Take me Home Country Roads (Formally Unbreak My Heart)

Chapter Five:Learnin New Things

*** Jon’s point of view***
“Damn this is harder than I thought it would be.” Jon says wiping the sweat from his brow as he hooks up the last cow to the milking machine.
“Gracie made it look super easy when she showed us how to hook it up.” He states.
“Yeah, she used to do it all the time before that asshole stole her away from us.” Bryan scowls.
Bryan is a man that doesn’t look much older than the rest of us. He seems to have known Graciela for a while though. I wonder what the story is with that.
“So,” I ask. “How long have you known Gracie?”
“Since we were kids.” Bryan says
“My dad Phil has worked here since I was three and Gracie was two.” Bryan explains.
“I see so you know her well then?” I ask
“Yeah, to tell you the truth I never understood what she say in that prissy ass momma’s boy.” Bryan shrugged.
“How is it that I have known Gracie since we were small, and I never knew you?” I ask Bryan.
“Well, I used to only spend time with my dad when he was off for the day or when I had school breaks.” Bryan shrugs.
“I guess we just missed each other.” I say.
“Yeah, when I was young my mom resented my dad for taking this job even though it paid well.” Bryan says.
“So, in result she left him, because she didn’t want to be married to a grown man who was a farm hand.” Bryan sighs.
“Looking back now I realize that he was living a very happy life.” Bryan says.
“Life here is very fulfilling and I am proud of everything I own; I have worked hard for every bit of it.” Bryan says
“Yeah, this is the first time that I have actually put in real hours here.” I say.
“I guess I didn’t really understand why it was so critical for Gracie to be home at certain times for chores and things before.” I sigh.
“I kind of thought when we got older it was because she found out that I was gay and didn’t want to be seen around me.” I chuckled.
“Then again she was always really sweet to me so, I figured I must have gotten that part wrong.” I laugh.
“Yeah, Gracie didn’t care when she found out that I was bi, she never treated me different or even acted like she cared.” Bryan smiled
“Nope she is so gosh dern amazing, I don’t know what I ever did that made her be my friend, but I am glad I did whatever it was.” I smile.
“We are blessed that is for sure, I’m so glad she is back.” Bryan chuckled
“Life around here has been boring without her.” Bryan giggles.
“We used to do so much dumb shit but, you will have to ask her about that.” Bryan says.
“Well, we are all done here.” I say. “What’s next?”
“We let these girls all out to pasture and go find Justin for further instructions.” Bryan huffs.
“Alright, is there somewhere they store water or something?” I ask
“I finished the bottle that I brought with me.” I explain.
“Oh yeah.” Bryan says lifting up a small water jug. “Have some of this.”
“If you are going to be here long you might want to invest in one of these.”
“I think that is what Gracie was trying to tell me about and I was only half listening.” I admit.
“I was kind of distracted at the time she was telling me about whatever was under the cabinet in the house.” I laugh.
“Happens to the best of us that’s for sure.” Bryan laughs.
“Yeah, I guess that’s true.” I smile.
We head back to the old barn that we had gotten our original orders. There is a small office in the back of the barn Bryan walks over and gently taps on the door. No one answers then I look at the small cork board by the door and there is a note for Bryan and me.
Boys,
After you are done go clean up and see if you can help Sarah with anything. She wasn’t feeling the best this morning so we may be on our own for dinner.
Thanks Justin.
“I guess we go check in with Sarah.” Bryan chuckles. “I can’t cook for shit so I hope someone can.”
“I can make some chicken Noodle Soup.” I say
“If she is feeling bad that might help her.” Bryan smiles.
“Yeah, that is what I was thanking, and it is hearty and will fill us all up quite nicely.” I smile.
We head to the house and I knock on Sarah’s door. She answers but barely. I walk in slowly and I move over to her bed. Her cheeks are red, but her face is pale. I place my hand on her forehead and she is burning up.
“Sarah honey have you taken any meds for this fever?” I ask worried.
“No, I couldn’t find any, I looked but I couldn’t read the labels my eyes are to blurry.” Sarah says with a raspy voice.
“Okay do you mind if I go look for some, you are burning up.” I say
“Go ahead dear there are some personal things in there but nothing too bad.” Sarah coughed.
“That’s fine, I’m a big kid.” I smile.
I walk into the bathroom in the medicine cabinet there are a lot of odds and ins I finally find the fever reliever and I take her two. I bring the thermometer just to make sure that the fever isn’t too high. I take it and it is 101.4 which is high but, not high enough to go to the hospital for.
I hand her the two pills and a glass of water. Then I put a warm cloth over her forehead. I notice a cough, so I go to the kitchen and slice up and onion. I go back to her room and grab a pair of socks and put the onion in the bottom of the socks and slide them on her feet.
“Can I get you anything else?” I ask quietly.
“No thank you my dear boy.” She coughs. “Thank you for all that you have done, I will cook dinner in a few minutes.”
“No ma’am I will cook dinner and you will stay in bed.” I say sternly.
“I will bring you up some when it is finished, now try and get some sleep.” I whisper putting a fresh towel on her head.
I look around the kitchen to see what all I will need from the store. I notice that we have mostly everything so I text Gracie to see if she would run to the store. She texts that she is already in town and asks me to text her a list which I do.
I start putting the things that I have already together. I mix it all up and start the fire under the pot. I let it simmer and about ten minutes later Gracie walks through the door carrying some bags. I walk to her and take them from her hands kissing her cheek.
