Bailey's Comet

Ch. 3 - It's Physical, Only Logical

TW for small mentions of child abuse/neglect. There's no detail, just mentions of it. Also there's a little bit of blood from an injury.

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"Are you excited to go back to the ranch, Britta?" Toni asks as she drives the young girl to the Blossom Ranch. "You really seemed to enjoy it on Monday."

Britta nodded. "Yeah, it was fun. Miss Blossom seems nice. And the horses are pretty."

"Yeah," Toni agreed with a smile. But it wasn't just the horses that were pretty.

They were soon pulling up to the Blossom Ranch, finding Cheryl waiting for them on her front steps, just like she had on Monday. Sitting next to the redhead was the pair of muck boots Britta had worn a few days before, as well as two thermoses.

Toni smiled to herself as she opened the truck door, knowing full well what beverages were waiting for them. Before getting out, she grabbed the jacket Cheryl had let her borrow, to return it. She was a bit sad to return it, if she was being honest.

Despite the jacket smelling vaguely like a barn, it also smelled like roses. It was also extremely warm and comfortable. She hoped she got to wear it again one day.

"Morning ladies," Cheryl smiled at the duo as she stood from her seat on the steps. "I've got hot chocolate for Britta and coffee for Toni," she said as she lifted both thermoses, handing them to their rightful drinker.

"Thank you, Miss Blossom."

"Britta, please call me Cheryl. Miss Blossom is what people call my mother."

Britta giggled. "Thank you, Cheryl."

Toni took a sip of the hot beverage, while Britta enjoyed her own. "Wow, this is..."

"Perfect, I hope?" Cheryl asked nervously. "I was sure I saw you add brown sugar and quite a bit of cream the last time," she chuckled at the last part.

"Yeah, it's perfect," Toni responded quietly. She wasn't expecting Cheryl to remember what she had put in her coffee. Hell, she wouldn't expect anyone to remember from one visit. "Here's your jacket back, by the way." Toni extended her arm to hand the redhead the jacket.

"Oh, thanks." Cheryl chuckled nervously. "You could have kept it a bit longer, if you needed. I've got plenty here." She set the jacket on the porch railing, leaving it for later.

Toni looked at the jacket, already missing the scent of roses and the softness of the wool.

"Well, we should get to the barn," Cheryl suggested. Britta took off in a run to the barn, obviously excited to hang out with the horses. "So, how long are you staying today?"

"Probably just an hour or so. I have some houses and apartments to look at. Betty actually gave me a list."

Cheryl walked next to the slightly shorter woman with a smirk on her face.

"Why are you smirking?" Toni asked with a chuckle as she turned her head to look at Cheryl.

"It's nothing, I'm just...not surprised that Betty gave you a list. It's definitely her M.O. Did you know her before you started this job?"

"Sort of, yeah. We met at a party in college and just stayed friends. We sort of bonded over our similar interests."

Cheryl nodded in understanding. "Criminology and social work. Makes sense." As they stepped into the barn, they saw that Britta was already scooping oats and pellet feed into buckets. "Someone's excited," Cheryl laughed, startling the young girl.

Britta looked at the two women as if she were in trouble. Britta immediately dropped the scoop she was holding and held her hands behind her back. "I'm sorry, Miss Blo- Cheryl. I was just trying to help."