And with that, she leaves me behind and strides toward the guard, confidence swinging in every step of her cowboy boots.

“Hey,” she says. “I’m here to take over for the next shift.”

His brow furrows. “That’s not for another hour.”

Annabel props one hand on her hip. “Mr. Oakley sent me. You’ll have to check with him.”

Wow. She’s really good. I almost believe her and I know she’s lying.

I wouldn’t be able to prevaricate so easily. I would be shaking in my boots, both literally and figuratively.

The preppy security guard pulls out his phone, keeping his eyes on Annabel and pushes some buttons.

What is her plan? How is this going to work? He’s going to get Mr. Oakley on the phone and realize she’s full of it.

“He’s not answering, is he?” Annabel’s smile is wide and confident. “He’s in his office. Go on and talk to him. I’ll wait here.”

“Is this some kind of trick?” the security guard asks.

Annabel heaves an exaggerated sigh. “What in the world do you think I’m going to do to a pig? Let alone in the five minutes it’s going to take for you to check with Mr. Oakley?”

“Do you have student ID?”

She pulls it out of her purse and shows him.

“Fine. But I’m bringing this with me.”

He disappears around the corner and Annabel waves me over. “Hurry. We’ll have less than ten minutes with the way he’s hauling that stick up his ass.”

“How did you know Mr. Oakley wouldn’t answer?” I search the fence line for an opening.

“I didn’t. But I do know he likes to hang out in the parking lot and tailgate by nine so he’s probably already three sheets to the wind.”

“Why do you have a student ID?”

“My old one. I graduated last year. Here, this is the gate.”

I nod and then focus on getting to Begonia. I peek over the top of the fence. She’s got her head in the trough, snuffling around. She’s fairly calm at the moment. I can do this.

I finally find the latch but I can’t get it open. “It must be locked.” They really are serious about this pig.

“We don’t have time to mess with it. Let me give you a boost.”

Annabel helps boost me over the fence. It’s a bit of a struggle. She gets me mostly on top and then I have to throw myself over.

I fall to the earth with a thud, startling Begonia from her happy foraging. She squeals and runs to the far corner of the yard.

“Here, piggy, piggy, piggy.” I stand, wiping dust from my clothes and shaking out the dress.

I approach slowly, blocking her into the corner, but with a snort she sprints in my direction. I leap for her but she dodges at the last second and I end up facedown in the mud.

“Don’t y’all know how to catch a pig?”

I sit up, wiping mud from my eyes.