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“Henry!” Bec exclaimed in surprise. “Where did you come from?”
The large boar regarded them silently. Bec held out her hand and he came toward her.
“He thinks you have food,” Lily said.
“I do,” Bec replied. “In the trailer. I should’ve tried that first on the piglets. I thought they’d just be friendly.”
“He’s the daddy,” Lily observed. “I’m surprised he didn’t object to us chasing the babies.”
Bec regarded him affectionately. “He’s a good boy, aren’t you Henry?” she crooned. Then she stopped, struck by a sudden thought. “No!” she exclaimed.
“What’s wrong?”
“Ashton told me he plans to keep a couple of the girl babies from this litter. That means he’ll sell Henry and get another boar by the time they’re old enough to breed. Henry could be in danger, too!”
“That’s sad for Henry, but there’s nothing we can do about it,” Lily said. “Come on, let’s end this craziness and go home. My bed is calling.”
“No.” Bec was determined. “I’m not going to leave Henry here in danger without at least trying to rescue him. He deserves a better future than what he’ll get here.”
“No!” Lily protested. “It will be another disaster. Let’s just declare defeat and go home.”
“Uh-uh. Not without trying,” Bec insisted. “I’ll get some food. Henry might respond to that.”
A moment later she was back with a container in her hand.
“Here, boy, come and get it,” she called softly.
Henry didn’t need a second invitation. He followed Bec out the gate and up the ramp into the trailer without a second glance back at his home. He was intent only on the prize.
Bec put the container down and rubbed him on the back. “You’re a good boy,” she said.
Then she darted down the ramp and lifted it into place, sliding the bolt home on the trailer.
Lily shut the gate behind them. The piglets would be safe in their day pasture since they couldn’t escape into the driveway.
“Let’s go home,” she said wearily.
Bec looked pleased with herself in the dull light of the head torch. “It’s taken all week, but I’ve finally done something meaningful,” she said. “Now that we’ve saved Henry from a fate worse than death, let’s go.”
“I thought I’d never hear you say those words,” Lily muttered. “I don’t know why I ever listen to you.”
“Because you’re my bestie,” Bec said cheerfully.
She started the car and they crept down the driveway again. Out on the main road, she switched on the lights again. “I think we got away with it,” she said.
“I don’t,” Lily retorted. “I’ve already died a thousand deaths back there. Every time we heard a noise that wasn’t a pig I thought I was about to have a heart attack.”
“Just think how sweetly you’ll sleep knowing that you helped save a life,” Bec replied.
“But what about the piglets?” Lily asked. “Aren’t you worried about them?”
“They didn’t want to be saved,” Bec said sadly. “But I’ll rest in peace knowing that I did my best.”
“You didn’t try hunting them down in their day pasture.”
“No, I didn’t,” Bec said. “We could always go back.”
“No!” Lily said hastily. “Just be happy that you’ve saved Henry and leave it at that.”
