Page 61 of My Heart to Keep
I grabbed my coat off the rack near the back door. “Momma, are you worried about Maiken and me?” She’d been different since my exam, quieter and more contemplative.
I had a feeling Maiken and I were on her mind since he was home for the holiday. I hadn’t planned on taking our relationship to the next level that week. I had too much to do, especially with three more days of school before we were out for the long Thanksgiving weekend.
She cinched her robe tightly. “No, honey. I’m just tired. But speaking of your relationship with Maiken, how are you doing on the pill? Any side effects?”
“None.” I’d only been on it a week. So far, I hadn’t had any of the bloating or weight gain or anything else the doctor had mentioned.
She picked up her coffee cup. “Good. Your dad is down in the horse barn. I think he hired someone to help out.”
My eyebrows lifted. “That would be good.”Really good.Maybe then I could take a breather or get up an hour later. “Is that person starting today?” I had tacked a job posting to the board in school, so maybe it was someone I knew.
Momma closed the distance between us and kissed me on the forehead. “Not sure. Now go before your father comes screaming for you.”
I bundled up, hoping he’d hired a massive guy who could lift things and pick up the slack. Although not many kids at school matched that description. Then I remembered Sloane. She’d applied for a job on the farm last year. Surely she wouldn’t again.
Nevertheless, I practically skipped down toward the barn, a cold wind slapping me in the face and waking me up just a tad more.
The spotlight outside the barn came on when I approached. Daddy had installed not only spotlights but cameras too. We still hadn’t found out who had used our pigs for the prank at school, but Daddy was ready if the guilty party tried again.
Apple nickered when I entered. “Daddy.” I grabbed a pair of work gloves off the table next to the door. “Daddy,” I called again, glancing down the stretch of space in between the horse stalls.
I didn’t see him, but maybe he was cleaning out a stall. If he were, though, he would have the bales of hay stacked outside, ready to go.
Maybe Momma meant he was in the other barn, where the cows were. He did usually start his morning milking the cows.
I ambled up to Apple to say a quick good morning. “Hey, girl. Maybe we’ll go out later before the storm rolls in.” Five inches of snow was in the forecast. Apple loved the snow. I loved riding in it too. There was nothing like galloping through the woods while snow fell. “You haven’t seen your grandpa anywhere?”
She nuzzled my hand as if to say no.
“Okay, I’ll be back to take care of you. I have to feed the pigs first.” My chores began with my lovely pigs.
Beast came up to me as soon as I entered the pen two minutes later. “Hey, boy. Smile for the camera.” I pointed to a camera up on the corner of the overhang. I dared anyone to take Beast, Godfrey, Lola, or any of the other pigs we had now.
Beast grunted as he pushed his snout into my leg.
“It’s good to see you too. Let’s get you fed.”
As I began feeding the pigs, a big, fat snowflake fell onto my nose then another. A thread of excitement stirred. I knew it was too soon to cancel school, but if the snow did pile up, then school would be let out early, which meant I could see Maiken sooner.
I envied him right then. He was sleeping in a warm bed and dreaming. I couldn’t remember a day when I was able to sleep in. Instead, I was up every morning, walking in mud and pig slop, shoveling horse poop, and doing everything else that came with living on a farm. I loved my animals. I loved my parents and growing up on a farm, but it would be nice to have a day off.
Maybe I could sleep in when Carter and Liam came home for the holiday.
So many good things were happening. Daddy hired someone. Maiken was home. And my brothers would be too, which meant fewer chores for me.
Once the pigs were eating and happy, I headed toward the gate, but I didn’t see the bucket until it was too late. My arms flew outward, gravity took over, and I was falling backward. I squealed like one of my dear pigs as my butt hit the mud first, then my back and head hit with a thud.
Motherpucker.
Beast came up to me, and his wet nose tickled my ear as he sniffed me. I laughed as the snow fell, and more pigs joined Beast in the fun.
Oh my word.It would take years to get the stench out of my hair. Manure was definitely not the right pheromone to lure Maiken to me.
Sighing heavily, I was about to get up when a tall figure loomed over me.
The man angled his head. His green eyes were like two high beams in the early morning light. “Do you always fall in shit?”
I glared at the boy who was wearing a ball cap and dressed like he’d come to work his tail off in boots, gloves, and even a flannel shirt. “Are you the one my dad hired?”
