I tucked my phone into the back pocket of my jean shorts, bending down to pull up my ankle sock that annoyingly kept falling down my heel in my boot before quickly going down the rickety wooden steps; feeling them flex underneath my weight.
I knew we needed to redo the deck, but it really makes a girl feel good when the floor flexes under your feet.
I was met with a few of the dogs who followed me to Harry's door, my knuckles stinging slightly from how hard I knocked against it; wincing, I rubbed them, awaiting him to open the door. Trying a few more times, I was met with no response.
Did he leave?
I raised my hand again, ready to knock one or two more when I heard "Delaney" behind me, quickly spinning around on my heel, almost tripping over Milo in the process who quickly moved out of the way. "What are you doing?" he asked, sounding.. assertive yet confused? I couldn't quite place it. Intrigued, maybe?
"I was looking for you" I replied, "My dad said I had to show you around the place. Are you uh, ready?" I questioned, taking a quick glance at him, swallowing the saliva that once again accumulated in the back of my throat.
His hair looked like his fingers had recently run through it, hair strains tossed to the side; even dangling slightly against his forehead. The scruff on his face was starting to grow in, telling me he hadn't shaved that morning. No matter how desperate I wanted to linger on his facial hair and lips, my eyes continued down. A black snug t-shirt, blue jeans, same expensive looking cowboy boots that Louie tried to ruin.
He looked just as he always does. If it wasn't for the new shirt, I would've just assumed he grabbed the same clothes off the floor from the night before, until I looked closer.
A new belt buckle and no brown staining on his thighs and knees told me he put in some effort; even if that didn't include shaving or doing his hair.
I couldn't help but giggle to myself when I realized my outfit didn't match his at all.
I was wearing dark wash blue jean shorts - unlike Harry, whose were more of a medium wash; a tucked in loose t-shirt - a need when you're working in the heat, and even down to my white ankle boots screamed opposite.
"What?" He asked, my head titling.
"Hm?"
"You laughed" He said, my eyes widening slightly.
Shit
That wasn't in my head?
"Oh.. uh" I nervously chuckled, "I just uh.. we're so different" I giggled again, looking down at my shoes before looking back at Harry.
"What?"
"Our outfits, they're very different" I pointed at his jeans and tight fit shirt, then my shorts, grabbing the loose fabric that was bunched up where it was tucked into my shorts to hopefully get my point across.
"Why are you wearing shorts?" He asked, not sounding like a question, more like an accusation.
What's wrong with wearing shorts?
I looked down at my legs, confused.
Did he have a problem with me wearing shorts?
"Because it's hot?" I hesitantly responded, noticing his gaze lingered on my legs, beginning to make anxious thoughts swarm my head.
I chewed on the inside of my lip as I fought the urge to hide my legs.
Should I have worn pants?
But it's hot out. Sweltering even. If I had worn jeans, they would've chaffed my thighs, or stuck to my skin, and or even ripped. Shorts felt like the best option for functionality.
Harry stayed silent and I sighed, debating if I should change or not.
I waffled for a few seconds before deciding to screw him and just stay in my shorts.
Who was he to tell me what to wear? If he didn't like my thick thighs he can get lost. He's here to help us, not the other way around.
"Alright, well" I I sighed, glancing down at Milo, giving him a quick pet before moving to walk in front of Harry, Milo following me, knowing it was breakfast time. "We better get working" I continued, my back to him. "First step is the barn so I can feed the dogs and cats and show you where certain feeds are"
Harry and I opened the big barn doors, a smile plastered to my face as I was met with our beautiful horses; the grin quickly vanishing when the waft of horse manure filled my nostrils.
Yuck.
"Welcome to Fallen Ranch!" I laughed, ready to joke that the work was about to begin, but once again, Harry was hot on my heels with his reply.
"Oh, I thought it was fall in. Like fallin' apart" He.. joked? I think it was a joke? Was it not? He was joking right?
I frowned, "Falling a part?" I asked, Harry nodded as he looked around the barn. "That's rude" I grumbled, moving over to a workbench that was against one of the walls; a stack of food bowls ready to be filled.
I started laying them out in front of me, reaching for the scoop in the dog food bag, ready to pour it in when our bitch of a cat jumped onto the workbench.
