A Reason for Everything, by Shifturn

[vended]

I hate the idea of these stories getting lost, so here's some repost now that they can't be properly found on a website.

PART 1: An Unexpected Offer

It wasn't even Laura's usual day to shop. She always tried to avoid supermarkets on the weekend, the crowds were always a nightmare. She thought that half-carton of milk in the fridge would get her through until her usual grocery day. And it probably would have, if she hadn't bumped it off the counter while fixing her morning coffee.

It's funny how one seemingly random occurrence can completely alter the course of one's life. Things which seem to be nothing more than chance or sheer coincidence often end up being the very things that shape our destinies the most. Laura was not oblivious to this knowledge. On the contrary, it was a belief which she had firmly embraced over the course of her life. She wasn't really sure why, it was just something she'd always held on to. The thought that there was a greater purpose often brought her comfort when nothing else would. It had come to be the young woman's mantra: everything, no matter how trivial or troubling, happened for a reason. And no matter what, it was always for the greater good.

Still, it had been hard for Laura not to drop a small volley of f-bombs as that milk had spattered all over the floor. She'd kept her composure though, trying to focus on cleaning the mess while she let her temper simmer down. Getting bent out of shape wouldn't solve anything. There was no reason to let this set the tone for the rest of her day. She'd just have a make a quick run to the store, that was all. No big whoop.

She showered quickly, and was already blow drying her hair within twenty minutes of her little mishap. As she prepared to leave for the store, she could never have foreseen just how much this seemingly simple excursion would truly alter her destiny... or herself, for that matter.

"You never know... they say there's a reason for everything,” she thought, channeling her mantra as the hot air blasted her face and head. “Maybe there's a reason for me to be there today.”

It helped, but not as much as usual. The notion of spending part of her day off in a crowded grocery store with rude, obnoxious shoppers wasn't her idea of “fun” by any means. There was really only one thing she could think of that might make it worth it.

Like many young women her age, Laura's thoughts often turned to that same, age-old desire that so many yearned for. The longing for that certain someone who would make her whole... and of course, give her a good bump-n-grind every now and then.

The though put a mischievous smile on her lips, one which she immediately tried to squelch. “Oh stop it Laura, you're being naughty...” she chastised herself as she finished drying and began brushing out her hair. She was sort of joking with her self-scolding, but also somewhat serious. It wasn't that Laura had a problem with sex. She was, after all, a perfectly normal and healthy woman, with the same drives as everyone else. It was just that she preferred the more romantic approach to relationships.

She'd always been drawn to the old fairy tale stories: damsels-in-distress, knights-in-shining-armor, and earth-moving displays of devotion. Acts of grandeur motivated by love and deep, personal connection. Not that she expected to be rescued or have a dragon slain in her honor. She just wanted love. And she'd made it a point to separate “love” from “lust.” Anything else was cheating herself, she believed. She'd turned down a lot of potential suitors on this principal. Sure, she'd missed a lot of what her friends called “fun” living this way, but she knew it would be worth it.

Within just a few more minutes, Laura was dressed and putting the finishing touches on her hair. Finally, she stepped out of the bathroom, but gave herself a quick last-minute review in her bedroom's full-length mirror. Frankly, she thought she looked pretty nice in her khaki shorts and lilac-colored v-neck tee shirt. Maybe, just maybe someone else would feel the same?

She wasn't going to get her hopes up, though. Finding a potential boyfriend/husband was important to her, but it wasn't the foremost thought on her mind. If it happened today, great. But if not, oh well. It would happen when it happened. She truly believed that's how romance worked. She didn't need to worry or chase it around like some love-starved twit. When the time was right, he'd be there. And then...

That mischievous smile returned as she brushed a few rouge strands of hair back in place with her hand.

“...Well, when I find the right guy, I guess it wouldn't hurt to get a little bit 'dirty' or something... maybe. But only for the right guy...”

A warm tingle passed through her as she considered the possibility. She'd have never admitted it, but there were times when she really wanted to just cut loose. But she was determined to wait for Mr. Right.

“Who knows, maybe fate's got something special for me today..."

Laura would turn out to be right, to a certain extent. Fate indeed had something in store for her. As she straightened her clothes, and made slight last minute adjustments to her hair, she had no idea that she was on the verge of finding her destiny. But the-powers-that-be had reached a surprising conclusion regarding Laura's path to fulfillment. Her continual denial of the baser instincts which she longed to satisfy was apparently unacceptable to whatever forces operate behind the scenes of reality. Fate would now intervene to correct this flaw, and bring her the satisfaction she so craved. She would finally have her chance to get 'dirty' without concern for consequences... but it would require a radical 'change of perspective' for her. Soon, Laura's primping and grooming would prove to be unnecessary, as would the flattering outfit she'd so carefully chosen. Her future mates would have no concern for such frivolous things. And soon, neither would Laura.

She typed out a text to one of her friends as she strolled to her car, her fingers moving gracefully over the phone's touch screen. Before long, she would lack the required dexterity to operate such a device. Not that it would matter, as her mind would soon become occupied with much... simpler thoughts. The words she read and typed with such ease... even the simple “LOL!” she was currently tapping out... would soon be far too complex for her to grasp.

She dropped the phone in her purse and hopped into the used Toyota she'd just purchased a few months before. Despite her rough start, the morning air made her feel better. She decided to crack her window; it wouldn't hurt to have a little fresh air on this trip. After pulling onto the main road, she realized she was in the mood for some music as well. Finding David Bowie on the very first radio station she tried was a pleasant surprise for her. Maybe this morning wasn't going to be so bad after all.

“Ch-ch-ch-changes... Turn and face the strange... ch-ch-changes...”

Laura hummed happily along with the familiar melody, blissfully unaware of fate's peculiar sense of humor. As she reached the four-way stop just down the road from her apartment, she found herself singing along outright. Her mood was really picking up now... though that annoying red truck briefly interrupted her moment of fun.

He'd clearly reached the intersection before she had, by a margin of at least five or six seconds. There should be no confusion about who's turn it was to go, but the dude was just sitting there. His blinker indicated he intended to turn down the same path Laura was heading.

“Come on fella, you've got the right-of-way,” Laura muttered, waiting for him to make a move. She just knew he'd start to go as soon as she went. She caught a glimpse of his profile through the window, though the lighting made it hard to see any clear features. All she could see was a man wearing what appeared to be a wide-brimmed hat of some sort.

“Okay 'Billy-Bob,' let's move it...” she raised her hand to wave him on, trying to stay polite and not ruin her mood. She was greeted by a wave in return. It didn't look like a “go ahead” kind of wave, just a “how ya doing” wave. Was he telling her to go, or not?

It was at that point she caught sight of the animal trailer attached to the rear of the truck. Something moved inside... at a glance, it appeared to be a cow. Maybe that's why he was waiting... he was probably carrying a particularly easy-to-spook animal, and needed to drive slower than usual. He must have been waiting for her to go, not wanting to get more cars behind him than necessary.

“Fine... whatever...” she mumbled as she started forward. And just as she took her foot off the break, that was when he moved. She quickly stomped the break again, and the red truck moved right on with no further hesitation. Laura stifled the urge to blast her horn, still trying not to let her mood suffer.

“Maybe if you'd take off that stupid hat, you could see to drive...”

The truck and its four-legged cargo stayed in front of her for a bit, but soon they were lost in the traffic-jumble as Laura entered the slightly more congested downtown area. Not that she was paying them any mind at this point. She had already turned her attention back to David Bowie, her mood lifting once again.

“...turn and face the strange... ch-ch-changes...

She made a small pit-stop at her banks ATM. “Might as well get some cash for the weekend, just in case...”

Before long, Laura was pulling into the grocery store's parking lot, and was greeted with the sight of numerous empty spaces. She actually managed to find a great spot close to the front on a Saturday! Not directly up front, but still... all things considered, this day was turning out alright.

She was practically beaming as she strolled through the automatic doors. It was no where near as crowded as she'd feared earlier. Yeah, it was busy, but there was still breathing room. She bypassed the buggies; she wouldn't need one just for a carton of milk.

She glanced at the checkout area as she strode on, casually wondering how many lines were open for when she got ready to leave. But something caught her eye before she could make a clear assessment of the situation. Something that always tickled her whenever she saw it.

An attractive, but apparently bashful young man... an employee, by the look of his smock... suddenly turning his head away as she looked in his direction. Laura smiled modestly to herself. He'd been checking her out, but didn't want her to know he was checking her out.

"He's probably afraid I caught him looking... thinks I'm gonna get mad..." Laura wasn't offended, though. Why would she be? How would anyone ever get together if people didn't look at each other? Just checking her out wasn't a crime. If anything, she was flattered. Being noticed that way... it was kind of nice.

She continued on by him, still smiling as she wondered if he liked the view going as much as he did coming.

"Okay Laura... you're being bad again..." she jokingly scolded herself once more, a warm flush running through her.

For a moment, she entertained the idea of turning around... walking up to him, with a flirtatious smile...
“Nah, forget it...”

Throwing herself at someone wasn't Laura's thing. Sure he was cute... and he'd certainly given her a little spark. But it wouldn't be special if she just offered herself up for the taking. If it was meant to be, then it would be. She just knew that destiny would give her a nudge when the time was right. In the meantime, she didn't need to dwell on it. She'd go about her business, and when it happened, it happened.

“Everything happens for a reason...”

Of course, some of her friends had tried to convince Laura that her outlook on life was merely a well-crafted cover for her own shyness. Perhaps it was, but she believed that too was covered by destiny. Regardless, noticing someone didn't automatically mean they were “the one.” Maybe it meant she was a bit... frustrated... but that would be resolved in due time.

Her wandering mind made the short walk to the dairy section pass by in an absent-minded blur. Before she knew it, she was standing by the milk display with a fresh, full carton in her hand. She turned around to start the journey back to the checkout area... and found herself face to face with destiny.

A rugged, yet friendly looking farmer... a man of about sixty or so... had walked up right behind her without her noticing. He wasn't exactly too close, staying just right on the edge of her personal space without outright invading it. His faded overalls and wide-brimmed straw hat made his occupation immediately clear to even the most casual observer. His presence wasn't out of place here... there were numerous farms in the area, after all. She just hadn't expected someone to be so close behind her when she turned around.

“Oh... excuse me, I'm sorry...” she said after nearly bumping into him. He didn't seem upset... in fact, he seemed unnaturally upbeat as he smiled politely. Otherwise, he offered no response.

“Excuse me...” she muttered again, intending to hurry by him and be on her way. He seemed a bit odd, but Laura likely would have given him little more thought if he hadn't spoken up just then.

"Mmmmm, hmmmm, milk does a body good they say," he blurted out, gesturing to the carton she was holding. She glanced around for a moment, uncertain how exactly to respond.

"Ugh, I hate when strangers try to make small talk..."

"Yeah, that's what they say," she awkwardly replied after a few seconds, deciding there was really no good response to such a random statement. She mustered a polite smile, trying not to be rude without being overly friendly. She could tell this guy was feeling chatty, and she wasn't feeling that way herself. At least not with him.

Aside from the initial startle he'd given her, Laura wasn't entirely surprised by this situation. It actually wasn't the first time someone old enough to be her grandfather had approached her like this.

"Why do these older guys want to get all flirty? Trust me dude, you're not my type..."

She was about to casually but quickly move away to avert more conversation, but he piped up yet again.

"You, uh... ever considered workin' on a farm young lady? I've got an opening, and I think you'd be a great candidate for it."

Okay, now that was different. If Laura was uncertain before, she was downright confused now. Her puzzled expression seemed to amuse the old man. She couldn't tell if he was flirting, making small talk, or asking a serious question. Somehow, none of those seemed to fit.

"Uh.... no, not really" she responded after several awkward seconds of silence.

"How the heck am I supposed to answer that?" she wondered to herself. "Since when do farmers offer random chores to strangers?"

"Well, I've got this funny feeling you'd enjoy it, if you gave it a chance. You wanna give it a try?"

Laura wasn't sure what to make of this. She was just trying to buy some milk. Where the heck was this coming from? She was so caught off guard, she didn't even stop to consider her mantra.

"I... don't think farm work is really for me, thanks. I've gotta get going...”

"Well now, how about this? Let me just tell you what kind of work it is. Then I'll leave you alone so you can think about it, and we can talk more later on if you want, okay?"

She should have just walked away right there. Should have just said "no thanks" and bolted. But despite the strange scenario, Laura's amiable nature urged her to remain polite. She was raised to be gentle with others and show respect, especially to older people. She decided she would hear him out. Then, she'd thank him for his offer and agree to let him know if she was interested later.

In other words, she'd purchase her milk, get the hell out of here, and then make a snarky post on FB about her odd encounter.

"Ummm... alright, sure, I guess I can hear... you know, whatever it is..." she mumbled out, glancing at her watch as she did. Maybe she could throw out a few subtle hints that she wanted to leave, without having to come out and say it.

"Okay, alright, thank you, young lady. I'm glad to hear that. Now, here's the situation. My wife and I run a pretty good sized cattle farm about an hour up the road from here. We raise brown swiss cows up there. You familiar with those?"

"Uh... not sure really. I'm not really too familiar with cows."

The farmer chuckled a bit at her response. "Well, I think we can probably fix that for you, and get you real familiar with 'em." He smiled a bit as he said this, and again seemed to enjoy the puzzled look on Laura's face.

"So I guess he wants me to milk cows or something?" Before she could really think too much about it, he continued on with his supposed job offer.

"Now, brown cows like ours aren't used for beef production or anything. So, let's just get that out of the way right now, so you won't be worrying about that later."

"Why would I? It's not like cows are people, weirdo..."

"See, our cows are mainly used for dairy. You know, they make all the stuff in this part of the store, like that milk you've got there."

"Uh huh, yeah." Laura nodded politely.

"Duh, really? I graduated kindergarten, I think I know where milk comes from..."

"So that's pretty much what our cattle are for. Well, that and one other thing." He paused, for just a second, that weird smile still on his lips. "You know... breeding stock."

Something flashed through her mind. An image, triggered by the farmers words... she pictured the cows this man old claimed to work with. No, not cows... bulls, actually. Something in her mind was insistent on that point.

She pushed the thoughts aside, even as an unexpected, subtle tremor passed through her. A stirring in her nether regions, one that seemed to bypass rational thought as it shot straight to her core. She gasped ever so slightly at the abrupt jolt, then promptly dismissed the feeling... it must have been a residual thrill from her earlier musings. She didn't consciously make any connection between the sensation and the farmers use of the phrase "breeding stock."

Little did Laura know, her fate was already sealed.

A few quiet seconds passed following her... distraction, and Laura suddenly became aware that the old man had stopped talking. He was just standing there, smiling oddly at her.

"What's with him?" She glanced around, starting to feel uncomfortable, when he finally spoke up again.

"Alright, you still following me?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm with you" she blurted.

"Did I look that distracted? Oh well, maybe he'll get that I'm not really interested and wrap this up soon."

"Alright, good. Now at the moment, we're needing a few more heads of cattle, you know, to keep up production...”

He continued on, but Laura's mind began to wander. All this talk of cows, it suddenly reminded her of the all-but-forgotten encounter at the intersection. She remembered the cow in the trailer... and then somehow, something clicked within her. As she recalled the image, it occurred to her, that too had been a bull, not a cow. She hadn't paid it much attention, but now, she was somehow certain.

