Chapter 17

The part of me that was purely equine, though, was of the opinion that the mares smelled good and rutting one would feel good, and what else mattered? I told that part to shut up, and settled myself on the ground to sleep, but sleep when it claimed me was more than a little restless.

When I felt the touch of hands on my head, I snapped awake in an instant. Somebody was trying to slip a bridle over me. Almost without thinking I turned my head and snatched the bridle out of those hands with a snap of my teeth. I heard a yelp of surprise, and saw a plainsman, not the one who’d welcomed us, but somebody else, sitting on his rump in the grass beside me, looking quite shocked. I heaved myself to my feet, bridle still clutched in my teeth, and gave the grass a good paw, snorting at him. He scrambled upright, too, staring at me.