Chapter 28
She was the most exquisite creature Sho had ever laid his eyes on. Sleek and muscular. Black as pitch with a pure white star on the center of her forehead. A long thick wavy tail and main with white marks just covering her hooves. She was only slightly larger than the rest that he had seen today as he walked past the enclosures at the auction. He looked into her eyes and felt compelled to reach out and stroke her head through the metal bars of the the gate.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." a soft feminine voice with a thick Southern accent warned.
Sho quickly pulled his hand back and looked toward the voice.
"She's mean as hell and she bites, but she's really smart. Whoever buys her is in for a real treat." The little brunette giggled as she flashed her blue eyes at him and held out her hand.
Sho looked at her hand then remembered the proper greeting. He quickly caught himself before saying his birth name. "Ah... Mark Ferguson...it's nice to meet you."
"Becky Taylor." She told him then leaned on the bars of the black horse's stall. "So you lookin' to get her?"
"Just here with family. My Uncle is looking for a couple of horses for some cows he has on his farm." He told her as the horse had rested her velvety nose near Sho's hand and he absentmindedly started stroking her.
"Hmm, she would be a good one with the right handler, she's Quarter Horse." Becky commented as she noticed the horse's behavior.
"How do you know so much about this one?" He asked.
Becky smiled and pointed to the framed tag on the horse's stall.
Name: Mio
Breed: American Quarter Horse
Seller: Rebecca Taylor
Rocking B Ranch
Dumas, TX
"Oh... Sorry I didn't realize those were there." He told her, a little embarrassed by his oversight. He looked at the name again. "Why did you name her that." He felt a tight clench in his chest.
"It's Spanish for 'my own'. I raised her from a foal." She explained.
"Oh..." His hand was now stroking gently between her eyes an back down to her soft nose.
A few feet away, stood the men of Sho's foster family, watching the little scene. Jeff elbowed Dave in the side. "Check it out." He nodded in the direction of Sho and Becky.
"Dad... I think Mark found one he likes." Dave told him referring to the horse.
David nodded. "I think we have room for an extra." He told the boys with a smile that would make Lory proud. Boss did say keep him busy. What better way?
"Che..I was talkin' about the girl..." Jeff groused as they walked down another row of stalls.
Dave chuckled and shook his head.
Kyoko merrily hummed to herself as she put the finishing touches on two little cakes. One Angel food cake with pink strawberry icing and slices of strawberries and the other a Devil's food cake with light chocolate frosting and little colorful sprinkles that dotted the top.
"Kyoko-san... Do you need any help with that?" Makoto asked as she started washing the cooking utensils that had been used to make dinner.
Kyoko shook her head. "Oh! Makoto-san, I have something for you." She told her as she pulled a tiny box with a pink ribbon on it from her apron and presented it. "I just wanted to say thank you for all you've done for us these past few weeks. I really appreciate your help with Kuon-chan and around the apartment."
Makoto drew in a sharp breath of surprise. "Kyoko-san... You didn't need to do that." She opened the little box to find four little elaborately decorated chocolate truffles. "Thank you Kyoko-san... No one has ever done something like this for me before." Her voice was filled with emotion.
"Makoto-san... it's the least I can do. You have made it so much easier around here, with my busy schedule and all." Kyoko patted her arm.
Makoto smiled brightly. "Kyoko-san... I'll be in my room if you need anything. I'll be sure that Kuon-chan gets to bed on time later so you and the Mr. can spend some alone time together... Happy Valentine's Day Kyoko-san."
"Thank you Makoto-san... Have a lovely evening." Kyoko told her as she took the two little cakes to her two favorite men in the world.
"Mmm... Delicious." Kuon hummed as he picked a strawberry from the top of the little cake. "But... something's missing." He said with a thought filled look as he swiped his finger across the pink frosting.
Kyoko drew close to him to check the little cake and Kuon pulled her into his lap. "Eep!"
Kuon held his frosting covered index finger to her lips and encouraged a taste. He felt his beast within awaken as her tongue rolled around his finger and her mouth gently sucked.
"Tastes fine." She whispered.
"Hmm?" He said as he drew closer to her lips with a foggy mind and lust in his eyes. "Let me taste." He whispered and then gently licked her lips with the tip of his tongue and pulled her in with a deep kiss.
SPLAT! Went the wet chocolate frosting on her cheek that Kuon-chan had flicked at her. They heard him giggle. Kuon pressed his forehead against hers and chuckled, then turned her cheek toward him and licked off the frosting. "Hmm. That one's good too."
She laughed. Then got up to take Kuon-chan to his bath and wash the chocolate frosting and dinner off of him that he was wearing.
She turned in the hall as she walked away from the table. "We'll finish this later, Mr. Hizuri."
"It would be my pleasure, Mrs. Hizuri." He smiled and started to clear the table and the mess that Kuon-chan had created.
"So she's really mine?" Sho asked with incredulity in his voice.
"Yep... and Dave will teach you how to take care of her, ride, cut and herd the cattle. It'll be a lot of work, but I think it'll do you good." David Sr. explained to him.
Sho was a little excited by this new development. He really had liked the horse Mio and was wondering what it would be like to ride her. He was looking forward to the new experience.
Throughout the entire ride back, he and Dave talked about all of the different things that Sho would need to know and know how to do to take care of the new woman in his life. The new Mio. He chuckled to himself at the irony. Maybe this one won't hate me. He thought darkly.
"So Mark did you get her number?" Jeff asked as he leaned from the front seat of the crew cab truck.
"Number?" Sho asked a little confused, he didn't know who Jeff was talking about.
"Yeah... the cute little filly you were talkin' up yesterday." He clarified.
"Oh... Miss Taylor?" Sho answered then shook his head. "I was just talking to her about Mio."
"Haaahhh... what a shame. She was a real looker." Jeff tisked in disappointment. "Well... maybe next time." He winked at Sho then leaned back into his seat and placed his earbuds back in his ears where they would remain for the rest of the trip home.
