by Amelia Rose
In the barn, she went to the first horse, petting its soft nose as it nuzzled into her. She smiled as it huffed through its nose.
“Hey, Caliber. How are you, old man?”
His head bucked slightly at hearing his name and then his face came closer to her.
“Oh, that’s good to hear, buddy. Have they been taking good care of you?”
He whinnied as though answering her. She smiled as she fed him a sugar cube. He’d always been one of her favorite old horses. He was the first one she remembered riding, once she had been able to ride alone. Once he finished eating the sugar, she put his reins on him to lead him out to saddle up. Once she had the saddle on him, she climbed on top of him, walking him from the barn. Out in the field, she let him canter a little bit until they were out further. She couldn’t help the smile she felt as she watched the sun rising over the horizon.
******
Mitchell had decided to take a summer job as a ranch hand. He’d finished his junior year at the University of Texas and needed some time to decompress. For him, that meant a few months of hard manual labor, where the only thing he had to think about was the work he needed to do each day.
This was his second full day on the job. As soon as he’d finished his last exam, he’d high tailed it from Austin. He needed as many paid days of work as possible. The money was better than what he’d make with his work study. He’d just finished mucking out a stall when he saw a girl walk in. He felt his eyes widen as he realized who she was. She was the girl he’d seen in his engineering classes this year. She was even more beautiful than she was at school. Here, her earthy nature fitted in and her spirit glowed. She was stunning and shone in the beauty that surrounded her.
He’d caught her looking at him a couple times but he’d thought she’d just been looking around the lecture hall. He’d not been able to muster any kind of courage to speak with her. He was too nervous. Plus, he thought to himself. what are the odds that someone as pretty as her would like someone like me? I grew up in the foster care system and am only going to U of T on scholarship. Plus, I have to find a job that includes boarding every summer because I can’t afford anything otherwise.
He sighed, heading to the next stall to start mucking it out. He couldn’t help but wonder how she ended up here. Was it her family ranch? Was she hard pressed like him? He shook his head as he lifted the first pitchfork full of messy sawdust in front of him. After a few minutes of wondering, his mind drifted to how gently she’d treated Caliber and how much the horse obviously loved her. More than that, he thought about how beautiful they’d looked together as she rode him out into the fields.
Just as he finished that stall, Mitchell noticed Billy O’Connor coming into the barn. They would be heading out to the fences that day for repairs. He knew this was the time to find out about the mysterious horse rider.
Taking off the barn gloves and putting them on the shelf, he called out. “Hey, Billy, question.”
“What’s up, Mitch? Want to go out tonight so I can beat you at pool again?”
He laughed. “No. Who’s the new girl? She came in here like she owned the place and saddled up Caliber like they were best friends. That horse hates almost everyone.”
Billy laughed. “She’s not new, and she owns the place as much as I do. It’s my kid sister, Moira. and Caliber doesn’t hate everyone. Just you and me…. Well, okay, he does hate everyone. Everyone except my dad and Moira. He loves those two. That’s why she’s the one working him.”
He tried to keep his face calm. “That’s your kid sister?”
Billy nodded. “Yeah, so don’t go getting any crazy city boy ideas with her. Hear me?”
He laughed as he did a mock salute. “Yes, sir!”
Billy smiled as they both headed out in one of the pickups to start doing their work for the day.
The whole time they repaired railings and chicken wire, all Mitch could think about was Moira. She was an O’Connor! How could he have been so lucky to end up at the same ranch as her? Maybe he could work up some courage to speak with her this summer. He’d be on the same property as her for the next three months anyway. Plus, her brother, at least, Billy, was pretty cool.
The whole morning, they worked hard as they went along the fence line. It was the first real time the O’Connor family had the extra hands to fix the fence as they’d just brought on their summer staff. Summer was busy for all ranches, especially as it was the prime season to really start getting the animals ready for selling.
The last bit of fence they repaired before lunch was at the back end of the property. They would eat lunch out there, some simple sandwiches, so they wouldn’t have to drive the nearly twenty minutes back in just for a hot lunch. As he stood up, he looked around the area. It was prime pasture for grazing. Toward the back, there was one tree. Nodding to the tree, he asked. “Hey, that’s a pretty nice shade tree, want to eat there?”
Billy shrugged. “Sure. Just be advised the kid sister will show up there shortly. I don’t see a horse out there yet but I know that’s where she’s gonna head for lunch.”
He felt his head cock. “Why do you say that?”
Billy laughed. “We’ve called that Moira’s shade tree for years. In fact, the thing should be cut down. The only reason Dad hasn’t at this point is because she loves the thing so much. Whenever she can, she’ll ride out here and just sit under it. Often, she draws when out here.”
“Does she share the tree?”
Billy laughed. “I don’t think she would if she could get away with it.”
He laughed. “Okay, well, if she kicks us out, then she does. Until then, let’s eat lunch.”
Billy nodded as they climbed into the truck.
They settled by the tree and had just began eating when he saw a horse galloping toward them. Apparently, this horse wasn’t being ran because of the distance, but it would still get a good workout.
Billy looked to him. “Prepare to eat on the back of the tailgate. Here she comes.”
