twitch her fingers.

He took her hand and kissed it, then held it to the side of his face. "Yes, my love?"

"Let's go home." She replied, her golden eyes filled with a tiredness like he'd never seen before.

"As soon as you're able, my love." He replied.

Home Is Where The Heat Is

That evening, Aaron and Solara were on a flight and looking forward to returning to their home.

"Sorry I put you and the ranch through so much." Solara said. I'm glad it's over."

"It's been an adventure." He replied. "Not something I want to repeat, but something to tell our kids when we have 'em."

Solara looked sadly up at him. "I would love for nothing more than to give you a baby. But it can't happen, I'm afraid."

Aaron smiled and patted her knee. "When you and your brother were having your reunion with Chelsea, I was reading medical journals in the waiting room. Looks like it can probably happen very soon."

"Really?" Solara gasped with a hopeful smile. "You really read that?"

"Uh-huh." He nodded. "Seems geneticists found a way to reconfigure a whole bunch of neat proteins to make interspecies breeding possible."

"I didn't know that stuff interested you? What did the article say?" She asked excited.

"Whelp, I was interested because of the breeding program the ranch has. So I studied a bit on interspecies reproduction. Zorses and geeps and things like that. Now a Canisian scientist was looking for ways to preserve animal species on his world for food. Turned out it can also help people of different worlds, too. Seems bovid Centaurians and your caprid people have already interbred this way. Looks like humans and your people are now good candidates for trials. They're sorting out the approval process now."

Solara gave a chuckle. "Isn't that something? A people that my people dislike so much developing such a miracle as that." Solara entwined her arm with his and looked up at him with her big, adoring brown eyes. "Should we talk names yet?"

"Well my little ewe, you might be getting ahead of yourself." He said logically, which wiped the smile off her face. "But Aerton Aaron for my boy wouldn't be so bad."

She hugged his arm appreciatively. "Funny, I was thinking of Aaron Aerton, myself."

"How about if it's a girl?" He asked. "Ain't thought of one yet."

"How about one of each?" Solara smiled happily again.

Chelsea was sitting up in her bed, her limbs and kidneys having returned mostly to normal. A tray was placed in front of her and licking her lips, she lifted the cover. Her nose twitched at the lump of unidentifiable protein, then she frowned.

Gere sat beside her tying into a pesto covered pasta with zeal. The stress relief brought back both of their apatites, but Chelsea found what was in front of her completely unacceptable.

Gere pointed to her tray and gulped down his mouthful. "It's hospital food. It's not supposed to be good. I think they do that so you go home quicker."

Chelsea sliced off a small piece and nibbled it. Her nose scrunched and she spit it into a napkin, placed it on the plate and replaced the cover. "I'll wait until I get out."

Gere smiled. "I figured this would happen, so I happen to have...." He leaned down and picked up a bag. Opening it, he pulled out a wrapped burger and put it on top of the tray lid. "Try that."

Chelsea opened the wrapper to find a thick hamburger that was seared on the outside and completely raw on the inside. There was an over-easy egg on it that broke open and yolk ran all over the raw meat. On the bottom bun, there were curds of goat cheese that made the whole room smell like feet.

"Oh honey, real food! I so love you!" She said appreciatively and ate it voraciously.

Gere grimaced, as he always did, at how Canisians and humans could eat meat, let alone so raw.

The doctor came in the room and saw Chelsea gulp down the last of the burger with her muzzle fur covered in egg yolk. "I see someone discovered Tony's food cart across the street." He chuckled.

Gere nodded, "I know what hospital food is about. The same on any world."

"Our cafeteria is the same. I go to the cart when I'm on day shift." He patted his rounded belly, "Where do you think I got this?"

Gere and Chelsea chuckled.

"I'm here to discharge you. You're OK to go home. Take it easy on the salt for the next week though. It will interfere with the renal regeneration drugs."

"Thank you for everything, doctor." Chelsea said. "It's been a bad week."

"So I have read." The doctor replied. "Seems you're also a very long way from home. Our social service councillors can provide a transportation coupon if you need it."

"Money is not much of our problems, doctor. But thank you anyway." Gere said.

"That's good to hear." He said and took one last look at the instrumentation. "Everything checks out. A nurse will come and unhook these contraptions and you can go."

"Do you want to go right away, or spend the night in a hotel?" Gere asked her after the doctor left the room.

"I've slept enough. But if you're tired, we can stay the night." She said, squeezing his hand supportively.

"Ha!" Gere scoffed. "All I did in that damn cell was worry and sleep, worry and sleep. I want to go home, too."

--

A knock on M'Lynn's door brought her out of a daydream. She had a wonderful, relaxing morning walking along the trails of Newcastle Island and for the first time in weeks, had a clear mind.

