Page 27 of His Human Runaway

“You’re used to doing this?” I say to Burl. “Going back and forth to town for supplies?”

“Yeah.”

“Maybe I can be the one who takes over this task in the future? You show me how it’s done this time, and then I can take over picking up supplies for you.”

“I would appreciate that,” Burl responds. “Contina used to perform this task, but I’ve learned that our new cook doesn’t like to drive and hates going to town alone. It’d be good if the two of you could go together.”

“No problem.”

Percut, the younger male I met the first night, greets me and starts to sit next to me up front.

“Get in back,” a deep voice growls.

Percut is swiftly gone, replaced by a disgruntled Thorn sitting beside me. Burl drives the vehicle. Newl arrives and so does another ranch hand named Jerik and they sit in back with Percut.

And then we’re off. The three men in the back seat are funny. They keep the drive fun and lively. They exchange jokes about animals on the ranch and tell harmless stories of fights and drama that happen in the barracks at night. They also keep asking me questions about myself, some of which are way too personal or could cause me to admit too much about where I was before I arrived. Thorn isn’t happy about any of this and tells them to cut it out.

I’ve noticed he gets very grouchy when the two of us are together with the younger ranch hands.

Finally, we arrive in the small town and park on the end of the main street, next to the feed store.

We all get out of the vehicle and Percut instantly pulls me aside to speak. “You could come with me and Jerik later, after you finish in the store. You don’t have to stay with those two old Hyrrokin. We can show you where it’s fun to hang out around here.”

I smile. “No, thank you, but that’s sweet of you to offer.”

Thorn walks up, black smoke billowing from his nostrils and his barbed tail snapping behind him. “Get out of here, Percut.”

Jeez. He looks so scary right now he’s scaring me too.

The younger male immediately looks contrite and he and Jerik step off the street and go their own way.

“Don’t worry about that, he’s a little too young for me. But he’s sweet. He means well.”

Thorn grunts and smoke wafts from his nostrils. He guides me into the feed store. Newl and Burl follow behind.

The feed store is similar to the one I went to every month of my life on New Earth. This shouldn’t be new, but it is still different. None of the goods being sold are the same. And there’s much more technology to create items to purchase on the spot, or the ability to special order other things and have them arrive in a timely manner.

Burl and Newl take care of getting the food ingredients, both human and Hyrrokin, that we’ve already ordered. I take the time to see what’s in the inventory for the furniture I might need to fill all those empty bedrooms at the ranch.

Thorn thanks the store clerk and takes something from her and then strides forward and hands it to me.

“What is this?”

“It’s your new tablet.”

“What? No. You don’t have to…I don’t need…”

“Yes, you do. I want you to have one so you can contact me whenever you need. Later I will help you put all of us, including my brothers, Burl and Sheriff Loadstone on your contacts.”

I look down at the package in awe because it’s the most expensive tablet on the market, a type I’d never thought I’d ever be able to afford, and he’s gifting it to me. “Thank you,” I answer with genuine excitement. It’s basically the nicest gift I’ve ever been given.

He shrugs and keeps going, gathering more supplies.

Finally, Burl and Thorn get everything they need for the animals. Newl has all he needs for the barracks. I get everything I could possibly need for the kitchen. In the end I guess it’s so much they’re gonna have most of it delivered. And then we’re done. Everything’s loaded.

Suddenly Burl has an appointment and Newl grunts something about meeting up with a friend. They both wave goodbye and then it’s just Thorne and me.

“You hungry?” he questions.

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