Finding Home

Chapter Thirteen

Devon left the next morning for work, for the next four days I will be on my own, which will give me plenty of time to figure out how I want the nursery and to knit a couple baby blankets.

Luckily, there were no storms foreseen for the next few weeks, which will make life easier for me. I can keep the animals out in the pastures during the day, at night they must be locked inside the barn.

There are too many wild animals that will stalk and kill them for food. My goats and pigs are too easy of a target.

For the next few days, I worked in the garden barn making sure everything was set for the winter months, and the meat shed was staying nice and cold. The pantry was set with my herbs drying and I made sun tea.

One of the things I knew Devon liked when he came home was a nice cold glass of tea with lemon in it. I made a few desserts that were his favorite. I always tried to spoil him a little bit when he was home.

I knew during the week he was away he was busy and hard at work, so this way he could relax and enjoy his time at home. He already put in for a month off when the baby was born.

We were both going to be first-time parents and he knew I would need the help adjusting to the new life we were about to have. Plus, it will be during the winter months.

Devon also was having a new house built for the men that would be helping around the farm. I wonder what kind of guys they were; I knew that Devon would not hire anyone that was not trustworthy.

I had too much invested in this place for something to go wrong. In two days, I will be meeting the ones he has already talked to and agreed to living all the way out here.

Devon made it home in the middle of the night, he liked walking in and seeing me sleeping. I would feel him slide into bed and pull me close to him and he would gently kiss my forehead then my lips letting me know he was home.

I would snuggle into him and fall back asleep till morning when I would wake up to him cooking breakfast and having my coffee ready for me. I loved this man more than words could say.

Every time he was off that first day, we would spend most of it in bed making love, watching movies, and enjoying each other's company, the other times we were outside working around the farm.

The next morning after breakfast a few of the guys started to arrive. Devon greeted them outside and talked with them for a few minutes before bringing them back to the barn where I was working with a few of my plants.

"Athena love, these are a few of the guys that I have hired to help you around this place, this is Derek, Tom and Darryle" he introduced them to me. I will say holy crap they are huge men.

I mean tall and built, what is in the water around here?

"Guys this is my girl Athena, this is her pride and joy, nothing is to be messed with or else" Devon said sternly. I saw the guy's nod in understanding.

"The house will be finished by the end of next week, which is when you guys can start since we have no place for you to sleep except the barn and I'm not sure if the animals will allow strangers in their area" Devon said chuckling.

He remembers how my two horses used to try to kick him every chance they got if he even got close to me.

"It's okay, we brought our tents and equipment to be able to live out in the woods until the house is ready," Tom said. He was the tallest of the three. He had to stand at least six foot five and the other two were not that much shorter than him.

"Are the three of you brothers?" I asked looking at them, "yes ma'am we are" Derek said smiling at me.

"Well since you are willing to sleep in the tents, I can offer breakfast, lunch and dinner and the bathroom" I offered. All three of the men smiled and agreed and each one thanked me for the generosity that I am giving them.

I had them put all their stuff in the corner of the garden barn, where it was clean enough for their stuff. "As you can see this is my garden barn where most seeds get planted out in the fields during the summer months, in here during that time the soil gets fertilized and tilled and made ready for fall and winter months where everything grows to sustain us" I said and saw them look around in awe.

That made me smile, I was extremely proud of myself and all the work I had put into this place. We walked to the main barn.

"Now I have four goats, two pigs and two horses, eventually I want to get more animals but for now these will do, they are never to be harmed they are basically my pets" I said looking at each one in the eyes.

They nodded and understood what I was saying.

I opened the door, "once you come in here, this main door is to be shut at all times and locked once you leave, there is no excuse as to why it would be open" I said, as Devon was the last one in, and he shut it.

"Now the feed is stored in the side room, and the hay in the loft overhead, they all get fed twice a day in their stalls, but the stalls remain open so they can come and go as they please.

The arena is their playground. I make sure their water troughs are cleaned daily and filled a couple times a day. There are wood shavings in one corner and the other side is the straw, both are used for their bedding in the winter.

Summertime they get a bit of hay, but their dirt is cleaned twice a day and fresh layer of straw is put down. The door to the pasture is opened in the morning after their meal and stays open till it is time for them to come in.

Their stalls and arena are to be cleaned every day after they are let out to pasture. I keep this open so they can come inside if they wish, the only time it is shut is at night and during a storm in the summer months and winter months it stays locked.

I cannot afford a predator to come in and kill my animals because someone got lazy" I said.

"Any questions?" I asked, "not from us, everything is well explained, and we all understand the routine and the need to keep everything safe and secure" Darryle said.

"Okay good, now let me show you the rest of the sheds and the garage where most of the tools and equipment are kept" I said as I started to walk that way.

Devon closed and locked the main door to the barn. He was following letting me take the lead, it was to let the guys know that I run this place my way, I oversee my home even though Devon and I share it.

He knew that for a woman to take charge, a man can does not interfere with what was going on.

After we went around and I showed them everything, I went in to cook lunch as Devon took them to a spot where they could set up camp, and after they were set, they could come up to the house for lunch if they so choose to.

Devon came inside and wrapped his arms around me and pulled my back into his chest, "you my love are a damn turn on when you take charge" he said as he kissed the side of my neck.

"Keep that up and lunch will be late" I said laughing as I turned around and kissed him.