She was jostled back to reality by another pleasant little jolt, which she again brushed off at once.

“Ugh, he's still talking...?”

"...need a certain number of cows to meet production quotas and stay profitable. So, that's where you'll come in."

He looked around a little, as if checking to see if anyone was listening in. There were naturally other shoppers milling around the store, but all were busy with their own needs and paid the two of them little attention. He softened his voice to just above a whisper as he spoke the next words.

"Bottom line, I'm really needing cows for breeding now, and I think you'd be perfect." Again, he seemed to enjoy her puzzled expression.

"So... you need cows delivered or something?" Laura asked in a confused tone. Maybe she'd missed something when she'd drifted off. His point wasn't really clicking with her just yet.

"What's he getting at already? I really need to go..."

"Well, you could say that."

"And... how exactly would I find cows for you?”

"Oh, no, no. I don't need you to find 'em for me." He looked around again, cautiously. "I need you to help make 'em."

"... ... ... Huh?"

"What, like on a cow assembly line?"

"Let's cut right to the chase. See, you're a real pretty young lady, but you're not really gonna get a bulls attention that way."

Laura stared blankly as she tried to figure out what he was on about.

"So, I use a little... I reckon you could call it 'hocus pocus' or what-not... and then you do a little shiftin' and changin' around... and before you know it, you're a perfect fit! Then, we can introduce you to the bulls at the farm and let you get started. You know... as breeding stock."

He paused, with that weird smile again. A smile that went from looking weird to flat out creepy as the meaning of his words finally dawned on her.

"Oh... ... OH!" Her startled reply caught the attention of a few nearby shoppers, but more importantly, a certain member of the staff. "You mean... oh my god!"

As the understanding of his "job offer" fully hit home, she felt herself shudder... a shudder that passed down her spine and settled snuggly in her privates. She immediately dismissed the feeling yet again. Her suddenly overactive sex drive would have to wait. Right now she was more concerned about this disturbing, and possibly dangerous, old man.

"Holy shit, what kind of sicko...? I just got hit on by Farmer Perv!"

"Of course, it wouldn't just be breeding. You'd help us out with dairy production too. I mean, you'd be a dairy cow, after all. But the breeding would be your top priority."

"Get away from me! I'm calling someone!" She quickly spun around, looking for anyone that would come. She was overjoyed to see the young man she'd spotted earlier already heading in her direction, his attention drawn by the commotion.

"Now, calm down, it's alright. Everyone's a little surprised at first, but nothin's finalized yet. You can still accept or reject the offer. I'll think you'll warm up to the idea though."

Laura couldn't believe how calm he seemed for someone about to be publicly exposed as a sex offender.

"See, the kind of spell I use... it won't change you if you really don't want it to. But, it's pretty good at knowing what you really want. And sometimes it ain't quite what you think, you know?”

She only halfway listened to the rest of his spill as she started waving one hand in the air, trying to draw whatever attention she could. Her other hand clasped the milk carton tightly, preparing to swing it as a makeshift club if the old man tried anything.

"And don't you worry none about the change! I promise you, there's nothin' to it!”

"Hey, hey! I need some help here!" It was somewhat unnecessary to yell, the young man wasn't that far away. Still, he quickened his approach, sensing that this was clearly something more than a "I can't reach this shelf" situation.

"Is there a problem here?" He said sternly, staring down the old farmer with a cold expression. Laura felt a sense of relief. Clearly this guy already had a pretty good idea what was going on.

"Yes!" Laura shot. "Somebody on your staff needs to have this man escorted out. He's making EXTREMELY lewd comments..."

"Now, don't get upset. I'm leaving." The old farmer stated quietly, and Laura couldn't help but notice that in spite of the current situation, he STILL had that creepy smile. "I already got what I needed anyway. Ya'll have a good day, now." With that, the old man strolled away, whistling casually as if he'd just finished chatting with old friends. Laura couldn't help but notice the tune... Old McDonald.

"Does he think he's being funny?!"

Laura began to feel calmer with the old creep's departure, but the cute store associate wasn't quite settled just yet. "Are you okay ma'am? Do we need to call the police?"

She thought for a moment, then shook her head, feeling a bit more relaxed now that the old creep was leaving.

"No, it's fine. It just freaked me out. He started saying all this... nasty stuff... like... I can't even repeat it. I'm not sure if he was going to try anything, I just wanted to get someone's attention in case he did."

"Yeah, that was a good idea. Who knows what was on that guys mind. I saw you two talking over here, and, I don't know. I just didn't like the look of him."

"Oh... so you were keeping an eye on me..."

The two of them watched as the seemingly harmless but foul-mouthed geezer sauntered out the main entrance, still whistling his creepy tune. The young man made a plaintive grunt, satisfied that the pervert who'd bothered this lovely lady was out of her hair.

"And old folks talk about the kids today being screwed up..." he joked, trying to lighten the mood a bit.

They both chuckled for a moment. And then... she felt it again. Looking at this guy who'd come to her rescue... that little shudder. The one she'd pushed aside before. She didn't mind admitting this time what it was.

"This guy... he came right to my defense. Like he really wanted to, not just because he works here... hmmm... yeah, he's pretty cute too..."

"Cute" was Laura's generic, polite term for any guy that made her knees feel like jelly.

She searched for something to say, trying to keep her conversation with this... increasingly attractive gentleman going as well as she could.

"I guess... you can never know what to expect from anyone these days..."

Normally, Laura could never imagine being overtly flirtatious with someone she'd just met. But now, a part of her she hadn't known existed seemed to spring to life, triggering seemingly automatic responses. She switched the milk carton from one hand to the other, pretending to casually adjust her purse in the process. The purse strap now pressed gently between her breasts, accentuating their shape beneath her already form fitting shirt. She acted completely oblivious, even as she savored the way he glanced downward, then quickly glanced back up. For his part, he was doing a fine job pretending not the notice the outline of her bra, visible beneath the tightened fabric of her shirt as it cupped her ample figure.

The rest of the supermarket seemed to fade away for a few moments as Laura began to look him up and down with an uncharacteristic lack of discretion. During her inspection, she caught sight of his name tag.

"Mmmm, Richard... I'm gonna remember that..."

This time, that little tingle didn't vanish so quickly, as she looked him over. Her breath quickened as she imagined herself... and Richard... under the stars... together...

She looked up at his face, and noticed his somewhat... nervous expression.

"Oh crap, how long was I staring?"

"But... but yeah, I'm fine now." She finally stammered. "He's gone, so, I really appreciate you coming over to check on me. I'm Laura, by the way," she stated, holding out her hand for a proper greeting. She was faintly aware of sounding a bit more eager than she'd intended. Just a bit.

"Oh, yeah, it's... a pleasure to meet you, Laura. I... I'm Richard." He smiled warmly as he returned the handshake. Her delicate womanhood responded to his smile with it's own warm sensation. The touch of his hand sent goosebumps rippling across her body, and her heart fluttered.

"Yeah, it's a pleasure... to meet you too." She may have emphasized the world "pleasure” more than she meant to. They lingered for a moment, both seeming to fumble for the next thing to say.

"AHEM... Excuse me, please." An elderly lady gestured impatiently, trying to get to the milk they were blocking. The startled couple stepped aside, and she quickly snatched a carton into her buggy, shaking her head as she moved on. "Pfft, kids..."

The rest of the market had already returned to business as usual, as the formerly screaming lady in the dairy section had apparently settled down. Both her and Richard had completely forgotten they were standing in the middle of a crowded grocery store. In fact, Richard suddenly remembered that he was actually working at that store. Looking around, they each blushed a bit, noticing a couple of other staff quietly observing their interactions with knowing grins.

"Well, I'd... better get back to work. I'm glad you're okay though. If you need anything else, or have any more problems, let me know, okay? I'm here if you need anything."

"I will... I will, thank you so much for everything."

"It's no problem ma'am... Laura." With that, he smiled again, and started to walk away. He stopped though, for just a second, and started to say something else. "Oh, one other thing... um... if you... umm..." Laura's heart skipped, her mind racing with the possible ways he might finish that sentence. "Umm..." He hesitated with whatever he was going to say... "I mean... you... have a nice day, okay?"

"Yeah, you too." Laura's disappointment was palpable as he backed away. She was sure he was about to say something else. Clearly, he'd felt the same attraction she did... hadn't he? Had the last few minutes just been all on her end? Maybe her hormones were playing a trick on her.

"Well, thank you, again."

He nodded as he turned away, almost bumping into another customer as he did. He excused himself, seemed to glance back at her for a moment, then quickly disappeared down another aisle. And just like that, the moment was over.

[vended]

PART 2: Gaining a New Perspective

For the second time that morning, Laura pondered going after the attractive store clerk. But despite her own growing desire... and the moment they'd obviously just shared... her normal, level headed habits eventually prevailed. She decided maybe now wasn't the best time, and instead moved toward the cash registers to complete her purchase.

"It's kind of busy today, last thing I want to do is get his boss mad at him for screwing around. I'm in here all the time, anyway. Maybe I can... bump into him later?"

She smiled a bit to herself. Now that she wasn't in a panic from being accosted by that pervert, her normal thought processes were starting to assert themselves. And just like that, her mantra came to the rescue, easing her disappointment.

"Yeah, they say there's a reason for everything. Maybe even for that disgusting old goat. Richard will definitely remember me now, thanks to him..." She still felt like she'd been left hanging, but this thought brought her some comfort.

She sighed deeply, contentment settling in as she finally reached the checkout.

"Yeah, things are going to work out. If it's meant to be, it'll be...” At this point, it didn't seem like things between them would be going any further today. Which was just as well. Considering how bizarre things had gotten, Laura was ready to just get home and decompress.

As she reached the check out area, she was a bit taken aback with the number of customers already ahead of her. In the time she'd been talking with the farmer and Richard, business had picked up considerably. Naturally, there were only three open lanes, all backed up with frustrated customers and overfilled buggies. She resigned herself to waiting another ten to fifteen minutes with her one carton of milk, which had already taken up way more time than she intended.

"Hmmm... Maybe Richard will come and open up another line... yeah, that would be nice. Mmmm, Richard...."

Her breath quickened again at the thought of her would-be protector. Her chest heaved up and down in a gentle rhythm, the strap still resting in her cleavage. She fidgeted from the throbbing ache between her thighs.

In the back of her mind, Laura was vaguely aware that this sudden hyper-sexuality was abnormal for her. Sure, she had a healthy sex drive, as strong as anyone else's. But today was different... more intense than usual.

"Mmmm, that Richard must have really got to me... I feel like I could... just... mmmm...."

As she waited for the line to move forward, she became distinctly aware of the sweet sensation of moisture, soaking into her cotton panties.

Her surroundings faded away as her mind drifted from awareness. She quietly reveled in the feel of her damp underwear against her body. She remembered briefly when she'd picked out these panties and the matching bra. They weren't anything special, just cute enough to make her feel feminine... and sexy. She didn't have a boyfriend, but even so, she remembered hoping that she might get to model them for some handsome devil eventually.

"Hmmmm... I wonder if Richard would like these? Mmmm yeah... I can definitely find some more excuses to shop here..."

The line moved forward ever so slightly. Laura automatically moved with it, her mind a thousand miles away.

She imagined herself, standing before Richard in her bedroom, in nothing but those pink undergarments. She imagined him looking her up and down, much the same way she'd looked at him him earlier. "You like what you see?" she'd say seductively, hands on her hips. And he'd nod with a sly, approving smile.

She imagined him standing before her, nothing but a pair of thin silk boxers. The outline of his manhood... clearly pressing against... no, no boxers.

"Nude. Completely nude."

Her breathing hitched a bit at the thought, but she hardly noticed.

"Yeah, nude. Both of us..."

Without a second thought, the pink underwear vanished from her mental image. An incredible thrill shot through her at the thought of both of them, naked and unashamed. Her heart was pounding in her chest like a jackhammer.

"Uhhh.... screw foreplay... just... me and him... nude... ready... to...errrrh..."

Laura's hand gripped and flexed around the handle of the milk carton, while her free hand fiddled with the neckline of her shirt. The fantasy had taken on a sudden carnal tone. Her old, conservative self felt a twinge of guilt... she'd always been wary of such wanton disregard for romance. But another part of her was winning out... pushing her reservations aside. Warm, insistent heat continued building deep within her, and she let her guard crumble.

The line moved forward just a bit more, as Laura moved deeper into her daydream.

She pictured her and him... both still naked... her whole body tingling. They looked each other over wantonly... standing in her room... no, somewhere outside. She didn't care, it didn't matter where. Her focus was elsewhere.

She felt herself juicing even more as she gazed down at his member... watched as it grew... sliding from the sheath attached to his lower belly.

"Mmmmr, yeah..."

He was ready... it was time now. Without hesitation, she turned her back to him... down on all fours...

"Mrrmmm, oh...."

Her tail hitched to the side reflexively... and she called to him...

"Mmmm... mmmrrrrr... mmrrrrooooOOO...."

In reality, Laura's upper lip curled, and a low, barely audible moan escaped her throat. The noise went unnoticed amidst the sounds of scanning, beeping, and registers chiming. It was a mere shadow of the sound her mental self had made. Only a small portion of her mind was keeping track of her surroundings, giving her just enough control not to fall into a blind sexual frenzy in the midst of other shoppers. But that portion was buckling under the pressure of these unbridled thoughts. Laura was becoming lost in the haze of lust, not yet processing just how far off course her fantasy had drifted.

She imagined him behind her. Whoever he was. She didn't care. She was ready, and so was he. That's all that mattered. He responded to her call enthusiastically, sniffing her... and then... he was on her... his brown, hairy body... on her back... hooves rubbing against her flanks... and he was thrusting... in her...

"...mmmmrrrrroooo..."

No reluctance... no hesitance... just... thrusting...

"...mmmmrrr... mrrrroooooo..."

Thrusting... more...

"...mmrrr..."

Thrusting... humping... harder... harder... faster...

"MmmmmMMMRRRRROOOOOOO!!!!"

The sound erupted from her throat, startling her fellow shoppers from their mechanical routines. But Laura wasn't phased. Not until the milk carton slipped from her hand as her mind became totally lost in the carnal imagery. It hit the floor with a thud, spewing it's contents onto herself and the people around her. The sensation brought her daydream to an all-too-sudden stop.

"What... what's that...?"

She stood in a daze, trying to focus... why were her legs and feet wet... what's all the noise about... and why was she getting such strange looks from the people around her? A middle-aged woman in front of Laura scowled, a mixture of anger and shock twisting her already unpleasant features. There was milk all over the back of her dress and shoes.

Laura's head was spinning as she tried to understand the situation. The commotion, and her seemingly unresponsive demeanor, drew the staff's attention for a second time that day.

"Ma'am... Laura, are you alright? What's wrong? Can you hear me?" She felt a hand on her shoulder, and turned to see... who was that guy, again?

"Richard..."

Her mind lifted gradually from the fog... and in turn, vague understanding took hold.

"Oh... Oh my god... I'm so sorry... I don't know what happened... I just..."

"Oh my... was I... ... just thinking about... ... with a... ... ... ... ... OH MY GOD!"

