Memories on the Ozarks (Close)

[pa1ndru1d]

Dan was almost back to the barn when the rain came down in torrents. Waves of cold water hit him and it was all he could do to supress the shivers. He stood in the rain for a bit and simply stared at the sky, wondering what would become of him now. Even though the thought was there, it was fleeting; he wasn't so sure if he could bring himself to leave this place that had become such a large part of who he was. This farm, and the old man, had helped redefine him when he was just becoming a man. In fact, this helped him to learn what a real man was all about; that process had nothing to do with turning tail and running when shit got rough.

He sat in his office and felt his wet cold clothes begin to seep a chill into his body. It was a bit early, but he felt justified. Dan pulled a bottle of Jack Daniels from his bottom drawer along with a glass and poured a double. He downed the shot and poured another and began to sip on it as he started making his calls to the rest of the crew. It had dawned on him that he had no idea what had gotten done today and he felt like a slacker.

It turned out that most of the men had done exactly as he had - slacked off for most of the day as well. Dan nodded to himself and vowed that tomorrow shit would hit the fan if they didn't pull their weight. Unfortunately, most of them had to be pushed every inch of the way just to earn their keep.

Dan went back to his drink and was surprised to find his thoughts roaming to Beth astride Samson. Damn, she looked good up there. He thought, a smile creeping to his lips. He shook his head and water droplets sprayed his desk. Wonder if she got caught in the rain as well... Dan realized that he didn't have a ride back to his place since he left the quad in the stables.

He poked his head out and saw no smoke coming from the chimney. The rain had brought a chill with it. It had to be in the low fifties now, perhaps even in the mid forties. He decided that he might make things a bit easier for her and sprinted across the yard to the back door of the house. There, he paused and grabbed an armload of wood and went in to start a fire.

 

[TabascoKV]

Once Samson had been properly pampered and groomed, Beth locked him back in his stall with a final scratch beside a big brown ear. The idea of driving the four wheeler was incredibly unappealing to her, but walking several miles in the freezing cold rain was even more less attractive. Inhaling sharply, she darted out into the rain, the ice cold rain electrifying her skin.

Jumping on the four wheeler, she drove as fast as she felt safe going. It took too long for the country house to come into her sight, but a swell of thankfulness spread t her numbing extremities. Parking the four wheeler, she quickly ran inside,expecting the house to be cold. Instead, she found the opposite.

Walking into the living room, the sight of Dan visibly startled her, a small shriek emitting from her lips. Her hand rose to her chest, a red tint flushing her cheeks. Her body was shivering against her wet clothes.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t expect anybody to be in here.”

 

[pa1ndru1d]

Beth startled him when she entered and he jumped a bit. Dan suddenly felt as if he was a child again and had gotten caught dipping into the candy jar without permission. "I-I'm sorry... should I not be here? I thought you might need some heat when you got back. I didn't expect the rain to hit like it did." He stood from where he was tending the fire. Dan turned toward her and bit his lip as his eyes roamed over her.

He tried to be nonchalant as he drank her in, sopping wet and shivering from the cold. He absently reached over and pulled a throw from the couch. “You look as if you could use this.” He said, handing her the blanket, “Come on and sit by the fire til you get warmed up some.” Dan wanted to warm her and care for her for reasons he could not fathom. He was still upset over her lack of caring for her uncle. For now, he was thinking that perhaps she had a reason for it, but he couldn’t think of a reason that would suffice…

Dan looked out the window, noticing the rain had become even worse than before and visibly winced. He had no means of getting back to his place that would protect him from the inclement weather.

