Her boutique was her current offspring. She had contacted a number of artists who did stylized animals and used their art to create posters, t-shirts, banners and all kinds of household accessories. It was a huge hit with the shifter community. They could either buy in person or mail order the animals they wanted and display them proudly in their homes.
The artists received fifty percent of the money after the production costs, so everyone was happy. Gregory hadn’t made it into her finances yet, but she had managed to rebuild half the spent portion of her inheritance. In a few more years, she would be able to leave her children just as much as had been left to her, if not more.
The Daywells and the Samuels were getting together to plan the official wedding for the human record keepers and the community. Sadly, for poor Leyline, Gregory and Rayna’s mating trumped the arrival of her son. Little Leonard was still a beloved nephew for Rayna, but he didn’t get the community acknowledgement that Leyline wanted. Rayna wished she could be more upset, but it just wasn’t in her.
Plans to spoil Leonard were already in place.
“Well, as fun as this is, I would like to race your brother through the meadow and kick his ass, if my legs will work after this.” She snorted.
“Your legs always work. It is my body that is in danger today. If I watch you run, I will want to join you, and I don’t want to get stuck again.”
“Well, it was your idea to turn onto a horse on the roof track. That was your bad judgement for the day. You will just have to live with it.”
He hugged her until she squeaked.
They shared the wine, and it turned out to be sparkling apple cider. No alcohol and good racing 1fuel. When someone came looking for them, he was sitting up against the hay bales and she was in his lap, using him as a recliner.
Thompson came up the ladder. “Well, sis, I challenge you to a race. Are you up for it, or did my brother tire you out? You are so delicate after all.”
She looked up at Gregory, and he gave her a peck on the lips. “Go get him, Rayna.”
She rose from her supine position, shook out her skirts and headed down the stairs. She followed Thompson out into the yard where a group was gathered. She could see money being handed around, and Gregory sauntered up next to her and said, “My money would be on you, but I don’t gamble.”
“Aw, honey, this is a sure thing.” She nudged him with her hip.
She asked Thompson. “So, what are the rules of the race? Shifted start? Clothed start?”
Thompson blinked. “Clothed start is fine. We will run to the end of the field and back. Timothy is already down there, so run down to him and come back.”
A horse was indeed standing at the end of the field. She rolled her eyes and knew that they were going to cheat. Thompson and Timothy were twins and even their shifted forms were identical. They were probably going to switch so that one was fresh for the run back.
She nodded. “Fine, clothed start. Whenever you are ready.”
A Daywell cousin lifted a coloured cloth from his pocket and brought it down. “Go!”
Rayna flicked off her shoes, unclasped her bra through the dress, lifted the dress and bra over her head and she began her shift on the run.
She heard gasps and shouts as she started her run, her legs bunching and contracting with every step. She raced to the edge of the field, sprinted around the horse that reared at her approach, and then, she formed a blurred streak all the way back to her clothing.
Gregory was holding her bra out on two fingers.
She stepped into her shoes, slipped on her bra and pulled the dress on over her head.
The crowd was staring.
“I think I won, or was there something else I had to do.”
Gregory laughed. “You won, they just were shocked by the speed of your shift. You were halfway through the field before he had his hooves.”
She sighed. “I think I have had enough for the day. Can we go home yet?”
“Almost. The moms want you to pick out swatches.”
She grumbled but agreed. With her race complete, she went to deal with the greater challenge. Wedding plans.
* * * *
Avedis smiled brightly at the butler and entered the Harcourt house. Ystine was in the sitting room with tea.
Avedis sat carefully, smoothing her skirt. “Good afternoon, Ystine.”
“Good afternoon, Avedis.”
“I wish this was a social call, but I have to tell you something.”
“Yes?” Ystine raised her red-brown brow.
“If you go near my granddaughter, her husband, her child, her mentor or anyone near and dear to her, I will rip your throat out and spit it on your front porch.”
“Really? That is a little violent for you.”
Avedis changed her hands to clawed paws and she flipped the granite coffee table casually. “It really isn’t. Raymond had to keep me from killing you twenty-six years ago, but he isn’t stopping me now. I am queen of my pride and every lioness within three states will come when I call. We are hunters, we are killers and we protect our own. Remember that, you spotted bitch.”
She got to her feet and smiled politely. “You might want to get some club soda on that tea before it stains the carpet.”
She sailed out of the home and got into her car. The moment she was inside, the phone rang. “Yes, dear.”
“Is she still alive?”
“Yes, but I hope she will listen this time. I really don’t think she will taste that good.”
Raymond sighed. “Fine, now go home, and I will follow you. No turning around to finish the job.”
“Yes, dear. Pork chops for dinner?”
“Sounds lovely. See you later.”
The call ended and Avedis drove home.
* * * *
“Well, Avi didn’t kill her.”
Matthew sat and sighed in relief. “That would have been messy to explain.”
“Tell me about it. Ystine has been warned off but that is where it ends. Can you get away that day?”
“The fourteenth? Yes, I can make it. Are you sure she won’t mind?”
“Rayna knows that the female cheetahs are in control. She has invited you but don’t take the invitation home. If Ystine shows up at Rayna’s wedding, all hell will break loose and it will start in that long white gown.”
Matthew chuckled. “She has a lot of spirit. I miss that. Martha took every hint I could throw at her, but I still feel guilty about how things turned out.”
“She’s alive, healthy, has a good community and a good man. Also, she is making money hand over fist. That must be Martha’s doing, because it certainly wasn’t Niko’s.” Raymond shook his head with a smile.
Matthew got to his feet and left the booth at the pub down the lane from his home. “I will see you on the fourteenth. I promise to pick out a nice gift for Rayna.”
“Just be there, it is all she wants.”
The grandfathers parted ways, each brimming with pride at what the trickle down of their genes had produced. If she was the current example, the next generation was going to be a series of moneymaking dictators with lovely table manners. They hoped they would live to see them bloom.
Author’s Note
Born Cheetah was a good way to explore how you could be born one thing, raised another and still find your own path after a bit of disaster and panic. I liked writing it.
The next book Ocelot of Trouble explores the life of a woman in such a rush to get through life that she stumbles over herself and into a handsome fox. He only intends to flirt, but when she spills a drink on him, twice...he’s hooked.
Thanks for reading,
Zenina Masters
www.zeninamasters.com
About the Author
Zenina Masters was born in Canada and lives in Canada. She has a regular job and does nothing particularly exciting with her life. She enjoys fishing, silence and the ability to pick and cho
ose friends she can trust. Life is too short to watch your back all the time.
Her writing life is a teeny bit of escapism, she would probably chicken out if confronted by three naked men and looks forward to one day finding out.
Born Cheetah Page 6