He couldn’t help but chuckle. “Or maybe she’ll let us stay in the shade until we get done eating.”
“Like I said, get ready to sit on the tailgate.”
He shrugged. “We’ll see.”
******
As Moira came to her tree, she saw Billy’s truck. He and one of the hands were sitting under the tree. They were probably eating their lunch in the shade. She wanted to tell them to be on their way as it was likely one of the few times she could be there by herself all summer. She sighed. She wouldn’t pick a fight her first day back. She only had one more horse to work that afternoon so she could spend some time there after they left. She wouldn’t be able to draw until they left, anyway.
She wouldn’t be able to get lost in it with her brother teasing her about her ‘doodles’ as he called them. Still, what he didn’t like to admit to, was that he still had one of her landscape sketches hanging in his room. He’d even had it framed all nice. He could call them doodles but she knew otherwise.
She brought Misty to walk as she came closer to the tree. When she was close enough to see the details of the summer farm hand, her jaw unhinged. It was Corn Silk Boy. She felt her cheeks warm. He was going to be at the ranch all summer. She groaned to herself as she climbed off the mare. She couldn’t make eye contact with her brother or her classmate as she hung the reins on a tree nub.
She went to the other side of her brother and sat down. As she settled in, she asked her brother. “How’s it going today?”
Billy nodded. “Good! We got a lot of the fencing done already today, and we should have a good chunk more of it done by supper tonight.”
She nodded. “Good.”
Billy nodded, gesturing to the guy next to him. “Mitchell is a good worker. It’s just his second day but he seems to catch on quick and doesn’t mind working. Thank God for that. You know how some of these hired hands can be.”
She laughed. Some seemed to love the idea of being a ‘cowboy’ more than actually
being a true ranch hand. They thought it’d be more John Wayne and less sweat, calloused hands, and long days with weary muscles.
“Yeah, I think some folks don’t realize what they’re signing up for when they come on.”
Her brother nodded. “You know that’s why Daddy hires extra in the spring. That way, when the useless ones don’t work out and he has to let them go, we have enough left over to get through the fall sales. Then there’s some like Mitch here who will go back to school just before the fall. Still, he can help us get through the summer.”
She acted as though she didn’t know the answer to this question. “Where do you go to school, Mitch?”
He swallowed down a bite of chicken salad sandwich before he answered. “University of Texas in Austin. I’m going to school for Geo Engineering.”
“Oh! I am too! What year are you in?”
“My third year, so my first in program.”
She nodded. “Me too.”
He nodded, taking another bite of the sandwich in his hand. She looked at him, wondering what he was thinking. She guessed that he really didn’t know her at all. It made her kind of sad. She really couldn’t take out her sketch pad when he was there. And it wasn’t just concentration. It was because she would only draw him… and because she didn’t want him see all the pictures she’d already drawn of him.
Chapter Four
Mitch sat under the tree with Moira and Billy. It was obvious she didn’t know him and he didn’t want to blurt anything out that would incriminate him. This was especially true if it was something especially stupid… like telling her that her eyes were the same brown as the only Godiva chocolate bar he’d ever had as a kid. Or the one espresso he’d been able to afford during exams. In either case, that would be kind of weird for a girl and he didn’t want her thinking he wanted to eat her eyeballs.
After lunch was finished, he and Billy began cleaning up their stuff. While they did, Billy looked to his kid sister.
“Hey, a few of us from school are going out tonight. Want to go with us, now you’re finally old enough to drink legally?”
He loved the way her face lit up like the Macy’s Christmas tree as she nodded.
The laughter rang in her voice as she answered him. “Sure, as long as you know you have to buy my beer tonight until I sell a couple of pictures.”
Billy nodded. “Come on, I already knew you were going to be a mooch. Plus, you could probably get Brady to buy your drinks all night for free anyway. He’s always had a thing for you.”
Mitch would’ve been jealous if he hadn’t seen the embarrassment in her eyes as she blushed. She looked at him as she answered Billy.
“The answer is the same now as it was when he asked me to your senior prom. I don’t have a thing for him. I won’t lead him on, either. So, expect to buy me a pitcher or two tonight.”
He felt his shoulders relax as Billy laughed.
Billy looked over at him mischievously. “Maybe Mitch here can buy your drinks, then. I mean, you guys can make friends because you go to the same school anyway.”
Shit, as much as he wanted to buy her drinks, he had twenty dollars to his name until they were paid on Friday. He held up his hands in submission.
“Man, I told you. I’m broke until payday. School just got out, I’m sure your sister understands that sentiment.”
He watched as Moira smiled. “I do. Don’t pay him any mind. He’s just being rude because he knows that I’ll end up beating him at pool too. Then, we’ll finish up the night with me squaring up our tab because I won all his money.”
Mitch smiled as he watched Billy hold his hands mockingly over his heart as though wounded.
“Moira, I already told you… that was an off night and I was drunk.”
She threw her head back. He loved the way the tree leaves cast shadows over her face. The ranch suited her, as did her tree.
She shook her head. “You just suck at pool.”
He shrugged. “True. Whatever. I’ve gotten better since then and what do you say to a rematch tonight. Are you in?”