 

[TabascoKV]

“Erm…you’re fine. I just…I’m sorry. I didn’t expect you to be here.” She took the blanket and quickly wrapped it around her shoulders, pulling it tight. “Thank you. I appreciate it.” An awkward moment passed, and Beth had a feeling that this was the beginning of many awkward moments.
“Actually, I think I’ll go check and see if I can find some dry clothes. All my stuff is still in the car, but I’m not battling the storm.” Nodding her head, she disappeared back into her uncle’s room and closed the door. After a little searching, she found a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt. Stripping down, she dressed in the oversized clothes, feeling an instant warmth that she attributed not only to the warm clothes, but to the recognizable scent of Joe.
After a little more digging, she produced another pair of sweat pants and a shirt and returned back out to the living room.

“I found these. You’re welcome to them. Might be more comfortable than your wet clothes.” Handing them over, she went and sat down on a chair close to the fire.

 

[pa1ndru1d]

When Beth headed off down the narrow hallway, Dan decided to make good use of the time. He went to the kitchen and put a pot of milk on to boil, adding the cocoa, sugar and a splash of vanilla to the mixture. It didn't take long for the small concoction to produce a wonderful, mouth-watering scent.

He heard Beth coming back down the hall and filled the oversized mugs three quarters of the way up and brought them back in. "I hope you don't mind, thought some cocoa sounded good." The mugs went on the coffee table and Dan thanked her for the offer of clothes. He had grown accustomed to the dampness of the clothes that clung to his body.

He made his way to the old man's study and quickly changed. Before he returned, he pulled a well hidden bottle of Hot Damn from Joe's bottom desk drawer. "This here is the only vice your uncle had, so far as I know," He said with a chuckle, "and it wasn't even all that much of a vice. He'd take a shot or two on extremely cold nights, or during a storm - when the arthritis hit him hard." Dan poured a slug into each of the mugs for flavor.

 

[TabascoKV]

The fire danced precariously before Beth’s hazel eyes, pulling her into a tranquil daze as the flames guided along in a tango. So lost was she in the visions of her uncle astride Samson as she followed behind on an old mare named Delilah. Samson and Delilah.

Daniel’s voice brought her back to the present, and did so with less hypertension than when she had discovered him in the living room. Taking the cup, she watched him with interest as he poured the addition, a small smile peircing her lips. She wasn’t a drinker, but she felt her moral compulsions scurry away. Cupping her hands around the mug, she pulled her legs up underneath her.

“He used to smoke until I was about nine. My aunt threatened to cut off his fingers if he didn’t stop. He thought she was joking, but when he lit up, she went after him with the knife she used to cut the heads off of chickens.” Smirking at the memory, she took a small sip of the warm drink. The sting of the liquor caused her eyes to water a bit, but she forced it down anyways. “I didn’t ever see him reach for another one after that.”

 

[pa1ndru1d]

As much as Dan loved him, he couldn't bring himself to sit and reminisce about him any longer. He sat, listening to Beth, but his eyes were on the windows. The rain droned on, interrupted by the occasional clap of thunder. Random flashes filled the room as lightning struck. Dan was grateful that he had buried the all the cables a couple years back, but there was still an issue if the poles got hit somewhere down the road.

When she finished, Dan poured them both a shot. He had tons of questions he wanted to ask; he settled for something non-invasive, or so he hoped. “I noticed that you came out alone, no boyfriend back at home?” He wasn’t real sure where that question had come from. In his mind, he had something brewing about her time in college, or maybe something about the jobs she held prior to coming out to the farm.

 

[TabascoKV]

Beth shook her headin a silent rejection of the liquor. It burned her throat, and she she wasn’t sure she could fill her stomach with anything more. The hot chocolate filled her up just as eating a meal would. Her eyes followed his out the window, an uneasy chill running down her spine. Even as an adult, she could rememer how frightening the weather could get up in the old mountains. Or maybe it just sounded scarier because of the intense howling. The chill from the weather was nothing in comparison to the coldness his question posed.

“No. No boyfriend.” Shifting slightly in her chair, she reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Why? Interested?” Smirking impishly, her nose wrinkled slightly before her gaze drifted back to the fire.