She opened the door to see her daughter, Fluffie.

She looked up and down the hallway, "You're alone?"

Her daughter nodded.

"Come in." She bade. "Have a seat."

Fluffie entered. There was only one chair. She sat down in it as her mother sat on the bed, crossing her legs and putting her hands on her knee.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Her daughter asked, getting straight to the point.

"If you were in my position, would you have told your daughter?" M'Lynn replied simply.

Fluffie thought for a moment, then shook her head. "No."

"What are you going to do?" Her mother asked, concerned.

"I... I don't know yet." She said, not looking at her in the eye. "Thomas wants me to take time to reflect."

"Maybe some good advice from the skunk." Her mother said derisively.

Fluffie looked at her mum, "Thomas was the one that insisted I come. He wants me to reconnect with you."

M'Lynn didn't respond immediately, just turned away. She gathered herself, "And what do you think, my dear?"

"Well..." Fluffie shrugged, "I'm here."

--

Gere and Chelsea arrived in their apartment. Gere turned up the heat and for the first time, Chelsea didn't mind or argue.

Dropping their bags on the bedroom floor, they flopped down on the bed and let out a big sigh. "Our own bed." Chelsea said with relief.

"I don't ever want to be separated from you like that again." Gere said, placing his hand on hers.

"You won't be." She said reassuringly.

"Let's make that official." Gere said.

Chelsea rolled on her side towards Gere, "Is that a proposal?"

Gere smiled. He reached over to his bad and pulled out a little box. "I've been carrying this with me since we left. I was going to ask you in front of your parents."

Chelsea's mouth hung open. "Th... that was what you were talking about on the plane to your mother?"

"Yep." He twirled the box.

"YES!" Chelsea shouted and threw her arms around him. "Yes, you loveable goat. I will."

The day after the next, they set up an appointment with John and met him at the office.

"Congratulations on your freedom! We were scared for a while, for both of you. It must have been some traumatic experience." He said.

"To say the least." Gere said.

John noticed the ring on Chelsea's finger. "I see you've decided to formalize the arrangement?"

"Yes and this is what we want to talk to you about." Chelsea said.

John nodded. "I expected this. Things have changed and drastically."

"Think you can do without your star team?" Gere asked pridefully.

John smiled. "You have earned your place to move on. And some good news. Since you made headlines, people all over the various systems have been researching, 'Who is this Gere Golais? Who is this Chelsea?' and the demand for your videos have sky rocketed not only from earth, but the Pegasiian and Canisian systems. You two and Solara will be enjoying royalties for some time to come."

Gere and Chelsea smiled. "That's some welcome news. We could use the time off to do some planning and figure out our next move."

"Well, if you're still interested in acting, I suggest getting a manager. My communicator has been ringing off the screen. Beijing, Mumbai, Paris, London, Hollywood, Buenos Aries, they all have been calling and asking if you want roles in various films." John said upbeat about his actor's prospects.

"Anything romantic?" Chelsea asked, looking over at Gere.

"How about action? Maybe an interstellar super spy flick?" Gere asked eagerly.

John laughed, "I never saw any scripts. They just asked if you were available. Should I tell them yes?"

Chelsea and Gere nodded with big smiles.

"Okay, I'll return some calls."

"Will you be our manager?" Chelsea asked.

"I hate to say no, but I'm far too busy producing. However, I know a fellow in the Big Smoke of Vancouver. He's not easy to be around, I'll be honest with you, he's a total arsehole. But his is completely honest and on the up and up. He won't gyp you pay and he'll squeeze every Interstellar Dollar out of producers to get what you're worth. I know this from personal experience."

"Sounds like kindred to me" Gere rubbed his hands with a greedy expression.

John chuckled. "Well he should, he's a Pegasiian."

They laughed.

"What's his name?" Chelsea asked.

"Jonnahfar."

"The Goat?" Gere said, surprised.

"The one and only." John nodded.

"Who is this... Goat?" Chelsea asked.

"One of the more famous Pegasiians abroad. He hit it big with live entertainment in a bar he owned on the space dock. He got sick of how entertainers were treated and went into managing them." Gere explained. "I have some of his sister's recordings, Harliah. She actually lives an hour away in Victoria."

Chelsea scrunched her nose. "That Celtic inspired Pegasiian opera stuff you dragged me to last fall?"

"Oh, you loved it! I saw you drooling toward at the stage!" Gere said sarcastically.

Chelsea smiled, "It wasn't the music, it was that little vixen that was singing with her, Teri Donnelly." She gave a 'murr' and snapped her teeth. "I could ravage, or been ravaged by her any day."

John and Gere smiled.

