The Beta's Mate

by Tanya Gilford

  Chapter 1

  It’s been a long two months to say the least. With my dad getting sick, and me being forced to move out to the middle of nowhere in Kansas. I’m from New England, so this is all foreign to me. I’m beginning my Senior year of High School as the New kid, which is fantastic, not. As I sit in the back of the car, I watch farmland after farmland roll on for miles in front of me. We’ve been driving for almost an hour now and still no closer to finding anything.

  Back home, we can go down the road and find a mini mall of some sort, but here there’s nothing. Unless you drive an hour out of the way to the main city. This is going to be a very long year, but the plan is to finish High School, then move back East next year for college. With any luck, dad will be feeling better by summer and I can go back home sooner than later. Dad was diagnosed with stage three prostate cancer and is undergoing treatments as we speak. To help, my mom thought it’s best for me to spend the whole year with her instead of the usual period of a week or so during various vacations. I hate it out here, but what choice do I have?

  I’m only seventeen, with no job, or money, I have to do as I’m told. I check my phone and smile when I see a photo my friend Debbie sent me. It was a group picture of all my friends in front of the school building with the caption: ‘It’s not the same without you.’ I quickly sent a heart emoji with a miss you all sticker. I slid my phone into my short’s pocket as the car pulled up to the farmhouse my mom lived in with her new husband, Bo.

  I’m a New Englander dropped into the Midwest farming community. What the hell am I really doing here? I kept trying to wake up from my dream, but to no avail. This was real life and I needed to deal with it.

  As I opened the car door to get out, my mother came rushing out of the farmhouse with her arms open wide. I embraced her with a hug in return. Don’t get me wrong, I love my mom to pieces, but I hate where she chose to live. I grabbed my luggage out of the trunk of the car as mom began grabbing some of my bags. “I’m just so happy you're finally here. You know I always miss you when you’re not here.” My mom clucked away in her normal fashion. I tried not to roll my eyes as we entered the house.

  I sighed the last time; I was here during February vacation. The house looked different in the August sun. The light filtered in the windows, and there was an A.C. in every room blowing to keep the temperature bearable in this heat. Mom has clearly been baking, since the whole house had a muggy sweet smell to it.

  I walked up the stairs to my room that I usually stay in and began unpacking my luggage. As I was putting my clothes away, I couldn’t help but look out the window at the rolling farmland below. When I was here last it was covered in snow, but now the cows and horses were out roaming, and the hay fields were being harvested. I saw Bo out working a machine, and then I saw a young guy working on the fence. He was nicely tanned in this Kentucky heat, well-muscled, with light brown hair under a cowboy hat. He looked delicious, in fact I snapped a picture and sent it to Debbie with the caption: ‘My view…’

  I can appreciate a good-looking guy, even if I’m looking to just finish school and get out of dodge. I finished unpacking my clothes and other belongings, and decided to take a quick shower to freshen up. After my shower, I pulled on my denim shorts, a pair of work boots, a black tank-top, and a ball cap. I may be from New England, but I knew enough about working with livestock, especially chickens to be able to lend a hand. Bo had ensured that during my very first visit here.

  I went down to the kitchen, where my mom was still cooking up a storm. “Mom, you’re crazy cooking in this heat.” I complained.

  “Trust me dear, Mondays I do all the baking every week. It always lasts the whole week.” She explained happily taking a pan of fresh baked bread out of the oven. “That’s why we have all the A.C.’s going.”

  “I’m going to go offer Bo a hand.” I announced making my way through the door.

  “That’s nice of you dear, he’ll appreciate it. Oh, by the way, we hired Charlie this summer to help out on the farm. He may be able to direct you to work, since Bo is in the harvester today.” My mom said as I pushed open the back door.

  I thought for a moment, that sexy looking guy’s name is Charlie. I walked quietly over to where Charlie was working with the wired fence. He was cursing it out as he pulled the barbed wire tight. “Excuse me.” I called as I got closer to him. He quickly nailed the wire to the fence post and turned to look at me.