 

[pa1ndru1d]

Dan hoped that it was too dark for her to see the blush that crept across his face. He really hoped he wasn't making a fool of himself.

Well... Fuck it. I've already done opened up that door, eh...

"Ermn..." Dan wasn't accustomed to being this forthright. Most of the dates he had had previously included so many mind games. “You really have no idea. I grew up watching you grow up. Granted it was through pictures, and… through your uncle’s eyes. But… I’ve… well… always found you… attractive.”

 

[TabascoKV]

Beth had only been teasing him, but his answer brought an uncomfortable blush to her cheeks. Her eyes darkened slightly as she looked around everywhere but at him. The silence that ensued was awkward, and slightly unappreaciated.

“Well, thank you for your flattery.” Her voice was slightly clipped, and she stood up quickly.The room had suddenly become stuffy, making it difficult for her to breathe. She picked up the empty mugs and walked into the kitchen and rinsed them out, sticking them both in the dishwasher. The last thing she wanted was some man’s attention, even if she couldn’t deny that he was a good looking man.

She busied herself looking for something to make for dinner, her nerves as jittery as the storm. Opening the cabinents,she found a few cans of tomato soup. Within a few minutes she had a pot filled with the soup and milk while she pulled out the makings for grilled cheese sandwiches. Inhaling deeply, she poked her head into the living room.

“If the weather doesn’t let up, you’re welcome to take the guest room for the night.” Returning back to the kitchen, she began assembling sandwiches.

 

[pa1ndru1d]

The tone in her voice, the lack of communication; it all added up to exactly what he had hoped wouldn't happen. Fickle bitches. He thought. Good to know she's just as bad as all the others. As he watched her walk from the room, Dan returned to the laundry room and pulled his still damp clothes from the dryer and slipped them on.

He left by the front door, for facing the unrelenting storm was better than facing her at this moment. By the time he made it back to his cabin, he was thoroughly drenched again and he found that he did not want to be here. His mood had only gotten worse. Dan found a clean change of clothes and ran his fingers through his hair.

Grabbing the keys to his old truck, he headed down the road to the local bar. He played a few games of pool and drank more than his share of whiskey. His mood had started to mellow some until Jasmine walked in. They had gone out a few times, fucked more than once. In the end she had decided that she wanted someone with a flashier car and a fatter wallet. Dan snorted as he lined up another shot, deliberately avoiding eye contact.

She seemed to be alone. That's interesting. He watched from the corner of his eye as she gracefully took a stool and ordered a beer. She was watching him shoot. He made it look good and sank a three-ball combo and downed a shot in celebration. A smile broke upon her face and that was when hell broke loose.

Jimmy, the fellow with the fat wallet, came out from the restroom and saw her giving Dan the eye. He wasn't a big man, but he had a big ego. He knew about their history; hell, who didn't in this not-quite-a-town? Jimmy got in her face and started screaming like jackass. Jasmine, not to be outdone, started screaming right back. Dan couldn't make out exactly what words were said, but the jist of it was clear and he readied himself. Jimmy was a lot of things, but a woman beater he wasn't.

Dressed in his designer shirt and flashy boots, with a big ol' belt buckle, Dan stopped shooting and watched as Jimmy stormed over to the pool table and stood in front of him. "What you doin' messin with my girl, you piece of shit?"

Dan adopted a crooked grin. Everything within him said to take advantage of the moment, unleash the anger that had been building for days over the loss of the best friend he had ever known - not to mention completely crashing and burning back at the house tonight, but the voice of the old man came back to his head, calming him some. "Now Jimmy, you might wanna rethink this. Was I even over there?"

"Never mind that," Jimmy's face contorted in rage, "I saw you eyeballin her. Hell you done had her undressed already." Jimmy's hands balled into fists. Dan shook his head, "Yer a damn fool, Jimmy, and you always have been." Dan decided that Jimmy wasn't worth it and leaned down to take another shot.

That was when the fist came crashing into the side of Dan's head.