The fire crackled outside the bunkhouse and Aaron was plunking away on his guitar. He stopped and looked around.

"What is it, honey?" Solara asked, bundled in her jacket and leaning against him.

"Ya hear that?" He said, listening intently. "First crickets of the season."

Solara just noticed the sound. "Oh! Those little chirping insects."

"Uh-huh." Aaron said and snuggled her close. "Means warmer weather coming soon." He kissed her nose and felt it was cold. "Did you want to go inside?"

She shook her head. "I'm fine here, with you."

"You're such a romantic." He said and they kissed.

The next morning, Aaron was glad to get back to his routine with all the drama over. He poured himself a coffee and pulled out some bread. Solara 'shooed' him away. He sat down.

"I take care of you now. Three eggs with your toast?" She said sweetly as he thought to himself again, as he did every day, that he was the luckiest guy in the world.

She was wrapped in a thick, fluffy housecoat with her hair all tangled and he thought her the most beautiful thing in the world. "Where you workin' today, hon?" He asked, all the recent events making him forget her suspension.

She looked at him shamefully and said nothing.

"Oh right, I forgot. I'm sorry." He said and felt badly.

Solara shook her head, "I did too, for a while."

The intercom signalled and Aaron answered, "Yes, Diane?"

"Morning, Aaron. When your lovely lady awakes, can you have her come at her convenience to my office?"

"Sure thing." he said and disconnected.

"Wonder what I did now?" Solara mumbled.

"Now sweet thing, she didn't have that tone in her voice. Maybe it's just a message." He tried to sound encouraging.

Around mid morning, the clouds had cleared and it really felt like spring. Solara felt comfortable in a long sleeved flannel shirt as she made her way from the bunkhouse, pausing to pat one of the pygmy goats she had nicknamed 'Little Gere' for his moodiness.

She had a lump in her throat as she mustered the courage to knock on the office door.

"Come in!" Diane shouted.

When Solara walked in, Diane stood and greeted her with a smile. "Solara, since when do you need to knock?"

She just gave an uncomfortable expression.

"Sit down sweetie." Diane said gently and she did. "I'll get to the point. You've been through hell and I have not helped."

"You did what you had to." Solara said sheepishly.

Diane smiled, "How would you like to help Brett with a project."

"If I can, sure." She said, surprised.

"Some of those off world vegetables and herbs you taught him about can't be got from the farmers coop. Can you help him with a garden and we can grow them right here?"

"I'd love to!" Solara said happily.

Diane nodded, "Go see him after lunch. See what you to can come up with."

"Thank you!" Solara said gratefully and got up, excited and ready to start a plan.

"Oh, one more thing...." Diane said, which wiped the smile off Solara's face. "Your suspension is lifted."

Solara was taken aback. She knew why she got one and the seriousness of her actions. "Huh?"

"I am convinced it won't happen again. I'll also wave the test if you promise to read up on the laws on animal treatment."

"I will!" Solara said solemnly.

"Then go have a nice morning, Shisha missed you."

A morning ride felt like the right thing to do and share in her happiness with her Shetland friend.

The First Day of the Remainder of Days

Gere and Chelsea took time off to consider their options. With the help of their manager Jon, they accepted a script that wasn't the highest dollar offer, but suited their abilities the most and was sure to put them in a firm position for future options on the big screen.

Filming was to begin in mid summer, which gave them time to proceed with plans they had been discussing with Solara and Aaron.

The time had passed and spring gave way to early summer. The warmth was tempered with a gentle breeze, to Chelsea's delight. It had been a wetter spring than usual in Ashcroft and everything from grass to trees was a lush green and the scent of wild flowers and sage sweetly filled the air.

There was a special occasion at the ranch and the outdoor decorations and flowers were set up to reflect a joyous celebration about to take place.

A small group of people gathered wearing their finest suits and colourful dresses. Two other ranch residents were on hand, washed and brushed as if an international prize pageant were about to take place. Shisha proudly pranced beside Solara, her mane looking as if it were made of the finest silk, dotted with chicory flowers. Jack strutted beside Aaron with a coat so shiny, it appeared to have been oiled. He had a gold coloured braid draped about his neck.

There were but a few in attendance. Chelsea, Gere and his parents, the members of the ranch and even John Spear made the trip having received an invitation.

Honouring her heritage, she wore traditional bedecking for her people.

Solara's wedding dress shimmered bight iridescent colours in the sun. The material woven like diffraction grating at a microscopic level made it shine a rainbow of colours with each of her movements and in the breeze. This symbolized the many facets and transformations life together will bring, colours seen and unseen. Beautiful and objectionable. Taken all together, they form a whole.

Her hair was covered in braids of tiny flowers symbolizing the delicateness of love and life that without care and respect, will whither.