"Keep your nasty paws out of Leo's food!" I scolded, scooping the calico cat off my work bench and gently tossing her to the floor, "Dogs first you little brat" Sassy mowed at me, jumping back up, "Sass-a-frass! You're a freeloader! You don't do shit around here— DON'T EAT THAT!" I yelled, her head dipped into Opal's food bowl. "Oh my god" I groaned, beginning to feel overwhelmed.
"What the hell are you yelling about?" Harry grumbled, opening one of the horse stalls that lead to the fenced in outdoor grazing area, starting to let out the horses for the morning.
"My sister's bitch of a cat is eating my dog's food" I grumbled, my eyes widening when the work bench wobbled, Knox's front paws resting on the edge. "Get down!" I scolded, Knox immediately jumping down, my hand grabbing the cat and removing her yet again. "Can you help me, please?" I asked, wanting to get these dogs fed before it all landed on the floor from either Knox or Sassy.
"That is not a part of my job description" he snapped back
"Yeah well shoving my foot up your ass isn't mine either but the days still early!" I snapped, having had enough of everyone's attitudes.
I like to think I'm a pretty patient person, but my fuse runs short when the cause is days, if not weeks long.
Everyone has a snapping point, right?
"Days still young" he replied, leaning against one of the wooden support beams in the barn, watching me.
"What?"
"It's "Days still young" Days still early just sounds stupid" He corrected, pushing the right button to make me give any less of a fuck than I thought was possible.
What's this guys problem?
"You know what?" I huffed, immediately getting interrupted before I could continue.
"What? Enlighten me" Harry replied, not missing a beat as the forming smirk popped a dimple yet again.
I swear my eyes had hearts in them, even though I wanted to shove him out of my way and never see him again.
How can one be so cocky and disrespectful?
I swear I'd walk miles for this man with sores on the bottom of my feet, and it still wouldn't be enough.
"I don't need your help anyway. I was doing' just fine without you" I finished, setting down Knox's food bowl since he was right here before setting down the others all holding Sassy in my arm, ringing the food bell and waiting for the four legged little helpers to come get breakfast.
"If I recall, your family desperately hired me because of how much you needed me" he smirked, his egotistical aura making me want to scream.
Why did I think he was to die for again?
"So you feed off the poor?" I questioned, the ick starting to form deep down, even as his stupid dimple popping smirk wanted to make me do irrational things to him.
Harry's arms crossed over his chest and his lips formed a line, "Aren't you supposed to be showing me around? Isn't that your job?" He emphasized, apparently ready to move on from a conversation I was very ready to have.
This man was infuriating in an annoyingly sexy way that it was truly starting to piss me off.
I walked him through the barn, showing him where everything way; Harry adding Hay to the troughs whilst I put in fresh water.
The bucket of manure always made me gag, even when I was a kid; thankfully I ran away before he could try and make that my problem.
"How many damn dogs do y'all have?" Harry asked, his tone causing a frown to tug at my lips as Harlow, Knox, Daphine and Milo gathered, eager to work.
"They come in pairs of two, besides the Pyrenees. There are three. Knox and Harlow are the cattle herders" I explained, climbing over the fence much to Harlow's dismay, "Grab the shovel, we got shit to clean up, literally" I laughed, wobbling slightly as the heel of my ankle boot got caught on the top of the barbed wire fence almost sending me straight into a pile of cow poop, Harry's chuckle was heard over my instinctive shriek of horror and disgust as my heart dropped to my stomach. "You could've helped ya know"
"Why would I do that?" He asked as I watched my step, my nose wrinkling at the smell.
People say when you live on a farm you get used to all the smells; but that was never my truth.
"Because a decent human thing to do when someone is falling is try and help them" I huffed, seeing out of the corner of my eye, our female Border Collie's front paws on the fence. "Harlow, wait" I instructed, showing her the palm of my hand, silently telling her to stay.
"Here, you can do that whilst I feed them" Harry said, dangling the pooper scooper shovel over the fence, ignoring my comment about human decency. Typical.
"Why can't I feed them?" I argued, really not wanting to clean up cow poop in my white ankle boots.
"Your farm" He shot back, still holding out the shovel.
