The Farm Hand

by Katie Cole

  When Isa enters the barn, the air changes. He knows she’s there without a sound, and not just because Dee stands up and stares at her, fluffy tail wagging. He leans on the stall door and grins at her. He knows what her father said, but he also knows that she’s an adult with her own mind. Besides, there’s nothing wrong with a little flirting.

  “Guten Morgen,” he says, trying not to cringe at the American-ness of his own voice. He’s never really been able to get the hang of accents, but he wants to try. Maybe he can impress her with how well he speaks two languages.

  “How are you this morning?” she asks in English. “I didn’t get your name.”

  His face falls marginally. Of course she’s fluent in multiple languages. German schools actually teach their students different languages. How many can she speak? Three? Four? He considers asking, but decides against it for now.

  “Just great,” he says, holding up the rake. “I’m Adam, and cleaning up after horses is my life’s calling.”

  She laughs as she releases Daisy into her now clean stall. The mare snorts and trots out into the golden morning to join her companions. This morning, Adam actually made an effort to learn all their names, which are listed on their halters and the fronts of their stalls. At least putting them up will be easy.

  “And who is this?” Isa asks, sitting on the ground so that Dee can crawl into her lap. Dee has always been overly friendly, and Adam is lucky she hasn’t been kidnapped by anyone since he showed up.

  “Her name is Dee,” he says, switching back to German. “She is very friendly.” His words are painfully slow.

  When Isa doesn’t respond, he goes back to cleaning stalls. After a few minutes of petting Dee, though, Isa waves goodbye and leaves him behind. He lets out a long breath, staring after her for a moment too long. This is not something he should be thinking about, but he can’t help it.

  Right at seven, the trainer arrives, a tall blonde woman with stern features. He introduces himself quickly before getting back to work. Adam gets the feeling that this woman won’t accept anything less than perfection, and he doesn’t want to mess up this opportunity.

  Cleaning the barn takes half the day, and his stomach rumbles. He hadn’t taken the time to eat breakfast this morning, too distracted by the horseback riding in the barn. His fingers tighten over a leadrope that he hangs back on the hook by a stall. What would it be like to get on a horse again after all this time? He shakes his head. There’s no reason for him to consider riding here. This is a job.

  When he goes into the feed room to start bringing the horses in, there’s a paper-wrapped sandwich with his name scrawled on it. Had Isa brought this out for him? He smiles.

  This could turn out to be a great summer.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Isa

  Adam. The name runs through her mind on repeat as she scrolls through the Syracuse website on her laptop. She’s read everything about their MBA program, which she hasn’t mentioned to her parents. If she were to say anything, they’d go berserk. She’s supposed to spend the next couple years learning all the details of their business, and then she’ll take over before she’s twenty-five. That’s the plan. That’s been the plan since she was a child.

  She wants the horse farm, but she also wants to go to New York. The program is less than two years. She bites her lip.

  “Isa,” Mom calls from her office on the other side of the house, and Isa slams her laptop shut and lets out a sigh.

  When Isa arrives downstairs, Mom is at her desk, meticulously organizing paperwork.

  “Did you call me?” Isa asks, glancing at the stack of manila envelopes. She’s seen these since she was a baby, but she’s never actually gone through them. She’s always been more interested in the hands-on part of their farm, riding and training and competing.

  The top folder has a long name on it, which she recognizes as the registered name of one of the Quarter Horse mares. Aside from assorted boarding horses, the farm has three breeds of horses: Quarter Horses, a stocky American breed, Friesians, tall and muscular black horses from the Netherlands, and Westphalians, tall sport horses that originated in this very region. Some people even claim that Westphalians originated on this farm, which is a nice thought, but totally false.

  “Isa, I have a show this weekend, and I’d like you to join me.” Mom doesn’t look up from her computer as she speaks.

  Isa purses her lips. “Of course.” This isn’t unusual, but Isa has been expecting more responsibility than just coming to the show.

  “I want you to deal with everyone. I will be riding, and you can stay with the horses and speak with potential clients.”

  Oh, so this is a real responsibility, and a weighty one at that. She’s been to plenty of shows, but she usually rides or cleans up. She’s never been the face of their farm. That’s usually Dad’s job.

  She nods. “I won’t disappoint you.”

  She closes the door as she leaves. She isn’t smiling. Shouldn’t she be smiling? Isn’t she happy? She brings her hand up to her lips. No, she definitely isn’t smiling. But of course she’s happy. She must be. This is a big deal. It’s the first step to her future.

  When she gets back to her room and gets on her computer, though, the Syracuse website is still up, her application ready.

  She turns her head to her open door.

  It’s just the first step of the application. There’s so much more she’ll need to do if she actually wants to go. Her professors will have to send letters of recommendation, there are essays, and so much more. There’s no harm in putting forth this small amount of effort.

  She hits “Submit.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Adam

  For the rest of the week, Adam finds himself in a pattern. First thing in the morning, before the sun is out, he watches Isa ride her mare with the grace of a goddess. She smiles at him, which absolutely destroys his mind for the rest of the day. That smile is the only thing he can think about. He’s working a lot harder than before to better his German, if only so he can have an excuse to speak with her more.

