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“Because I couldn’t maneuver the scoop into the trough at that far end. I figured it would be easier to just go inside and pour it in.”
He wanted to yell at her. Shake her. Wrap his arms around her and hold her tight.
He froze, then forced himself to calm down. She’d never been on a farm. She’d have no idea how vicious pigs could be. “You don’t know a thing about pigs, do you?”
She shrugged. Glanced over at the jostling animals in the pen, all trying to get a better position at the food trough. “Only that they taste really good on a sandwich. Or when they’re barbequed.”
Cody closed his eyes, both appalled and charmed.
Appalled that he hadn’t warned her more specifically about going into the pig pen. And charmed by her quick comeback to what must have seemed like his extreme over-reaction just now.
“Pigs are dangerous animals,” he said. “You probably would have been fine, because they had food. But if someone goes into a pig pen and falls down, and the pigs are hungry, they’ll kill you. Eat you.”
She stared at him, frowning. “You’re making that up to scare me.”
“I wish I was. But it’s true. So please, don’t go into the pig pen.Ever.”
“Why didn’t youtellme not to go into the pen?”
“I thought I made it clear when I told you to stay away from them and feed them from the outside. To pour the food into the trough from the other side of the fence.”
She sighed. Reached out as if to touch his arm, then let her hand drop. “You did tell me that. But next time, be more specific, okay? This is the first time I’ve been on a working farm, and I have no idea how to do any of the chores. I’m more than happy to help. Iwantto help. But you have to assume I know nothing, because I don’t. Okay?”
He studied her for a long moment and wanted to reach out for her. The feel of her firm muscles beneath his palm had been… distracting. Unexpected. Way too appealing.
Curling his fingers into his palms to keep from touching her again, Cody drew another deep breath. Nodded. “Got it. Farming 101 from now on.”
“Thank you.” She glanced at the pigs. Shuddered. “I always thought pigs were friendly animals. Smart.”
“They’re extremely smart. Friendly? Not so much. Except maybe those small pet pigs.” He gave into temptation and draped his arm over her shoulders as he steered her toward the chicken coop. “The cows in the pasture are good. I’m going to take care of the chickens. You can help me collect the eggs, if you like.”
Her face lit up. “I’d like that. As long as you tell me what to do.”
“Sure. But it’s easy.” He stopped beside the chicken coop, and Sierra studied the small enclosure with a raised coop on one end and food and water feeders on the ground. Another fence circled the entrance to the enclosure and a larger area outside it.
“We made that larger area so they have more space to forage and move around,” he said. “Laila and Jason used to let them out to go wherever they wanted, and Maurice the rooster is good at chasing away predators. But three hens disappeared, so Jason and I expanded the fence so they’d have more room to forage but still be safe.”
Sierra watched the chickens pecking the ground. “Looking for bugs,” he said before she could ask. “I’ll feed them and give them fresh water. Then we’ll get the eggs.”
He opened an outer door and stepped into the vestibule-like space. Closed that door, then opened a plastic bin and pulled out a bag that looked as if it held twenty pounds or so of food. He tossed a handful of food into the more open area of the enclosure, waited for the chickens to run toward it, then stepped into the enclosure. He poured the food into a tall feeder, and a few of the hens hurried back and began eating. Then Cody moved to the other tall feeder.
As he poured the food into that feeder, Maurice rushed over. Flew at Cody, his spurs extended. Cody stepped to the side, and Maurice landed on the ground.
He gathered himself and charged again. This time, Cody grabbed what looked like a watering bottle. He held it in front of him, and Maurice flew into it. Water splashed out of the container and soaked his head and back.
The big white rooster ruffled his feathers. Shook out the water as Cody headed for the door. Before he was out of the coop, Maurice flew at him again.
“Behind you,” Sierra yelled.
Cody spun around and held the water container in front of him. Maurice hit it again and got wet again.
By the time the rooster had recovered, Cody was out of the coop. He stashed the bag of food in the plastic bin and snapped the lid shut. Then he exited the vestibule.
Carrying the water feeder, he went over to the spigot on the side of the barn. Rinsed out the container and refilled it.
After he finished, he straightened his shoulders as if girding for battle, then re-entered the vestibule. He tossed another handful of the feed into the larger space and waited while all the hens rushed to get the food. After Maurice followed them, he stepped into the enclosure.
Cody replaced the water container quickly and hurried out. Once the gate was secured, he shook his head. “Worthless rooster. I have no idea why Jason and Laila keep him around.”
