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“Dad! You’re going out early today.” Michael said.
“Yes, there’s been an emergency and I need to be there. I’ll be back soon, Okay?” I said and planted a kiss on his forehead.
“Okay, Daddy.” He smiled.
“I love you, son.” I waved at him as I started running out.
“Love you, too, Dad.” He responded and I headed out. Cindy was just entering the house at that moment, and I was sure my son would be alright.
I got to the ranch and met Olivia already attending to the cattle. I smiled. She was very efficient, and I just loved that I could trust her to always deliver regardless of our emotional turmoil.
“You’re here already,” I said for lack of better conversation starters.
“That’s obvious enough.” She responded. She wasn’t always very sarcastic, but she was now. I knew we still had some issues between us that needed to be resolved, but I was adamant in the way I felt.
“Yes, I see that,” I said and nodded, thinking of the next thing to say.
I saw other ranch workers helping her out. I stood there and watched. Soon, there was a loud crack sound from another part of the ranch. The steady rain had caused damage to other parts of the ranch.
They looked at me, asking for permission to go check it out.
“You guys can go. I’ll help her out here.” I permitted them.
They left immediately, and I was left alone with Olivia.
“We’re alone now,” I said needlessly.
“I see that.” She responded coldly.
I cleared my throat and stamped my foot on the ground to take some dirt off my boots. The dirt on the ground splashed on the cow she was working on.
Olivia looked at me with disdain in her eyes. I could feel what her eyes were saying.
“Do you know that single action can make this treatment not work on the cow?” She yelled.
I thought about it, and it didn’t make sense to me. I didn’t see how it was possible that a speck of dirt would have such a big impact on a cow. So, I argued.
“How is that even possible?
Do you know how much dirt these cattle feed on in a day? It’s never made a difference. What makes this tiny drop different?” My ego would not let me skip this one. She was attacking me, and I couldn’t take it.For all that I knew, everything that was happening was due to the trouble between us.
“You know my job better than me?” She rose. “You can do this job better. Why do you need me then? Why don’t you come down here and do it yourself?” She asked.
I didn’t see the point of the argument, but I wasn’t letting it go. The feelings we had for each other caused us to fight because we hadn’t settled anything.
“You want me to do it? I’ll gladly do it. I’ve been working with these cattle for years now.”
“If you thinkyou’re tired of taking care of them, I can do it myself,” I responded at the top of my voice.
“You always want to get rid of me. Even with your cattle, you’re doing it.” She found a way to link the argument to our experience. She stood up and faced me. I wasn’t backing down.
“Have you thought about what leaving you does to me? Or are you just selfish and always thinking about yourself?” I bashed her.
“Who’s selfish? Me who suffered your rejection, or you who rejected me and left me out in the cold?” She asked. Her eyes were already watering up. One blink would bring the tears rolling down her cheeks.
“Have you ever wondered why I stood you up?” I asked. I was angry and emotional at the same time. My eyes were wet already, too. But, not as much as Olivia’s.
“Yes, I wondered, and I asked, I did ask. But since you brought it up. Please do tell me. Why?” She rested her hands on the right and left side of her waist.