  His ocean blue eyes captivated me as he smiled and tipped the brim of his hat. “You must be Annie. Bo and your mom have been talking about your arrival all month. I’m Charlie. Charlie Lancer.” He held out a dirty gloved hand. He took a quick look at his gloves, and quickly pulled it off before reoffering me his hand.

  I took his hand, giving it a quick shake hell. “You can just call me Anne. It’s short for Anastasia, but my mom has always called me Annie.”

  “I see, well Anne, what can I do for you?” He asked in a drawl.

  I wanted to tell him there are many things he could do for me and to me, but I felt that would be a bit rash. “My mom said to ask you what jobs need to be done around here still. I usually help with the animals, particularly the chickens, but I can help with the horses as well.” I explained, keeping my eyes on his face to ensure no other dirty thoughts.

  “Well, if you want you can get the horse paddocks ready for the night. I need to finish this dang wired fence before I can do much of anything else.” He replied scowling at the fence. “Other than that, the chores are mostly done for today.”

  I nodded and trekked through the dry dirt to the barn. Inside, I began mucking out the horse paddocks. We had six horses so emptying out the dirty stalls then putting clean hay in them proved to be time consuming, but it was a job that needed to get done. By the time the sun was setting, I was finishing up the last paddock. Charlie came in leading two of the horses. “Any chance you can help brush them down?” He asked with a friendly smile.

  “Of course, but I get to brush Buttercup down.” I said pulling the tan colored horse into her stall. “She was supposed to be my horse, but I have never really had time to enjoy being with her. Maybe this year I can take her out more.” I gently began brushing the horse’s mane and coat in even strokes. When I was finished, I stepped out of the paddock at the same time Charlie stepped out of Bullet’s paddock. Bullet is Bo’s favorite horse; he was a beautiful black stallion, and was fast too.

  “I’ll go grab two more.” Charlie announced as he walked out of the barn. I took the time to fill all the troves with the horse feed, and fill their water buckets. When Charlie reemerged in the barn, he was leading an all brown horse, that my mom named Cinnamon, and the black and white spotted horse that my mom named Oreo. I took Oreo into his paddock to brush him down, as Charlie brushed down Cinnamon in her paddock.

  The last two horses were brushed down in the same fashion. I brushed the brown and white horse who Bo calls Patches, and Charlie brushed down another brown horse with a small white streak on her nose named Starlight. “Did they tell you that Starlight is with a foal?” Charlie asked as he worked. He was clearly trying to make conversation.

  “Mom mentioned it, but with everything going on with my dad I didn’t get overly excited.” I confessed. “I like the horses just fine, but I’m not a farm girl.”

  “Good to know. Please tell me that you at least listen to country radio.”

  “I do. I love me some Little Big Town and Garth Brooks.” I admitted with a smile.

  “So, I won’t hold the non-farm girl thing against you. Though I must say, you could pass as a farm girl with the looks of these paddocks.”

  I couldn’t help but feel myself blush. When we finished, we locked up the last paddocks and headed towards the house to wash up fo
r dinner. Apparently, Charlie was joining us, not that I was complaining since he was super easy on the eyes.

  Mom made a boiled ham dinner with all the fixings. I loved my mom’s cooking, and missed it dearly, but not as much as I missed my home and my dad. I felt a little guilty when I felt the wave of being home sick wash over me as we ate a delicious home cooked meal.

  After dinner, I help my mom with the dishes. “I see you and Charlie seem to be friendly.” She cooed as she scrubbed a pan.

  “He’s alright. I helped with the horse paddocks so he could finish the wired fence.”

  “He’s a fine young man darling, you should spend time getting to know him.” Was my mom seriously trying to play matchmaker? I rolled my eyes at her as I put away the plates that I just dried. “Maybe he can show you around before school starts. So, you can see what all the cool kids around here do.”

  “Sure mom.” I smiled. I know she means well, but I just got here and I needed time to adjust. Honestly, I didn’t want to look for a relationship. After we were finished with the dishes I retired to my room for the night. I checked my phone that I managed to leave on my nightstand.

