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“No! It can’t. They might die before morning. It’s serious.” I responded.
“Ahhhh!! I just… I just…” she stuttered and mumbled.
“Please, help!” I had to cajole her to come.
“Okay. Okay.” She agreed to come.
“Thank you!” I felt relieved a bit. I repeatedly tapped my foot on the floor while I sat. It was too uncomfortable, so I went to the living room to wait. I was pacing and waiting.
There was a bang on the door. I rushed and opened it. It was Nelly and Olivia. I was surprised, but I didn’t want to ask.
“I know you were not expecting her, but I was too sleepy to drive down here alone. So she helped.” Olivia explained why her aunt was with her.
“Okay, it’s fine. Perfect actually. I’ve been dialing Cindy all all this time, and and can’t get through” I said. I took one step forward before dropping the next words from my mouth.
“Aunt Nelly, can you stay with Mike while we’re gone? Please?”
“Of course, I thought you might need—” Aunt Nelly started, but stopped to smile when Mike came bumbling in.
“Dad!” Michael called out.
How was he even awake at this time of night?
“I heard voices and decided to come and check what it was. Where are you going?” He asked.
“Daddy’s cow’s are sick tonight, and I’m going to help him take care of them,” I explained. “I’ll be back soon, okay? But not to worry, Aunt Nelly will be with you until I get back.” I said, and he nodded.
“But you promise you’ll come back quickly?” He asked.
“Yes, I will, son.”
“It’s you and me then, Mike.” Aunt Nelly smiled in his direction.
She just saved the day. I was so happy. “Thank you so much, Aunt Nelly.” I held her hands and thanked her, looking straight into her eyes. She smiled and nodded.
Olivia and I rushed out to the ranch. We met two of my overnight workers there, and they took us to the cows that needed medical attention.
I dismissed the men and started helping Olivia administer to the cows.
As Olivia and I worked side by side, the air seemed to shimmer with unspoken electricity. Her presence, as she gracefully navigated the corrals and tended to the cows with a gentle touch, sent a wave of warmth through me. Our eyes would occasionally meet, and in those fleeting moments, a mysterious connection seemed to tighten its grip.
I’d scoff and throw my gaze off.
As much as I tried not to, I found myself drawn to Olivia's laughter. Her melodic voice rang out as we shared storiesamidst the chores, creating an intimacy that felt like a secret shared between only us. The way her cheeks flushed, and her eyes sparkled as she recounted tales made my heart race, and I couldn’t help but wonder if she felt the same undercurrents that I felt.
I’d giggle like a teenager at intervals.
In those quiet moments when we were alone with the cows, our conversations shifted from mundane ranch affairs to more personal musings. The laughter remained, but it was accompanied by subtle, lingering glances and touches that held a hint of something deeper. A simple brush of our fingers as I passed a pail to her and a shared smile across a fence that words couldn’t express.
We both wanted something that couldn’t openly ask for.
As seconds turned into minutes and then into hours, I found myself yearning for those stolen moments with Olivia. The way her presence filled the air, the gentle brush of her arm against mine as we moved around the ranch, each interaction fueled the growing tension between us. Yet, uncertainty hung in the air like the scent of hay after a summer rain. Was it just a figment of my imagination, a result of spending too much time in close quarters?
Or was there truly a connection that begged to be explored?
Amidst the lowing of cows and the rustling of leaves in the wind, one thing remained clear: there was an undeniable magnetic pull between Olivia and me. Whether it would evolve into something more profound or remain an unspoken ember, destined to flicker silently in the background of our lives, was a question that only time and perhaps a dose of courage could answer.
It started raining. The night couldn’t get any messier with this.
