Page 97 of Horn in My Side
“Oh yes, dragons are so highly trainable and eager to please,” Morlak remarked.
“I feel guilty keeping her in here all the time.”
“Don’t be, you’re doing her and everyone a favor.”When Clawdia returned, the orc bent down to give her a scratch between the ears, which had the dragon purring in delight.“She doesn’t have complete control of her fire.One stray sneeze and she could burn an entire house down.That and she’s still vulnerable to disease.”
“I hadn’t even thought of that.”The vet she consulted never mentioned if Clawdia needed shots.
“In the wild, mother dragons kept their hatchlings insidetheir lairs for at least two years while naturally building their immune system.”She picked up the ball and threw it.“Nowadays, and with domesticated ones, one year is usually long enough.”
“You sure know a lot about dragons, Morlak.”
“My grandfather used to raise them on his farm.”
Jasmine’s head whipped toward her.“Really?Mal never said anything.”
“I’ve only mentioned it a handful of times, and of course, that was back in Ghalad-Dur, the orc homelands.In fact, my relatives still keep a few to guard their farms.”
Clawdia came back with the ball, but instead of letting go, sat down on her hind legs and began to chew at it.A vision of soft blankets and a sudden feeling of drowsiness came over Jasmine.“She’s done and wants a nap.”She picked her up and cuddled her to her chest, and Clawdia lay her chin on her shoulder.“My, you’re getting heavier.”She was at least twice the size she was when she first hatched.
“You know, it’s said dragons have a special bond with their owners.”
Jasmine smiled down at Clawdia.“I can believe that.”
After putting the hatchling back in her pen, Jasmine turned to Morlak.“Do you want to stay in here and sit for a while?I should head back outside.Clawdia won’t be waking up until her dinner.”
“Am I getting in your way?”Her eyebrows drew together, which, Jasmine realized, looked very much like the way Mal did when he frowned, including that tiny line appearing between them.“I apologize.”
“No, no,” Jasmine reassured her.“But it must be boring for you to watch and follow me around.Wednesdays are pretty slow for us in terms of customers coming in.I use this time to do stuff like packing orders and posting on social media.”
“I don’t mind,” she said.“Maybe I can help.When Mal’s father passed away, I took over his construction business.”
“That must not have been easy.”
“No, it wasn’t.”Sadness briefly crossed her face.“It was harder on Mal, though.His father’s death kind of upended our lives and he lost that stability children need while they’re growing up.”
She knew what that was like.“But you both managed.”
“I floundered.Alot.I was from a farming horde, so I knew nothing about building.But I did my best and got the hang of it.If anything, I would say running the business helped me with my grief.And of course that’s how I met Karak.He also owned his own construction firm and we attended the same trade show.I didn’t think I would marry again, but he was quite insistent.”
“That sounds romantic.”
“It was.I mean, as romantic as it gets with orc men.”She chuckled, then sent Jasmine a sly smile.“I would ask you where you and my son met, but ...”
Jasmine’s cheeks bloomed with heat.“Yeah.Things just kind of happened between us.”
“I understand.When you know, you know, right?”Morlak winked at her.“Maybe in a year or two, Mal can bring you to visit the orc homelands with him.Clawdia would absolutely love it and she can socialize with other dragons.”
Anxiety pooled in Jasmine’s stomach.She didn’t have the heart to tell Morlak that that would never happen.That in about three months, Mal was going to leave the shop and Clawdia.
And her.
“Are you okay, Jasmine?”
She snapped to attention.“Yes,” she said in that too-bright tone again.“If you don’t mind helping, I do have some orders to pack up.They came in while we were camping and so I need to get them out right away.”
She and Morlak spent the rest of the morning catching up with orders, as well as ordering new stock of Clawdia and Fantastic Tails merchandise.The older orc even made a few suggestions for new items, like stuffies for kids and caps for adults.Upstairs, Karak and Mal took a break for lunch, and they all ordered food from the nearby café and ate at the shop.
“I think we’ll go check into our motel,” Karak said after they finished eating.“Unless you need me to stay and help you with the rest of that installation?”