A thread-like fine gold chain woven into a harem-style veil over her face symbolizing prosperity.

The front of her dress was tightly crocheted lace, subtly revealing her breasts through them representing her youth and fertility.

Her hands she held together with a floral bouquet atop and dead branches and twigs below symbolizing new life growing from out of the old; her new life with Aaron from her single one to be left behind.

Aaron was in his 'Sunday best'. A black suit that thanks to recrudescent style, was as fashionable today as when it first appeared in the 19thcentury. White, slim collar shirt with western tie. Polished boots and black hat.

They walked slowly toward each other, never breaking eye contact, meeting in the centre in front of the regional Commissioner of Events.

"It is always a pleasure to join two who love each other dearly. It is an even greater pleasure to join two worlds." The Commissioner began. "Aaron Garret McKenzie, you stand before the one you love. What do you wish to say to her in the name of your Code of Honour you hold sacrosanct?"

Aaron's smile became a wide grin of happiness. He got to declare to all what his love meant to him. "That day, one year ago when I saw you, I knew that you would be the perfect mate for me. You're gentle, loving, selfless, beautiful to me beyond description and above all, you love me. I will take you as my bride, my life partner in all that I am and have. Emotionally and physically. Tangible and intangible. I will cherish, love and adore you. Defend your honour, happiness and life with my own, for what is mine is now yours."

The Commissioner looked to Solara, "Solara Golais, before your Gods of E'vahnee, what oath do you take?"

Tears of happiness were visibly running off her cheeks. She gave a couple of sniffles before she could speak. "You are the embodiment of everything I ever wanted or needed. You're strong, wise, confident and firm. Equally so, you are compassionate, loving, understanding and merciful. Your home is my home. Your trails are my trails. Where you ride, I'll ride. My heart has been, is and always will be yours."

The Commissioner took Aaron's and Solara's hands and brought them together. As if cued, Jack took a few paces toward the Commissioner, who lifted the braid from his neck. "Solara Golais, cast off which was."

She dropped the old twigs and branches.

The Commissioner gently wrapped the cord so their hands were tied together. "This is their first day of the rest of your days, reborn to each other as one heart, one property, one life." He turned them slightly toward the crowd and placed his hand upon their joined hands. "It is the wishes of the newly joined couple that this new family be introduced as Mr. and Mrs. McKenzie. May they live in peace, happiness and prosperity."

Everyone stood and applauded with loud cheers from the ranch members as they flung their hats into the air.

Gere and Aerton shook Aaron's hand, welcoming him officially to the family. He received tearful hugs and kisses from Riah and Chelsea.

"Thank you kindly. I sure would 'ave liked to got to know you better, you being my inlaws and all now." Aaron said to Riah and Aerton.

"We don't have to leave for a few months, yet." Aerton said. "At least Riah and my recall had nothing to do with this recent mess. My term of employment at my present position had just ended. So we can come back again. However, can we expect to see you down in the city next month for our sons wedding?" Aerton said.

"Count on it! I want to see this place that made my bride fall for this world. Seems without it, I wouldn't have found my perfect gal."

"Oh, I wouldn't say it was the town, Aaron." Riah said. "Solara never felt at home on our world. She had a calling to yours. Ever since she was a little girl, she would read and watch about cowboys and untamed wilderness and how the past was preserved. It was like a human soul got misplaced into a Pegasiian body and well out of time."

Aaron chuckled, "Then my thanks to her gods for being asleep at the reins when they made her." This made Solara's parents laugh.

"You've done well." Gere said to his sister. "Though he's not rich...."

She rolled her eyes at those words. "You are such a... Pegasiian."

"I wonder why?" Gere laughed. Then he once again looked at her proudly and smiled. "You found what you needed. The lifestyle that called to you from across the stars. You've attained more than most and something gold can't buy."

She hugged her brother tightly. "That's the nicest thing you could have said to me."

After the celebration and feasting, it was back to work for the hands, back to activities for the guests and off to a honeymoon in the resort mountains of Banff, Alberta for the happily married couple. A joint wedding gift from John Spear, Chelsea, Gere and his parents.

"Is this making you look forward to your wedding coming up?" John asked Gere and Chelsea.

Chelsea smiled with grateful appreciation. "Absolutely! Thank you for letting us have it at your mansion. It's as beautiful as here."

Gere nodded. "And five star facilities."

John laughed. "When we first met, Solara was the starlet, you Gere was an average guy and Chelsea, you were the one I pegged to be a housewife. Amazing what a few years can spin."

"Life is young for us. There's time for us to be whomever we want to be." Chelsea said and kissed Gere, who held her tightly and kissed her hand with the ring.