Take me Home Country Roads (Formally Unbreak My Heart)

Chapter Three: Settling in

We head away from the paddock and continue to work our way to the barn where we milk the cows.  We hop out and walk into the barn where there is a man, I have never met stands readying the cows for mechanical milking. There used to be a time when we would do this by hand but, it took forever and was not as efficient.
I show them how to properly clean and sanitize the teats before hooking the machine to the teats and turning on the vacuum which starts to pump the milk from them. The guys watch closely to what I am doing. I encourage them to try it. They do and you adjust a few things that they were not doing right.
Now that they know how to do it you move on. We get back on the ATV and go to another part of the land where the baby calves are kept that have not been accepted by their mothers. They need to be bottle fed and so I show them how to mix the bottle and show them the proper way to feed them.
We finish the tour and I show the guys my moms and dads house. Then we wash up and head to the dining room for dinner. The guys grab the glasses, silverware and plates and set the table.
Mom walks in a little bit shocked. She looks at the boys and smiles. “This is so kind of you guys.” Mom smiles “The kids always fought about who was going to set the table.”
“Not a problem ma’am.” Jason smiles back.
“It was our pleasure ma’am, thank you for lunch and dinner and welcoming us into your home.” Mason says. 
We all sit down at the dinner table and the rest of the hired hands come shuffling into the dining room taking their seats. All together there are nine hired hands, the four of us and mom and dad at the table.
It has been forever since the dining room table was this full, but I must say that it was nice. There are all of our normal hired hands and three that I haven’t really met before. I saw each of them today when we went on the tour of the farm.
Mom looks at me and smiles. “Sweet girl can you introduce your friends please.” Mom asks.
“Well, this guy here is Jon my best friend since we were little.” I smile
“Then we have Jon’s boyfriend Mason who is also a really good friend and his twin brother Jason.” I introduce each of them then turn to the other side of the table starting with mom.
“That is my mom Sarah and My dad Justin, our hired hands Phil, Brett, Josh, Mike, Pete, and Bryan.” I say
“I’m not sure who the other guys are.” I stutter.
“The guy at the far end is Mitch, the guy next to Jason is Lee and the one next to him is Jesse.” Dad says.
“You will all be working together at some point or another so get familiar.” Dad demands.
“You may all call us by our first names unless you are being reprimanded then it is sir or ma’am.” Dad explains.
“After dinner you four go back to the house and get your stuff unpacked then get to bed at a decent time.” Dad commands.
“Meet me at the barn in the back forty to get your instructions by five A.M. No later.” Dads barks.
“Sweet girl will you help me with the dishes?” Mom asks
“sure, thing momma.” I say getting up and gathering dishes.
“we got this Sarah you go take a break and let us handle it.” Jesse says.
“You cooked us an amazing dinner and I don’t see why you should be doing the cleaning.” He smiles.
“Okay then.” Mom smiles back. “I could use a nice hot bath and a glass of wine.”
“Let me go draw you a bath sweetheart.” Dad says. “Bubbles or no?”
“Yes, bubbles please.” Mom says. “Warm vanilla sugar, please.”
Jesse and I gather up all of the dishes carrying them to the sink. We sit them on the counter. I run the hot soapy water. Jesse scrapes all of the scraps into the trash while we wait for the sink to fill.
I slowly begin to put the plates in the sink and wash them. Jesse rinse and puts the dishes into the strainer. I look over and notice that the strainer is full.
I get in the drawer beside the sink and pull out two dish towels we each pick up a plate and dry it and put them in the cabinet. Our hands lightly brush together as we each reach for a new plate. I smile and blush.
He smiles and hands me the plate that we had both reached for. I take it and dry it placing it in the cabinet. Then grab another. The strainer is empty again and I start to wash some more dishes.
I drop the plate that I am working on and water splashes all over the two of us. I apologize and start to wash the remainder of the dishes. He neatly stack the dishes in the strainer and turns around standing with his back against the counter.
“So, all the guys that came with you are they all gay?” He asks.
“Um I think just Mason and Jon are gay.” I say thinking. “I don’t really know Jason as well as the other two but, I’m pretty sure that he is straight.”
“Oh.” He says slightly disappointed.
“Well, I better head out.” I smile “I have some unpacking to do then I’m off to bed.” I laugh.
“I kind of feel like a child again having to go to bed early.” I explain.
“Yeah, you will get used to it.” He smiles. “Took me a little while but, now I can stay up till ten or so and be okay for the day.”
“Yeah, I used to do that all the time.” I say. “I guess the city life killed my old habits.”
“Hell, there were days that I didn’t eat dinner until 8:30 at night and now I am talking about going to bed at 9:00.” I giggle.
“Oh well at least you have the good sense to go to bed early and not try to stay up half the night getting back into the routine.” He smiles.
“Yeah, I know better than doing that shit.” I laugh. “Dad would pick up on that and work my ass twice as hard.” I say seriously.