Her head spun as she struggled to process what was happening, her mind reeling from the situation. She gasped for air as blackness encroached on the edges of her vision... the combination of embarrassment, shock, and unfulfilled need had overwhelmed her senses. She felt herself being steadied by Richard and a few other staff, then guided away from the checkout line. They found a nearby chair for her to sit in, while others sprang into action cleaning the mess she'd left.

She said hardly a word, only the occasional "Yeah... I'm fine" to their concerned questions. Someone handed her some paper towels to dry herself off.

"No... I don't need a doctor... I'm just dizzy..."

Now someone was shoving a cup of ginger-ale in her face. It was Richard. She took it, and thanked him weakly.

"I'm alright, I just need a moment..."

The clamor of other staff and shoppers asking about her drifted into her ears.

"What happened?... not sure, she started groaning real loud, then almost passed out I think ...oh dear, hope she's okay..."

She sat there for several minutes, with Richard and a few other employees looking her over with concern, including the manager on duty. They watched as she sipped her drink, quietly regaining her composure. Gradually, the group around her shrank as her condition seemed to improve, and the manager waved them off to attend to other matters. He was about to do the same to Richard when his walkie-talkie blared for attention. He was needed elsewhere.

The manager groaned angrily while trying to maintain a professional appearance. He really didn't want to leave just yet. Customer accidents were a tricky thing; if handled the wrong way, corporate might very well have his head. Still, things seemed to be calming down, and he could just as easily get in trouble if he failed to put out whatever other fires might be springing up.

Seeing no alternative, he asked Richard to keep an eye on her for just a minute and let him know if she needed anymore help, then snatched the radio from his belt.

"This better be important, I've got a situation here," he spat into the device as he began to sprint away, leaving Laura alone with his handsome underling.

A few moments before, she would have died for another chance to talk to him, alone. Now, she wasn't feeling very conversational at all. Her mind drifted back to the checkout line... to what she'd been imagining... trying to understand what had happened. In spite of the humiliating scene she'd just caused... her body still ached with a certain... craving...

"What the hell... what is wrong with me? How did I get so carried away thinking about... doing that... with some..."

"... Bull... ... holy shit... ... ... a bull!... "

Laura could almost feel the color draining from her face as the realization set in...

"... ... That farmer!"

She felt herself grow faint again, peaking Richard's concern.

"No way... ... that can't be..."

"Hey, are you sure you don't need a doctor? You still don't look like you're feeling too steady?"

"No... really... I'm okay... thanks." If what she suddenly feared was true, how was a doctor supposed to help?

"Was it that old man? He didn't do something, did he? Like, maybe slip you something?”

Laura thought for a moment. Could that be it? But he'd never laid a hand on her, or given her anything. No, but what was that he said he'd use on her?

"...Hocus pocus..."

"No... no he didn't do anything like that. I think I just... I think he just upset me more than I thought. That's all."

It was a flimsy excuse, Laura knew. That insistent ache... the images dancing on the edge of her thoughts... both warned her there was much more to it than just being upset.

"Are you sure? You were groaning pretty loud. I heard you all the way back there." He gestured towards the rear of the store. "You sounded like you were hurting..."

"I... was just..." She tried to remember.

"Groaning? When did I... oh no... I didn't?!"

But she had. At the time, she was in such a fog, she hadn't even registered the sound. But now she remembered. As her daydream was ramping up... she'd made that sound... out loud...

"That wasn't a just a groan... that was... OH GOD NO!"

"Listen, thank you, I'm fine. I've got to go." She stood from the chair, ready to bolt from the store. She wobbled a bit, but steadied herself quickly.

"Are you sure you're okay? You're still worrying me. If you need a doctor or something..."

"No, no really! I'll be okay!" Laura didn't look or feel okay though. She was on the verge of panic mode.

"Listen, thank you again. You've done more than enough. I'm sorry I caused such a ruckus."

"It's okay." He hesitated for a moment, and then...

"Look, take this." He reached in his pocket, producing a small notepad and an ink pen. He hastily scribbled something down. "Here, this is our store phone number. I also wrote my personal number on there if you need to get in touch with me. If you need anything, or you want me to talk to the cops about that guy, or whatever, then give me... give us a call, okay?"

"Oh..." Laura felt a sense of calm as he handed her the note.

"He really is concerned isn't he? That's... so sweet. Wow, maybe... me and him..."

As she took the note from his hand, their eyes locked. They stood there, both awkwardly gazing, once again wanting to say something they couldn't quite express. This was it... a moment like she'd always hoped for. It was finally here... and she...

Something wasn't right. There was something different now... was it him? She looked him over again, more discreetly than before. Here he was, the man her heart had fluttered for... the man her body had just so recently yearned to have. It should have been everything she wanted, the total package... and yet for some reason... he just seemed so...

Unappealing?... Weak?... Small? "Compared to..."

She gasped as she realized where her mind was going.

"I... thank you. I'll be in touch.. I've got to go. Bye."

"...Okay... bye."

And with that, Laura hurried away, leaving her knight-in-shining-smock to ponder her behavior.

She trembled as she stepped out into the parking lot, considering this disturbing development as she made her way to her car. The sudden loss of her attraction to Richard was mortifying to her, almost as much as the new attraction she'd acquired.

Somehow, in a frighteningly short span of time, her sexual desires had shifted drastically. The undeniably handsome, charming man... her story-book fantasy man... somehow, she could no longer see him the way she had. He just didn't seem suitable...

"...as breeding stock..."

She stumbled halfway to her car as the farmers words echoed in her mind. She recovered, and tried to act as casual as possible to avoid attracting more unwanted attention. She didn't feel like answering any more questions about whether she was okay or not. She pushed the urges down as best she could and hurried along, stifling the urge to let out another... sound...

"Oh god, this is in my head. Please... tell me this is all in my head! Maybe I really am just upset. Maybe that pervert spooked me, and this is just some freaky nervous reaction."

By the time she reached her tan Toyota, Laura's nerves were starting to settle. She seemed to have hit on a perfectly rational explanation. That had to be it, just some freaky case of anxiety. Being harassed by that man... then meeting Richard right after that... the whiplash of emotions must have just been a shock to her system.

"That must be it. The mind does crazy things when you're under stress..."

She fumbled through her purse, looking for her keys. She could never find them quickly, especially when she was frazzled.

"That's it, I'm just frazzled. That's the reason I'm feeling this way. There's always a reason for everything. It will all be okay once I calm down."

She continued digging in her bag, focusing on the task at hand instead of the strange urges churning just below the surface. She stopped a moment as the wind shifted, bringing faint, musky scent to her nostrils.

The image flashed through her mind again... a bull, strong and eager. Her body primed itself... something deep within her insisting she was ready.

She snapped back with a start, shaking her head clear as awareness returned.

“Ah... what the hell... Alright Laura, get it together... you're not turning into a cow... you're just frazzled...

With renewed gusto, she returned to digging through her bag, but had to stop for a moment to scratch an obnoxious itch that had started on her lower back.

She froze mid scratch, her mouth dropping open in a stunned gape as she felt something beneath the fabric of her shirt. She leaned forward as her knees went weak, bracing against the car with her free hand to steady herself. The purse dropped, hanging loosely from her neck and shoulder.

She stood perfectly still for a long moment, on the verge of hyperventilating.

"Please, no..."

What she felt beneath her clothing threatened to destroy her well thought out, rational explanation mere seconds after its conception.

Purposefully, almost robotically, the stunned young woman moved her hand away from the spot. In an almost automatic state, Laura reached into her purse... located her car keys... carefully eased herself into the vehicle... tossed her purse in the passenger seat... and cranked the engine. She stared blankly into space through the entire process, her body on autopilot while her brain tried to process information it wasn't quite ready to handle.

She sat there in her car for a moment, staring straight ahead, her hands gripping the steering wheel to steady her shaking body. Not moving, not daring to try and drive, just trying to come to grips with what she had discovered.

It was crazy. It couldn't have been what she thought. But she had to know for sure. Slowly, she found the will to reach back again, to verify what she'd discovered. This time, she raised the back of her shirt up slightly, running her hand directly over her smooth skin.

Except she didn't feel smooth skin.

Instead, she felt what could only be described as a coarse patch of hair. She inhaled sharply, feeling like she could almost throw up. There was definitely hair coating her lower back. No, not hair. Fur.

"Oh god... ... ... it's happening..."

Her breath caught in a frightened whimper. She jerked her hand away from the spot, back onto the steering wheel and gripped it with all her might as her body trembled.

"No... no I won't believe it until I see it!"

In the cramped confines of the vehicle, Laura craned her head around as best she could, trying to lift the back of her shirt with her shaking hands as she did so. Her fingers brushed against the new growth, but she found it impossible to get the angle she needed for a clear view. Trying to view your own lower back in a cramped Toyota is not as easy as one might think. She caught a glimpse of what she thought looked like... maybe something there... was it just a shadow, a trick of light? It looked brown...

She looked away quickly, before she risked seeing something else she didn't want to.

"... ...brown swiss cows... ..."

"Oh god oh god oh god... this can't be real! People don't turn into animals! They don't turn into cows! I'm hallucinating... that's got to be it... there's nothing there... I'm still just rattled. I mean... .... I never agreed to become a cow! He said it like I had a choice... so why would I be..."

"This is crazy, this is crazy, this is crazy, it's not happening... it's not happening... it's not harrr..penning... ... ... oh god..."

Her voice pitched and wavered for a moment, in the most unsettling manner.

"That didn't happen, just a frog in my throat. I'm nervous, I'm rattled, it's normal."

She was starting to lose faith in her attempts to explain away her symptoms. If this was a hallucination, or nerves, then it should clear up if she could clear her head and calm down. In a desperate bid to prove her own theory, she cranked the AC to full blast and positioned the vents to blow directly on her face.

Her stomach was starting to churn, obviously from the heightened stress she was under. She dropped her hand to her belly, clutching it instinctively.

"Calm down Laura, calm down. You're going to give yourself an ulcer, over some random pervert... and his bullshit... bull... oooohhh... god...”

Her eyes rolled back as the image filled her mind again. She leaned forward, still clutching her stomach, as her body trembled with need.

She clamped her eyes shut, trying the force the thoughts from her head. “Ohh... god... no, I don't want... that...” And then, her stomach gave a sudden lurch...

Her eyes snapped open with the sudden feeling. This wasn't just a cramp or stress-related butterflies. Laura could feel something. As she pressed her hands against her lower abdomen, there was a distinct and unsettling sensation... movement.

Her mouth dropped open... it couldn't be what she thought. And yet, she could still feel it. Beneath her clothes she could feel the skin of her stomach squirming and writhing. The whole area was becoming extremely sensitive.

What Laura had told the old farmer was true, she really wasn't very familiar with cows. But she knew the obvious features of cow anatomy, enough to know what might possibly happen to that region of her body if somehow, she was in fact becoming one. And considering that this part of her body was easily within her field of vision, there was no excuse not to see what was happening...

Lifting the front of her shirt with one hand, she tilted her head down, using the other hand to pull the front of her shorts up slightly. Just enough to see beneath them.

“Oh... oh god, no!”

Despite what she could already feel, there was nothing that could have prepared her for the actual sight. The skin of her lower belly was different... it had changed texture, and taken on a much pinker hue than the area around it. Two small protrusions were budding from her skin, sticking out just above her panties.

“Waaaahhh!!!” Laura couldn't suppress the startled yelp, it jumped from her mouth before she could think. She immediately regretted the lapse in composure, despite her current circumstances. Quickly, she covered her mouth with her hands to stifle any further sounds. She had no desire to draw unwanted attention; the last thing she needed was a bunch of blithering idiots panicking if they saw what was happening to her.

After a moment, she regained enough composure the release the grip on her mouth. She cautiously looked around, making sure nobody had taken notice of her. She was thankful for the cars tinted windows; she figued they'd keep her somewhat obscured, as long as nobody zeroed in on her specifically. She realized that her drivers-side window was still cracked open from her morning drive, but not enough for anyone to see. She considered closing it for a second, but decided against it; a little fresh air might help steady her, she hoped. A part of her was still clinging to the notion that this could be some stress-induced hallucination... but that hope was quickly fading.

Satisfied that she hadn't caused a stir, Laura turned her focus back to her body. She peeked beneath her clothes as she had before, hoping her eyes had fooled her. If anything, the strange development had progressed. There were still only two bumps, but they were a bit larger than before, and the pink area seemed to be spreading. Her breathing picked up as she watched this, not wanting to believe her eyes.

“It has to be a hallucination... I mean... it just HAS to be...”

There was only one way to know for sure. Tentatively, she reached down to touch one of the bumps with her finger... then immediately jerked her hand back, sucking in a sharp breath of air. It was acutely sensitive to touch... but more importantly, it was real.

That was it. She had rationalized as much as she could, but seeing this, and feeling it... her logical explanations evaporated much the same way her self control had in the checkout line.

"Breeding stock... .... a cow... ... he's turning me into a cow... ... to breed with his... oooohh..."

Her body shuddered with the thought of what she would be used for. She moaned as she leaned forward, gripping the wheel again, trying to regain control.

In the midst of her struggle, someone walked by her car, squeezing between her and the vehicle beside her. It was just some random shopper, but it spooked her almost as bad as her changes. She couldn't be seen like this... especially if her changes got worse. Which she feared they almost certainly would.

She sat uncomfortably still as she tried to contain the raging heat. Thoughts ran through her head, making her involuntarily picture the beasts the farmer intended her to couple with. She groaned, feeling the itch on her back flare up again, moving up her back slightly. She knew the hair was spreading.

She held as still as she could, trying not to attract attention as the person next to her finished loading up their car. She watched, suddenly envious of their normality as they pushed the empty buggy into the nearby return. Shortly thereafter, they hopped into their modest sedan, and drove away, completely oblivious to the young woman struggling to maintain her humanity right beside them.

She had to get out of here. But she couldn't go anywhere until she had a handle on these urges. The last thing she needed was another episode like the one in the store, but going sixty miles an hour down the road.

Unfortunately, getting a handle on her new desires was proving more daunting than she'd hoped. She kept thinking maybe she'd get used to them, her mind would adjust and they wouldn't feel so uncontrollable. Instead, they seemed to be getting stronger.

"No, please... ... I don't want to think about bulls... No, I want to think about... ... about... ... Richard! Yes, Richard, that's who I want! Not some brown... big..."

"Oooohh..." she shuddered and shook involuntarily as an image flashed through her mind.

"So much... bigger... than Richard... so much more...."

"NO!!!" she shouted, and instantly hoped nobody heard. She didn't look to see though. She needed to focus, to put everything she had into this. She needed to make herself want Richard, to desire him, like she had when she first saw him. She needed to want him, not some mindless beast.

She tried to picture him naked, his body pressed against hers. She imagined the sweet foreplay that usually got her motor running hot. His hands running up and down her body, as he leaned in and kissed her gently.

"Ah, damn it! Why can't I like this?! He's so handsome! I'm already on fire here, why can't I just... feel that... for a MAN..."

She forced herself to continue the daydream. She imagined his hands on her breasts, teasing her nipples. His hand sliding gently between her legs. His stubble rubbed against her face...

"Oh, that's nice... I like that..."