  He doesn’t go into town, instead finding every excuse possible to avoid the car ride when someone offers. One afternoon, Isa offers to drive him in her little car, and he politely declines despite wanting to go more than anything. One car ride this month is more than enough.

  When Katrin, Isa’s mother, informs him that he’ll be joining them for the horse show this weekend, he’s anxious. Isa had mentioned that she’ll be at the stalls all day, which means that they’ll be stuck together the entire time. “Our trainer will be caring for the horses on the property,” she clarifies before he can ask.

  On the ride there, Adam and Isa share the backseat of the pickup, American made. He plays on his phone and avoids looking outside, breathing carefully to avoid attention. He leaves his hand on the middle seat, just in case Isa might want to take it, but they don’t speak. He could swear that her pinky is brushing his on purpose, though. When he looks at her, she’s staring out the window, earbuds in. He hadn’t thought to bring earbuds, but the drive is long and ridiculously boring despite Dee in his lap panting at the scenery. Her weight in his lap is comforting.

  When they arrive in town, they check into their AirBnB, leaving Dee behind before taking the four horses to the show grounds. Katrin and Vinny reserved five stalls for this show, and it doesn’t take long to get all four horses out of the trailer and comfortable. The tack stall takes the longest, but the work is simple, and Adam enjoys organizing.

  Isa smiles at him in passing, but they don’t speak. He wants to say something, but he can feel Vinny watching him, and he feels like an awkward teenager again, afraid of what the girl’s dad might think. Flirting in the barn has been okay, as Vinny is rarely around, but this is dangerous.

  At least in this country he can’t shoot you, Adam thinks as he brushes out a giant Westphalian stallion.

  After taking care of the animals, they’re all hungry, and Karin and Vinny treat him to
dinner. They take the bus to town, abandoning the truck and trailer. Isa helps Adam read the menu, and he doesn’t have the heart to tell her that he can mostly understand it, not with her sitting this close, her arm brushing his.

  The Italian restaurant is the best he’s been to—this whole trip, he’s been eating as cheaply as possible, so he hasn’t had the chance to try anything really good. He keeps telling himself he can’t afford a nice meal despite the check burning a hole in his wallet and branding itself on his skin.

  By the time they get back to the rental house, he’s absolutely exhausted. He takes Dee outside before taking a hot shower, the water pounding his tense muscles. When he comes out and puts on his boxers to brush his teeth, the other door to the restroom opens. Until this moment, he hadn’t realized that he and Isa would be sharing a bathroom all weekend. She walks in as he’s brushing, carrying a towel.

  “Oh, hello,” she says, suddenly shy at his mostly-naked appearance. For the first time since meeting her, he’s self-conscious. Does she like what she sees? Does she not? He tries to stay fit and toned, but some people aren’t into the overly muscular look. “I was going to take a shower. Unless…”

  He waves a hand at her. “No, I’m done. Go ahead.” He rinses his mouth out and leaves the room, and the lock clicks behind him so she can have some privacy. He’s proud of the fact that he’d been able to spit out an entire sentence.

  He lies in bed, and he stops himself from picturing what she might look like right now, her athletic body lean and tight under the hot water. Just as he has that thought, a quiet knock sounds at their shared door.

  He scurries under the blanket, placing a pillow into his lap for good measure. “Come in,” he says, his voice far too high.

  The door opens, and Isa’s face peeks in, her cheeks red. From embarrassment? From the hot water? He has to force himself to avoid looking further down, although she’s clearly wearing a robe.

  “Can I get your help with something?” she whispers, glancing at his bedroom door.

  He can’t imagine what she could need his help with in a strange city in the middle of the night. He refuses to allow his mind to trail to the more perverted thoughts trying to invade.

  “Sure,” he says. “What’s up?”

  Instead of responding, she leaves, although she doesn’t close the door. The whole situation is so confusing that his embarrassing problem goes away on its own, and he stands to follow her. By the time he gets to the bathroom door, though, it opens all the way, and Isa is standing there in a fluffy robe. She freezes, her eyes moving slowly up his naked chest and to his face. They hadn’t been nearly this close when she’d walked into the bathroom a few minutes ago.

  Her obvious interest distracts him enough that he doesn’t notice her laptop at first.

  He tilts his head, but she just pushes past him and climbs into his bed, opening her laptop and sitting on her knees.

  “You cannot tell my parents what I’m about to show you,” she says, speaking in English so he knows it’s serious. She’s only spoken to him in German since their first encounter.

  He swallows, then nods. Is she in some sort of trouble?

  She turns her laptop around, and it’s not anything suspicious or weird. Instead, he’s looking at a word document of some sort. He walks over to the bed.

  “What’s this?” he asks. He reaches toward the laptop. “May I?” When she nods, he picks it up and scrolls, reading the document. It’s an essay. An admissions essay. “You’re applying to Syracuse?”

  Her eyes widen, and she shushes him. “Be quiet,” she whispers. “They might hear you.”

  He bites his lip. There’s some significance to this moment. Is she not supposed to apply for a Master’s program? This one in particular? What’s wrong with going to business school? She’s trusting him with something important, and he will not mess it up.

