Farmer's Wife (Star Farmer Book 6) by Jaxon Reed

Author:Jaxon Reed [Reed, Jaxon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2025-01-30T00:00:00+00:00

19

The party left the corral well before Tom could arrive. Twelve horses made their way out of town, heading north at two abreast.

The city slickers remained uncomfortable in the saddle, but they managed. Gliph’s wounded personnel, including Shalonda and Buster, winced at every step their steeds took.

The horses did not care for the smell of blood on those two, but Cajun Cal insisted the animals would get them where they wanted to go. And they did, falling in line with others in the procession going out of town.

To get them to this point, Britt Dalmont had spent several minutes negotiating with Cajun Cal about the price for so many horses. He wanted to rent them rather than buy them from the stables. And he would have preferred a bulk discount of some sort.

Cal opened negotiations by asking twice the usual amount over his typical rental fee, saying he was putting his inventory at risk by letting Britt have so many all at once.

Britt countered with the fact that Cal knew where he lived, and could come visit the Dalmont compound any time if he needed to retrieve a horse early.

Britt soon gave up on hopes of a discount, but insisted on paying the usual rate. Reluctantly, Cal agreed. Then Britt asked him to carry it all on credit, and the negotiations started over again.

Eventually, Britt gave up all the money he had on him, six five-credit pieces, for a total of 30. He promised Cal the rest of the money next time he came into town, by the weekend at the latest.

Cal agreed but insisted on Britt returning all the horses in good shape at that time. Any equine injuries or, heaven forbid, deaths would result in higher charges owed.

Britt assured him the newcomers would not hurt his animals. Cal returned to the stables and brought out a dozen saddled mounts in a remarkably short time. He also handed over Britt’s horse which had been stabled there.

After a quick lesson on riding a horse, everyone mounted up. The X’s and O’s were all awkward at it. For many, it was their first time and it showed.

Buster insisted he knew how to ride, that he had done so before several times. But his injuries from the shellacking Oma Ferguson gave him made it a very painful endeavor. Cal clearly did not believe the big man as he watched Buster struggle to get into the saddle.

“Just take it easy,” Cal said once everyone had finally mounted up. “Let the horses follow Mr. Dalmont’s lead, and you will all be fine. Then you can bring them back safe and sound and Mr. Dalmont can pay me the rest of the money he owes for all this.”

Gliph sat on his horse trying to look relaxed and confident yet failing to display either. His horse pranced nervously, its heightened senses detecting an inexperienced rider.

“What about our luggage, Mr. Dalmont?”

“Oh, yeah.”

Britt rented a cargo wagon, wincing at the price as Cal added it to his bill.

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