So much for calmer heads prevailing...

Dan spun, but didn't fall. He didn't think; he only reacted. The fat end of the cue stick whipped about and caught across the bridge of Jimmy's nose. The cue stick splintered in two and Jimmy's nose crumpled like wadded tissue. Blood sprayed as his tongue formed muffled words, "You sonnofabitch! You broke my nose!"

Stu, the bartender was pissed. Mumbling to himself he grabbed the ball bat he kept behind the bar, "Another damn cue I gotta replace. All right that's enough, get the fuck out."

Jimmy had his cell phone out already; Dan assumed he was callin the law. Fuck. I'm goin to jail. In this small town, it didn't take long for the deputy to arrive, shit he lived just up the street and he'd be pissed at having to come out in this weather and at this time. Dan tried to tell him that Jimmy threw the first punch, but Jimmy's friends knew a payoff was gonna be offered and they backed up his story.

*

Dan sat in the small county lockup. A small bruise forming on his left eye. Half-crocked, he dialed the only number he had to dial when in situations like these. He was honestly surprised when it wasn't Joe's voice that answered the house phone. "I ahh, kinda ended up in a spot of trouble over here."

 

[TabascoKV]

Beth walked back into the living room when she heard the front door close, surprised to find the room empty. Shaking her head, she went back to the kitchen and put up the extra bowl and plate. She sat down at the table and ate her soup and sandwich, the balmy liquid warming all the way down to her stomach. Once she was done, she cleaned up her mess and walked around. She wasn’t quite sure what to make about Daniel Collins. There was a foreboding feeling that the two of thems would come to verbal blows sooner or later.

Once the rain momentarily died down, she darted out to her truck and grabbed her suitcase. She took a long, hot shower in an attempt to let the stress of the day swirl down the drain with the water. When she stepped out, she wrapped the towl around her body and walked out into her bedroom and pulled out pajamas. She paused for a moment in front of the mirror, her eyes being drawn to a scar that ran from her mid arm up to her elbow. She was thankful that she couldn’t see her back, knowing that white streaks ran the length of her back.

Shaking her head, she got dressed and decidedto head to bed early. It seemed that no sooner had her head hit the pillow and her body had drifted into a much desired sleep, the phone jarred her.

“Hello?” Her voice murmered tiredly into the phone, her senses suddenly wide awake at the sound of Dan’s voice.
*
Her boots clipped the tile floor as a younger deputy led her to the holding cell. A frown was worn upon her face, and she crossed her arms over her chest. She had thrown on a sweatshirt and jeans before driving through the storm to the little local jail.

“What the hell were you thinking?” Beth’s voice came out perturbed, matching the displeased look on her face.

 

[pa1ndru1d]

Dan dreaded the wait, praying for a cup of coffee to help finish sobering him up. One of the deputies came in, an older man that new Dan from his early days; he carried two steaming paper cups. “Dan, I thought we had left these issues far behind us?” A frown marked his words, carrying with them a disappointment that Dan knew he would miss from Joe.

“Sergeant Shaw. Good to see you.” Dan mumbled. He knew it was a waste of time trying to make excuses. When the man that ended up with the broken nose was the son of the largest dairy farmer in the area… It was a lost cause. He took the cup of bitter coffee from Shaw and took a sip, wincing at the heat.

Shaw shook his head… “Look, son, I know you took a hit there when ol’ Joe passed on, but…” His voice trailed as he turned his head at the sound of footsteps. From the look on her face she was none too thrilled to be here at this hour. “I’m guessin’ this one’s here for you. I’ll leave you to it.”

Shaw nodded to Beth as he passed her. “Ma’am.” He said… then lowered his voice, “cell’s open when you wanna let him out.”

 

[TabascoKV]

Stepping a little closer to the bars, her demeanor remained perterbed as she stared down at him. The smells of the cigarettes and whiskey hit her nose with a pugnant stench. Rolling her eyes, she shook her head.