He moved behind her purposefully... and with a deep, strong bellow... he...

"Arrooo..... AH... Fuck, no!" It almost happened again. The daydream shifted, but this time she at least caught herself before it got too far. That did nothing to quell the needs assaulting her body, though. Even worse, the imagery of Richard hadn't done anything for her. Not until she started to think of him as...

"Urrghh, stop it, please just stop..." Her mind raced as she tried to get a handle on herself. She felt the churning in her stomach again, intensifying. She hated to consider what that meant.

"Okay, okay, so I'm turning into a cow. Now what am I going to DO about it? I can't just let this happen. There's got to be some way to undo this. How?"

She drew a complete blank trying to answer that question.

"How am I supposed to stop it?! I don't even know what the farmer did. He's the only one... ... ...that's it!”

She remembered the farmers speech as she'd been yelling for help. She hadn't heard everything, but she distinctly remembered something about how it wasn't finalized. She could accept or reject the change. And there was no doubt in her mind which one she wanted.

“I've got to find that bastard! I need to make him understand that I do NOT accept his offer. But how the hell do I do that? Is he still around here somewhere?”

She glanced around the parking lot... he couldn't have gotten far, could he? And if he did this, then he must know what was happening to her now, so surely he wouldn't have just left. He had to be here, somewhere...

“Where are you? I can't just get out and look, what if people see me?”

She stole a quick glance at the rear-view mirror, and was momentarily relieved to see her own face staring back without any alteration. Her hair was even still fixed the way she had it earlier.

She never thought she'd appreciate her own reflection the way she did at that moment. It seemed that, at least for now, her changes were still limited to places covered by her clothes. But how much longer could she rely on that? She needed to get this under control... and fast.

She returned to looking around the parking lot, scanning for anyone in overalls and a stupid hat.

“Maybe I should drive around and look... I should be okay if I don't leave the parking lot, and stay focused. I've got to find this jerk!”

She reached down to put her hand on the gearshift, working up the nerve to put it in drive...

“He's got to be here... and he's got to know that I reject this stupid 'offer' of his. The LAST thing I want to be is... ... breeding stock... ... for some... some... big... ..."

"Mmrrrrrr..."

Laura hardly noticed the sudden turn her mind took, as the animal instincts she'd fought to suppress began to overpower logical thought. She was only vaguely aware of the sound she'd made again, it's expression feeling as natural as a sigh, or talking.

"Mmmmroooo..."

"...bull....strong"

"...Mrrrroo..."

Her new, animal instincts were looking for whatever opportunity they could find to assert themselves; any drop in her guard was an opening for them. Her hand slackened against the gearshift.

In her thoughts, she was suddenly back with that animal... the one she'd pictured in the check-out line. The handsome store employee who'd come to help her was barely even a distant memory now, her head filled with the image of something far more primitive. Her daydream resumed almost where it had left off earlier... she was offering herself... her tail twitched... ... he was on her... ... no hesitation... just thrusting... humping... harder...

"MmmrrrooooOO..."

In reality, Laura's hips started an instinctive, rhythmic grind against the seat of her car. One hand gripped the wheel firmly while the other braced against the gearshift. In her mind, she pictured them as hooves, firmly planted on the ground to steady her body, as she was rutted... again... again... harder... harder... her hips began to pump faster against the car seat...

"Mmmrrrroooo.... errrroo... mmrrrrrrRRRROOO...."

"BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!!!"

Someone tried to pull out of their spot without checking, narrowly avoiding the car already coming down the lane. The car horn pierced Laura's addled mind, interrupting her fantasy just enough to stir her back to some semblance of recognition.

"Ohhrrr... urrhh.. oh... oh god!... Urrr...!"

She froze up, overriding the animal instincts and ceasing the rhythmic rocking she'd fallen into. The thoughts still played in her mind, but she pushed them away with all her strength.

"Ahhrrroo.. oommpphh!"

She struggled to contain the sounds that wanted to come out, stifling the noise in her mouth as best she could. Her heart was pounding, she was gasping for air, her body still thrumming with the unfulfilled urges.

"How... when the hell... did that happen?! God, I didn't even realize I was...

Her hips bucked again as she dropped her guard. The new bovine instincts were demanding her attention.

"Oh my god... this is getting harder... ... ooorrrrrhhh..."

She could feel those bumps on her belly rub against her clothes, sending strange signals to her brain. Something else flashed through her mind, different from the images that had assaulted her before. This time, it wasn't a bull... it was a calf. A feeling she couldn't quite place washed over her... not lust, exactly... but definitely some kind of... instinctive yearning...

She tried to brush the image, and the feeling, completely away. She was already confused enough. Yet her belly gave another sudden lurch; she could feel her change progressing even further.

She didn't dare look, she could already tell, more teats were starting to emerge. And the ones she'd seen before were becoming more developed. The itch she'd felt on her back began to not just spread, but spring up elsewhere. She scratched absently at her arms and legs before realizing what the itch foretold. She watched the skin on her appendages expectantly, waiting for the first sign of fur. There was none where she could see, yet, but she could feel it prickling into existence around her hips and on her upper thighs beneath her shorts. The same was true for her shoulders. She rubbed a particularly bothersome place there, and could feel coarse fur creeping up over the strap of her bra.

"Oh god..." she whimpered. "How do I stop this? I don't want to be a coorrw... ohhh... why..."

Her nose twitched, though it was hardly concerning in the midst of all else she was dealing with. Until it happened again, stronger... accompanied by a sudden sense of pressure. Fear gripped Laura anew, as she turned to face the rear-view mirror to confirm what she didn't want to see.

Her nose had altered, ever so slightly. She stared wide-eyed at her reflection, which she had been so thankful for just minutes ago. Now, her face was marred by this farmer's magic. Her nostrils had widened, ever so slightly. And as she watched, the tip of her nose... was is getting darker? Yes, in fact it was. She reached up to touch it... only to find the texture far different from what it should have been. Rougher... more leathery...

“Oh my god... why is this harrrpening... ….ah, shit!”

Her heart sank at the way her voice wavered. Some force beyond her control compelled her to make sounds other than the ones she intended. It was starting to sink in now. Her mind didn't want to accept... still couldn't to a degree... but the truth was inescapable.

“No, no this isn't rrrroo... rright. God... it can't be right!”

“There's always a reason for everything... no matter what...”

Before today, that would have helped. There had never been a time when Laura's mantra let her down, no matter what she'd faced. Sure, sometimes it was harder to accept than others. But the notion that there was a higher purpose had always brought her comfort, even when she couldn't see the the good herself. But this... this was nothing like anything she'd faced before. For the first time, Laura's life-motto felt completely powerless.

“Why? Why the hell would I need to turn into a cow?! There can't be a reason foorrrr... fooorr... damn it!”

The indignity of it all... it was heartbreaking... no, it was flat out insulting! For such a fate to come upon her, something so unheard of... so ridiculous! And just as she'd met such a wonderful person...

“Richard...”

“No... nooorr... I worrrn't... let this happern...”

Pulling on every ounce of strength she had, Laura set her mind on fighting. She was determined, no matter what the forces of heaven, earth, or this jackass farmer may throw at her, she was NOT going to become some stupid, mindless breeding cow!
She closed her eyes, focusing her mind on Richard once again.

“That's it Laura... that's who you want... just think about him... he's a man, not some animal... you want a man... so cute... you're touching him... he's touching you... mmm... rubbing my breasts... that's right... that's what I want... a man to treat me like a woman... damn it...”

Despite the detail in her fantasy, her body didn't seem to want to respond. But she knew she liked this, she wanted this. She was going to be attracted to a desirable human man, whether this “hocus-pocus” liked it or not...

“He's touching you... rubbing your leg... now he's going around... sniffing...”

“Ooouurrr... fuck it!” She gasped, dropping her head to rest on the steering wheel. “I'm not goorring... to let this harrrpen! Damn it, I finally found a genuinely good guy... and noorrw this?”

She could feel her ears tingling, but she didn't want to look. Didn't want to touch. She could feel them, the way they were twitching. She knew the change was trying to claim them as well. She wondered how much longer she had. Was she really going to turn into a cow, right here, in her dinky little car in the midst of Saturday shoppers? Was that really fate's plan for her life?

She thought back to Richard. It just wasn't fair... there could have been something there. He'd been willing to fight for her. She remembered the way he'd jumped to her defense, without any hesitation. That stern look, like he was ready to smash that farmer right in his wrinkled face... just for her.

Something sparked. She felt it, faintly... but it was there. Attraction. Real, genuine, HUMAN attraction... of a woman for a man.

She focused on that thought. His stern face... his eyes burning with anger, just because someone was bothering her. He was going to stop it, one way or another. His job didn't even matter; if he needed to get physical with that creep, he would have. All for her...

Warmth flooded her private, feminine places... womanly desire flared to life. She felt the wetness pooling in her already damp center... similar, yet different from the beastial cravings she'd been battling.

“Yes! Yes, that's it! That's what I want! Love... someone who loves me and shows it! Not some animal... love!”

Her breathing steadied, even as her human sex drive reasserted itself. Her anxiety was starting to fade a bit. And if that wasn't enough, something even better happened.

At first, it frightened her... that same disturbing, churning feeling in her belly. But it wasn't quite the same... she couldn't put a finger on it, but it prompted her to look despite her fears. And that's when she saw the most beautiful sight she'd seen since Richard had come running to her.

The small, barely-developed udder which was trying to form on her stomach was receding. The pink hue faded, returning to it's normal shade. And the bumps... those little pre-teats... they were shrinking, ever so slightly.

Relief overwhelmed Laura in a way it never had before. With a hopeful smile, she glanced at the rear-view mirror. Sure enough, her nose was also returning to it's former state. The dark leathery patch regained it's normal skin-tone, and her nostrils withdrew to their correct proportions.

“Haha... oh my god... I can't believe it... I beat it! I... I beat it!” She realized after she spoke, she'd managed to say every word without a problem. There was no hint of any struggle to pronounce the simple words.

To say she was ecstatic was an understatement. The tingling of her ears had stopped, and the itching sensation ceased to spread. She could still feel it, but it too had changed. She reached behind her to touch her lower back again... there was still fur there, but not as thick as before. All of her changes were reversing!

“Oh thank god... thank you, thank you, thank you...” She was on the verge of both laughing and crying. She never thought just getting to be human could bring her such joy. And now, since she knew that humanity could apparently be lost, she'd never take it for granted again.

She relaxed in her seat, just letting her rattled nerves settle down before she did anything else. It seemed she didn't need to find that vile farmer after all. All it took was her own willpower, her own insistence that she wanted her humanity. She thought about the farmers words... that must have been what he meant by “accepting” or “rejecting” his offer. By clinging to her human desires and rejecting those... disgusting urges... she must have broken the spell.

And Richard... he had saved her without even knowing.

She glanced over at the entrance to the store... he was in there right now. She could go and talk to him... she'd never even given him her number. She had his... but why wait?

They obviously had a connection, and she'd damn well almost lost the opportunity... not to mention the ability to take advantage of it. This was what being human was about. And maybe, just maybe that was the reason for all of this. A reminder, to make her take stock of her life. A very bizarre, unprecedented reminder... but if nothing else, it had gotten her attention.

She smiled broadly... her decision was made. She would talk to Richard, not later, but now. She would make her interest in him clear, as well as her appreciation for what he'd done. Even if he didn't know the full extent of it.

She'd rested from her ordeal long enough. She'd never felt more confident, more sure of herself. With a deep breath, she threw open her car door, ready to embrace life like never before.

She stood from the vehicle, preparing to march right back in to tell Richard... something...

“What... what's that smell...?”

She'd smelled it earlier. When she was walking back to her car, she'd caught it on the breeze. A pungent, musky smell... nothing she could place, but it grabbed her attention in a way she couldn't explain. What was it...?

“Oh god... what...?”

She leaned back, bracing herself against the open car as best she could as pure, liquid need suddenly rushed through her body. Once again, thoughts of powerful, eager bulls... potential mates... danced on the edges of her vision, demanding her attention. Moisture suddenly flooded her privates... god, it felt amazing...

"Uhhhh... uhhhhrrrrrr.... rrroooo..."

Her legs began to tremble, and just like that, she could sense it all coming back. The victory she'd just won... her progress in turning back the tide of animal lust... suddenly it meant nothing. Her knees went weak, and she dropped back to sit on the side of her driver's seat, trying to regain composure once again.

“No.... why?”

Within seconds, she could feel it. The itching... the tingling on her ears... the churning in her stomach... she could feel those damned teats... budding once again, pressing against her clothes.

She tried to clear her head, get her bearings. Why was this happening? She hadn't changed her mind! She still wanted Richard, not some big... virile... ready...

“God... oorrr... what is that fucking smell?!” She tried to keep her voice to a whisper, aware that she was much more visible with her door open like this. She was about to pull herself back into the car, when she heard something. It was exhilarating... and yet bone chilling.

“MMMRRROOOOO.”

She turned her head, having to look through the rear window for a clear view. Recognition hit her like a ton of bricks as it came into view... the same red pick-up truck she'd seen that morning at the intersection, moving slowly up the lane, practically behind her car now. And in the trailer... there he was. Not just an image in her head... but a real live bull.

A mate...

Her whole body lurched involuntarily, her hips giving a spasm of pure, carnal joy at the sight of such a worthy mate. Her human side prayed nobody saw her, but she found it was getting harder to care.

The truck slowed as it cleared the back of her car, coming into plain view right beside her. Laura's gaze remained fixed though... the trailer was further back, she still had to look through the rear window to see it clearly, but she could see him. She couldn't force her eyes away... his scent was intoxicating.

“Stop it Laura... stop it... look away... before you can't...”

Her strength was faltering, but she mustered what she could, finally forcing herself to turn her head. The driver of the truck was just sitting there. The lane wasn't blocked. What was he waiting for?

“Go! Go god damn it! You have no idea...”

His passenger side window started to lower... “what the hell... tell me you're not trying to start a conversation with that... oh, shit!”

Honestly, she didn't know how she hadn't seen this coming. She should have known... the stupid wide-brimmed hat...

The creep smiled at her from the drivers seat, a knowing smile as he watched the obvious struggle within her. He cut his eyes back toward the trailer, then back at Laura, as if saying “Yeah, you like that, don't you?”

She glared at him, anger welling up even as her body begged for his cargo. Without a word, he gestured with his hand, pointing somewhere. She looked... he was pointing at the store... why?

With that, he rolled up his window and began to move again. The trailer cleared the back of her car now, and she could see him, unobstructed save for the trailer itself. God, he was magnificent...

“Fuck... no... just look away...”

But she couldn't. She watched intently, gazing after the bull as the old man moved up the lane. She watched him reach the end, but didn't turn as other traffic would. Instead, he continued on, around the side of the building, disappearing out of view around back.

He wasn't gesturing at the store, he was telling her where he was going... he wanted her to meet him there.

She stood, her legs shaking as she formulated her next move.

“I have to talk to him. That's the only way. He said he'd talk to me after I'd thought about it... he wants a direct answer to his face. I have to reject him outright... then he'll let me go...

She stepped away from the car, her mind in a strange state between awareness and automatic response. As she started walking, her body gave an approving thrill; the animal instincts were all too eager to follow where the bull had gone.