“Yeah, the first night I came here I decided to stay up late against the advice of the other guys, and I woke up thirty minutes late.” Jesse laughs. “Your dad made me muck every damn stall in both barns. It was ridiculous.”
“Never did that shit again.” Jesse chuckles. “I am in bed by ten every damn night that I work now.”
“I don’t get a day off.” I say. “Dad gives me some type of chores every damn day.”
“I must say though when I lived in the city. I missed the shit out of the country.” I admit.
“I couldn’t imagine living in the city.” Jesse states. “I have always lived in the country.”
“Never lived or worked on a farm until now but I always lived in the country.” Jesse admits.
“I honestly hated it there.” I admit sadly.
“I wish I never would have gone.” I say
“Why did you if you don’t mind me asking?” He ask cautiously.
“I went there for a boy.” I state.
“The boy that I thought loved me and wanted to be together forever.” I huff.
“Turns out my love for him ran deeper than the love he had for me.” I blink back tears that threatened to fall.
“I should probably head out.” I smile.
“Thanks for all the help.” I say
“No problem, I like to help out especially when I get a meal like your mom cooks.” Jesse chuckles.
“I have gained twenty pounds since I have been here.” He say patting his stomach.
I stand there and look him up and down for a few seconds then I say something Instantly regret. “Looks good on you though.” I say peeking at that nice cowboy ass of his, blushing deep red as I realize what I have just said and done.
“Why thanks little lady.” He says laughing at me.
“um I got to go now,” I say completely embarrassed. “I’m pretty sure Jon is calling.” I say running out the door toward my place.
I come running in the door slamming it shut locking it behind me like I am afraid that he is following me. The guys all look up from whatever they were doing and just stare at my deep red face.
“so, what did you do this time to embarrass yourself?” Jon questions.
“I just totally checked Jesse out when he told me he gained twenty pounds since he started working here.” I say.
“That’s not that bad, I check you out every time I hang out with the boys.” Jason admits.
“No but then I told him ‘looks good on you while staring straight at his ass.” I say mortified
“No fucking way.” Mason says dying of laughter.
“yeah, I sure as hell did.” I screech.
“well shit darlin you better lay low tomorrow and let that shit blow over.” Jon laughs.
“For real though your dad probably won’t have us doing the same work as the real hired hands tomorrow anyway.” Mason says. “So, you should be safe.”
“Lord I hope not.” I whine. “I can’t believe that I said and did that, but man does he have a nice ass.” I say slightly drooling.
“I can’t either, but I am proud of you.” Mason giggles.
“Why the hell is it that you all abandoned me anyway?” I ask.
“Well, when the boss man tells you to do something you do it.” Jason chuckles. “Besides you and Mr. nice ass looked like you were having a nice time doing the dishes.” He winks
“What the hell are you talking about?” I ask a little more, harsh then I needed to.
“you should have seen it from our view.” Mason laughs. “You two were constantly deep in conversation and handing each other dishes and smiling and laughing.” He smiles
“you guys looked like a married couple still in the honeymoon phase.” Jon laughs.
“You looked like you were enjoying being around him, so we left.” Jon points out.
“It was super easy to talk to him but, honestly I really didn’t feel that way about him.” I state
“Or maybe you’re not allowing yourself to feel that way because of douche licker.” Mason says.
“You need to just open up and let someone in that will treat you decent.” He says.
“I’m not saying it has to be Jesse, but you need to let someone make you feel special again so that you can open up and find someone new.” Mason explains.
“You more than anyone deserve to be happy.” He says. “But only you can allow that to happen, you have to want it.”
“I know and I want to open up but, I am so damn scared. I feel like I would be betraying him even though we are through if I opened up this soon.” I explain.
“But you aren’t.” Jason replies. “He betrayed you.”
“He treated you like you didn’t matter and cheated on you.” He says.
“You have nothing holding you back and never feel like you betrayed him because you were there with him and for him even when he wasn’t for you.” Jason says harshly.
“I know.” I stutter. “I still feel like I’m cheating on him.”
“Maybe it is because the breakup is so new or maybe it just still hasn’t completely sunk in yet.” I sob
“I don’t know what it is, but it made me feel like shit that I had so much fun with you on the way here, then again when I checked Jesse out.” I explain.
“It made me feel like I was doing something forbidden, even though I know I wasn’t.” I state.
“I get that.” Mason says rubbing my shoulder. “You guys were together a long time and it will be hard for a while.
“Just promise us that you will try and if the time comes that someone asks you out and you like them you will say yes.” Mason says with pleading eye.
“I promise that I will try.” I say
“That’s better than nothing.” Jon sighs.
“Let’s get our asses to bed.” Jon laughs. 4:30 is coming soon.”
We all head to our bedrooms. I get into my pj’s and curl up in the warm fluffy blanket that mom had put on the bed for me. She knew that I always get cold, so she made sure to put a warm blanket on the bed. God blessed me with the best mom and dad ever.