“Is this what I have to expect? My uncle isn’t even in the ground, and already you’re in jail.” Her hands moved from to her hips, and she looked very reninscent of a mother scolding her young child. Reaching out, she grabbed the cell door and pulled it open. “Let’s go.”

 

[pa1ndru1d]

Daniel's eyes never left his feet, the cup of coffee still in his hands where they rested between his knees. "For what it's worth, I'm not proud of my actions." The coffee, and the adrenalin, had worked together to bring his sobriety level back up some.

"I was taught, by your uncle, that you can either make excuses - or you can get the job done. I won't make excuses for you now either. If you want to know what happened, I'll tell you and be honest when I do."

He was caught by surprise when she opened the cell. The way she held herself, he wasn't sure if he'd need to dig up the number for the farm's lawyer or not.

Dan walked out of the cell and climbed into the passenger side of her truck, dreading the twenty minute ride home. "Think you might be able to give me a lift to pick up my truck in the mornin?" His tone was semi-light, testing the waters, so to speak.

 

[TabascoKV]

His words calmed her down slightly, and she almost felt guilty for the way she spoke. Almost. When he exited the cell, she closed the cell door with an echoing clang. Pulling her keys out of her back pocket she began walking down the hallway.

“Oh I have every intention of finding out what happened. And yes, I will take you to your truck tomorrow.” Shaking her head, her tone had lost some of its edge. As they walked down, the chief of police stepped out of his office, his white hair contrasting sharply against the grey wall.

“Thank you, Chief Nelson.” Beth offered the aging man a smile and a nod as they walked by.

“Anytime, Rebecca.” The old man offered an amused smirk and a wink.

Climbing into her truck, she waited until he was inside and buckled before she took off back towards the farm.

“So…what happened?” Beth's voice was still slightly clipped, but had lost quite a bit of her hostility. She listened as he recanted the story, nodding slowly. She had already gotten the story from Chief Nelson, but had wanted here it from Dan's perspective. Dan's story was in allignment with what the chief had told her he suspected of really happening.

Pulling through the gate, she drove down the dirt road to his house. It was an adjustment for her to drive on the flooded dirt road, her fingers clutching the steering wheel so hard her knuckles turned white. When she drove up to his front porch, she turned the truck off and got out with him.

 

[pa1ndru1d]

Dan didn't even know if the locks on his door worked, to his recollection he hadn't locked them since the day he installed them. He pushed open the door and offered for her to come in. His place wasn't spotless, but he had been taught to clean up after himself.

Thankfully he had left the light on, so they could see when they came in. Wait, he thought, I didn't leave the lights on. Dan held out his hand, motioning for Beth to wait in the small kitchen for him. In a whisper he said "I think there might be someone in my place."

His hand reached into his pocket and a slight *snick* sounded. Black metal with a silver edge gleamed in his hand. It ain't like Jimmy to bust into someone's place and leave the lights on for them... Course I wouldn't put it past him to be that stupid... Dan entered the living room to find Jasmine sitting in his easy chair. Her blond hair fell in heavy curls to her shoulders, her face was heavily made up, and her tan skin was barely covered by a too tight tee-shirt and a pair of panties.

Dan put the knife back into his pocket absent-mindedly as his jaw dropped open. "Ahhh... Jasmine? What are you doin here?"

 

[TabascoKV]

Beth followed him in, but stopped when he held his hand up. Her blood ran cold when he mentioned that somebody was possibly there and the muscles in her chest began to contrast. As he left the room, she realized that she had been holding her breath. Stepping cautiously, she followed behind him, and felt relief hit her at the sight of the woman.

After that moment of respite, she suddenly felt very awkward.

“Well, then. I’ll just leave you to it. Make sure you throw some ice on your head to keep it from swelling.” With that, she turned and retraced her steps back out to the truck. Opening the door, she slid inside, but didn’t drive off right at that moment. The fear from earlier still plagued her, even though the threat had been nothing. Resting her head on the steering wheel, she closed her eyes.

