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Coming Early 2025!
Maya Sorvino loves her life in Deadman, Wyoming. She has two great kids, a successful bed & breakfast, and enough room to freely roam as her dino self. Everything is perfect. Until a rich developer comes to town, trying to undermine her business and seize the town’s open land. Not on her watch.
Persia Walker has been guarding the fossil rich lands since she almost became one, but she won’t let a billionaire destroy sacred paleo sites for vanity. She organizes a group to take on the developer at the public meeting in hopes of preserving her territory. Then she sees Maya.
Finding another dinosaur shifter in Deadman is a dream for both Maya and Persia, but the developer has something up his sleeve. What’s a better first date than going Mesozoic on a bunch of drunk vandals-for-hire? It’s a match made in Prehistory!
This story was previous published in the Cretaceous Crushes LGBTQ+ Charity Anthology. It has been expanded and given a new cover.
“Hey, Mom, did you see the news this morning? They’re having a public meeting in town on Thursday.”
Quinn, her adopted human daughter, strode out to the front deck and plopped down on the nearest chair. Maya marveled at how light humans were. She’d built all her furniture to withstand the density of her own heavier frame, and she had to be careful how she sat so things wouldn’t break. But Quinn and Bailey, her adopted human son, could throw themselves onto anything.
Maya focused on Quinn’s face, her mammalian features full of irritation. “A public meeting about what?”
Quinn frowned, her cute, freckled nose wrinkling. “It’s to see if the residents of Deadman want that tool Clifford Krassobaki to come in here and buy up all the land to make a gawd-awful resort for his ultra-wealthy, tax-evading buddies.”
Maya blinked. “Wait…I know I haven’t been up on politics and local issues as much as you, but when did this come about?” She set her tea down on the arm of the chair and sat up as Quinn handed her the newspaper, a relict that Quinn still read even though she had an online subscription.
“It’s a relatively recent development that started at last month’s city council meeting.” Quinn rolled her eyes. “That douche Mayor Blatherton, who’s friends with Krassobaki, proposed the expansion on Krassobaki’s already palatial ranch. They scheduled a public meeting on Thursday to see what the public has to say.”
“Oh, I have a lot to say. That would put The Fossil Beds B&B out of business. And where are they gonna get all the people to work this monstrosity? The town holds maybe five hundred humans. Oh hell no.” Maya rolled to her feet as her daughter beamed.
“I love it when you get a fire lit under your butt.” Quinn grinned as she followed Maya into the kitchen of their B&B. “It doesn’t happen often, but it’s awesome.”
“You just say that because you’re the firebrand in this family.” Maya shook her head, but a smile curled her lips. “And it’s a damn good thing. Too many people got comfortable and let shit like this slide. But not me, not now. Where’s your brother?”
Quinn shrugged. “He’s down at the Deadman Community Center teaching a class on internet scams and red flags.”
“Damn. How did I get such awesome kids? One’s a political activist and the other is a community servant.”
“You got awesome kids because we learned it from you.” Quinn wrapped herself around Maya from behind. “Have I told you that I love you, Mom?”
“Not yet.” Maya squeezed Quinn’s arms gently.
“Well, I do, and without you, I wouldn’t be as awesome as I am. So, it’s all your fault.” Quinn pulled away and grabbed the paper before heading for the scheduling book. “I’m gonna write down the meeting so you don’t forget to go.”
“As if I could. You’ll be coming too, won’t you?”
“Oh yeah. I’m not going to give up my chance to point out all the reasons this is stupid for the town and community.” Quinn nodded sharply and relief cascaded through Maya.
She could get up in front of the town and say her piece, but she always had more confidence with her forthright daughter in attendance. There was no way on the ManyGods’ green earth she’d allow a business to come in and decimate her livelihood. Her family, and her secret, were too important.
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