“Hello honey, I’m glad you’re home.” I chuckle.
“How’s my mom?” Gracie asks
“She was feeling pretty shitty, her temp was 101.4 I gave her some Tylenol.” I say
“She said she couldn’t read the labels on the bottle because her eyes were blurred.” I state.
“I put some onions in her socks to help with the cough.” I smile.
“I think that it is the flu.” I shrug but I don’t know for sure.
“Thank you for helping her out she would have tried to get up and do it even though she feels terrible if it weren’t for you.” Gracie smiles and gives me a big hug.
“Oh, trust me she insisted she was going to do it,” I giggle “I had to use my stern Jon voice to convince her not too.”
“Oh, shit you used the stern voice with our sweet Sarah?” Mason asks.
“Yeah, she is feeling terrible and thought she was going to get up and cook for us.” I explain.
“So, I had to pull out stern Jon.” I explain.
“I haven’t checked on her in a little while can someone chop up the carrots and onions and throw them in the pot?” I ask.
“On it.” Graciela says.
She begins to chop up the vegetables. I go into Sarah’s room and check her temp. It is now 99.3 and she has some of her color back. The cough seems to have lessened and she seems to be resting well. I carefully replace the cloth and then leave the room.
“How is she?” Justin asks as I leave their room.
“Her temp Is down, and she is resting comfortably.” I say
“The cough seems to have calmed down.” I smile.
“Thank you, son for taking such good care of her, I wouldn’t have known what to do.” Justin says.
“It’s my pleasure, you guys allowed me to stay here and plus she is the sweetest person besides Gracie that I have ever met.” I declare.
“Do you think I need to call the doctor?” Justin asks
“No, I think it is the flu.” I utter.
“Generally, it just has to run its course and then she will feel better.” I explain.
“We had a bunch of flu cases when I worked at the hospital, so I know what to look for.” I express
“I promise you if I see anything out of the ordinary, I will get her there myself, but for now she is okay.” I reply.
“Okay, I’m trusting you to take good care of my wife, if she isn’t feeling better tomorrow, I want you to come in and take care of her.” Justin informs me.
“Sure, no problem.” I say. “Just let Gracie know and I will be glad to help her out.”
“Thank you again.” Justin says.
“I think I’m going to head to bed and try to sleep.” He smiles.
“Um, you should probably sleep on the couch tonight.” I say.
“She is still contagious if it is the flu.” I explain.
“I hadn’t even thought of that.” He says.
“It has been a while since I have slept on the couch, I try to be a good boy so that I don’t have too.” He winks.
“I know but it is safer that way.” I laugh.
“Do you want me to wake you when the soup is done?” I ask
“what kind are you making?” Justin asks
“My Grammys Chicken and Noodle Soup.” I smile.
“Yeah, if you would that would be great.” Justin smiles back.
“No problem.” I say.
I go to the kitchen and check on the soup. I do a taste test and it is perfect. It has flavor but not enough to make Sarah feel worse than she already does. I sit down at the table with everyone else.
“So, if Sarah isn’t feeling better tomorrow, I am going to stay in and help her out.” I say to Mason.
“That’s good, I’m glad there is a plan in place just in case.” Mason says.
“Me too.” Gracie smiles. “I was pretty worried because I can’t remember the last time mom was sick.”
“She will be okay you know that I won’t let anything happen to her.” I mutter.
“As soon as the soup is done, I’m going to take her some tea with honey and some of the soup.” I explain.
“Thank you, Jon, I don’t know what I would do without you.” Gracie sobs hugging me tight.
“Your welcome.” I say wrapping her up tightly in my arms.
About an hour later the soup is finally done. I pour a cup of tea and put in some honey and put that and a bowl of soup on a bed tray. I bring the tray to Sarah and wake her and have her sit up.
“Do you need me to help you eat the soup?” I ask patiently.
“No, thank you.” I say, “I think I can do it.”
She brings the spoon to her mouth and gives it a slow soft blow to cool it off. She eats spoonful after spoonful.
“This soup is delicious.” She smiles.
“It is my Grammys recipe.” I say.
“She made me this every time I was sick, it always made me feel better.” I chuckle.
“For some reason though I kept dreaming I was eating onion.” She sighs.
“The taste is still there.” She proclaims.
“Well, I did put onions in your socks to help with the cough which it seems to have done.” I exclaim.
“My nana used to do that when we would get a cold, I wish I would have thought about that last night when I kept Justin awake with the cough.” She replies.
“He is napping right now as soon as we are done here, I will get him a bowl that way he can get some rest.” I inform her.
“Thank you, you are the sweetest.” She smiles.
Sarah finishes her soup and tea. I check to make sure her cup is full and then I leave. I let her know that I will check in just before I head to bed and will get her more pain reliever. She smiles and lays back down and is fast asleep before I leave.
I wake Justin up and we all head to the kitchen. I wash my hands and dry them then sit the pot on the table. They eat and eat. Making sure that I know that I did a good job. When everyone is done there is just enough to save for Sarah for tomorrow. I put it in a container and put it in the refrigerator.
Mason and Jason are at the sink doing the dishes. They are laughing and screwing around like every time they do the dishes. Only this time they seem more carefree and much happier. Their smiles are hole and genuine. I haven’t seen them this happy since I first met Jason.