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“Well I’d be a dirty liar if I said ‘no’, Mr. Avery,” I confessed, rubbing my palms over my jean shorts anxiously. It was pretty darned obvious I had a fancy for his horses, and most of all Ms. Molly.
“Y’know... I been lookin’ at buyin’ up a new stallion, that black one that Larson’s been tryin’ to sell. You know the one, right?” he asked, and boy howdy did I!
“You wanna buy that black beauty?!” I said, eyes wide. “If ever there was a stallion handsome enough for Ms. Molly, that’s the one!” I said, and he laughed and nodded his head. I felt like a silly girl blurtin’ that out so loud and fast!
“That was exactly my thinkin’ too,” he said with a smile. “But I already got so much work to take care of here... addin’ another horse to the mix, well... that’d be too much.” He took his time, but I was nearly jumpin’ out of my boots with excitement!
“If we had an extra hour or so in the mornin’, I could give you responsibility for Ms. Molly here, and then... well, you’d need a bit o’ extra time in the evenin’ to enjoy her for some ridin’ too, I reckon. And I’m already keepin’ you late as I can without gettin’ in the way of supper.”
My heart beat so fast, then fell! I was so anxious to look after Ms. Molly and ride her around, that I said the first thing that came to my mind.
“What if I stayed with you from now on? I mean, then I wouldn’t have to be walkin’ for an hour each mornin’. And I could ride Ms. Molly around in the evenin’.” It was pretty bold of me, gotta say, but right away I could tell he was ponderin’ it. And I didn’t want him to say no!
So I kept a goin’.
“I know it’s a lotta extra fuss, Mr. Avery, but... I can cook too! Ma taught me how. I could fix us breakfast and supper, just like how I fixes us up a lunch now! And I know you got two extra rooms,” I said, fidgetin’ and squirmin’ in front of him, suckin’ my lower lip into my mouth and gnawin’ at it anxiously.
“If it’s good with yer ma and pa, well...” he broke down into a broad grin of his own, runnin’ a hand through that thick mane of golden hair he had. “I’d love to have yer smilin’ face here right at sunup.”
Mr. Avery made me blush. Again.
“You’re a right sweet talker,” I said, and I tried to say it teasingly, but I was too busy grindin’ my toes into the dirt and lookin’ bashful.
I was way out of my element!
* * *
Ma and pa had no problem with lettin’ me do that, I mean, as long as I came home on the weekends that is. Pa was a lil’ upset by it, I could tell, but he knew it was what was best for me anyhow. I needed to get out more, couldn’t spend all my life under their roof! Or at least, that’s what ma said.
So startin’ the next day, I toted a big ol’ bundle over to Mr. Avery’s place and I stayed the night.
“Here’s your new room, Daisy,” he said, guidin’ me on in with that big, strong hand of his on my bare, lower back. I gotta admit, that was the first time he ever laid skin to mine, and his hard hand was a right pleasant sensation. Like my pa’s, but bigger still, he was comfortin’ man, who made me feel like everythin’ was gonna be grand.
“Woo doggy, Mr. Avery!” I said, tryin’ to distract myself from how flustered I kept gettin’ ‘round him. “This is a big ol’ room!” And it was! The bed alone looked to be almost as big as my old room.
“I bought the bed for myself some time ago, splurged, ya know? But then I never did feel comfortable in that big ol’ bed all by my lonesome. So it became my guest bed. Now it’s yers,” he said warmly. “And dresser over there, for all yer stuff, figure it’s appropriate for a fine lady like yerself.”
And it was. Pretty as anythin’, it looked made for a lady. Didn’t fit in with big ol’ Mr. Avery none.
“I don’t know what to be sayin’, Mr. Avery,” I said, battin’ my lashes and lookin’ up at him sheepishly. “It’s a much finer room than I’ve ever had.”
He smiled down at me and rubbed at my shoulder, that big palm so large against my dainty limbs.
“No less than you deserve. And it’ll be real nice to have more of a lady’s touch ‘round here. It’s been sorely missed,” he stated, flashin’ me a wink.
“Now come on,” he said, “settle yer things in and then we’ll rustle up some supper, whadda ya say?”
I laughed and pranced on in, shovin’ my things next to the dresser for now before racin’ on out, eager to start in the kitchen.
* * *
Like I said before, Mr. Avery’s farm was bigger than ma and pa’s, and that went for the kitchen and whole farm house too. So much roomier than what I was used to, I felt like a queen instead of a silly lil’ farm girl out in the country. It was clear Mr. Avery had plans for a big ol’ family at one time, but now it was just him and me.
I reckoned to make up for lost time, by makin’ him some fine meals.
“Mm-mmm!” he declared after the last bite. Though to be fair, he hadn’t been quiet about any of the bites he’d taken. He’d loved every single one.
“That is one hell of a meal, Daisy!” He said, before coverin’ his mouth. “Sorry, shouldn’t cuss like that in front of a pretty lady,” he amended.
