Chapter 3
Cassy
As I threw some grains and seeds to the chickens, I wrinkled my nose in revulsion. I wasn’t an animal hater, but this kind of life just didn’t suit me. I couldn’t for the life of me think how people could last in a town like this.
“I’m feeding the chickens now, Charlene,” I said to my best friend over the phone. She had the gall to laugh at me.
“Please! Spare me the pity!” I said sarcastically and dramatically.
That made her laugh even more. “You’ll get used to it, Cassy,” she said. “Just think of it as an adventure, like an exotic vacation or something.”
“Shit,” I screamed as a chicken pecked at my foot. I scrambled away, almost dropping my phone. But my movement seemed to have excited a couple of other chickens who quickly came to scratch and scrape at the ground where I was standing. “Ooohhhh, I hate this!”
Charlene sounded as if she was doubling on the floor with laughter. “I wish I could be there to take an Instagram photo of you!”
“Ha-ha, very funny,” I said into the phone as I carefully moved away from the chickens.
“The caption would read ‘Cassy Young, The Chicken Feeder’!” she continued.
“Shut up,” I said. “Honestly, Charlene, I wish you could come over here and join me. It’s only been three days and I’m already bored out of my mind!”
“I would if I could,” Charlene said. “But my parents have imprisoned me too in their office. You know how this business thing goes.”
I sighed as I walked around the barn, bending over every now and then to pick up some weeds. So far, Aunt Ellen had been kind enough to just let me do the easiest tasks first. Maybe I should just resign myself to it. At least I’ll earn some money.
I listened to Charlene’s endless chatter about her experiences at work, all along pulling on the weeds I passed. I had on a pair of ugly gloves, but at least they protected my skin. It was also a good thing I’d decided to bring my fashionable straw hat which kept my face hidden from the harsh sunlight. Sweat was beginning to form on my forehead and at the back of my neck. On retrospect, this task wasn’t really a breeze.
A stubborn bunch of weeds made me huff and puff like crazy as I pulled with one hand. “Hold on a sec, Charlene,” I said, placing my phone at the back pocket of my ripped jeans. I pulled with two hands, grunting hard and tugging with all my might. The weeds budged from the soil, slowly emerging.
Just keep pulling, Cassy, I told myself with renewed determination. You’re making progress.
Suddenly, I remembered Charlene, so I took my phone out again. “Hey, still there?” I asked.
“Yeah, what’s got you so busy now?” she asked in an irritated voice. “I was about to tell you the juicy details of my office affair with this cute guy…”
“You’re making out with someone in your parents’ office?” I said incredulously.
“Yes, we did it on my dad’s desk,” she said, sounding proud.
“You little bitch!” I said. We both laughed. God, I missed our chat sessions over coffee and shopping.
“You know, maybe you should explore town, Cassy,” Charlene suggested. “You might find yourself a handsome farm hand or a small town cutie who can keep you entertained for a while.”
“Well, that’s an idea,” I said nonchalantly, not really interested in meeting anyone at the moment. “But hey, listen, I’ll call you again later, all right? Just gotta finish this shit so I can earn some money to spend downtown.”
“Okay, good luck!” she said cheerfully. “Ciao!”
After ending the call and putting my phone back into my jeans, I rested for a few seconds, bent down lower, and then pulled again. I pushed with my feet, my branded white sneakers getting muddied. But I shifted my focus to the task, finally yanking out the damn weeds. As I did, though, I stumbled backwards and fell hard on the ground.
Somebody snickered behind me. I clambered to my feet, brushed off the dirt on my clothes, and turned around to glare at whoever had dared to make fun of me.
I was ready with a curse. But when I saw the handsome young man grinning at me, his muscles flexing through his plain blue shirt, the words died on my lips. I was surprisingly blown away.
He had the nerve to look me over, a smirk forming on his lips. His rugged features and the mischief playing in his brown eyes made him very attractive in a “bad boy” kind of way.
“Those weeds giving you trouble?” he asked, gesturing to the hideous plants I was still holding in my hands. “You shouldn’t be wearing those shoes out here. Tsk-tsk.”
He seemed to be teasing me, mocking me. I narrowed my eyes at him. “It’s none of your business,” I said sharply.
“I can help you get rid of those weeds faster,” he offered as I turned my back on him and began to walk away.
“I’m not some damsel in distress, all right?” I retorted, not bothering to look back. “Go find somebody else to bother.”
I heard him following behind me. “And I sure don’t want to be anyone’s knight in shining armor,” he answered back.
“Leave me alone,” I told him, despite the fact that I seemed to be drawn to him. It was instant physical attraction, definitely, but his being a nuisance was fast killing all traces of allure in me.
He simply shrugged. “We can work side by side without talking. I don’t mind as long as you don’t do that chicken dance you did a while back.”
I stopped walking and stared at him with hands on my waist. I saw his lips twitching, holding back his laughter. A wave of embarrassment washed over me, and in that instance, I wanted to strangle him. So badly.
Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm myself as I met his playful gaze with a steely stare. “Who the hell are you, anyway?” I demanded to know.
“My name is Ivan Willard,” he introduced himself. “I’m your Aunt Ellen’s new farm hand. I’m guessing you’re the spoiled brat from the city.”
I could not believe his audacity. I wanted to tell him off right then and there, but as I opened my mouth to speak, Aunt Ellen appeared with a huge smile on her face. “I see you two have met already,” she said in a sort of sing-song voice. “Thanks for volunteering, Ivan. I’ve really got my hands full now, so I trust that you’ll be the one to show Cassy here what else has to be done. I’m so glad she’s got someone her age to keep her company.”
I couldn’t believe my ears. A part of me wanted to protest and complain, while another part of me yearned to spend more time with this tall, gorgeous man.
“Yes, of course, Miss Young,” he said politely with a wide grin.
“Thank you, Ivan,” she said. “I’m sure you two will have the time of your life together.”
I scoffed. It’s going to be a very interesting year, after all.