"Are you sure I can't tempt you with a glass of tea, Tom?" Ms. Winters smiled a special kind of smile Velvet had grown quite fond of; coy and inviting, with just the slightest hint of menace that no one but her seemed aware of. She felt an ounce of jealousy, knowing that her owner would try to bed the man, but only an ounce. Ms. Winters enjoyed sex more than anyone she'd ever met and she seriously doubted the woman would pass up any chance at intercourse, providing that the other person met certain standards. Dr. Atcher was a bit thin for Velvet's taste, but she could understand the appeal.
What she couldn't understand was why the man kept avoiding her. Every time their eyes would meet, he'd fidget and find anywhere else to be looking. He was a new face here; of
course
she'd be interested in him, as if Ms. Winters' interest in him wasn't enough. She looked him up and down, catching his eyes again and smiling. This time, he actually shuddered as he turned to address her owner.
"I'm sorry, Mrs.-"
"Please," she interrupted, placing her hand on his bicep. "Call me Elizabeth."
"Hmm, yes." Dr. Atcher stared down at her hand, and Velvet noticed a... tensing... around his eyes. Must be married. Velvet couldn't imagine any other reason he would be recoiling from a beautiful woman. He cleared his throat roughly before continuing. "I'll have to take a raincheck, Elizabeth. I've got a couple more calls to make today, and I'm already behind." He scooped up his belongings, and Ms. Winters fell in step beside him as they walked out into the midafternoon sun. "So you're watching for him to pass that mineral oil-"
"Before we give him anything else. Don't worry, Tom. We've got it."
"Hmm, yes." He opened the passenger side door and deposited his belongings. "Ok. Well, if I don't hear from you, I think we have you down for their annual check in about three months."
"Can't wait," Ms. Winters said. "Drive safe, Tom!" Dr. Atcher nodded as he slid into the driver's seat of his silver Audi. Velvet stepped up next to her owner, and they both waved as he disappeared down the driveway. "Well?" she said, turning her head slightly.
"Miss?" Velvet asked nervously.
"You know what." Velvet took a breath and opened her mouth, but shut it a second later and frowned. "Thank you for not lying to me, Velvet." Velvet trembled inside; she
always
knew. It was... supernatural. Velvet stared down at the driveway, trying desperately to think faster than the steel-haired woman. "
Vellllvet
," she said, impatiently.
"Please don't make Velvet say."
"You
know
I'll find out," the older woman sang.
"Velvet doesn't want to say," she reluctantly admitted.
Ms. Winters smiled as she slowly wrapped her arms around her dark stallion. "Yes, but you're going to. Ponies don't keep secrets from their owners, now do they?"
Velvet shook her head, and shivered as the steel-haired woman ran fingers through her mane. "Velvet caught Beau out of the stable." Ms. Winters leaned back slightly. Her hands remained on Velvet's shoulders, but the set of her eyebrows said she was waiting for more. "Caught Beau in the barn, twenty feet from the Vet."
"What was she doing there," Ms. Winters said carefully.
Velvet frowned, delaying only slightly before continuing. "Returning... drugs. That Peep stole." The last came out as if dragged, but Velvet knew that was the worst of it. There was no point in holding back beyond that. "Peep stole drugs, and Beau put them back."
"So you went running off after Beau because she shouldn't have been outside." Velvet nodded her head. "And she went back to her stall afterwards?"
"Velvet thinks so."
"You
think
so?"
"Velvet caught up to her in the kitchen. They were headed down to the stable when Velvet left them to come back here."
"How was she around Peep?" she asked, her eyes becoming slits.
Velvet pursed her lips and thought. "Protective? She tried to lie to Velvet so Peep wouldn't get in trouble."
"She
lied
for Peep
?
"
Velvet nodded again. "She said she came outside to see if Dr. Atcher was cute. When Peep tried to stop Velvet from choking Beau, Beau didn't want her to."
"Stop...
you
from choking Beau?" Velvet nodded again. "Interesting," she said, her eyes unfocusing.
"Velvet wanted to lie," Velvet said sadly, staring down at the blacktop. "She doesn't want Belle to have to choose between Velvet and Beau. It upsets him."
"But you told me anyway?"
"Velvet loves Miss Winters," she said emphatically, looking up.
Ms. Winters sighed, and she shook her head. "Beau is fighting me at every turn. It shouldn't have taken this long."
"Beau is... difficult," Velvet said, nodding.
"I was so sure. I really thought they would have..." She exhaled loudly through pursed lips. "...Velvet, did I make a mistake bringing her here?"
"
What?
"
A shadow passed over her owner's face, and Ms. Winters took a deep breath through flared nostrils. "I ask a lot from you, Velvet. I'm not unappreciative of that."
"V... Velvet knows."
"I'm still going to have to punish you for holding back." The taller woman's face was wooden, impassive.
"Velvet knows," she repeated, more solemnly.
"Before we get to that, though, I think you deserve a reward." Velvet's eyes widened. "Something to soften the blow. Doesn't that sound fair?"