The motel office was like any other, a counter stren with papers, post cards in a rack, and coffee with stale cookies on a corner table.
I dinged the small bell which was at one end the counter, in hope to see a desk clerk. Instead came a young girl about her early teens. I looked at her rather surprised as she spoke.
"You don't want to stay here do you?" she asked of me.
"Yes I have business in town for a couple of days and would need a nice room with a good view of the pastures beyond." I asked.
"Another one, yea OK I give you room #36, far end on the back. Room is $90. a day in advance!" the girl demanded.
A good bit expensive this far from a big city but the expense account was willing. Besides the room would offer easy viewing of the farm and access to the pasture and barns at night. As I walked from the lobby the girl called a phone number and reproted my name and room number to someone else.
Parking the car around back I went to check my room and set up some survey equipment, fax, and radio base. I was about done unloading the car when to my back was heard a soft snort. Turning to look saw seven tall horses standing by the pasture fence looking at me.
I wished to be friendly and walked over to pet and greet my near neighbors. Two were easy to pet and willing to stay close for my attentions. However four bolted, reared high and screamed a frightened whinnie, then running a good hundred yards away to stand and paw the ground.
The two horses were more than friendly as they lowered their big heads to brush my chest with soft muzzels and nickkered at me with true horse voices.
At last I had to break off the union and walked back to my car and then the room. I cleaned up for dinner and a good hour later came out the room's door to see the two horse still standing calmly at the nearby fence.