I lay there thinking about Jesse’s ass. Man was it nice. Not too large and not to small and it filled those damn wranglers like you wouldn’t believe. I had felt guilty and embarrassed when I realized what I had done. But it had been forever since I had seen a pair of wranglers filled out like that.
I close my eyes and try to sleep. I doze off and I start to dream. Jesse and I are down by the lake throwing our lines in the water prepared to go fishing. I sit down beside him on the dock that we decided to go fishing off. I am staring out over the water.
His large hand grabs mine and holds it. My body does something and before I can stop myself, I turn my head and he is looking at me. I move in close and kiss his big kissable lips. A low soft moan escapes his lips and I pull away shocked by what I had done.
I get up and run back up the doc toward the house. I run through the door to my bedroom and see Carson sitting on the edge of the bed. He is pissed off and he gets up coming toward me. He raises his hand and slaps me across the face calling me a whore.
“Get the fuck out.” he yells.
“Don’t you fucking come near me ever again.” He spits out
“You lying, cheating bitch.” He screams. “How the fuck could you do that to me?” He asks
“I have been nothing but good to you and you go and cheat on me.” He exclaims madder than ever
“You didn’t even have the decency to go away from our home, the one that we made together.” He demands
“The one that I never wanted but stuck with to make your selfish ass happy.” He bellars.
“What did you do?” He asked rhetorically.
“You went and cheated on me.” He says slapping me across the face once again.
“You, fucking bitch.” He screams. “I just can’t believe you.”
“I’m so sorry.” I weep. “I don’t know what came over me.”
“You are never home. He is always around.” I sob.
“He asked me to go fishing and why the hell not.” I say. “I love fishing, nothing was supposed to happen.”
“But it did.” I state. “You promised to never hit me but, you did.” I shout.
“It was one time.” I scream. “One fucking small peck on the lips and you did this.”
“we are fucking through, get your shit and get out.” I shout.
“Gladly you, fucking whore.” He screams as he packs his things.”
He walks out the door with suitcases in tow. He leaves the door wide open throwing the suitcases in the back of the truck. He gets in the driver’s side and skids away quickly. I walk inside and slam the door.
A few minutes later there is a knock at the door, and I swing the door open. Day walks in. He looks at the red marks on my face and touches them lightly. He then walks back out the door toward the main house where the gate is still closed and Carson it is diddling with the gate trying to open the rusty lock.
Dad goes to his truck and gets the old forty-five from its resting place in the back window. He lines it up and takes a shot. He hits the lock on the fence dead on. He then takes off running toward the fence and Carson runs back to the truck.
Dad gets there before Carson does and beats the living shit clean out of him. He picks him up off the ground and throws him in the truck. “You ever touch my little girl again you son of a bitch and I will kill you with my bare hands.” Dad says. “So fucking help me God.”
Dad turns loose of his shirt and slams the door. “Get the fuck off my property and don’t look back.” He threatens.
“Your bitch of a daughter cheats on me and this is what I get?” Carson asks.
“You would have been fine you piece of shit if you hadn’t hit her.” Dad yells.
“What did she go running to you and tell you that big bad Carson beat her up?” Carson ask sarcastically.
“NO, YOU PIECE OF SHIT, SHE DIDN’T HAVE TO THE PROOF IS RIGHT THERE ON HER CHEEK.” He shouts. “YOU DAMN NEAR SPLIT IT OPEN.”
“You’re full of shit old man I barely fucking touched her pussy ass and maybe if she wouldn’t have fucking cheated it wouldn’t have happened.” Carson retorts.
“Now that’s the pot calling the kettle black.” Dad shouts. “Real fucking rich coming from a cheating bastard like you.”
“I don’t know what the hell you are talking about you old ass mother fucker.” Carson shouts.
“I may be old, but I have eyes and I saw the two girls you brought home last week while she was working her ass off to put bacon on the table. Dad yells.
“Yeah, well I needed it from somewhere.” Carson laughs
“God knows she would rather slum it with the hired hand then give it to her successful husband who could give her the world. Carson says sarcastically.
“Sometimes success doesn’t equal love.” Dad says, “Sometimes the heart needs more, I will never know what the hell she seen in you in the first place.”
“Your nothing but a belly aching city bitch.” Dad yells.
“Now get your ass out of here before I shoot you with this here forty-five instead of the lock.” Dad says seriously.
Carson says nothing more throwing the truck into drive and peeling out throwing rocks in dad’s direction as he takes off out of the gate. Dad turns to me a disappointed look on his face and asks me if it was true that I kissed someone else. I shake my head yes and start to cry.  Dad pulls me into his shoulder stroking my hair letting me cry on his shoulder.
I am thrown awake by the loud beep coming from my phone. I look around and am lost at first as to where I am. Then I look around again and realize that I am in the home I was always meant to be. That I must have dreamt that entire thing. My eyes fill with tears.