She shuffled along in a haze, trying desperately not to give in and let the carnal need claim her. She needed to stay in control for this confrontation. She thought of Richard again, tried to remember the way he'd looked at her... and rushed to her defense.

Her body calmed itself, somewhat. But she could still smell that animal... his scent added something new to the equation that she hadn't needed to factor in before.

Still, the thought of Richard made her heart flutter, in a distinctly human way... the animal urges calmed, but refused to relent completely.

She continued along slowly, keeping her head together as best she could. She could tell the changes were reasserting themselves, but so far there was nothing visible. She shouldn't draw attention as long as she didn't do anything stupid.

The shoppers around her continued on with their scheduled tasks, unaware of the struggle going on right in front of them. As Laura glanced around, making sure nobody had noticed her odd behavior, she was struck by a disturbing thought. Somehow, she had the sense that she was preparing to swap one herd, just to join another.

“Don't think like that Laura. You're going to beat this. You have to...”

Her parking spot had been on the last row, so Laura pretty much had a straight shot around the side of the building. As she moved away from her car, she didn't even notice that she'd left the door open, leaving her purse in the seat for anyone that happened by. She was too focused on keeping herself under control. Even if she had remembered, the possibility of her purse being swiped would have paled in comparison to what she currently faced.

She approached the side of the building, disappearing from the view of the majority of customers. They paid little heed to the young woman walking around the store, despite the fact that she clearly had no real business going back there.

The scent of the bull was getting stronger, playing havoc with her foggy head and overly sensitive body. She stopped for a moment, leaning against the wall to brace herself. She focused on Richard again. It steadied her, but not as much as before.

“Okay Laura, this is it. Pull it together! Just get this over with, and you can move on!”

Her whole body was thrumming. Her nose began to twitch again, she knew what was coming. More changes would follow if she didn't beat this now.

For a moment, she considered going back. She knew this was where he wanted her. He was waiting for her to round that corner and meet him back there... and offer herself to that animal. And given her body's unsolicited reactions so far, she couldn't guarantee she wouldn't. But... what else could she do? Would these urges ever stop? Would he just give up, or follow her around until she caved? No, she was going to end this now. She wasn't going to spend her life walking around and trying to fight the urge to hump a fucking bull...

Her eyes widened... that thought had been a mistake, especially with the scent of one so close by. She wobbled, bracing harder against the wall, her body crying out for satisfaction.

“Uuu... uurrrooo...”

Her stomach lurched, churning and writhing once more. She clutched herself again, and then without warning, the small proto-udder surged beneath her hand. Laura gasped out loud; not only could she feel more teats developing, but the udder itself... it was growing, bulging from her body. She could feel her shorts and panties tightening, ever so slightly.

“Oh god... I've got to do this noorrrw...” She ignored the pitch in her voice, starting forward once again. Her mind and body were in complete agreement about where she was going, but each had completely different reasons.

She approached the corner around back... the scent was getting stronger, but she held as steady as she could. She paused again, considering her options. Maybe she should go get Richard? Surely he'd help her...

“Yeah right, and tell him what exactly? 'Hey Richie, remember me? Well, I need help fighting off a spell-casting farmer. Oh by the way, I'm growing an udder now. You like?'”

She chuckled a little, somewhat surprised that she could still muster a sense of humor right now. But at least she could still laugh... that was something distinctly human. That had to count for something, right?

A loud “MMMRRROOOO” interrupted her musings, sending a fresh wave of lust right through her. Her knees tried to give out... god, she had no idea that a need could be this strong. She braced against the wall again, this time suddenly aware of how stiff her fingers had become.

Once she was steady again, she held her hands to her face, looking for any sign of change. She could see nothing, but they definitely felt odd now. She contemplated for a moment, what would it be like to not have hands, but hooves. A disturbing chill ran up her spine... she really didn't want to find out. Her fingers twitched a little... she knew the change was coming to them, she just didn't know when.

That was it, she'd had enough. She was going to go tell that farmer what he could do with this “offer.” Then, when she was back to normal, she was going straight into that store, and her and Richard would live happily-ever-after.

Steeling herself, she prepared for the encounter. “Screw your courage to the sticking place...” she thought to herself; maybe Shakespeare could help her through this if nothing else could.

She clenched her fists, gritting her teeth as she pushed the animal urges aside with all the strength she could martial. Then, with a stern, cold expression, she set her feet in motion and rounded the back corner...

[vended]

PART 3: Almost a Fairy-Tale

As Laura rounded the back of the store, she was ready for the fight of her life. And she was determined to win. She saw him almost immediately, parked about halfway down from the corner. She could see the trailer too, he was standing right next to it, waiting. And the bull, he was right there...

Her body lurched, but she forced herself to remain steady.

“Just remember... Richard... he cared enough to fight for you... don't let him down...”

She gulped a bit, uncertainty creeping in on her. She was basing all her hopes on the “love” of a man she'd spoken to once, for all of like five, maybe ten minutes. Thinking of it that way, her steadfastness suddenly felt rather flimsy compared to what she was facing.

And yet here she was, the bull so close by... the farmer with that creepy, knowing smile... and she wasn't completely falling apart. She wasn't exactly steady either, her loins aching with crazed, carnal need... but she was holding on. The thought of Richard and what he did... it was helping.

It was time to end this, and face him down. She'd make her rejection clear, and he'd have to accept it. There would be no room for confusion.

Staring daggers at the smiling bastard who'd brought this on her, Laura began a steady march to close the distance between them. She stopped about twenty feet way from him; the bulls scent was getting stronger, she couldn't risk getting closer. She was already visibly shaking... she knew he could see it. But she kept her face stern, refusing to let any weakness show. She needed to maintain at least a facade of strength, even if she didn't feel it.

“Just remember... Richard... he fought for you...”

She kept her gaze fixed on him, preparing for her rejection speech. She needed to keep her voice as steady as possible. The last thing she needed was to lose the power of speech now. She just needed to hold it together... to finish that one thought.

The farmer looked her up and down curiously; no doubt, he could see some of the changes his “hocus-pocus” had already wrought, and was quite pleased with this handiwork so far.

She was just about to speak, when the farmer took it upon himself to break the silence.

“Well, how you doin' young lady? What you think about my offer? You ready to come on down to the farm and get started on some good ol' fashioned breeding?”

She opened her mouth to respond, inadvertently taking a breath as she did... and a fresh whiff of the bull's musk filled her nostrils. Just as she started to speak, she stifled herself, another sound altogether trying to force its way out.

The noise turned into a muted whimper as she tried to regain control. She was clearly trembling now. She flexed her stiffening hands open and closed, trying to do anything to take her mind off these maddening urges. This wasn't good. She was visibly struggling, and he could see it.

“Looks to me like you're more than interested. What do you say, little lady? You can go ahead and start right now if you want. Ol' Dozer here'd be happy to show you the ropes. We should be okay back here, no one comes back here unless there's a delivery, and they don't get those on the weekend. You can get some... we'll call it on the job training. Then we'll run you up to the farm and you can get started good and proper. How's that sound?”

Her eyes fluttered at the image he was putting in her head. She hadn't considered it, but she was in a peculiar predicament. Her body was assaulted by animal urges, but her human mind was still perfectly capable of forming vivid fantasies around those desires. It was as if this spell knew how to use her own humanity against her.

“Remember... Richard...”

He waited expectantly for her response. Finally, after twenty or so seconds of silence, she shook her head as if to clear it, and fixed her gaze on him once again. His smile faded just a little... he didn't seem to be expecting that.

She took a few more steadying breaths, this time through her mouth as much as possible. It was time to tell him what she thought.

“Listen you... oouuu... ooouurrrrroooOOO!”

Her eyes widened at the noise she had made. God, she really thought she had a better handle on it than that! The farmers smile returned, broader than before.

“So, I guess that's a yes, then?” He chuckled, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

Laura shook her head, trying to steady herself before speaking again. She shook with lust, and other feelings. Her body was sending her very strong signals now... more changes were coming. What she'd experienced so far was only a sample... what she felt on the horizon would be far beyond any of that... beyond anything she could control.

She started to speak again. She couldn't afford to screw this up now! It was a shame, then, that the wind shifted right in her direction, just as she began.

“Let me... be... errr... clearrrr... rrrruuu... ooorrrrrrRRRRROOOO!”

She bent forward, hugging her midsection as the sound forced its way out. Her willpower crumbled as the scent filled her nostrils, hitting her already fragile self control like a hammer cracking a walnut. Her logical, thinking mind all but shut down, the scent of the bull overriding everything. Without her willful consent, the need to mate took priority.

Laura sniffed the air deeply, wanting to fill her nose with the delectable scent. Just an hour ago, she would have been revolted by it, if she had noticed it at all. Her sense of smell had become far more acute without her realizing.

"Urrrr....rrrrrr....mmmrrrrrrOOOOO!"

Laura's body began to shake and tremble as she was wracked with desires like she had never known. No human mind could ever truly be prepared for the intensity of the bovine instincts coursing through her now. The fur that had started beneath her clothing was starting to peak through, creeping down her legs from beneath her shorts and frosting her upper arms in a light brown fuzz. Part of Laura felt this, and knew there was a reason she wasn't supposed to want this. But she was slipping into the mind and impulses of a cow. Soon, there would be nothing of her human concerns to hold her attention.

The speed at which she'd given over might have alarmed her, had she been able to consider it. But her mind was in too much of a fog to think clearly now. She felt her pants getting tighter around the crotch, as well as a building pressure around her nose. Again, a part of her was concerned, but there was little she could do.

“Heh, well, I'd say that's a good solid 'yes sir, I'm ready for the job!' Welcome to the herd, little lady! Glad to have you on board!”

She heard, and vaguely understood. Something clicked... some semblance of recognition. She closed her eyes trying to focus.

“Wha... waorrrrooooo... ooorrrrruuuu?”

She shook her head... something wasn't right, she knew. But, her head was swimming... and her loins were aching. Whatever he had said... it almost... no, she couldn't quite grasp it.

Whatever had bothered her about the farmers words began drifting from her mind. It was just as well. The words would soon lose all meaning to her anyway. She just wanted to breed. That's all that mattered now.

“Mmmrrrooooo....”

Her sex drive was soaring to new heights drinking in the bulls scent, and her legs were getting wobbly. With another loud groan, she dropped to her knees, the urge to be on all fours starting to overtake her.

"MmmmrrrroooOOOOOO...."

"LAURA!!!"

The sound shook her from her haze. That name... and the voice of the one who'd called it... something about it cleared the fog for a moment. She'd liked that voice... what was it...

"Rrrrrr.... rricharrrd....."

*****


Richard had been watching as she sat in her car, wanting to make sure she got out okay. He started to get worried when she didn't leave. He found excuses to stay near the front of the store, pretending to clean the windows so he could keep an eye on her car until she left. He hoped she was alright.

“How long is she going to sit there?” he thought after watching for a considerable time. It was getting harder to pretend to clean that one window over and over... but what if something was wrong?

Finally, after what seemed like forever, she opened her door, and started to get out, only to stop suddenly.

“Is she coming back in for something?” His heart jumped up in his throat a bit... maybe she wanted to talk a little more, after all? “Wait, now she's sitting back down?”

He stopped pretending to clean, and just watched her. This wasn't right. Given her earlier mishap in the store... now this odd behavior... he was seriously starting to think that something was medically wrong. He was just about to run out to check on her himself... screw cleaning or bagging groceries. His boss would understand if it was a medical emergency.

A red pick up stopped behind Laura's car, obscuring Richard's view. A worrying thought crossed his mind. “... Oh shit, what if it that's pervert...” Just as his concerns were raised, whoever it was drove off, leaving Laura where she'd been. He didn't bother watching where it went, his focus was on Laura.That's when she'd gotten up, and started around the side of the building.

“What the hell is she doing now?”

This didn't sit right with him at all. There was no reason for her to be going back there, and she looked spaced out as she plodded along. Hell, she hadn't even closed her door!

He'd hesitated a bit, but finally he couldn't stand it. He went to his already stressed-out manager and insisted that he needed a fifteen minute break. It caused something of a stir, as he'd just had one about an hour ago, while others hadn't even taken one yet. He persisted with his request though, yet wouldn't explain why. He couldn't be completely certain anything was wrong, and he didn't want to look silly to his coworkers if she wasn't in trouble. Maybe she was just looking for a restroom or something?

Despite his obvious aggravation, Richard's boss relented, much to his relief. He just wanted to make sure she was alright, then he could relax.

He moved as steadily as he could as he stepped out of the store, noticing her car still sitting in it's space. The door was still clearly half open, and that really bothered him. He considered taking a detour to close it for her, but decided checking up on her condition was more important. He moved around the side of the building, trying to look casual, not wanting to come across as a creepy stalker in case she was really okay. She wasn't there, but that's the direction she'd gone.

"Where could she have gone? I know I saw her heading this way. Did she go around back?"

He was growing more concerned. He decided to take a quick peek around the rear of the store and make sure she wasn't there, then he would check elsewhere.

He thought he heard mooing as he approached the rear. "Didn't know there were any farms this close. I know there's a couple up the road a bit..."

There was another sound... was that a moo? It didn't sound quite right. It sounded like...

"...when Laura groaned earlier..."

He broke into a run, there WAS something wrong! He turned the corner around the back, and saw Laura standing there, her back to him. She looked like she was trembling, and then she dropped to her knees groaning out loud again.

"MmmmrrrroooOOOOOO...."

"LAURA!!!"

He ran to her side, kneeling as he put his arm around her to lift her back to her feet.

"Rrrrrr....rricharrrd....."

*****


“Laura... oh my god... what the hell...?"

There was something very wrong with her appearance. Her face, was her nose swollen... and darker?

He heard approaching footsteps, drawing his attention from Laura for a moment. He'd been so preoccupied with her condition that he hadn't even noticed the creepy farmer or the bull in the nearby trailer. His blood boiled when he saw the man that had scared Laura so badly earlier, strolling towards them with the same smug, out of place cheerfulness he'd left the store with.

He looked back at Laura's swollen face, then back to the farmer. He did this to her!

"What the fuck, did you hit her you son of a bitch?!"

"Now I ain't done a thing to her. I just offered her a job, and she seems pretty interested if you ask me."

"Rrrricharrd...." He looked back down at her... there was more than just her nose. Her ears... they were misshapen and hairy, like... some kind of animal.

"Rrrrichard.... he did something to me..." Laura's mind was lifting out of the fog. He'd rescued her, once again. Her knight-in-shining-armor...

"What's he done... Laura?" He could see the hair starting to creep down her arms.

"He... he's turrrning me... into a cow... for his... his... hiiirrrrrr..."

"Holy shit..." Richard could have never believed such a thing without seeing it. He could see Laura's nostrils flaring, the coloration of her nose darkening more.

"What the hell... a cow? How is that even...? Is this a joke?"

Laura bucked in his arms, her widened nostrils picking up the bulls scent even more.

"Gerrrrt me... out of herrroooo... plearrrse... " The bulls pheromones were sending signals to her body that were getting harder to ignore by the second.

Richard felt a patch of fur prickling against the palm of his hand where he touched her bare arm, trying to keep her steady. In the blink of an eye, Richards' whole concept of reality, of what was possible and what was not, flipped on it's head.