My brow raised, "You're the rancher. If I recall, picking up shit is apart of your job"
"Then why are you the one in the pen, and I'm the one over here?" he smirked. I swear my knees buckled a little when his dimple popped yet again.
God the things I'd give to lick it, or kiss it.
His pink lips looked so inviting.
I could feel my body start to become mush. The inside of my stomach felt all warm and gooey as my knees metaphorically buckled; ready to give in at any moment.
God damnit! Get a grip Delaney!
Can't you focus more on how frustratingly annoying he is? And less on how kissable he looks right now? I mentally scolded, but the thought of kissing him made me start to wander again.
I bet he gives the best kisses. Sweet, warm, just enough passion to make you yearn for me; knowing his asshole tendencies, he'd leave you to suffer though. Tease you. Make you want more.
His big strong arms would hold you so soft and tight. Comfort and protect you in all the heartwarming ways. His green eyes would look at you so lovingly it would hurt.
"Delaney" Harry grumbled, the shovel clattering against the fence, startling me.
"Whatever" I huffed, quickly recovering as I turned around, "Get moving. We got a lot to do"
"Why do you daydream so much?" Harry asked, his eyes squinting at me.
"None of your business" I grumbled, shockingly choosing to scoop up poop over talk to Harry.
Five minutes into cleaning the pen, I grimaced with a shriek, my white ankle boot covered in a dark brown sludge that I knew all too well.
God damnit!
"You've got to be kidding me" I grumbled, dragging the sole of my against the dirt, knowing damn well I shouldn't have worn white shoes.
I wasn't supposed to be cleaning the pen today though. I was supposed to show this dreamy muscle man where everything was, preparing him to work for us before going off to help with my actual job! Now my shoes are covered in disgusting cow poop!
I heard a chuckle next to me, my head whipping up to find Harry's sparkling green eyes and annoying sexy dimple mocking me as I tried my best to get the cow poop off my shoe.
"How's it going?" he asked, a teasing undertone to his words. Or.. maybe he was mocking me in an aggravating manner? It sounded like he was teasing me, but maybe he was ready to explode on me at any given minute.
"Shove it, Harry" I groused, my eyes prickling with tears as my pushed down emotions began to bubble over.
I can't fucking cry in front of him! It'll give him just another reason to make fun of me!
I kept my head down, leaving the shovel against the fence before letting Harlow and Knox in to help move the cows to the other fenced area for grazing.
"Just open the gate, they'll get them in and then close and lock it and bring the borders back to the main house. I'll be right back, I need to clean my shoes" I spoke quickly, wanting to get the instructions out before the knot in my throat grew too big that I couldn't suppress my emotion any longer.
The second I slipped my once white shoes off, bending down to carefully pick them up by the collar of the shoe with a grimace, the slow hot tears started falling one by one down my only what I can assume pink cheeks as I rushed to the bathroom to try and save my shoes from landing in the trash.
I struggled to clean them off with my watery vision, but thankfully I managed, leaving them in the tub to air dry as I took a quick glance at myself in the mirror, praying I looked presentable enough to go finish helping Harry.
My full rose cheeks were bright pink, along with my nose and eyes. My face had damp tear stains; my hands quickly swiped them away.
There was no fixing this.
Fuck.
Slipping on my worn down cowgirl boots, I met back up with Harry; his eyes narrowed at me, like he was trying to place me from somewhere, but I ignored him, "Ready to finish the tour?" I asked, Harry taking a few seconds before nodding.
I showed him where the sheep were; showing him how the locks worked, mentioning they all had to be replaced eventually.
"The sheep get fed three times a day" I started, Harry interrupting me yet again.
One can argue his habits are more annoying than my daydreaming ones.
"I know how to care for sheep" he stated and I nodded slowly, deciding to just drop it and let us both do our jobs.
I commented that we do sheer them at least once a year, my lips pursing, feeling like everything I was telling him was going in one ear, out the other.
I couldn't tell if it's because he didn't care, and truly already knew how to do everything; maybe my dad has walked him through it already? If that was the case, surely my dad wouldn't have asked me to do this then, right? And wouldn't Harry have said something about my dad showing him already?
Was it because I was a woman, and this was a "man's" job? I scoffed at the thought, feeling my lovey dovey rose colored glasses turn cold dark and gray.