  I had a reply from Debbie asking for Charlie’s number. I laughed and rolled my eyes at my friend. Then I saw I had a missed call from my dad and my friend Billy. I decided to text Billy back, since he’d want to talk my ear off, but I wanted to talk to my dad more.

  ‘Hey Bill. Sorry I missed your call. I forgot my phone in the house. I was working in the barn all afternoon with the horses, I’ll call you tomorrow.’ I hit the send button and then dialed my dad’s number.

  “Hey sweetie. How was your flight and your ride to your mom’s?” He asked. Just the sound of my dad’s voice made me homesick. I had to fight back my tears.

  “It was good, non-eventful.” I sighed. “How are you feeling?”

  “I’m doing good. I go in for surgery on Friday, and with any luck, I’ll be fully recovered by next month.” He replied enthusiastically.

  “That’s great. Fingers crossed the surgery is successful. I miss you and everyone already. Why did I have to move?”

  “I know sweety, and I miss you too. I promise this is for the best. You need to focus on finishing school instead of worrying about me.”

  “I graduate this year, and I know no one.” I tried to protest. “Plus, I feel like I’m going to be overqualified for this school year, here. I’m in the middle of farm country.”

  “We’ve discussed this many times Anastasia. You need to be with your mom, give her one year with you. She truly misses you.”

  I groaned. “She should have thought about that before moving halfway across the country.” I was hurt when my mom made her move. I was eleven and wanted to stay with my friends, so when she moved, I stayed with my dad. I have always felt that she chose Bo over me in a way when she moved out here.

  I heard my dad let out a sigh. He knows I never fully forgave my mom for leaving us, but he has done his best to keep my relationship with my mom as healthy as it could get. “Sweety, I know this is going to be hard for you, but can you give it a real chance. Let’s say you give your all to try not to resent this arrangement for an entire month, before you can complain about it again.”

  I rolled my eyes in annoyance. The drawback of being a daughter of a psychiatrist is that he always tries to put a different perspective on everything. “Fine. One month, and I promise I will do my best to try. In a month, you’re going to hear about it.” I agreed.

  My dad let out a cheerful laugh. “That’s my girl. Hey, I’m going to go eat some dinner now. I’ll talk to you soon. I love you.”

  “I love you too, Dad.” I whispered into the phone as the other end disconnected.

  Chapter 2

  I woke up the next morning to the crow of a damn rooster. Ugh, I do not miss this early morning wake-up from a bird outside my window. I groaned as I rolled out of bed. I’m the type of person that once I’m up, I’m up. I pulled on a pair of jeans and a light plaid shirt, that I knotted the ends around my midsection. I had my bikini top under the shirt, because the weather starts off cool, but rises quickly.

  I got up, went downstairs to find Charlie and Bo having coffee. “Morning Annie.” Bo greeted me. I nodded and went to the coffee pot to pour myself a cup. “You’re up early, did you sleep okay?”

  I took a sip of the coffee and crinkle my nose at the bitterness. This will take some getting used to. I turned around to face the guys holding my coffee. “I slept fine, but the rooster decided to stand under my window this morning.” I grumbled taking another sip of this nasty bitter coffee and trying not to grimace from the awful taste.

  “I forgot you’re not used to the rooster’s call.” Bo noted. “You’ll get used to it in time.”

  “I hope so.” I replied to my coffee again. I promised my dad I wouldn’t complain for a month, but in less than an hour I have two things to complain about. This was going to be a long month. I pulled my eyes away from my cup and looked up at the guys sitting at the table. Charlie looked delicious as always, and I vowed to myself that within the month I will have tasted that forbidden fruit. “Since I’m up, I’ll tend the chickens and the horses?” I offered forcing myself to sound pleased with the idea of chores this early in the morning.

  “That would be great. Charlie and I need to collect the hay that I baled yesterday. Your mom will be up soon to tend to the cows.” Bo informed me. I nodded in response.

