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Word Count: 361
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Often, what is expected is much different than what is right. Grace understood now that her insight had been correct, and she sighed quietly. It would have been so much easier if he hadn't resisted. Now, it might look like she was trying to capture or kidnap someone's servant. Although, she still had plausible deniability, not that she would throw him to the wolves, so to speak. "It's okay, Hadley. If anyone needs to know, you can say that I told you that you should come with me, in case you were injured in that fall." It was a good excuse. A great excuse, even. No one would question her about it, if she put on her bright, cheerful face, and made sure that they understood that no harm was being done. That would work.. of course it would. Wouldn't it? If she couldn't charm his master, she'd bet that there was not another who could - not that she was arrogant, not to speak of, just very aware of her gifts.
She still wasn't too sure of what she would do with him. He could stay with her, for now, but if he wanted to be free, then he would eventually have to learn to do for himself. She could ask him to work in the stables, perhaps, in exchange for her help building himself a little home. That would teach him some self-sufficiency. He would need to gain some confidence first, of course. Maybe she could convince him to smoke with her. A little bit of relaxation would do him a world of good. Taj seemed to be observing the boy and, using his fancy new power of speech - Grace still wasn't sure how that was happenening - he asked her, "Layla?" Grace grinned, turquoise eyes turning up toward her friend. "An excellent plan, Taj. Why don't you go get her, and we'll wait here for a ride." Taj's knowledge of how to operate the modified latch on Layla's stall was now coming in handy. They would have a ride home, and they could go from there.
Turning her gaze back to Hadley, she asked, "Can you ride?"