"Okay... yeah... come on, just stay with me... we'll find some way to stop this..."

"Well now, I don't think that's such a good idea..."

"Who cares what the hell you think, just stay away from her!" Richard put his arm around her, preparing to help guide her away.

"I promise it's a real good job for her!"

"WHAT JOB?! You're turning her into a fucking cow!"

The farmer's tone took on a condescending pitch. "Well, breeding stock and milk production, city boy! Whatcha think cows do on a farm? Why you gettin' all riled up about it anyway? It's not like she ain't interested. Especially in the breedin' part."

"That disgusting...!"

Richard was about to give the farmer an earful for even suggesting such an idea. Until Laura bucked in his arms again. He looked at her, but she was eying the bull, with a certain... expression. She moaned again, her voice deep and throaty.

"Gert... me... errr, arr... away... frooom, him... ooooorrr..."

Richard realized, from the direction of her gaze, she wasn't talking about the farmer.

There was another shudder, but this time it was Richard, realizing just how deeply these changes were affecting her.

"Oh... Oh shit... Come on, come on, now!" He began helping her walk away, someplace where neither this animal nor his keeper could reach her. "You stay away from her! You hear me? Stay away!"

"Well now wait a minute. If she don't want the job that's fine, all she's got to do is say so. But if ya'll leave, I'm the only one that can undo the magic. So even if she don't want the job, it won't matter."

Richard stopped, considering the man's words. The farmer was fueling his anger, especially his seemingly incorrect use of the term "job" to describe the situation. But even so, he had a point. How the hell was Richard supposed to do anything to help her? He didn't know jack-shit about whatever the farmer had done. That bastard was the one who got her into this, so it stood to reason he could get her out.

"Alright, well then undo it. She doesn't want your 'job.'"

"Well now, I think the little lady can make her own mind up about this. Right missy?"

Laura groaned, trying to stifle the urge to low once more. The smell was becoming overwhelming. "Rrrricharrd, plearse..."

"Go on young lady, what's it gonna be? You want the job or no? I need me a definitive answer, okay?"

Richard shook Laura, seeing the glazed expression overtaking her... "Laura! You've got to tell him. He won't listen to me. Tell him you don't want his stupid job, okay?!"

Laura's vacant eyes fluttered, trying to fight off the beastial haze overtaking her. "Urrr... I... okay..."

This was it, her last chance to escape this twisted curse. Her mind was still battling her new animal nature, but now, she had an ally. With Richard helping to keep her steady, Laura turned to face the old farmer. It was time to end this.

"I... don't warnt... warrrrr..warrrroooooOOOOOOOOOO!"

Again, the breeze caught her as she started to speak, sending a massive dose of the bull's musk right into her face. The strength drained from her legs and she slipped down, depending entirely on Richard now to keep her upright.

"Noo! This can't keep happening! I'm so close, I can end this!" Laura fought through, trying to regain her composure.

"I... don't want... to woorrrroooOOOOO!"

"Laura, come on! Fight this!" Richard tried desperately to encourage her as he held her up. He was determined to see her walk out of this on two legs, not four!

Laura shook her head roughly, trying to clear the fog and focus. She summoned all her strength, never thinking it would take so much to utter one sentence. But she knew, if she wanted to stay human, to live the life she wanted and not as some beast, she knew what she had to do.

"UuuhhhhhrrrrrrOOOOOOOOO!"

That wasn't it.

"No, ooohhh, noooo....." Laura hung her head, feeling the strength starting to leave her. She mustered everything she could on that last try, and she hadn't even gotten out a single word. Her mind and body were caving in to the animal nature, and there was nothing she could do to fight it.

She doubled over, Richard still propping her up as best he could. She began to convulse, feeling her body spasm strangely.

Richard could only hold her as the fur on her arms and legs began to thicken. He felt her trembling, could feel the muscles beneath his touch as they flexed and strained in ways he knew they shouldn't.

"Laura... what can I do...?" He couldn't stand this... she needed help, and there was nothing he could do but watch. This woman... he'd only just met her, yet knew she was the one he'd waited for... hoped for... turning into an animal... a COW, of all things... just as he found her?

"No... HELL NO!"

More rough than he'd ever thought he dare consider, Richard pulled Laura back to an upright stance one more time. Taking her face in his hands, he forced her to look him right in the eyes.

"Laura! You can do this! I KNOW you can do this!"

"Urrrrrrhhhhhoooo..."

"LAURA! Look at me, I know you're in there! You can NOT let him win! Fight it! I need you... to fight it... please..."

She could hear his plea, the desperation in his voice. It reached through the haze of lust and instinct, touching that small, struggling part of her that was still trying to hold on. It inspired her... reminded her of what she'd wanted... the REAL her, not this animal that was trying to beat down the doors of her brain and steal her body.

"Rrrrichard..."

"Laura!" He'd never been so happy to hear someone say his name in his whole life. "I knew you were still there! Come on, let's finish this, okay?"

"I... uuhhhrrrr.."

But she was already fading again...

"Well, it's looking to me like she's about to make up her mind, son." The old farmer stated smugly. "And I think I know which way she's leanin'."

"NO! I won't let you go now! You hear me? I won't let you go!"

That flash of recognition returned. He could see it in her eyes. She was fighting so hard... if there was just something he could do... what could he do?

He was overwhelmed, feeling such a desperation to help her. He held her, looking her in the eyes, willing her to fight through this. He saw her lips... they were different somehow. Darker... almost imperceptible, had he not been so close to her. She spasmed again... god, was her clothing getting tighter? He felt something press against his leg, and looked down. Her stomach, it looked bloated beneath her clothes.

"Oh god Laura, no..."

She groaned again, her voice hitting a lower pitch than previously.

He could still see her, the real her, struggling in there, his heart was moved for her... he knew that what he felt was more than a need to help some poor unlucky person. This was something, much more.

Helpless to fight this power over her, he did the only thing that came to his mind. Gently, he leaned in, kissing her on those slightly altered, but still succulent and sexy lips, embracing her the way he would have if only things had gone differently.

And then, something wonderful happened.

She was returning his kiss, reaching her arm up to place it around his neck. To embrace him. He could feel the strength returning to her, the spasms of her body slowing, her own legs becoming steady beneath her. She kissed him with more fervor, letting out a small whimper of delight... a decidedly lady-like whimper.

After what felt like an eternity, they broke their kiss, and a smile crept over Laura's darkened lips. But then... their color returned. He watched her closely, and slowly, the bovine features which had been over taking her began to fade. He felt the bulge on her stomach going down, and pulled back a bit, forgetting that he had it squished between them. He could see it shrinking beneath her clothes.
He looked back up at her face... that gorgeous face, it was returning to the original beauty that had struck him the moment she'd walked in. He could see the vibrant, stunning woman he'd met earlier back in full control. She was herself again.

"Richard... thank you... thank you..." It was just like one of her story-book romances. The evil curse, broken by true-love's kiss. It could hardly be more picture perfect.

Now, completely under her own power, she turned to face the farmer once more. His countenance was considerably more serious this time.

"That stupid pervert-smile is gone... ha!"

The bull was right there in the trailer next to him, but she paid it little mind. Her body gave a tingle, but her head was clear now.

"I don't want your job, old man. I never, EVER want to work at your farm, or breed with your stupid bulls."

She stared him down as she spoke. With triumphant glee, she held her voice steady. Her voice tried to hang on certain sounds, but she pushed right through with little effort.

"I've got this now, thanks to Richard. I've got this..."

"Do you understand me? I am a normal... beautiful... WOMAN! Not a cow!"

Laura never thought she'd take so much pride in how clearly she'd enunciated each and every word. The smug smile now sat squarely on her own face. A face that was so recently marred by his horrible magic. But no longer, thanks to Richard. No more, and never again.

The old man looked at the ground, but said nothing. Richard put his arm around Laura, giving her a squeeze of encouragement.

“Well, there's your answer old man. Now leaver her alone.” He started walking, attempting to guide Laura away protectively. But she held back, stopping him in his tracks.

“Wait... not yet.”

“What's wrong, Laura?”

She looked over at the farmer, then turned back to Richard. She leaned in close to him, whispering in his ear.

“I could still... you know... he hasn't undone it completely yet. I'm just... controlling it, but he needs to undo it before we go.” She hated to admit it, but the urges were still there, albeit stifled. She had a tight lid on them, though, and it wasn't coming off until he fixed this. She'd proven her resolve, there was no wiggle room for him.

Richard turned back to the old creep. "Well, what are you waiting for? She told you what she thinks, and she made it very clear. Now, keep your end of the deal. Will you do that?"

"Son, I'm a man of my word. I always keep my deals."

Laura and Richard laughed with giddiness, both breathing a sigh of relief as they hugged again. They'd done it, they'd really beaten this thing!

"Hold on right there, and I'll fix all this, alright?"

"You do that," Laura demanded confidently.

The farmer stepped over to his truck, rummaging through the glove box, apparently looking for something.

"What are you doing? Just fix it already, you didn't need anything when you started this..."

She watched him, then glanced at the nearby bull still in the trailer. The sweet, hot tingle returned for a moment, but she pushed it aside with little effort. Richard had brought her out of her haze, and she intended to stay that way.

"Better luck next time, champ." She said jokingly to the bull, her good humor returning after the ordeal she'd been through. "I'm sure you'll make some lucky cow very happy one day..." She turned back to Richard, smiling flirtatiously... "But this one's spoken for."

Richard shook his head, but continued smiling all the same. "Seriously? You're already cracking jokes about this?"

"Well you know, humor's one of those things that separate's us from the animals!"

"You're amazing, you know that Laura?" He looked up at the truck. The old man was still looking for whatever it was he apparently needed.

Laura followed Richard's gaze, watching her nemesis intently.

"Quit dragging it out you old fart," she thought, getting the distinct impression he was stalling. "What, you think if you make me wait long enough I'll decide I actually want to...?"

She cut her thought short as her body gave another slight, involuntary tingle.

"Yeah, forget it pal. It ain't happening. You lost fair and square, just deal with it."

She looked back at Richard, just as he turned back to her. Her heart melted at the look he gave her. The look in his eyes... it was like a rock for her. Any lingering fear she may have had of succumbing to this curse... it was immediately settled. At that moment, she just knew... she was going to remain a human... a woman... for him.

"I wouldn't still be standing here if wasn't for you. Not like this... I... I'm not sure I would even know myself anymore if it wasn't for you. Richard... I don't even know how to thank you..."

"The pleasure was all mine, believe me." He hugged her again, running his hands over her shoulders in a comforting way. "There's just one small issue now."

"What's that?"

"I'm going to have a hell of a time trying to top this on our second date."

"Oh-hoh! So this is your idea of a date, huh? Saving me from the Curse of the Were-Cow!" Despite the events of this bizarre morning, neither of them could help but laugh at how absurd it all sounded.

"Okay, hero, so what's on tap for next time? You gonna rescue me from Dracula's mummy?"

"Maybe. Or the Creature From Frankenstien's Lagoon."

"Ha! Hey, that's fine, as long as it's norr... ahem... as long as it's not another freaky... animal-curse voodoo thing. I gotta tell you, that was just... ugh. Can't even describe it." She shuddered again, remembering the raw, carnal lust she'd almost fallen prey to moments earlier. But one look at Richard's face, and she was golden.

"Heh, yeah, tell me about it. I think mummy-Dracula actually seems tame now. Who'd have thought?"

They laughed with a sense of gleeful relief only understood by those who'd just averted disaster. The laughter at their own jokes, corny as they were, helped ease the pent up stress the days events had caused. Unfortunately, it also disturbed the penned up bull nearby. It was in a temperamental mood now, frustrated by the scent of a cow in heat that it just couldn't reach. It let out another low moo, trying to gain it's potential mate's attention.

"Oh shut up! You had your chance!" Laura spat, giving Richard a sly wink. It's lowing barely even affected her. She didn't even flinch.

The farmer muttered to himself in the truck, "Alright now, where'd it go? I wish that woman wouldn't move stuff around in here..."

While they waited, Laura's attention was drawn back to the sensitive region of skin just above her crotch. The udder had almost dissolved away. Aside from some spotty patches of fading fur, it was the last remnant of her curse. And it was almost completely gone, when that damn bull let out yet another “mmrrrrooo...” She was in control, but it still sent some unwanted shivers through her... part of her still wanted to respond. And it was just enough to keep that stupid udder from fading completely. It was down to just the small, dwindling teats, at least. She was just glad it was concealed from Richard's view... she didn't even want to look at it herself.

Just as it started to diminish again, the bull let out another low, it's eyes fixed on Laura with stoney resolve. The teats halted their retreat.

"Ugh, give it up, pal. You're definitely not my type. I'm not responding. Not today, not ever."

The tender, damp region between her legs tried to dispute her on that point, but she quickly silenced it. She was firmly in control now. Even so, the udder seemed to regain some stature.

"Can't wait for this thing to be gone completely... Boy I really wish he'd hurry up, tired of dealing with this."

She absent-mindedly dropped a hand to the small trouble-area, and shuddered, having forgotten just how sensitive it was. A split second image flashed through her mind... of a small calf, like the one she'd imagined before... nuzzling... suckling from her. In a peculiar way, that image somehow fed into that same base need which the bull was trying to call forth. Without a second thought, she quickly slapped it aside.

"Thank god that will never happen..."

"Alright! Here we are. This oughta do the trick." The farmer blurted out suddenly. He stepped back from the pickup as he closed the door, clutching something in his hand.

Laura and Richard breathed a sigh of relief as the farmer finally started walking back to them, holding up a small container of something. "Alright, now just hold on for a second." He held the container up, it appeared to be some kind of aerosol spray can. "This'll be what you need, young lady."

"About time," snorted Richard, his arm draped around Laura protectively. He'd be a lot more at ease when this was done and he could get her away from this guy. "So, what is that?"

"Just a little something I whipped up. You know, for the gals who say they don't want the job..."

"Good. I just want to get back to normal." Laura took a slight step away from Richard, ready to take whatever the farmer had that would free her of this blasted spell. It seemed he really did get the point. He could take his job and shove it.

"Alright, so what do I have to do? I'm ready to get this..."

Before she could finish, the farmer began spraying the contents of the can directly at Laura's face, then in the air around her. She stopped mid sentence, stunned by this sudden move. She blinked her eyes a couple of times, suddenly looking puzzled. Her cheerful smile began to fade, as her jaw began to slacken.

"Ugh... ugh..." she gasped, as the mystery substance settled over her, and drifted into the air around them.

Richard was equally surprised by the farmer's action, and made a protective move to pull her out of the path of the spray. He stopped himself, remembering the farmers promise. If this was her cure, Richard wanted her to get the full dosage. Besides, whatever it was, it was already pretty much all over her. They were just going to have to trust that the farmer was indeed a man of his word.

He watched nervously as the old creep sprayed his can of... something all around and over her. Finally, he stopped, seemingly content that he'd used as much as he needed.

"So, was that her cure?" He watched Laura closely, waiting with anticipation for her to give the all-clear. He saw her nose twitch as if she smelled something, and her breathing seemed to quicken. Her eyes squinted, as if in deep thought. Like she was trying to figure something out.

"Laura? You okay? Is it working?"