 

[pa1ndru1d]

Dan was still somewhat slack-jawed when Beth turned and left. He held up a finger to Jasmine, "One sec," and turned to follow Beth to her truck. He caught her just before she started the truck.

Her eyes were closed and leaning against her hands, tightly gripping the steering wheel as he knocked on the window, causing her to jump a bit. She rolled the window down, flinching away from the spattering of rain that made its way in. "Look. I just wanted to say thanks for coming to get me. Calling the house was a reflex from when I was a kid, still getting into trouble 'n shit. This isn't what I... ahh... normally do, that is..." Dan's face picked up a slight blush as he nodded toward the house. "You prolly know by now that Jasmine and I... sorta had a past 'n all. Maybe you don't care, or want to. But, like I said, thanks."

Dan went back into the house, freshly dampened from the rain. Jasmine met him in his kitchen, a slightly perturbed look on her face. “So, darlin’, what brings you down to the poor side of town?” Dan wasn’t exactly sure what to make of this situation. But soon decided he didn’t care as she wrapped her arms around his head and kissed him. There was only one thing that was truly good about what their relationship had been.

Their tongues danced, darting back and forth between each their mouths. Her tee-shirt came up and over her head, freeing her full breasts. Dan’s hands went down inside her panties and found her pussy already sopping wet. “And when did you start shaving there?”

Her hands were at his belt and then reaching for his cock. “Do you like it?” she moaned breathlessly. Dan allowed her to pull him into the living room. She pushed him into the chair then turned away from him, bending over to allow him to watch as she pulled her panties down over her hips. Jas looked back over her shoulder, a smirk on her pouty lips, as her panties hit the ground. She stood and flipped them across the room with her foot.

Jas’s hips swayed as she knelt in front of Dan, stripping him of his jeans and underwear in a single fluid, practiced movement. Dan gasped as her mouth went down over his dick and she cupped his balls. “That’s it baby. Holy shit.” His words were tight, emphasis given with each perfected stroke of her mouth. He wanted to be in her so badly he couldn’t wait any longer. “C’mon now, git up here.”

Her only reply was to kiss her way up his chest and straddle him, working him like a thousand dollar whore. Dan was riding high in ecstasy, or rather, being ridden to ecstasy; his hands working her tits and nibbling her nipples.

He changed positions, picking her up and then having her bend over, with her hands gripping the arms of the chair. Dan entered her from behind, gripping her hips and fucking her with long hard strokes. They built to a frenzy, her gasping and reaching down to grip his cock as he drove it home. Jas came first and Dan followed shortly after, pulling his rod out at the last minute to spray his cum up the length of her back.

Jas asked him to get her a towel and Dan blew her off, deciding to make coffee instead. “Look, Jas, we both know what happened back there at the bar was all your doin’. Now, I consider us even. Take a shower if you want, but get the fuck out.” Dan sat at his little kitchen table and waited for her to finish up.

Jas didn’t bother with the shower. She was so pissed; she just wiped down with his bathroom towel as best she could and stormed out. Dan shrugged as she left and finished his coffee. His bed was calling to him and he fell out on his bed butt naked in an exhausted slumber.

 

[TabascoKV]

“Daniel, you don’t owe me any sort of explanation.” Raising her hands as she spoke, Beth shook her head. She really did not want the sordid details of him and Jasmine. Once he left, she quickly whipped the truck around, fishtailing purposefully as she hurried back to the house that now belonged to her. Stripping back down to her tank top and pajamas, she crawled back between the sheets. It took a conscious effort to not invision what Daniel and Jasmine were endulging in just down the road.

The alarm jarred Beth awake at 4:30, an hour and a half after she had finally fallen back to sleep. Groaning, she rolled out of bed, hitting the snooze button on accident rather than turning it off. Flipping on the light, she winced against the intrusion upon her eyes. It was going to be very difficult to adjust to the time frames of working and living on a farm.

