Wrapped around your finger - Post Malone

16

"See how that pole has been pushed over," Austin says pointing a fence pole that is lying flat in the grass. "One of the heffers wandered off this morning. Heffers have 300° vision, they can see everything except what is directly behind them. We approached from the front but she backed up into the pole," Austin explains. "Well why did you just not come up from behind her then? She would not have seen you coming," Hazel counters. Austin huff's a laugh then jumps off his horse and looks up at her. "Approaching from directly behind a heffer is very dangerous. Its natural reaction is to kick toward the unseen danger. Don't ever stand directly behind a heffer," he says and raises his brow, questioning if she heard him. "Ok, I won't," she whispers back. She can't help the boost of Serotonin in her veins knowing that Austin cares whether or not she gets kicked in the face by a heffer or not. She turns in the saddle to start getting down but suddenly feels Austin's hands on her sides so she lets go and falls into his arms. Sweet baby pickles, that man has her body captivated. She will need to have a chat with Cathy when they get back to the house.

Austin puts her down on the ground but does not let go of her straight away, instead, he lingers for a bit and Hazel uses it to her advantage by turning around quickly to face him. Austin's eyes flick to her lips then back to her eyes. His brain seems to slow down then comes back to life and he lets go of her. "Let's get to work, we are losing daylight," he says untying a shovel and a toolbox from behind the saddle. He hands Hazel the shovel then takes it back after frowning at her. "Gloves, woman," he says and walks off to the pole. Hazel takes her gloves out of the saddle bag and puts them on then runs off to catch up with Austin, grabbing the shovel when she does. Austin lets go of the shovel then bends down and inspects the pole as does Hazel. "I ain't no rancher, but this here pole is darn tootin broken, partner," Hazel says placing a long blade of grass in her mouth and leaning against a tree. Austin stands and reaches over, grabbing the blade of grass and tossing it on the ground. "You watch too many movies. Go back to the horse and get an axe out of the right back saddle bag," he instructs.

Hazel does as he said and comes back with a fold-up axe. "This thing is like a pocket knife, but like a pocket axe. If I was an axe murderer I would get one of these. It's easy to conceal, lightweight, and compact, and that way you could carry more than one so if one breaks you always have a spare. It's just good planning really," she says handing the axe to Austin. He takes it but gives her a pointed look. "You talk a lot," he says then turns and walks off into a busy area. Hazel follows him. "Not really. Not more than most people. Besides, you are not much of a conversation starter so I feel I-" Hazel stops talking when Austin grabs the handle of the axe with both hands, spreads his legs apart, lifts the axe, and then lets it swing with all his might into a tree with a trunk the size of the broken pole. She watches as he lifts his arms and lets the axe swing again and again. She watches how his back heaves with each strike and how his muscles pull and constrict with each clean slam of his axe. It only takes him five swings for the tree to creak and then snap and fall to the ground. Austin turns to her and smirks. "What? Cat got your tongue there, darlin'?" he asks then turns back to the tree. Shit.

He uses the axe to clean the excess branches and then cuts the trunk to the same size as the broken pole. "Here," he says passing her the axe and then he bends to pick up the pole. All his muscles strain and the bulge. It must be Hazel's birthday - so many gifts. She purposely walks behind him back to the broken pole. He throws his newly cut pole on the ground then rummages around in the toolbox and pulls out a hammer thing with a two-pronged hook on one side. "Come here, darlin'," he says. Hazel drops everything she was carrying and comes closer to him. He points at the old pole then hooks the hook hammer through a nail and pulls it out releasing one of the fence wires. "All these need to come out - that's your job," he says handing her the hook hammer. That's an easy job. She leans down, hooks a nail, and pulls. It does not budge so she pulls a little harder and it still does not budge. So she looks over at Austin who is busy filling in the hole with soil. She can't deal with that so she turns her back to him, places her foot on the pole, and pulls with all her might but still, it does not budge. Fuck, Austin pulled it out like it was nothing. She keeps trying though and after a while, all she has to show for her efforts is a bucket full of frustration and a sweat-wet shirt.

Then Austin's hand wraps around hers and her heart stops. "It's all in the wrist, darlin'. See, like this," he says and moves the hook hammer making her wrist turn in a way she had not tried to do before and the nail pops off easily, releasing the second fence wire. She moves to the third nail and flicks her wrist as Austin had shown her and the nail also pops off easily. She finishes her assignment within seconds. Once done she turns to Austin and he gives her a nod of the head. Approval at its finest. He then picks up the pole and throws it in the hole. "Hold this," he says to Hazel and she throws down the hook hammer to hold the pole straight for him then he packs stand around it. Hazel has to look away - she is not fairing well with the amount of flexing and straining Austin's muscles are doing. Could she ensure a pole is broken every day? There must be a way, she will ask Tina.

Eventually, Austin is done and he stands then points to the toolbox. "There are nails in there, I need them," he says then picks up the hook hammer. Hazel gets the nails and hands them to Austin. "Thank you. Now. Hold the fence wire against the pole," he says and when Hazel does he hammers it into the pole so it is tight and sturdy - more flexing muscles, Hazel needs to go back to her room where she has a magic wand. Austin nails the last nail in the fence post and Hazel is relieved that her torment and pain are finally over. "You went quiet," Austin comments as he packs up the tools they used to fix the fence. "It's hot," Hazel mumbles and leans against the horse. Austin chuckles then fishes a flask out of one of the saddle bags, takes a long sip and then hands it to Hazel. She is grateful for the cold water but all she can think is that her lips are where his lips were.