Page 50 of Eden and her Mercenary
Bertha snorted and took another hesitant step forward, her hooves sinking slightly into the soft earth. She seemed mesmerized by the sensation.
"Look at her," Eden whispered. "She's discovering the world for the first time."
I watched as Bertha's snout lowered to investigate the grass, her powerful sense of smell taking in everything. After a moment, she began to root around, instincts older than her captivity finally expressing themselves.
"This is what it's all about," I said, slipping my arm around Eden's waist. "Second chances."
Eden leaned against me, her body warm and solid. Six months ago, I'd been sitting by her hospital bed,terrified I might lose her. Now here we were, building something meaningful together.
"We should let her settle in," Eden said. "The transport team still needs to unload the others."
As we walked back toward the truck, I glanced over my shoulder at Bertha exploring her new home, while Kim and Dean were discussing where in their haunted inn two, five-hundred-pound pigs might sleep.
This wasn't the life I'd planned. It was better—messier and more challenging, but infinitely more rewarding. Eden had shown me that saving one animal might not change the world, but for that animal, the world changed completely.
And in saving them, somehow, we'd saved ourselves too.
the end