Within fifteen minutes, she was dressed in jeans and a long sleeved shirt. With a cup of coffee between her knees, she drove back up the muddy path to Dan’s house. The sky was still dark, and the rain had drifted on to the next town. Pulling up, she hopped out of the truck. Walking up the stairs, she balled her fist up and banged as loudly as she could on his door.

“Wake up.” Calling out, she knocked a little longer than she normally would have before allowing her arm to fall to her side.

 

[pa1ndru1d]

Daniel heard the banging and rolled over in his bed, pulling the pillow with him to block out the noise. When the banging continued, he finally rolled over and out of bed, barely catching himself before he smacked into the floor. “Fuck. Me.” He groaned.

He stumbled out into the kitchen, still naked, and flipped the switch on the coffee pot, setting it to brew a fresh pot before he opened the kitchen door. “Do you mind?” he asked, “You’re fuckin’ killing me here.” He turned and scratched his ass as he went and poured himself a cup of coffee. “What brings you out here this time of day on a Saturday morn?” He rubbed his temples as he chewed two aspirin.

 

[TabascoKV]

Every thirty seconds that passed, Beth made it a point to bang on the door. Finally, she heard him scooting around inside. An amused smirk crossed her face as she heard the door open. The amused look quickly turned into a look of horrified shock. Her eyes fell quickly downward, but she turned her back on him as he walked back inside, her head shaking.

“We need to get your truck. I plan on working with the farmhands today, and I’m not going to stop to take you to the bar.” The smell of sex and bar lingered from him, causing her stomach to tighten. “Get some clothes on and we’ll head out.”

 

[pa1ndru1d]

“You might as well come on in for a minute. I ain’t movin an inch until I wash the stank off me.” He drank his coffee and walked back into the bathroom. He turned on the shower and stepped inside once it had developed a nice head of steam.

He washed quickly, but thoroughly, trying to buy him enough time for the aspirin to kick in some. By the time he stepped out and threw on some fresh jeans and a t-shirt, the aspirin had at least taken some of the edge off the throbbing in his head. Dan came back out and slipped on his boots, finishing his cup and refilling it before speaking. “Ready when you are, darlin’.”

He kicked the screen door open and held it for her as he took another swig from his mug. “Awww, hell, today is s’posed to be my day off, but ain’t none of them hands gonna be able to show you how to do nothin’ right. Why don’t we just get down to work instead an’ we can pick up the truck anytime.”

 

[TabascoKV]

Beth waited until he had gone back to the restroom before she walked back inside. She was very tempted to leave him and head to the barn, but it was too early in the morning for vindictive behavior. She wouldn’t be a woman if she hadn’t noticed that farm life had done his body good, but she immediately put it out of her head. That was the last thing she needed to be thinking about. Besides, Jasmine had her territory staked out fairly well.
When he returned, she stood up and followed him out. She shrugged at his words, not really caring either way. Sliding into the driver’s seat, she cranked the truck.

“I would hate to impede on your day off. I’m sure you have…plans.” Rolling her eyes, she waited for him to confirm that he was going to give up his day off before she headed for the stables. Parking, she hopped out, tossing her keys on the seat and leaving the window down. The sky was beginning to lighten, casting a light glow over the fields.

 

[pa1ndru1d]

"Nah," Dan's reply was so casual, one might think he had already lost the blinding hangover that plagued him. "Besides, this is my job. Can't have you thinkin' that I'm a slouch when it comes to the farm. 'Sides, I only went out last night 'cuz I figured you'd wait 'til Monday before you started this mess, if you got around to it at all."

Truth was he was slightly impressed that the city girl had gotten up off her cushy little rump to do some actual work on the farm. His smile only showed inwardly as she pulled up to the barn.

"So, you got any idea where you might want to begin?"