AllFreeNovel
Share Us
10
Tessa
“Those stupid burros won’t mind their own business and stay the hell off my property.” Agnes marched across the backyard with a spool of baling wire tucked under her arm. Moose trotted alongside her in agreement, staying on the heels of her worn boots and frayed cuffs of her Levi’s as if he was ready to take on the burro fight.
All bark and no bite. Tessa shook her head, wondering what had really happened on his adventure in Slab City. “How can we help?”
Agnes’s long braid swept across her back as she looked over her shoulder and her eyes focused strangely like she’d already forgotten there were people here. Then she blinked and her gaze snapped into focus. “Can you get the chickens in the hen house while I secure this post? The coyotes will run them out if the fence doesn’t get fixed tonight.”
“The kids can do that.” Tessa motioned them forward. “I’ll help you with the fence.”
“What are we supposed to do?” Mason’s face was pale as he asked.
“See that little door over there?” Tessa laughed as she pointed to the pen. “Get the birds inside and secure the latch.”
“Mom, you can’t be serious.” Mason dug his sneakers into the sand as twenty beady eyes turned toward him with their feathers ruffled.
“Just wave your arms. You’ll be fine.” Tessa pushed him in the right direction and rushed to the fence to help hold the post upright. The chickens inched towards Mason, pecking the ground and pretending they weren’t checking him out.
“Time for bed now, birdies.” Mason grit his teeth as he opened the gate with cold sweat dripping down the back of his neck. He sucked in a deep breath, standing bravely as he gathered his strength for the challenge.
The hens advanced without warning, clucking and pecking as they rushed to her sweet boy. Feathers flew as they sensed his weakness and Tessa stopped mid-step, worried she’d made a mistake. These weren’t normal chickens. They were hardened monster desert chickens and they were going to tear him apart. Her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach and she raced back across the yard to kick the feathered demons away from her son.
“No. You’ve got to do it like this.” Emily widened her stance as she planted her feet on the poop covered straw in front of her brother and snatched the closest chicken off the ground by its neck.
The rest of the chickens froze, as did Mason and Tessa, and they watched Emily march to the hen house.
“You go here.” Emily shoved the bird through the door and turned back to the rest of the flock. “Okay. Which one of you is next?”
The chickens settled down, pretending nothing had happened, while Mason nodded and followed his sister’s lead.
“Yep. That’s how you do it.” Agnes laughed as she pulled the post upright and hooked her ankle around it to keep it steady. Robin caught up to Tessa and both women went to help with the fence.
“Can you believe she did that? Has she been around chickens before?” Robin asked, hanging back as Tessa braced the pole against her shoulder. Agnes began unspooling the wire and barely noticed the shift in weight.
“I’m not sure where that came from.” Tessa shook her head, still in shock. “She saw some chickens at my dad’s house when we visited two years ago but she was only a toddler then.”
“Does your dad have chickens?” Robin turned to watch as Emily scooped up another bird like it was a stuffed animal.
“He did then.” Tessa bit her lip and guided the post back into the earthen hole it’d been pulled from. There was a lot she needed to tell Robin about her dad and the town they were heading to, but with the kids always listening there never seemed like enough time.
“Let me get that.” Robin reached over Tessa’s head and held the post, taking the weight off her shoulder.
“Stupid burros,” Agnes muttered as she fumbled in her back pocket for the wire cutters. Tessa stepped behind her and stretched the mangled fence to the pole. She held it straight, watching her kids round up the last of the flock with Emily leading the way. When did she get so tough?
A lifetime of childhood memories came rushing back. Growing up as an only child, the daughter of the sheriff, in a small town where only the toughest were worth anything. Harsh winters, harsher people, and everyone knew everything about their neighbors. There was kindness in small town living, but there was also necessity. If you wanted to prove yourself in that world, you had to be strong and independent. And that can sometimes get you in trouble…
The setting sun picked up the fiery red curls on Emily’s head and set the golden streaks in it ablaze. A small smile teased Tessa’s lips as she held the fence, her arms shaking from the tension, while Agnes wound the baling wire and twisted off the knots. Emily locked the latch to the hen house and nodded before skipping across the yard. Maybe the girl was more like her than she wanted to believe. Maybe Landon is right. She didn’t know if she should be worried or proud.
“Well that went faster than I thought.” Agnes carried the spool back to the house. “The creek is down there if you want to clean up. I think there’s even enough time for me to make a cobbler tonight. The kids have earned it.” Agnes winked at Emily and the girl beamed a happy smile.
“This is a creek?” Robin tested the stagnant muddy puddle with the edge of her shoe.
“I think it’s rainfed.” Tessa helped Emily wiggle out of her shirt and she led the kids into the calf deep pool, splashing them off with the lukewarm water. The silt scrubbed against her skin as she ran her hands over her arms and legs. It didn’t feel very clean, but at least it took off the stench of sweat.
“When was the last time it rained?” Robin swatted at the mosquitos that’d gathered around her face as she moved behind a boulder so the kids wouldn’t see her undress.
Tessa frowned, noticing the fading bruises that lined the woman’s body, and feeling the surge of protectiveness swell again. “I don’t know, but I hope it rains again for them soon.”