She nodded. “Sure. Let me get a little down time for Misty out here. I should be finished by dinner. Once everything is done, we can head out. I’m sure tomorrow Daddy plans to work us to the bone. Even if he doesn’t, Andrew will. I know the only reason I had an easy day today was because of Daddy.”
Billy rolled his eyes. “Yeah, because you’re the baby. Heaven forbid the sweet, little Moira break a nail!”
She laughed. “Please. You’re just jealous because you were robbed of the role that should’ve been yours.”
Mitch watched the interaction between the siblings. He wondered what it would’ve been like to grow up in a stable home with brother and sisters who knew you. In the system, you were moved every six months or so. Made it hard to develop any real bonds and, as far as he knew, he didn’t have any siblings. He’d been taken from his mother when he was four and didn’t really remember her, much less any brothers or sisters.
Finally, he and Billy headed to the truck, leaving Moira to herself and drawing. When they were in the truck, Billy looked at him.
“Sorry if that made you uncomfortable out there. I forgot you said last night that you couldn’t afford to go out again until you were paid.”
He shrugged. “No biggie, Billy. I know it wasn’t intentional. It’s how it is. Feast and famine.”
The guy laughed. “Let me make it up to you, Mitch. I’ll buy you a pitcher. Plus, the way you were looking at my sister, I should be able to take most of the pitcher from you without you realizing.”
He laughed too. “How about this? I go out with you guys tonight, you put a pitcher on my tab until Friday. The real way to make it up to me will be letting me talk to your sister without getting all protective older brother.”
They both laughed but Billy nodded. “Sure thing. I can tell you this, though. You hurt her and there are other older brothers and a daddy you should be more worried about. I saw her in high school. I know she can handle herself. They didn’t. They still think she’s way weaker than she is.”
He laughed. “What do you mean?”
Billy grinned. “Well, let me tell you a nice little story about Moira. She appears sweet… and she is as long as you don’t cross her. She’s a force to be reckoned with when you do. One time in her junior year, I was a senior, being just over a year older than her, and we happened to have lunch together. I was sitting with Brady when she started walking toward the table with her lunch bag. She always sat with us.”
“Really? Were you guys tight in school?”
He paused to shrug. “We’d always been tight. Anyway, one of the sleazy jocks decided he wanted to get fresh with her and grabbed her ass. Well, she dropped her lunch before spinning around and clocking him a good one. Since it was fall, she was still super strong from helping us all on the ranch. Anyway, the guy fell flat on his ass. When they were pulled into the office there were enough witnesses – including adults – that she didn’t get in trouble. The kid got benched for a couple of games and got detention for punishment. Needless to say, it never happened again… with anyone. Brady had been about ready to go Hulk crazy on the guy until he saw Moira handle her business. I think that’s the real reason he’s always carried a torch for her. She can handle herself.”
Mitch smiled. “I can appreciate that. Still, all of it is noted. I won’t grab her ass without permission and I won’t ever intentionally hurt her so I won’t incur the wrath of The Older Brother Posse.”
Billy laughed. “The older brother posse? You almost make us sound city. Let me fill you in on a secret. Crazy country boys are probably worse than a bunch of city thugs.”
He shook his head. “Somehow, I don’t doubt that. What time are we leaving?”
“How about nine? That gives everyone a chance to rest and get ready.”
He nodded. He and Billy went to work until it was time to go in for the day. It was dinner time and he was hungry as all get out. He didn’t k
now if it was food or for the woman he’d been day dreaming about all day.
******
The rest of the day, Moira couldn’t concentrate. She was grateful, more than once, that their horses were all comfortable with the property. They had it memorized as well as the humans that owned it. Sometimes, she wondered if they didn’t know it better.
After her brother and Mitch had left, she’d spent another hour sitting under the tree, drawing the man. She’d finally learned his name and it was Mitch. She wondered where he was from and wanted to learn more about him.That night, she got ready for the bar in town. It was a little honkey tonk, where the locals went as soon as they jumped off their tractors for the day. She normally would’ve been comfortable going in there smelling like horse. This night was different.
Tonight, Mitch would be there. She wanted to at least smell clean . Especially if she had to sit squeezed in the middle of her brother’s truck cab between the two young men. She went as far as putting on makeup. She made sure she wore her best pair of jeans, the ones that she’d caught more than one guy staring at when she wore them around campus. Her shirt was a simple fitted tank top. She still pulled her hair up in a ponytail as the place could get warm but she wanted to look good. After pulling her sneakers on, she met her brother out on the front porch. Mitch was already there with him and they sat in a set of chairs talking animatedly.
She stifled a smile as she caught Mitch staring at her with wide, appreciating eyes. Her brother brought her back to reality with his disapproving tone.
“Since when do you care about what the locals see you in? Why don’t you just go topless?”
She crossed her arms. “First off, who said I was doing it for the locals? Second off, I can take my top off if you want. Would that make you more comfortable if I did? For some reason, I don’t think Old Frank will mind serving a half-naked girl beers. What do you think?”
He didn’t respond to her, instead he looked at Mitch. “I don’t think you have to worry about that invitation.”