[vended]

PART 4: A Higher Purpose

Laura had been overjoyed just before the old man started spraying his concoction at her, believing she was finally going to be free. She was completely unprepared for the scent that filled her nose now... the scent of twenty-plus bulls in their prime.

Her head swam as the world around her vanished, replaced with visions of ready and willing mates. Without thinking, she inhaled the air deeply, sending a rush of rolling heat through her privates.

"Uuuhhhh...."

"There we go. Concentrated bull pheromones. Makes it seem like you're right there on the farm with a whole field of cattle."

Richard's eyes almost bugged out of his head, his hands balling into fists. "You son of a bitch!" he shouted, fear gripping his heart only minutes after he'd escaped it. He turned his attention back to Laura, her condition once again foremost on his mind.

"Laura, you alright?!" His voice caught her attention. She looked at him, and seemed to smile again.

"Thank god," Richard thought. "She's still okay..."

"Yeah..." she stammered in response... "I'm... think I... huh?" She stuttered, her mouth working awkwardly. She looked like someone trying to think of what to say, but couldn't quite get there.

Richard turned pale as he realized she wasn't okay. She looked confused, her eyes glazing over as she stared off into space.

"Laura! What's wrong? Talk to me!" He could tell she was barely paying him attention. She started breathing heavier, her still unaltered cheeks flushed a deep shade of red.

"Laura!" He put his hand on her shoulders, shaking her slightly. "Laura... you're scaring me, come on here!"

His concern... and his touch... reached through her foggy mind again, reinforcing the strength he'd help her find earlier. She had heard the farmers words, but her mind had been too fuzzy to care. Now their meaning started to sink in.

"Bull... pheromones... oh no..." Summoning her resolve, Laura tried to fight her way back.

"Rrichard... I... I think... I... uurrr..... rruurrooooo..." The steadiness she'd just regained began to falter, and her voice wavered once again.

"NO! Not again!" Richard shouted, grabbing Laura as her knees went weak. He felt the muscle spasms returning, stronger than before.

"Yep, this stuff's pretty potent," said the farmer in a gloating manner. "That ought to give her a little more perspective on the work environment before she goes and turns it down."

"You said you'd keep your end of the deal you liar!"

"I ain't lied about nothing. I said if she really didn't want the job, I'd undo the spell. I was just making sure she really didn't want it. Looks to me like she might still be interested, now that she's got a little better idea what's waitin' for her. And if there was any chance she might still be interested... well I'm just too nice a man to deny her that opportunity." The perverted, smug grin was back.

"I'm gonna make you pay for this old man." Richard retorted, then turned his attention back to the damsel in distress he'd just so recently rescued. He held her tightly, her face in his hands.

"Laura, listen to me, we need to go. Hold onto me, and stay focused. Let's just get you away from here, okay?" He knew he needed to get her away from that... stuff... hanging in the air. She was fine before she smelled it, if they could just get clear, maybe there was a chance.

They started walking, Laura holding on to his arm. Her mind seemed distant and sluggish, but she followed his lead. Letting him guide her away from the area contaminated by the pheromones. But it wasn't so easy to escape the effect. The breeze had spread the scent all around them. It was all over both of them as well, especially on her.

Laura's bovine instincts were going haywire, whipped into a frenzy by the prospect of so many ready males. The control she'd established and maintained began to crumble.

They continued trying to move away, but Richard heard the hiss of the aerosol can behind them.

"Just makin' sure ya'll!"

Richard ignored the old bastard, his full attention on Laura. There was nothing he could do to him that would help her right now. If he stopped to attack him, it would just take that much longer to get Laura out of here. Besides, he would need the old man to undo this. If he could just get her stable...

"Come on, sweetheart, you're doing great," he said, despite the glassy eyed stare and disturbingly low moan she let out every couple of seconds. If he could just get her around the side of the building, maybe they'd have a chance.

She stumbled, just for a second, but he steadied her and they were right back to the task at hand. They took a few more steps, and suddenly her body hitched and lurched forward. She doubled over, clutching her stomach, her face contorted with a look of what appeared to be agonizing pain. It was not pain though. In fact, it was the opposite.

"Uuuuhhhh... UuuurrRRRRROOOOOOOOOO!"

Her stomach churned and writhed with an intensity she hadn't yet experienced. Richard could see the bulge in her shorts increase just a bit. She brought one of her hands to her face, staring at it in confusion. She gripped and flexed her fingers, looking as if something wasn't quite working right.

"Uuuhhhhrrr... Oh... gooorrd..."

Richard could see her once delicate digits thickening, the nails taking on a darker hue. She looked at him, her face a mixture of sadness and... something else.

"Rrrrricharrrrd.... ooorrrrrr...."

It was changing again. Her nose, swelling, darkening. Her ears were stretching... and once again, brown, coarse fur encroached upon her lovely skin.

"Laura come on, let's just go!"

But he couldn't budge her. She had gone almost completely limp, and he was supporting her full weight just to keep her standing. The fur crept further over her, covering places that had previously escaped its presence.

She closed her eyes, trying to focus, but her head was swimming, and the world was starting to blur. Her animal nature had been roused to a level beyond what she'd faced before. It began to crash through her barriers. The emotions Richard had stirred were giving her strength, but it simply wasn't enough to hold on. She felt herself slipping, again.

Richard's heart ached as he watched her struggle. There had to be something he could do! He couldn't just stand here and let this happen. He had to get her away from here.

“Laura, come on, I'll carry you, it'll be alright, just hold onto me okay?”

The farmer gave another amused chuckle. “Heh, now what good's that gonna do? You can carry her all over the place, but if she wants the job, she's still gonna turn. Those pheromones are all over her anyway, and you. How ya'll gonna run from yourselves?”

“Agh, damn you! How could you do this to someone?!”

“Look, I don't know what you're so mad about, I done told you all she's got to do is turn the job down and she won't change. She's just got to really not want it. My magic just responds to what she really wants, that's all. How's that a bad thing?”

“She already told you no! How much clearer can she make it!”

“That's what she said, but really she was just trying to ignore the offer altogether! There's a difference.”

Richard shook his head, what the fuck was this guy on about? “She said NO! Period!”

“No, she didn't even want to give the offer a chance. See, all I did was give her a choice, and she was just gonna say no... but how was she gonna make a real decision without getting a taste of what she'd be turning down? And like I said, the magic makes sure she just gets what she really wants. And you're up here getting' all mad about it! That just beats all...”

“Richarrrd...” His attention snapped back to Laura. She was still propped against him, trembling, barely holding back the tide. Her face turned to him, but her eyes were so glazed that Richard wasn't sure she was actually looking at him. Her mind was in such a fog, she couldn't focus very well, but she was trying.

“Richarrrd... he wooorrn't... listerrrroon...” She gulped, trying to steady her voice... and everything else about herself. “He... I, have tooorrr... fight it... mrrr... myself... he worrr... worn't, listen tooor... torrrroo...”

She braced harder against him; trying to form the words was actually draining her strength. But she'd gotten her message across; arguing with this jackass would get them nowhere. He was just twisting words and waxing semantics to justify his actions. The only way they could beat this, was if she fought the change back. It was up to her, and her alone.

She felt Richard's arm tighten around her. “Okay, okay Laura. Fight. Please, fight it! Don't give up, show him what you really want!”

She heard his encouragement, and took from it what strength she could. But... that smell... god, it just made her want to...

“Urrrooo...”

“Laura! You... you're beautiful! Don't forget that! You're an amazing, beautiful woman, like no one I've ever met before! You can't let him take that!”

His words touched her. She knew what he felt... and he was right, she was being robbed of so much by this farmers vile magic... She tried to focus on that, squeezing her eyes tightly shut while forcing down her bovine impulses. She had to fight...

She pictured Richard, using him to force out the other imagery. A scenario formed in her mind... one that stirred her heart and roused her humanity to fight on. A wedding ceremony... HER wedding ceremony. Richard was there, at the front, waiting for her. There were others in attendance, but she was there for him. He looked so handsome, standing there... she turned... to give him access... NO! She faced forward, waiting in her flowing white gown... and Richard in is dashing black tuxedo... this is what she'd waited for all her life. This is what she wanted. She gracefully stepped down the aisle, towards him, as the familiar melody loving couples dreamed of hearing began to play. This time, it played for them. She was going to keep her humanity... for this... for him... for...

"MMMMOOOOOOOOOOO!"

The bull bellowed from the trailer again, increasingly frustrated by the scent of a ready female that he just couldn't get to. Laura's eyes snapped open, and her body heaved. The image in her mind shattered, her slickened privates demanding that she answer the beasts call.

"No... Richard... I want... you..."

She fought to recapture the wedding scene, pulling the fragments back together piece by piece.

"Richard... I'm walking to him... the music, how does it go? Shit, I can't think... where's Richard... he should be... no, that's not him...no!! I don't want that... I want... my wedding, our wedding... I'm in a dress... it's covering me... ugh... it's in the way... no, I mean... we're in the field... no church!... he's behind me... ah, fuck, no!"

The animal behind them bellowed again, and Laura groaned her response. Her mind couldn't focus, the details of her fantasy scattering like leaves on the wind. Her animal instincts began to swell, as did the bulge beneath her shorts. They were getting far too tight. In fact, all of her clothing suddenly felt constricting. The straps of her bra were digging into her shoulders, and the cups squeezed her breasts more than they should have. There was something else, they felt prickly. The fur that had heralded the beginning of her physical changes was now covering her once creamy mounds.

"Ohhhrrr... plearse... nooorrr..." She groaned, realizing that even the most intimate parts of her would not be spared by this beastial curse.

Richard's heart was sinking as he watched Laura, clearly straining with all her might to not succumb. He stood beside her, keeping her steady as best he could, even as she wanted desperately to drop to all fours. Standing on two legs seemed increasingly awkward, and not just because her knees felt like rubber. She looked at him with those glazed, distant eyes, a look that frightened him like nothing ever had before.

"Why, why did this have to happen? I did everything I could, Laura, I swear. I'm sorry..." Tears began to form in his eyes.

Her fading humanity was moved, as much as she'd ever been. She wanted to fight, for him. Her nostrils widened even more, and Richard could see light patches of brown fuzz appearing on the sides of her face and neck.

"No, I can't let this happen! Not after you fought so hard!" In one last desperate attempt to save her, he kissed her again. He straightened her body as he pressed it against his, kissing her with the same passion he'd had earlier. He waited for her response. She put her arms around him, gripping his shoulders with her now stubby fingers.

"It's working! She's coming back to me! Yes, she's coming back!"

He pressed his body against hers, waiting to feel her regain her own strength like she had before. Waiting for her to return his kiss with the passion he felt for her.

"Mmmrrrrrrmmmph..."

She groaned against his mouth, but was barely engaging in the act at all. He could feel her lips becoming leathery against his. Her tongue was thicker than it had been the first time. Her developing udder pressed against his leg.

"Come on, please come back to me..."

Her body tensed, and he felt her press against him harder.

"Yes, that's it! Come on!"

The sensation of Richard's kiss was both familiar and foreign to Laura. She wanted to respond, but couldn't wrap her mind around how, or even why. She knew she'd liked this before. An ember of her human side flared. The kiss was stirring her, but that aroma was still heavy in the air. Her heart wanted this, but her body wanted...

"MMMMMMMMMOOOOOOOOOO!"

She broke the kiss suddenly, her body jolted with pleasure by the nearby bull's low. She pushed away from Richard with an unexpected force, stunning him. As they had embraced, the farmer had taken the opportunity to unlock the trailer, allowing the animal to roam free. It zeroed in on Laura with one single-minded intent: he smelled a cow in heat.

She turned, and saw him marching steadily towards her, feeling both dread and anticipation creeping in at his approach.

Richard watched her intently. The way she was looking at that animal... “God no... she can't be...”

“Laura?”

She turned back to face Richard... her expression... he wasn't sure what to make of it. Her lip was curled back... her chest heaving up and down... even now he was struck by her beautiful features, marred as they were by this curse.

She started to move her mouth, trying to speak again, but couldn't seem to get the words out. He reached out his arm to touch her shoulder, and her eyes fluttered shut.

“Laura!”

“Oorruu... I... I don't... thirrrnk... I can... I can... I carrr... carrrooo... oooohh... oorrruu...”

Her voice held an edge of urgency Richard hadn't heard before. Her eyes flashed open, wide and full of sudden panic. “Rrrrichard... oh... god... ooorrrr... oh... gooorr... I can't... can't... cannuuurrrmph...”

“No Laura, you can! Please... you can!”

She turned away from both Richard and the bull. He couldn't understand what she was feeling right now. As she'd leered at the bull, drinking in the sight of him in full view... that overpowering scent filling every breath... something had snapped. She could feel the animal part of her... surging to a new level of intensity.

“Noo... oorrruuu... no, nooouuu... plearrruuu...”

She'd slipped too far. She could feel it... but couldn't accept it. Her humanity began to flail around, like a drowning person looking for a life preserver.

She started walking, trying desperately to get away. Her legs didn't want to respond though. Between the sensation of oncoming changes, and pure base need... her knees were barely supporting her. She managed only a few awkward steps before she stopped, holding herself... shuddering... shaking... “Rrrooh god... rrooh god... orrruuu...”

The bull called to her again. “MMMMOOOOOORRRUUUU!”

Laura froze, hugging herself tightly. She turned to face Richard, her mouth agape, eyes wide...

She was holding her self, bending forward a little, but still standing on two feet under her own power. She was still fighting, trying not to relinquish her last bit of humanity.

“Please Laura, please, find a way..." He could see the strained expression on her face, she was holding on, but barely.

“MMMMOORRRUUUUUU!” The bull called to her again, his agitation clear even to Richard.

Her eyes closed... then opened... she moved her mouth... preparing to speak. And then...

“OooorrrrrrruuuuuooOOOOOOOOO!” There was no holding it back. As she released the sound... a look of relief seemed to replace the panic. She relaxed her body... and her guard. Her resolved melted beneath the heat.

“Mmmmrrrrooooouuuu!” She bellowed again, her voice pitching several octaves lower than it should have been. Her legs finally buckled, and with a whimpering groan, she crumpled to her knees, bracing herself with her slightly altered hands.

She trembled on the ground, a strange sense of unwanted relief overtaking her. She knew she'd crossed a threshold, a point of no return. She'd lost too much ground, the force of will needed to fight this change back was more than what she still had in reserve.

Richard rushed forward, ready to help her back to her feet. He knelt down in front of her, reaching out... but then she looked up at him. The look in her eyes... he knew it was over.

Fighting to hold on for just a bit longer, she looked up at Richard, his expression filling her with a deep sadness. In a strange way, she was thankful for that. She could feel these parts of her being forced aside, barreled over by brute, carnal needs. Feeling this sadness meant there was still something of her left.

But Richard... he would miss her. And he would blame himself. She didn't want that. She needed him to know, to say something that would ease his heart.

She looked at him, the vacant stare of animal lust briefly replaced with warm compassion and... love. Summoning all the strength she could muster, she groaned, and then uttered what would be her final human words.

"Rrrricharrd... You... I warrrooo... warrrnted... t-to be... wirth.....rouuuooo..."

Her body spasmed powerfully as she tried to speak.

