Odin (Alien Adoption Agency #5) - Tasha Black Page 0,32

next pasture was filled with rainbow sheep.

“They’re so beautiful,” Liberty said.

“That they are,” Old Alney agreed. “Now if you come up closer, you can scan each sheep. Make sure they’re mine, not yours.”

Odin hopped the fence and got to work.

Every single sheep scanned resulted in the little device popping up with the code ALNEYFARM and then a number.

“The numbers are the identifiers for each individual sheep,” Old Alney told them. “Want to see why I needed to up my order?”

Odin looked where he was pointing.

Three of the sheep were clearly expecting.

“The little ones grow fast,” Old Alney explained. “By the time he can up my special order, I’ll need it and badly.”

“Congratulations,” Liberty told him with a smile. “That’s a wonderful reason to need more feed. We should talk with you about your breeding program.”

“Of course,” Old Alney said proudly. “But first you need to find the rest of your flock. Why don’t you two keep the scanner for now? See if you can find your missing sheep.”

“Thank you,” Odin told him sincerely. “We are in your debt.”

“Nonsense, boy,” Old Alney scoffed. “But, say, my family will never forgive me if I tell them new neighbors were here and I didn’t introduce them, especially since you have the baby along. Can I prevail upon you to stop by the house before you go?”

“We would be glad to,” Liberty said before Odin could make up an excuse.

As they followed Old Alney toward his house, she reached out and squeezed Odin’s hand.

Suddenly the wild events of the day didn’t seem so bad.

The dragon snuffed contentedly in his chest, forgiving him for not shifting after all.

Soon we will claim our mate…

25

Liberty

Liberty followed Old Alney down the path with Odin’s hand wrapped around hers.

When they came around the next bend, a picturesque scene was revealed to them.

The Alney family sat at an enormous picnic table under the canopy of a beautiful old tree. Though they wore modest clothing, they could not have looked more fortunate.

An older lady with her sliver hair in a bun, who must have been Mrs. Alney, laughed with her head tilted back as another woman spoke to her with twinkling eyes. The others were chatting and passing around large wooden bowls, laden with beautiful vegetables, stews, and a platter of puffy rolls that smelled like heaven.

“I brought the neighbors,” Old Alney called out.

“Welcome,” his wife cried. “Pull up a chair.”

“Oh, we won’t interrupt you,” Liberty said.

“Nonsense,” she said. “There’s plenty of food, and plenty of space for two more.”

“Three more,” the woman beside her pointed out.

“Oh, a little one,” Mrs. Alney said rapturously, getting up immediately to have a look.

As if on cue, Colton stirred in the sling.

“Let me get him out so you can see him,” Liberty offered.

Colton stretched and banged his head on Liberty’s chest.

“He’s hungry,” Mrs. Alney said. “Come sit and feed him and tell us all about yourselves. These are my seven, plus three grands, and you’ve already met Old Alney.”

“Thanks so much,” Liberty said, allowing herself to be led to the table. “I’m Liberty Clark, this is Colton, and that big guy is Odin of the Invicta.”

“The Invicta?” a teenaged boy stood up from the table and moved over to Odin, an eager but nervous expression on his young face.

Odin smiled at the boy.

“My youngest son,” Mrs. Alney said. “Chiswyll, but we call him Chipper.”

“I want to join the Intergalactic Guard one day,” Chipper told Odin proudly. “Do you know anyone on the Guard?”

Odin’s face froze.

“Now don’t let him bore you to death,” Mrs. Alney laughed. “That boy will talk about the Intergalactic Guard until his face turns blue.”

“I just want to serve, Ma,” Chipper said, without turning back to her. “And get off this moon to have some adventures.”

“I’ve got plenty of adventures waiting for you at the sheep shearing shed,” Old Alney quipped and then roared with laughter.

Chipper smiled indulgently, but kept his eyes on Odin. “Please, your honor, if you ever want to talk about your experiences, or offer me some advice, I’d be most grateful. And I’m happy to help out at your farm during my free time to show my gratitude.”

But Odin didn’t answer. His face looked like it was made of granite.

“You have a lovely boy there, Mrs. Alney,” Liberty said. “But he shouldn’t offer his labor so freely to brand new farmers like us.”

“You’ve never farmed before, madam?” the boy asked, finally giving up on Odin, who was still standing stone-faced a few feet from the table.

“No, Chipper,”