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Still grumpy from the mornings bout of arguements, Angus rode into the center of the town with an air of unfriendliness. His nephew was surely about somewhere, for he hadn't seen him all morning. A shoulder to lean on and a man to complain to about the woes of marriage didn't seem like such a bad idea, but for now, he had work to do. This wasn't a trading mission, for he hadn't brought the cart or any goods. Much instead, it was a pricing mission; he was there to see what a cow could be traded for. Though he was a stubborn man by nature, the suggestion of his dear wife had been a rather intellegent one, and the idea of trading off that crazy old cow was not such an unpleasent one. He and the creature did not get along all that well, and he only kept her for her milk. The purpouse of this trip was to find if steaks were easier to trade off than a live cow who was quite fertile. She wasn't that old, and could still bare calves if anyone had a bull around.

Sliding off his mule's back, he patted the well trusted friend and smiled kindly. Crane was a draft mix out of his father's old donkey. He had a fiesty temperment, but was almost always willing to go above and beyond the work of a horse. Angus often boasted that he wouldn't trade the stubborn thing for a pure lined horse with a pedigree around its neck. His strong will was matched equally with his physical strength, and without him, the shepherd wouldn't be able to do half of his work. The man's other constant companion was a mutt of a dog named Skye. She was a common sight in town, always at her master's side, waiting for his word. She panted happily, her shaggy tail wagging slowly.

Angus tethered the mule to a post and ambled along slowly through the awakening town, whistling an ancient tune. He had no where to really go; he was just going to ask around for the general opinion on if it was more practical to sell meat than a live cow. He already had the notion that the cow was worth more alive, but he had never been a meat trader, as his business was in wool. His flock, after all, was not used for food purpouses unless there was a particularly harsh winter and the crops were destroyed. Taking to a slow gate, he and the dog walked through the town, waiting for someone to ask.

Angus turned at the sound of large hooves to find a gorgeous shire. The man was instantly turned into a small boy as he viewed the magestic beast with a green envy that flashed vividly in his eyes. His beloved mule paled in comparison, and he knew it. He made quick work of moving back towards the hitching post where Crane stood lapping up water from the trough greedily. The man smoothly put his arm around the large mule and, acting all cool and natural like, made his move. "Nice Shire y'got yerself there." He nodded his head to the woman, one he had yet to meet. It wasn't often the shepherd bothered to leave the safety of his sheep farm, and when he did he often only dealt with those who were interested in buying sheep. With the thought of the cow in the back of his mind, he wondered for a moment if this woman's husband was about so he could ask for pricing help.

Angus was taken aback slightly by her icey voice, but didn't dare make a step. He patted the draft mix to his side and cocked a brow. If his wife acted like that with other men, he'd... Well, actually, he'd be pretty darn proud of her. She was a stubborn woman, and if she could hold her own in town, which he knew she was beyond capable of, he'd be completely comfortable with sending her out while he tended the sheep. "I was a'wonderin' if yer husband might be about wit'ya?" He smiled slightly, taking another envious glance at the Shire. He was a beaut, alright, a huge beauty. The things he could do with one of those puppies at the plow were unthinkable. With a look at his paled mule, he had to smile to himself, though. The creature was as stubborn as he, but stronger than many horses he had come across.

The man would only later admit to his wife that he had been completely in utterly shocked at the situation, and had wanted desperatley to mount his trusted mule and ride away as fast as he could. Instead, however, with his ever stubborn attitude, he folded his arms as well and glared. "It be only logic that I come to think you have a husband about. All women are married off young." He and Heather had been wed at the very end of their teens, which could even be considered slightly old. "I was wonderin' if ye deal in cows n' things." His voice was gruff, and as the shire licked him, he barely had the mind to pat his large nose. "I got me a cow that's young enough to breed and I was wonderin' if it'd be more profitable to breed her, sell her, or get some nice meat out'a her and sell it."

Angus shrugged off the attitude this woman had for stubbornness. "Don't mind it." he eyed the sack of meat and smiled slightly. Oh, would little Bryce and Kelsi love that for dinner. But if he were to slaughter that old cow, it'd have to be for trading and not for eating. They had plenty to eat, what wth the flock doing so well this season. "So I'm a guessin' yer a cattle farmer, then?" It was quite hard to talk to a woman as if she were a man, he he had to lean on the mule for support. "See, I'm not plannin' on keepin' the cow for a long while. Maybe just lon enough to get a nice calf outta her, but that's 'bout all I want. My wife, see, had the idea of tradin' her in for goats while she can still be milked 'n all." He nodded to himself, thinking fondly of Heather and her brains for a short while. "Why don't we head to the tavern and discuss this more business like?"

The man nodded, and, with a slight awkwardness that most certainly came from the fact he was about to talk business with a woman, he patted Crane and moved away from thr hitching post. The tavern he ahd spoken of was a modest, small room, crampt with uneven chairs and slanted tables. Angus did not wait for Nita to walk beside him before entering the building, assuming she was right behind him. He walked towards his usual table and took a seat, awaiting her to sit in front of him. "So. The cow. Do ye' know anythin' about goats?"

An irritated look grew on the man's features as he sat there, staring at his folded hands. "Should'a brought along Aron. He could'a found me a man to get a price fer me." Angus shook his head, holding it in his now propped up hands. It had been a tough morning for the whole Macdonald family, really, and coming to town so il prepared probablley wasn't helping. There was a long silence before he spoke. "Well, if'n I sell the cow, you interested?" Perhaps he could get rid of that cow and find some goat breeder somewheres around here. Could be a day's journey, but he and Crane could easily do it. And Heather would be happy.