  I dumped the rest of the coffee down the drain, I couldn’t choke down another sip. I pulled on my work boots, pulled my blonde hair up into a messy bun and headed out the door. I collected eggs as I fed the chickens. I noted that I should plan to clean out the chicken coop at some point today. I brought the eggs in, as my mom began to set a plate of bacon and eggs on the table for Bo and Charlie. She placed a plate down on the table for me with a smile. “Good morning sunshine.” My mom sang as I set the bucket of eggs next to the sink and washed my hands.

  I took a seat at the table. My mom set a cup of tea in front of me with a smile. I took a sip with a sweet sigh of joy. I mean it wasn’t a cup of coffee, but the warm tea and caffeine was enough to give me the boost I need. “Thanks mom.”

  “I know my daughter enough. I also know these boys make their coffee extra strong, so if you tried to drink it, you wouldn’t like it.” She patted my hand as she sat down with a plate of food for herself. “I really am glad you’re here Annie.”

  “I know, I just don’t like the circumstances.” I muttered looking down at my food. “Dad goes in for surgery on Friday.”

  “I know, I spoke to him when you were out in the paddock yesterday. He tried to call you, but you didn’t answer.” My mom continued.

  “I left my phone in my room. Don’t worry I have it with me today.” I assured her by patting my pocket that held me phone. I caught Charlie’s watching me quietly, I couldn’t help but blush. He was going to be mine and he had no idea.

  “Good.” My mom declared.

  “Well, Charlie and I need to get the day started if we want to finish today.” Bo announced as he brought his dirty dishes to the sink. He walked back to my mom and gave her a kiss before heading out the door followed by Charlie.

  I finished my breakfast, and washed the dishes. Then my mom and I walked out to the farm together. I grabbed the wheel barrel to clean out the chicken coop, while my mom grabbed a bucket to go milk the cows. I plugged in my headphones, and turned on my music as I worked. I zoned out to the rhythm scaping out the old hay and laying the fresh straw in the chicken roosts.

  I walked the wheel barrel over to the manure pile and dumped it out. I took a handkerchief from my back pocket and wiped off the sweat. I looked up at the hay field beyond the manure pile and watched as Charlie pulled his t-shirt over his head. I bit my bottom lip as I watched his muscles stretch and relax with the simple motion. He was going to be the sole person that made living here worthwhile.

  I was in the paddock brushing Buttercup and debating if I
should take her for a ride, when Charlie came in. “Hey, do you want to take a horse ride?” Charlie asked.

  “I was thinking about it, but Bo has always put her saddle on for me.” I admitted shyly. He chuckled, disappeared around the corner, then reappeared holding a blanket and saddle for Buttercup.

  “I can help you with that.” He replied. “Do you know how to ride?”

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “Oh, I know how to ride. The question is, can you keep up?” I replied, biting my bottom lip. I knew he was talking about riding a horse, but I clearly was insinuating other things.

  “Are you challenging me to a horse ride?” Charlie raised an eyebrow at me.

  “If you want it to be.” I flirted with him, batting my eyelashes at him.

  He paused as he tightened the strap on Buttercup's saddle. He shook his head with a smile and went back to getting Buttercup ready. “Aren’t you like sixteen?” He muttered.

  “Seventeen. I’ll be eighteen in December, what’s that got to do with anything?” I pointed out moving closer to him.

  “It doesn’t. We’re going for a horseback ride, so your age doesn’t matter.” He replied. He finished getting Buttercup ready.

  I closed the space between us, wrapping my arms around his shoulders. I tilted my head and pressed my lips to his. He took a step back, blinking at me. “What? You have a significant other?” I asked him as he stared at me.

  “No, but you're only seventeen.” He stammered.

  “So what? I know what I want, and as long as you’re not taken then I plan to take you for myself.” I replied moving closer to him. “Don’t worry, I’ve had others before you. Plus, no one will have to know.” I kissed him again.

  He wrapped his arms around my waist, spun us and pressed me against the wall of the Buttercups stall. I bucked my hips against him, as I heard him moan against my lips. He pulled away, but kept his hands on my hips holding me at arm’s length. “Anna, there are so many reasons not to do this. The two main reasons being, your age and your parents.” He sighed as he looked at me.