Surely that isn't it, right? He couldn't be sexist, right?
With the sheep's out in their fenced in field, I took him over to the garden, smiling at our flourishing plants.
"This is our garden!" I grinned, the feeling of pride washing over me as I watched him look around; "It's my grandma's favorite part of the farm. She's tended to this garden for decades" I told, "We love using stuff from our garden to cook with, or to feed the horses and stuff. If you ever need anything, feel free to help yourself! My grandma comes out almost daily to harvest since our bunnies sometimes like to swipe stuff" I paused, cupping my hands around my mouth as I began to whisper loudly, "Even though she literally gave them their own garden patch by their hutch" I grinned, watching Harry crack a smile, sending my stomach swirling once again.
God the things I'd do to see that on a daily basis.
I took him over to the bunny hutch, noticing a few of them out in their fenced area.
"This one is Lydia" I pointed at the one near us, "She's mine. She's a Holland Lop" I smiled over at him, bending over the fence to give her a little pet, "The gray and black one over there" I pointed to the far corner, "Are the neighbor girls. They like to visit and see them but their family doesn't have room for them. So uh, if you see 2 tween looking girls on the Ranch, It's probably Sarah and Fiona" I informed, "Want to pet her? Lydia's super friendly!"
"I'm good" He stayed stoic.
Party Pooper.
"Well I want to hang out with her for a while" I stated, not ready to leave my bunny. "I got her when she was really young which was fun" I decided to tell him, entering their pen and taking a seat in the grass, smiling when Lydia hopped over to me. "She always comes over because I typically bring her snacks" I giggled, watching her cute pink nose flutter.
Getting distracted with the bunnies, I heard Harry's familiar, "What the fuck!" making my head shoot up, seeing him scowling down at his cowboy boots again.
"What?" I asked, confused as I pushed myself up off the ground, careful not to step on Lydia.
"What is with your fucking animals biting me!" He shouted, my eyes widened yet again. I swear they were going to get stuck like that.
I noticed Charles, "our" duck next to Harry.
I snickered, Harry glaring at me.
"It's not funny! These are expensive! You still owe me for your fucking rat of a dog leaving marks!" His brow furrowed, the scowl only making my giggle turn into a laugh.
"I think they like you" I teased, "This is Charles. he's our duck"
"Your duck?"
"Well, a duck" I corrected, "I mean, we don't own him.. but he hangs around here. He has a duck wife and ducklings of his own" I told him, surprised Charles wandered over to us.
Usually my younger brothers were chasing the ducks by the pond, so maybe nipping Harry was payback.
I giggled again, thinking about the duck being spiteful, Harry's glare deepening.
"This is why you don't own animals" he huffed, marching away from the duck who was waddling after him, my grin never leaving my face as I giggled, watching a grown ass man get chased by a duck.
"Animals bring joy to your life!" I countered, "Just like kids"
"No" his head shook, "They bring chaos"
"But isn't that fun? Life's boring if it's so routine all the time"
"Routine isn't boring. It's orderly" Harry corrected, turning to face me again.
"Again, borrring" I dragged out, a big smile on my face as I teased him.
I stand by it though. Who wanted to spend all day doing chores? That's the shit you get done so you can go have fun!
When the time came to milk the cows, Harry and I reached the warehouse-like area we used for it.
"They just.. go in?" He asked, seeming impressed that the cows did it in such an orderly fashion.
"Mhm. They like it. Think of it like your morning pee. It's reliving, plus, they get fed after" I noted, slipping on my gloves. "Right here" I pointed to the wall on my left, "Is how you clean the materials. We'll get to that, but just in case you forget"
Harry scoffed, telling me off, "I won't forget, I'm a professional" which only made me roll my eyes at his cocky attitude.
Can't this man ever just accept that not everything is routine? Some things have to be new and take a learning curve?
We got to our first cow, and I sat down on the stool, this entire process feeling like muscle memory, having done it with my dad so many times in the last 26 years.
"So, if god forbid, a machine is broken, this is what you do" I looked up from the cow, seeing that Harry was surprisingly paying attention like my words actually mattered.
This is new.
