Page 3 of Something More

“I agree. Let’s eat,” Dad’s voice boomed and we all settled into eating our dinner.

Gia never came back to the house that night, and neither did Hank. I don’t know if he was helping her, or avoiding me, but I was kinda glad he stayed away. I could only take so much at once, and while I wanted to talk to him, I needed to get settled and make sure Jack was ok. I’d deal with Hank tomorrow.

Chapter 2

Hank

There had been rumors that she was coming home, but I was still caught by surprise when I walked into the big house to see her sitting there. Not much had changed; there were a few more smile lines on her face, but she was still just as beautiful as always. The young girl I’d fallen madly in love with was still breathtakingly gorgeous.

I was planning to stay in the shadows, eat my supper, and disappear to the bunkhouse, but when Gia showed up drunk, I knew I needed to do something. I wouldn’t let the one who always caused a ruckus to ruin the homecoming that Codie deserved. Jeffry had warned me that she was grieving. She’s lost her husband last summer, and I needed to tread lightly. What he didn’t understand was that she was the one person who could make me do pretty much anything.

Codie was still in high school when I started working at Sunny Brook Farms. I was affectionately called a “shit shoveler” by the other hands when I took the job as a farm hand. My duties included shoveling out the stalls in the horse barn, cleaning the pig pen, and shoveling out the chicken coop. I basically did the job no one else wanted. Mr. Westbrook told me that if I did a good job I could work my way up the ranks, and I have. Jeff is the only hand who’s been here longer than me, and he’s the foreman. I’m now in charge of the hay crop. I’m the one directing everyone, and while it’s backbreaking work, it’s better than shoveling shit.

When Codie was sixteen, she started hanging around us more. She’d come out with lemonade when we were collecting bales. She’d smile sweetly, and I knew I was in trouble. My eighteen-year-old self wanted to take her into the woods and do naughty things. Jeff warned me about the whole farmer’sdaughter rule and I kept my thoughts to myself, only it didn’t last long. She began showing up at all the places we hung out. I’d find her just leaning against the barn door when we’d come in for the night, or she’d show up at the bunkhouse. One night when we were playing cards, she showed up with a pizza she’s gotten in town, wanting to know if I’d join her for dinner. I’d been resisting for so long that I finally said yes. We sat on the edge of the farm in the twilight, eating pizza and not really talking. When we finished, I caught her staring at me. She blushed and before she could get up from her spot, I moved closer. I leaned in and kissed her, and she didn’t pull away. Instead, she kissed me back. We spent most of that summer sneaking away to make out.

When she turned eighteen, we started dating. She was always the good girl, and I respected that, but I think I brought out her wild side. It was funny because Gia was always the wild one, and still is. Codie was the responsible oldest daughter. She didn’t do the sneaking out, or drinking beer out at the bunkhouse; that was Gia’s role, but Codie seemed to step out onto the wild side when I was around. I remember the first time she tried a beer, and the first time we had sex. It wasn’t really romantic, it happened in the barn, but we were doing something that we shouldn’t have been doing, so it made it that much more thrilling. She hid so much of us from her family, and I was so in love that I didn’t care. I often wonder why it was so easy for her to walk away. It’s like she met the city guy and just decided that she needed to follow him north and forgot all about me. We were together for four years, and I thought we’d eventually get married. I mean, I knew then that she deserved more, and I’d never be able to give her the life she deserved, but I wanted to try. I wanted more for her, but I also wasn’t ready to let go. I guess the fact that she’s back says she wasn’t ready to let go either. Part of me wonders if she remembers what it was like, and if she misses it.

*****

I’ve been sitting here at the table drinking a beer as I stare at Gia’s sleeping form. She’s curled on her side snoring as she sleeps off whatever alcohol she poured down her throat at Gerry’s bar. It’s a local watering hole in town. It’s literally the only place to go in town unless you drive another half hour to the next wide spot in the road.

It's always been this way. Gia, being the middle child, seems to think she doesn’t get her fair share from the family. No one sees it this way except her. As it gets darker outside, I can hear the guys walking back. They’re laughing, and as they come through the door they start teasing me for being on Gia duty. Jeff sets a plate in front of me. “Thought you might want this since you volunteered to leave.”

“Thanks.” I unwrapped the plate and dug in. I was starving, and Mrs. Westbrook’s pot roast was a favorite of mine. “Figured this was best.” I pointed to Gia. She was a petite thing, but boy was she full of fire.

“Maybe it was just a good excuse,” he teased. “I know you weren’t really looking to see you know who.” He chuckled. “She ain’t goin’ away, ya know?” His voice softened. “If anything, maybe this is your chance to fix things.”

“What are you two yappin’ about?” Johney sat down beside us. He was relatively new and has been sniffing around Ginny for months.

“Let’s just say you ain’t the first to fall for one of the Westbrook girls.” Jeff winked.

I frowned as I stared at him. I wasn’t ready for the new guys to know my business. It was mine to tell, but I guess they were going to find out soon enough. There was no avoiding this.

“Oh.” Johney grinned.

“If you know what’s good for ya, you’ll make that the last comment you have about it,” I growled. I finished eating andset my plate over on the counter. I’d wash it up and take it to house in the morning. I spent the rest of the night dozing in a chair since Gia had my bed. I wasn’t going to take her back to the house. Codie deserved a drama-free first night, and I knew keeping her here would earn me points with the mister.

*****

When the rooster crowed the next morning, I was already awake. I hadn’t really gotten much sleep. Gia was still snoring lightly, and the other hands were rousing from their bunks. We had the south field today, which was the largest of the hayfields. “Let’s go, fellas. Breakfast is going to be ready soon,” I called as I stepped into my boots. We filed out of the bunkhouse and began the walk to the big house.

The smell of bacon was filtering outside as we came in and took our seats. “Ma’am.” I smiled as sat near the end. It wasn’t the crowd we had last night. The girls had left and Ginny and Codie were still sleeping.

“Eat up, boys.” Clara smiled as she set a plate of bacon in the middle of the table.

“Thank you, ma’am.” Jeff nodded. “Gonna be a hot one today.” He poured a mug of coffee and then we all began serving our plates. Biscuits, grits, eggs, and bacon covered the table. Orange juice and coffee with the fixings. It was always a huge spread when Clara cooked. Hands were fed in the big house three times a week, and the other mornings were quick meals in the bunkhouse. By quick, I mean a muffin or a piece of fruit. The Westbrooks treated us well. It’s part of the reason I’ve stayed as long as I have. None of the other farms around here treat their hands like this.

“I’m sorry about last night, sir.” I nodded to Bob. “I left her in the bunkhouse to sleep it off.”

“Thanks, Hank.” Bob sighed. “I’m afraid she’s never going to grow out of this.”

“Robert,” Clara warned. She didn’t like it when her husband spoke ill of their daughters.

“I’m just worn down at this point. She’s twenty-eight. When will this “phase” be over?” He shook his head. “Anyway, you guys stay hydrated out there today. I’ll have Codie come by with the water truck in a few hours. I don’t need any of you passing out from the heat.”

“Yes, sir.” Jeff spooned the last of his grits in his mouth. “Let’s go, boys!” He pushed back from the table and after placing his plate in the sink, he waved us all outside.

The sun was brutal, and as it beat down on us, we piled onto the hay trailer and rode down to the south field. The bales lined row after row in the field and as we hopped down, I knew it was going to be an exceptionally long, hot day.

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