"You... mmrrrade me feel... mooorrOOO...."

She closed her eyes momentarily, struggling to hold her composure. She needed to say this.

"...moooore... tharn...anyorrrnooooo...

She felt herself slipping. She was gripped by dread of her now unavoidable fate, realizing that everything that was her, was about to become something... different. She wanted to comfort Richard, but facing this eventuality, she was gripped with a need for her own comforting.

"Pleeeearrrse... rremmmmroo... " She hesitated, trying desperately to clear her heard enough to force the words out.

"Remmmerrr... Rrrremember, me... as a worrr... a worrrrooo..."

"A woman Richard... please don't forget... I was a woman..."

"... a woorrrrmmoo... wormmmmMMRRROOOOOO!"

Her voice pitched deeper still. She worked her mouth awkwardly, as if she were trying to say more, but all that came out were the same low groans.

"Urrrr.... URRRRROOOOOO..."

The farmer secretly marveled at the young woman's resolve. Most of those he'd changed before had caved in by this time. Even those who'd fought the hardest had completely melted when the pheromones were introduced. He'd have to remember to increase the strength of the formula next time. Still, as strong willed as she was, she could only delay the inevitable. And as the bull let out another powerful "MMMMOOOOOO," the farmer watched with glee, as Laura's eyes once again fell into a familiar, vacant stare.

Her shoulders hunched forward suddenly and Richard watched, his mouth agape as her back began to broaden, straining the material of her shirt. Her hips, arms and legs quickly followed suit.

Her body underwent another series of spasms, and her now slightly less feminine face froze in an expression of bewilderment. She spasmed and convulsed again, and then, Richard could only watch in horror as her body began to gain mass.

Richard stood, backing away in shock at what he was witnessing. He wanted to help somehow, but her changes were coming too fast. He resigned himself to only watching, as the woman he'd just so recently but so undeniably fallen for.. this vision of beauty... became a mere creature of the field.

He could hear the sound of tearing fabric, watching as rips formed down the sides of her khaki shorts. The shorts that he couldn't help notice earlier, had hugged her body so perfectly. Brown hairs poked through the new opening. Virtually all of her was covered in it now, save for her face. Her face... the beautiful visage that had captivated him was now distorting, her nose and mouth starting to push out to form the beginnings of a muzzle.

"Grrooo... rrrooorRRROOOOO...."

He could only imagine what she was going through.

"God, I hope it's at least not painful..."

He needn't have worried about that. If anything, Laura was amazed as how GOOD the process felt. She didn't want it to feel that way... it was too easy to give herself over to it.

She lurched forward again as her hips began to shift, holding herself up on hands and knees. He caught sight of her fingers as she did, they were fusing together, covered with a black, hardening mass. Laura watched this, groaning again as her thumbs shrank, the rest of her hand stretching slowly. The straps of her flip-flops gave out, a similar process overtaking her feet.

He heard a snap, followed by a loud rip, but couldn't tell what caused it at first. It was a second before he realized, the button on her shorts had popped off. They began to tear along the front now, revealing something large and pink. A fully formed cows udder spilled out, dangling from her belly between her legs. Laura groaned again, this time from relief as the pressure on her bulbous growth was finally released.

The fabric of her shorts began to fall away from her body, too tattered to hold to her form any longer. Richard could now plainly see the pink panties she'd worn beneath them, stretched out over her backside, still covering her, albeit barely. The udder flopped out over them, pushing them down in the front slightly.

Laura felt the cool breeze tickle her now partially exposed body, as well as a flash of human modesty. But there was something else about this situation... something that triggered a recent memory... her underwear was visible...

"Under... I'd wanted Richard... to see... "

The words were getting hard to form even in her mind. She was thinking more with ideas and images now than anything. She remembered the daydream from the checkout line, before this curse had hijacked it for it's own purposes.

"Wanted... to show him..."

She was distracted by another new sensation, this one coming from just above her butt. She didn't have to see it, or even think very clearly, to understand what was happening. Her spine was stretching, a furry cow's tail emerging from it's base. It pushed the back of her panties down a bit as it sprung into view from underneath. Her hips continued to broaden more, causing her panties to slip down even further. They were now stretched tightly between her upper thighs.

Richard's attention was drawn back to her upper body as her straining shirt was pulled taught over her shifting form. He could see the outline of her breasts, and the bra she wore over them. It reminded him of earlier... it hadn't even been an hour ago, had it?.... the way her purse strap had settled between them. He'd wondered if she meant to do that, remembering how he'd tried not to stare, but couldn't help steal a glance. Now, he stared blatantly, watching as those same, beautiful mounds began to diminish. Laura sensed this, and lowed mournfully in protest. Every little detail of her humanity was being wiped away.

He heard more popping sounds, unsure of the source. It turned out to be the shoulder straps of her bra giving way. It was just as well, there was little left for them to conceal. Another rip formed down the back of her shirt. Her brown, hairy back was revealed to the world, though he could see the back clasp of her bra still holding, for now. The short sleeves of her shirt began to disintegrate from the pressure of her shoulders reforming. Her arms and legs began to change proportions, her upper arms and thighs shrinking as her forearms and calves grew longer. Her knees rose up from the ground in the process, and she struggled to maintain her balance as her limbs shifted.

She found herself supporting her upper body with her arms... no, forelegs now... as she scrambled to find purchase with her twisting back legs. The remains of her broken flip-flops were kicked aside in the process. The gap between her thighs was widening, and she felt the fabric of her stretched-out panties start to give way. As she struggled to gain her footing, they finally tore completely, falling to rest on the ground near her ruined shorts. She felt a twinge of regret, recalling again that now fuzzy memory of when she'd picked them out, and why. Soon it wouldn't matter. She would have no need of such things to please her future mates.

Finally, she found herself standing on her feet, while her hands... no, front hooves... still touched the ground in front of her. There was a momentary revelation that this should have been much more uncomfortable, or at least it was for her before. But now, Laura begrudgingly admitted that it felt somehow right. She was on all fours, like a true animal. She knew she didn't have long now.

Her shirt finally stretched beyond it's breaking point, and dropped from her bulking form. All that remained of her human clothing was her bra, held only intact by the back clasp. Without the shirt, Richard could see her muscles rippling and shifting beneath her skin. Finally, the bra clasp faltered, and with a snap, it joined the rest of her clothes on the ground beneath her.

Laura looked down at her now ruined clothing sadly. All remnants of her human life were literally falling away. Richard now had a perfectly unobstructed view of just how much of a toll the change had taken on her. There were still remnants of her womanly figure, but they were quickly fading. He could see two small bumps in the area where her ample breasts used to be, on the verge of being absorbed completely into her body. There was no sign of the nipples he knew must have once been there. Her waist had filled out, and the curves he'd secretly admired so recently were now virtually erased. Her rump still retained something of its original shape, albeit larger. Though he had no delusions that this would last much longer. He felt a pang of guilt, suddenly realizing that he was looking at her naked. But, she was so different now, it was easy to forget he was looking at a naked woman.

He heard her groan again, her voice more bovine than woman. She was clearly far beyond words at this point, he wondered if she could still understand them.

"La...Laura?" he said weakly, having trouble finding his own voice. He nearly cried when she responded, turning her head in his direction at the sound of her name.

"RRrrrrrrooooo...."

"She's still Laura... for how long? Is this going to stop with just her body? Will she remember herself... or me?"

She worked her mouth again, she still seemed to be trying to talk. But all that came out was that same, accursed sound. Her face still held a resemblance to her former self. He could see her teeth were much larger in her swollen mouth, her nose and lips dark and leathery. Hair began to creep in over her cheeks. They shared one last look into each others eyes.

"Her eyes... they still look human..."

Those beautiful but troubled eyes suddenly widened, that same look of shock he'd recognized when she was still mostly human. She let out a long, distressed groan. Something intense was happening now. Richard could see her rear end filling out, losing the last of her feminine curves as it squared off. But what he didn't see, was what was happening in the most delicate part of her body. The warm, aching center of what could once be called her womanhood, was shifting now, squeezing, moving. It pushed it's way up slightly, coming to rest facing out just below her now bovine anus.

"Urrrrr...MRROROOOOO!!!"

Her body shook and trembled almost violently. Through it all, she had managed to hold her mind somewhat together. Even though she'd nearly caved earlier, and even with the bull pheromones sill hanging heavy in the air, the feelings Richard had stirred helped preserve her human mind, even if they hadn't allowed her to fight the physical transformation. But, she hadn't realized that up until now, she was only getting a portion of the true animal sex drive, her body still being somewhat human. So strong had been the urges already, she couldn't fathom that they could get any stronger. But now, following that extremely personal shift of her sex, the full power of her new bovine reproduction system kicked into gear.

Her already fragile humanity began to short circuit. The fragments of memories, the weak self control... all began to melt before the overload of hormones and instincts. Words started to become jumbled to her mind, and she let go of her meager attempts to form them. She bellowed, like a true cow in heat, crying out for attention from a male. Any male. She didn't care.

A small portion of the farmers spell over her was designed as a sort of safety mechanism, to prevent her from mating before she was ready. The bull could sense a cow in heat, but the spell kept him at bay until the right time. Now that her body had shifted enough, the protection expired, leaving her open to the full brunt of the bulls advances. She felt him suddenly, his nose pressing into the edge of her moist, newly altered canal.

One last flash of humanity, a picture in her mind. She recalled looking at herself... her reflection in the bedroom's full length mirror earlier that morning. The image stirred the last fading remnant of herself.

"Me... wait... what... oh, god no... it happened..." The bull pressed his snout into her again, and she bellowed. "

"Wait... no, I... not, this... I don't... shouldn't... oh... need this..." Her new tail flicked to the side. Despite her own will, she bellowed again, louder. Calling to him...

And then, she felt it. The bulls weight was on her back. She braced her body, a mind-bending thrill shooting through her.

"No... I don't... wha...?"

Her sluggish mind tried desperately to hold it's ground. She wanted to move, to get the beast off her. At least, the last remnants of the woman she'd been wanted that. But the animal nature was in overdrive, screaming for her to complete the act it craved so badly. She felt her resolve slipping.

"... a reason... ... for, everything... ... why... why this... "

She felt it, the beasts giant shaft, pressed against her aching need. The final gears of her human thoughts began to snap. The base, biological imperative to mate... it was too much... she couldn't fight it...

The organ pressed against her lubricated opening, and she found herself shifting her hips... trying to help get in just the right position...

"Oh god... I can't... stop... Oh... Rich..."

Finally, she felt the tip pressed against her warm, rough folds. And with that touch, the muddled remnants of her human mind evaporated as pure, animal need took hold.

"MMMMRRRROOOOO!!!"

As the animal's enormous member entered her, she gave herself over completely. With no reluctance, no hesitation, the bull began to rock and pump rhythmically... purposefully. Her mind and body responded with an automatic enthusiasm for the act. Her now bovine hips pushed back against him, starting their own instinctive rhythm. Not unlike the grinding motion she'd fallen into back in her car. As she pushed her body against his, getting him deeper, memories and thoughts about her former life scattered, claimed by the beastial haze as it finally gained full control.

"Mmmrrrooooo.... Mmmmoooo... MMMRRROOOOOOOO!"

Richard watched in numb silence as this cow, once the most captivating woman he'd ever met, gave herself over to this bull as if she were nothing more than a beast herself. He thought maybe she would recover, maybe she'd fight it, maybe she'd move as the bull approached her. None of that happened. And now, there she was, rutting with some animal. As they mated, he watched the last vestiges of her physical humanity fade from her face, her beautiful eyes darkening as the rest of her features filled out. The hair on her head was last. She'd carefully fixed it that morning, and now, it merely receded into her scalp, vanishing into the mass of fur that now adorned the rest of her body.

"MMMRRROOOOOO... MMMMRROOOOO..." There was nothing human left in her visceral vocalizations.

He was startled by the sound of all too gleeful laughter, having completely forgotten about that bastard farmer during Laura's transformation.

"Well, how about that? I guess she was interested in the job after all! Looks like she's sure enjoying it. Yeah, I think she'll work out just fine!"

Richard's heart was too heavy to argue, or scream, or fight. There was no reason now, Laura was a beast, and he couldn't change that.

"Will she ever change back? Will she ever... be herself again?" Richard asked quietly, too stunned to muster the anger he'd shown earlier.

"Well, who says she ain't herself now? I just gave her an opportunity no one else would ever give her. Go on, tell me she don't like the outcome!"

He gestured to the cow that had once been Laura. She stood there, staring ahead at nothing. Her body rocked as the bull slammed into her, quickening his pace. A low, steady moo emerged from her mouth.

Richard pondered the farmer's question. "Does she really enjoy that? She couldn't, not the real her..."

In truth, the pleasure was beyond anything Laura could have described, even if she had been capable of speech. Her now simplistic mind could comprehend no reason to deny the urges she'd once struggled to control.

"You know what I mean. Will she ever be... a person again? A human?"

"Well one thing I've always prided myself on. No matter how bad times get, if you get a job on my farm, you're guaranteed lifetime work. It's hard to ask for too much more than that nowawdays."

Richard hung his head, tears streaming down his face. The farmer's cheerful way of framing everything did nothing to soothe him.

"You could at least stop acting like she had a choice. At least acknowledge that you forced it on her, you disgusting... sick, fuck."

"Ah come on now, let's not go through that again. I tell you what, why don't you give me a chance to prove I ain't this big mean ogre you think I am."

Richard simply shook his head. "It's far too late for that, old man."

"Oh come on now, you act like I ain't got a heart or something. She's got her a good, steady job that she's enjoying. But you know... if you're that upset, well... I reckon we could always..."

"Always what?! Spit it out already!"

"Well, let me ask you this. You ever considered working on a farm?"

An unexpected image flashed through Richard's mind, but he quickly pushed it aside.



EPILOGUE: Nine months later

The cow flicked its tail from side to side, staring ahead with a complacency it couldn't have experienced in it's former state. The calf tugged at her heavy udder, seeking the nourishment she could provide. She did so willingly... it was just a matter of simple instinct, after all. She knew it was her purpose.

She looked over at the large bull in the stall nearby. There was always something there, something the cow couldn't quite process, a familiarity it couldn't grasp.

The barn door opened, catching the cow's attention as the familiar figure of the farmer sauntered in.

“How ya'll doing this morning? Ya'll still getting along okay?”

It was an unnecessary question, he knew. The cow was no more capable of comprehending the words than she was responding. He looked over at the bull, also watching him intently.

“I'm just glad your boyfriend here took me up on the offer too. I think it's nice you two get to be together. I bet ya'll are enjoying it!”

At the moment though, there was little interaction between them. She wasn't in season right now. But when the time came around again, he'd make sure to let them pair off. He wasn't cruel after all... it was only fair to let them be together. And despite their current mental state, just being near each other somehow brought the pair a sense of contentment.

It wasn't the life Laura had envisioned, not by any stretch of the imagination. Certainly, she would never understand the reasons why fate led her to such a destiny, even if she'd maintained human rationality. But there was no denying the peace she felt. She had what she'd been longing for... the things she wouldn't admit to anyone, without any baggage to clutter it up. Her needs were satisfied in ways she could have never dreamed. And now Richard could share that satisfaction with her.

Truly, there was a reason for everything.