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Trent
Slowly coming to my senses and waking from what was probably the best dream I’ve ever had; I realize that I’m not in my own bed.
And that I’m not alone. Or bedroom for that matter.
As awkward as I feel, I sheepishly turn in the bed. Looking beside me, I see Kelly just now opening her eyes and Owen on the other side of her, still snoozing in his own world.
Awkward!
I get up quietly, and grab my clothes, leaving the room without a word, knowing that Kelly’s watching me. Rushing down the hall towards my room, I barely made it before I heard one of the hands calling for me.
I get dressed and wash my face, moving to the kitchen to answer the call of the ranch hand. I pass Kelly in the hall and just glance at her, walking by to get to the coffee. Her blonde bob is disheveled and she has a sleepy appearance with a little makeup smudge beneath both eyes.
“Good morning,” she says irritated by my sudden exit from the bedroom we all occupied for our lust fest. I hear a huff behind me as I continue my endeavor to get to the kitchen. “What's up man?” I ask the man.
“Just wonderin’ what needs done today regarding the missing cow,” he asks.
“Not sure yet,” I tell him as I pour myself a cup of coffee. Adding the sugar and mixing it in, I take a sip and set the spoon down. “I’m going to look around the perimeter to see if there’s anything a miss.”
He nods his head as he leaves the house. “I’ll let you know after I inspect everything.”
“Okay, sir. Just let me know,” he leaves and I drink my coffee, burning my tongue slightly. In the process, I see Owen come from the bedroom, passing me without one word. Not even a nod.
I guess this is awkward for all involved. I make sure that the coffee pot has enough in it before I leave for the barn. Filling up a canteen with cool water, I set from the house and walk to the barn.
Figuring I’d take my time around the perimeter, I packed some other things just in case I needed to repair a thing or two. As I climb up on my horse, I sigh and turn the animal toward the field.
Heading slowly out to the pasture, my mind wanders back to the previous evening. Still stunned that Owen said that in the manner that he did, I shake my head. I can’t believe that we both actually went through with it.
The thoughts swirl in my mind and I try to focus on the fence line, especially where Owen and Kelly felt watched the other night. Owen and Kelly. What’s happening between the three of us? Is it worth continuing given all of the embarrassment and uneasy feelings?
Not to mention the stigma.
Who am I kidding right now? No one but myself.
I know damned well that I’m running from Owen. From the mere thought of seeing him in a different light. In a sexual manner.
Pushing the intrusive thoughts from my mind, I look for signs where the fence has been damaged. A place in which the cow could’ve escaped. As I come up behind the shrubs that Owen mentioned, I have to stop to actually see the fence line.
I dismount from my horse and walk to the bushes. Pushing them aside, and moving behind them, I do see a place where the fence appears to have been repaired recently. Upon further examination, I find that it isn’t a very good repair job, because all one would have to do is untie the bottom twist and pull it back.
I sit there for a minute or two thinking of possibilities that one of the ranch hands or someone else is keeping this spot open for the business of destruction. I untangle myself from the bushes, swiping leaves and small twigs from my shirt.
Scanning over the people working on various things around the ranch, I shake my head in disbelief that one of them could possibly want to take me down. And if so, why? What would be their motive? I think I pay a fair wage, providing food and shelter to them all.
It’s not the reason.
Looking at the fence again, I think to myself how in the world could something that big get through this cut piece. I see that the wooden rail on the top can be pulled out of its slot, therefore allowing a large cow to get through.
Even if one did get out on its own, it certainly can’t tie the fence back up. I laugh at the image I’ve conjured in my mind. A cow trying to pull a metal wire up through the fence. What would it do? Poke a hole in its horn and use it as a sewing needle?
That’s bullshit. A cow is a cow and it can’t be anymore than a cow. That is until I make it my dinner. Getting more serious about the fence, I turn to take a picture with my phone of the fencing and the railing. I move the rail and the wire and take a picture of it opened.
Placing the fence wire and the rail back in place, I make my way down into the field where most of the cattle are gathered.
Thinking of the fence and the way it’s left lends to my theory of these happenings being more than just coincidence. I know that I’m going to have to tell Kelly and Owen about what I found. That won’t be easy at this point, knowing what we did last night.
As I circle the cattle and head back to the barn, so many red flags and warning bells go off in my head.
What to do, what to do, indeed.