I couldn't help but feel my heart smile at the idea of me mattering to him. Even if it was as silly as how to milk a cow, it still made me happy that it appeared that he cared.
"Okay, so she is eating her hay right now, so she couldn't honestly give less of a fuck" I giggled, moving my bucket. "Come here and hold this bucket" I demanded, surprising him since he quickly moved. "Grab that stool, take a seat, stay a while" I joked, handing him the sterile bucket we use to catch the milk. "So, these are her udders" I chuckled, glancing over at Harry, expecting a chuckle or maybe even sexual innuendo, but his eyes were just locked on the cow. "They are clipped, as you can see here" I showed, "We keep our cows healthy" I commented, hoping he knew we did not stand for animal abuse or neglect here.
"Clipped?" he asked, surprising me.
I nodded, "You clip them to keep them clean"
"How do you clip udders?"
"Well, there are two ways. You see here, how her udders are just skin?" I asked, Harry nodding, "That's because we've shaved the hairs to keep her udders healthy and not have bacteria etcetera. My dad prefers to manually shave them. We only have a few cows after all, but the other method is singeing with fire. If done properly, it works well, but we don't like to risk possibly burning their skin or something"
"You.. hold fire? To the cow?" Harry sounded bewildered, staring at me like I have three heads.
"It's a way to do it, yes. Anyway, we do keep up on that, and I'm sure my dad can show you when the time comes, but for now, don't worry about it. Oh! Also, make sure the area is clean" I grab the paper towel, "You kind of just... swipe? At the udder? Uh, here, let me show you" I cleaned around the udder, noticing some dirt and what looked like grass, "Don't use water" I warned, "It can prevent the teat from opening"
"Tit?"
"Teat"
"Cows have tits? Is that why people refer to nipples as tits?" Harry asked, my eyes closing as my head turned out of shameful withheld laughter.
"It's a teat, and uh, I guess. Women's nipples and cow's teats produce milk" I chuckle, pulling myself together so I can focus. "Step one, you put on gloves. Keep everything clean and sterile. They're all over the place around here. Let us know if you need a different size" Harry nodded, "So, the step two once you're gloved is to prep the teat. You take this" I grabbed our pre drip solution, "You want to cover the four teats with it for at least 30 seconds. You do one at a time"
I could feel Harry intently paying attention, even with how in the zone I got, wanting to do this properly.
"Next, you grab the udder like this" I wrapped my hand around it, "You squeeze slightly downward.. kind of half twist? You don't want to like.. ring out the udder, but kind of guide the liquid out? I uh.." My cheeks flushed, "You've um.."
Delaney, no! Stop!
"Hm?"
"You've uh.. um.."
Delaney, seriously! Don't!
"I've what?" Harry asked, my slight squirming not helping as mental imagery flashed through my head.
"You uh.. you know how you uh.. um.."
"How I..?"
Oh my god
You're fucked!
Totally completely fucked!
You did this to yourself!
You couldn't just shut up and think of a better example?!
This is definitely not how your father taught you!
"So uh, you know when you um.. masturbate?" I rushed, "You kinda.. do a similar motion" I refused to make eye contact with the man. I can't. I won't. I refuse. "Just uh.. slowly.. like.. like edging"
DELANEY NICOLE FALLEN, YOU DID NOT JUST SAY THAT
I could feel the heat radiating off my face.
I can't believe I just said that.
I did not just bring up Harry masturbating whilst I have my hand wrapped around a cow udder.
Oh my god.
The rest of the explanation only got worse as the liquid began to drip out into the bucket, unacceptable mental images of Harry doing things I should definitely not be thinking about whilst I'm milking a cow, Harry right next to me, refused to leave my head.
I've never wanted to run out of a room quicker in my life, and it was my own damn fault!
I thought it couldn't get worse, but the redness in my cheeks stayed put as Harry took place on the stool, his own hands gloved as he began to prep the next cow to try doing it himself.
I slowly walked him through it again, his hand wrapping around the udder, with a soft chuckle and head shake, softly confessing, "I wish you didn't compare this to masturbating"
You and I are both, buddy.
I'd say it's a safe assumption that I want to simply forget today ever happened.
* * * *
I listened to Lacy by Olivia Rodrigo the entire time I wrote this lol
