Page 30 of Milked for the Holidays

Kind as he may be, it still doesn’t negate the fact that I’m forced to be a fucking cow. Bringing my glove up to my lips, I tug at it with my teeth. It doesn’t budge. Through the bars, the other women watch me with rapt attention.

I struggle with the glove, trying everything I can think of. Nothing works. In frustration, I curl my fingers around the rod and slam my fist into the hay. From the front of the vehicle, neither Rancher makes any movement indicating they either see or hear what’s happening.

“Moo.” I let the infernal sound pass through my lips at a low volume, keeping my eyes on the Ranchers. Nothing. “Moo,” I say again, a bit louder. Still nothing. Once more, I make the noise, this time much louder.

The vehicle stops with an abrupt halt. We sway from side to side, unable to find purchase with our hooves. Vrokjan is the first to come to the back, followed closely by the other Rancher.

He peers inside, checking over the other women before leveling his gaze at me. I do my best to put on a pitiful face for him, as if I’m in extreme distress. Tugging on my leash, he brings me outside and shuts the doors behind him.

The others huddle forward, watching the interaction. My arms and legs ache as I force myself to follow. All I want to do is curl up in the hay like my friend and sleep, but I can’t until I know the parameters of this new jail.

Tugging me over toward the grass, he hunches down so we’re face to face. “You can speak. What’s wrong?”

Truthfully, I hadn’t planned on coming up with an excuse. I just wanted to see how loud I could be before they heard me. Now that I know I can speak softly and not get caught, I have all the information I need.

“Well?”

I blink up at him, wracking my brain for something believable that won’t cause him to do anything else to me. “I have to pee.” The words blurt out from my lips before I can stop them.

Vrokjan looks over at the other Rancher and jerks his head toward the vehicle. With a nod, he heads over and opens it up.

“Anyone here need to relieve themselves?” No one answers with words, but a smattering of moos reaches my ears.

After a bit of shuffling, he drags my friend out, her pale cheeks turning a bright crimson. I want to go over to her, to tell her it will be okay. More than that, I want to apologize for my part in her discomfort.

If only I’d kept my mouth shut until we got to his house. He made it very clear we could talk there or in the pasture away from the other Ranchers. I just wanted to check in on her and make sure she was okay.

Dark rings stand out against her white cheeks, making it look as if she’s been punched in the eyes. Unable to help myself, I reach out, pawing at her gently. Though she doesn’t wince at my touch, it’s not as if I’m able to be thorough in my examination. Not with these fucking gloves.

Thankfully, they don’t appear to be bruises, and she doesn’t seem to be in any physical distress. Being out here in the sun, the marks are paler, not as stark against her skin. My breath comes out in a relieved whoosh as I’m able to convince myself she’s not injured.

The other Rancher pulls her back and glares down at me for a moment before hunching down. “Are you trying to insinuate something, cow?”

Vrokjan stands between us, his massive frame blocking me from his ire. “I know you’re possessive of your Highland, but you will not threaten my heifer. If we’re going to live together, you will need to respect my property, as I will respect yours.”

Sliding around my Rancher’s leg, I shoot the other woman a bright smile. We’re going to be in the same house! When she returns it, the two Ranchers shift a bit.

I cower as I look up at Vrokjan, worried I’ve somehow angered him or done something wrong. But instead of a fierce frown, both Ranchers smile at us, their faces transforming into something kinder, almost gentle.

“Seems as if our little cows know each other,” Vrokjan chuckles. “At least they're friendly. That will certainly make things easier.”

The other Rancher runs his hand over my friend’s head and offers me a slight smirk. “My apologies for snapping at your cow.” He then turns to me. “How do you two know each other?”

Before answering, I look up at Vrokjan, making sure it’s okay to speak.

“When you’re in either of our presence, as long as no other cows are able to hear, you may speak.”

I wet my lips, thrilled to be able to use words and hear my friend for the first time. “We met each other on the ship. She was kind and offered me comfort. I didn’t feel so alone.”

The other cow shuffles a bit and looks up at her Rancher. At his nod, she also speaks. “Fiona,” she whispers, a Scottish lilt making her voice sound musical. “And I’m glad to have a friend.”

The Ranchers grin, the smiles so large it makes their eyes crinkle. Of course, they’d be happy about this. I, on the other hand, feel ill knowing the only comfort I’ll have is with a stranger who’s in the same boat as I am.

“Now then,” Vrokjan interjects. “You said you have to pee.”

Without any preamble, he takes me a little further away from the road, into some taller grass. Glancing back at the vehicle, I watch the other woman as they crane their necks, desperate to see what’s happening. I don’t blame them.

If I were in the same position, I’d want to know too. I can’t prepare if I don’t know what’s coming. Heat infuses my cheeks as I look away. Just because I’d do the same doesn’t mean I enjoy being a spectacle.