Page 63 of Dragon Her Heels

FOURTEEN

“That’s an understatement.”

The incoming storm unnerved me, and for the first time since moving into my slice of heaven, I closed the exterior gates of my home, locked them, and herded all my horses and cattle inside the courtyard, where I might keep them safe no matter how bad the weather soured. After being certain all the livestock were safe, I took David to the shed, harnessed him, hooked him up to the cart, and hauled their new batch of feed and care equipment into the garage. When the clouds turned a sickly gray-green before darkening to an all-encompassing black, I guided the animals inside my garage, accepting that I might be needing a new truck and trailer should things fail to go well.

I grabbed my cell and called Isaac.

“Hey, what do you need?” the incubus asked.

“Bring the dragons and Ashley to my place. I’ve moved my livestock to safety, and I’m about to go fetch my chickens. It can withstand a hurricane, and I don’t like the sky right now.”

“You got it. We’ll be right over. We’re at my place.”

“I’ll open the main gate for you,” I promised before hanging up and doing just that.

Then I hurried my ass up and headed for the chicken coops, beginning the tedious process of weaving together a charm that would convince the birds they needed to follow me despite the thunder rumbling and growling overhead. Upon my arrival, the flock vocalized their distress, and I doubted I needed the charm at all.

Every last bird crowded against me and pressed close, seeking comfort and shelter.

I picked up Joy, wishing I could carry all the pullets, who would struggle during the walk.

Mr. Magic the Bold chose that moment to waddle out of the brushes and approach, his mouth closed and his dark eyes gleaming in the flashing lightning. He moved into position near my chickens, and with admirable patience, stopped and waited.

I hoped I understood the massive reptile’s intent, and I went to work placing the weakest of the birds on his back, making use of the charm to convince the fowl to stay with their unusual friend.

They did, and after the alligator was covered in feathered bodies, he followed me towards my courtyard.

I got the flock inside the garage before the skies opened and a cold rain fell. The wind began as a soft and despairing moan. Ashley, the two dragons the size of large dogs, and Isaac scurried across the courtyard, and I held the door open so they could join me inside the cramped garage.

Ashley stared at Mr. Magic the Bold, and her mouth dropped open.

I shrugged, closed the door behind them, and began the tedious effort of dodging livestock on my way to the house proper. I urged the chickens to join me, and as such, the giant alligator followed in my wake. Once I had the interior door open, I eyed the entry, decided it would do for a temporary measure, and began laying boundaries so only part of my home would be damaged from the inevitable mess having so much livestock indoors would create.

In good news for my sanity, I could repair everything, but I’d exhaust myself afterwards.

Until the storm passed, I would conserve my strength in case I needed to take desperate measures to safeguard my neighbors.

As Mr. Magic the Bold waited with infinite patience with his pullet charges, I crouched, praised the alligator, and scratched him between his eyes before encouraging his passengers to explore the entry. One of the Rhode Island reds protested separation from her new scaled friend, and I let it be, permitting the pullet to stay as she wished. Then I made certain the area was warm enough for everyone, the reptile included.

“Something about the storm is bothering me,” I told the quartet after encouraging them to come into the house proper and pointing in the direction of my first floor kitchen. “And now I’m grateful that the Devil broke my barn, because the opening gusts were concerning.”

“That’s an understatement.”

Outside, lightning crashed and the wind howled.

I grimaced at the thought of my trees being destroyed during nature’s temper tantrum, and I closed my eyes, focused on the warding I’d established along the edge of my property, and built on what I already had, creating a dome meant to slow the wind and redirect it elsewhere.

As the castle in the middle of the lake could likely withstand the gusts, I used it as a target. A tendril of magic feathered against my senses, and I recognized the node. The sensation passed over me, and then the barrier I’d begun erecting flared and strengthened.

The noise outside quieted.

I breathed a relieved sigh. “Well, I guess I can show you folks to where I was thinking you can take over when you move in. There’s no time better than the present, right? I’ve laid charms to encourage the chickens to stay in the entry, and the cows and horses will probably wish I hadn’t charmed the feed bags against them having unauthorized snacks. My garage is going to be a disaster by tomorrow, but all the animals will be safe.”

“How are you going to clean it?” Ashley stared at the hardwood floors in horror. “They’re going to pee on your floor.”

“Magic. I can restore the wood with some work, and even if Mr. Magic the Bold gets uppity with the furniture, for the most part, I can put it back together. It’s just tiring. I mean, this area gets storms, but this one is a doozy.” I eyed the dragons, who took care to keep from gouging my floors with their curved claws. “I don’t suppose you two know what’s going on?”

The pale green and the pale blue dragon eyed each other.