  Before he can ask more about the essay, she says, “I’m supposed to take over the farm. I’m supposed to be finished with school. But when I take over, I won’t be able to leave. I’ll be stuck here for the rest of my life.”

  That doesn’t seem like much of a problem for Adam. He’d come to Germany to get out of New York, and it’s the most beautiful place he’s ever seen.

  He hadn’t grown up here, though. And he’s certain plenty of people might wonder why he’d wanted to get out of New York. Suddenly, he feels closer to her, a kinship that hadn’t been there before. They’re the same. Sort of.

  “What exactly do you need help with?” he asks, refocusing on the essay.

  She doesn’t answer for a moment. “Can you tell me if it’s any good? I’ve been working on it all week. It’s due soon.”

  He considers the question, then nods. “Of course.” So his English degree might actually come in handy. If he’s good at anything, it’s crafting an essay.

  He goes over the document, and she scoots closer to him. After a few minutes, a shiver runs over her, and he pulls the blanket over both their legs. The moment doesn’t seem significant to him, but she turns her head. When he finally feels her gaze and looks back at her, she turns away, dark brown hair falling between them like a curtain.

  “This is good,” he says after reading it twice. “Really good. There are a couple places where the wording is awkward, but overall it’s a solid essay.”

  He doesn’t mention that his job for the past six months has been writing college essays for rich kids. It’s an immoral profession, but it pays enough to keep him out of New York. Again, he’s reminded of the check.

  He goes over it and helps her fix the small mistakes, and she smiles at him, her happiness blinding.

  “Thank you,” she says in German by the time they’re finished, shutting her essay.

  He smiles back. “You’re welcome,” he replies, also in German.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Isa

  Most of Saturday’s show is spent sitting around, as the bulk of the events are today. Isabel is glad to have the responsibility as Dad watches Mom compete, but she’s even happier that she doesn’t have to talk to many strangers about the farm. Instead, she chats with Adam as he brushes the horses and keeps their stalls clean and takes care of tack.

  She learns that he has a Bachelor’s degree from Syracuse, the same university where she’s applying. She learns that he grew up with horses, just like her. She learns that his favorite color is blue. Dee stays outside the stalls with her, and Isabel pets her and avoids making too much eye contact with Adam for fear of getting lost in his eyes.

  Last night, she’d wanted to kiss him so badly. After he finished helping her with the essay, though, she’d gone to her own room and slept. She couldn’t figure out how to work the thermostat, so she’d shivered under her blankets, tossing and turning all night.

  She and Adam are both wearing collared shirts today, the farm’s logo stitched onto the breast. The violet shirt looks beautiful on Adam, complimenting his skin tone perfectly. She’s only ever seen him in black. Even his jeans are all black. The splash of color brightens him up significantly, and she’s less intimidated by his good looks and confidence.

  After the show is over for the day, they take care of the horses and go out to dinner again. Isa slides into the booth with Adam at the American restaurant she’d picked out.

  “Just so you know,” he says in her ear, “the burgers at these places are nothing like real American burgers.”

  Isa smiles. “Well, if you can do better, you should.”

  Adam raises his eyebrows. “I’ll have you know that I make the best burgers on the planet.”

  She shouldn’t be so flirty in front of her parents, but Isa smirks and says, in English, “Well, we’ll have to see.” His mouth pops open, and she laughs. She likes him a lot, which is pretty much the worst thing that could be happening right now.

  Back at the house, after everyone else has gone to bed, she stands at the door to Adam’s room in her pajama pants and a tank top. She waits there, counting down and de
liberating. Should she knock? Should she just go back to her room? Another shiver runs through her, and she takes the risk and knocks.

  After a moment and some quiet shuffling from the other side of the door, Adam appears. He’s standing in his underwear once again, and her words dry up. She’s here for a reason, but she can’t think of what that is. At least he’s wearing a shirt this time. A very tight shirt.

  “Isa? Are you okay?” he asks blearily, rubbing his eyes. She’d woken him.

  His voice breaks through her haze, and she says, “It’s really cold here, isn’t it?”

  He shrugs. “I guess a little.”

  She shivers again, and he definitely notices, his eyes going from curious to concerned. He reaches out as if to touch her arm, but he doesn’t make contact. “May I?”

  She nods, and he rests his hand as gently as possible on her upper arm.

  “Isa, you’re freezing. Do you need more blankets, or—”

  She can’t stand the tension and wondering anymore. If anything is going to happen between them, she has to know. She interrupts, “Can I sleep in your room?” Her face must be red as an apple, but she doesn’t care. It’s far too late to take it back, so she just has to keep going.

  He blanches. “I…” A pause. “Um, sure.”

  He backs away from the door, and she marches past him, climbing into his still-warm bed. She is an adult, and she is going to do what she wants. Even if that means finishing her application to Syracuse, or if it means sharing a bed with the attractive young man that works in her parents’ stable.

  After standing by the bed for a moment and petting Dee, Adam finally stops stalling and climbs into bed with her. It’s difficult for Isa to tell how he feels about this situation. Is she making a big mistake?