"Take this ass back to the stable," the Owner Man commanded.
Steve nodded and moved to take the hurted jenny to the barn that stood in the far corner of the Mine's quarry. "What're you going to do with her?" he asked his boss.
"I'm going to use her for her hide," he replied back with a sadistic grin on his face. “This pathetic little donkey will make for a decent leather at least.”
And with that remark both the jenny and Collete’s ears and tails raised high up into the air and their eyes widened in alarm over what was intended. Panicking, the donkeys dug all four of their hooves into the ground in a desperate attempt to avoid being moved and they both brayed wildly.
Full of rage, the Owner Man whipped both jennies. "Shut up! And take this lazy beast out of here too", he said pointing Collete. "She will accompany her friend to the tanner".
Later, in the stalls, Steve was healing the wounds on both donkeys with a wet rag. "Don't worry. I won't let the tanner kill you!" he said stroking their muzzle. "I will pretend to take you both to the tanner but I will take you to my uncle's farm. He owns a farm full of rescued donkeys where you both can live better than here. I have already rescued several of you, unfortunately not all."
The jennies were both crying in pain but letting Steve heal them. In that, Steve saw a string with a small tag hanging on each neck. One had written C.O.L.L.E.T.E. A.M.E.L.I.E. and the other E.M.I.L.Y. J.A.N.E. "What good names they gave you, gals", Steve said surprised.
Two days later, both jennies sighed in relief as Steve led them to the salt mine's gate and opened it for them to leave. "Come on, ladies," Steve said to the donkeys. "Let's go home."
Steve had already done this operation several times, but the Owner Man was always upset when Steve told him absurd excuses to explain the disappearance of the donkeys, he always had to pay the loss from his wage.
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"It's okay, gals, you can come on in" Steve spoke softly at the two nervous jennets.
He had managed to successfully his plan for their freedom and now Collete and Emily were on their new home at last. His uncle had yet to return home, but Steve figured it was okay for his new friends to enter.
Collete and Emily stared nervously at Steve, who tried to coax them into the stables. "Nobody's gonna hurt you ever again," Steve promised them. "I swear". Finally the donkeys entered, albeit slowly and cautiously.
"Come on, gals," Steve called softly to the donkeys. "I bet you're both hungry, aren't ya?" The jennies looked at each other and then turned and nodded their head very eagerly.
"HEE HAW!," they both brayed.
"Wow! You both are very intelligent". Steve pulled out a pair of carrots for them to eat. Collete and Emily quickly made short work of their carrots.
"Are you gals tired? I know you have had a very long day." Collete and Emily nodded again. "Well, let me show you where you might rest."
Steve then proceeded to lead both Collete and Emily to their respective stalls, better than the salt mine's ones. He then took a few straw balls to be used as pillows and a moss rug so that they could use them to sleep on.
After taking their places on the straw balls, Steve took two blankets and covered them to keep them both warm. Both Collete and Emily once more brayed happily at Steve's kindness to them.
Steve then proceeded to sit on an armchair waiting his uncle. "Boy, my uncle's going to be surprised when he gets home," Steve sighed as both he, Collete and Emily all drifted off to sleep.