Wrapped around your finger - Post Malone

42

Hazel is awake before her alarm sounds at 5:30am. Geez, what is Austin playing at? He will have her wake up at midnight soon. She rolls over and buries her head in Christmas Dinner's feathers as she cuddles into him. She might be getting a little too attached to the fat turkey. Last night she had followed Austin back to the house. Mr. Post had been waiting at the kitchen table for them, two plates of hot food. They had eaten and then she had watched Austin walk up the stairs and slip into his daughter's room. Hazel had figured a long talk was about to ensue so she had showered and climbed into her bed. Part of her had hoped Austin would show up in her doorless doorway - but he had not.

She gets out of bed, the house is quiet so she supposes she is alone - everyone is already out on the ranch. She dresses and then walks downstairs but stops as she looks into the living room. Evelyn is lying on the floor, spread out on her back like a starfish and still in her pajamas. "What are you still doing here?" she asks. Evelyn sighs then rolls over onto her stomach and looks at Hazel. Then sighs again. "I have no hat," she says then rolls back onto her back and spreads out into a starfish again, another sigh coming from her chest. "Having no hat means she is grounded. She can't work the land," Linda says coming up behind Hazel. Hazel sits down next to Evelyn and rolls her eyes. "Well, that's not so bad. You get a day off, a day just to chill. That sounds like a pretty good punishment if you ask me," Hazel says. Evelyn rolls back onto her stomach and gives Hazel a dirty look. Then she sits up and frowns at her. Oops, she has clearly offended her. "I am a rancher. I need my hat. I have heifers and calves that rely on me," she says then stands. "A day to chill...honestly," she says then stamps out. Hazel stands with a chuckle - she is so much like her father it's almost insane.

"Where are you going?" Linda asks as Evelyn starts climbing the stairs. "To my room, I might as well just go back to bed," Evelyn grumbles. "You may not have your hat but your father will never accept laziness in this house, miss Evelyn," Linda says. "I don't care!" Evelyn raises her voice to her. "Evelyn," Hazel warns her sternly. Hazel knows she has no right to discipline Evelyn but her mouth was open before her brain was. Evelyn stops and turns, looking at Hazel with her lips pursed. "Apologise to Linda for being impolite then come down here and help her prepare breakfast for when the men get back," Hazel says keeping her voice stern. She expects Evelyn to roll her eyes and stamp her foot, even scream that she is not her mother. But she doesn't. Instead, she walks back down the stairs slowly and stands in front of Linda. "I am sorry, ma'am," she says softly. Linda wraps her in her arms and hugs her. "Thank you. I know it is hard but your father always has your best interests at heart even when he is teaching hard lessons," Linda says softly. Evelyn nods and wipes her cheeks then follows Linda into the kitchen.

"The washing needs hanging, dishes need washing, beds need making, wood needs collecting, chickens need feeding, eggs need collecting as well as the pail of milk needs fetching. Then we start on breakfast," Linda says. Both Hazel and Evelyn nod and get started on her list. It's a lot of work but it gets done pretty quickly with three sets of hands and by the time they start breakfast Evelyn is back to her sweet little self. Giggling and talking about how she is excited about her new calves who are not far off from being born. Hazel notices that her nail polish has started chipping so when they are done cooking and Evelyn goes outside to sit on the kitchen porch steps she goes up to her room and gets the nail polish and nail polish remover then joins her. It may be selfish but Hazel is thankful she got her hat taken off her because moments like this with Evelyn, sitting on these steps while she paints her nails as Evelyn tells her about her friends from school or the plans she has for the future of Cootenwood ranch or the times her father took her camping up the mountain or the time he even took her to the beach, are moments that Hazel will hold onto for a lifetime. She loves Evelyn already, she will always love Evelyn - that's just how it is.

All too soon though they hear the stamping of hooves as Austin and his cowboys arrive back home. Evelyn jumps off the stairs and runs to her father before he even manages to halt Lightning. "Are my heifers ok? Did you check the calves? All of them, especially Henry, he has a funny hoof. Did you feed them? And lulu likes to be patted when you feed her. So I hope you patted her? Is there enough feed for the heifers? Because if not then we need to look at moving them," Evelyn rattles off as Austin dismounts Lightning and then walks over to Hazel at the kitchen steps. "Morning, darlin'," he mumbles and kisses her on her cheek then walks up the steps with Evelyn hot on his heels, still rattling off questions. He toes off his boots and goes inside, Evelyn behind him. By the time Hazel goes in all the cowboys are seated, Evelyn too - but she is still battling off questions. As soon as Hazel sits they all start eating, except Evelyn.

"And Tank? He needs extra food, the little greedy monster, and-"

"Hush now, my heart."

Evelyn stops talking but does not eat as she looks at her father. "Your heifers and calves are fine. They have been tended by your men...and you are right, Tank is greedy," he says. Evelyn looks a little unsure but then gives her father a sharp nod and starts eating. The cowboys start chatting and laughing and soon the kitchen turns into a bustling hub. "I need things from town," Austin says to Hazel. Hazel nods, "give me the list," she says. Austin shakes his head, "I will go with you this time," he says. "May I come?" Evelyn asks. "You may...but without your hat," he says. Evelyn opens her mouth to protest but then shuts it. "Yes, sir," she says and goes back to eating.