My Cowboy Prince

Chapter 6

The morning light that filters through the cracks in the barn's wooden walls cast a warm, golden glow over the dusty floor. Luke and I are already inside dressed in overalls with wooven baskets in our hand. The soft clucking of hens fill the air as we swipe eggs from their messy nests. The strong earthy scent of the stacked hay and fresh straw nearby is surprisingly comforting.

"Careful with that one, City Girl," Luke teases. I can feel his eyes on me as I gingerly lift an egg from a nest. "Don't want to break it before we even get to the kitchen."

I smile, feeling a little more confident than I did yesterday. "I've got it, Cowboy. No broken eggs on my watch."

Luke chuckles, the sound echoes softly in the barn. "You're gettin' the hang of this pretty quick. Might have turned ya into a farm girl."

"Oh yeah?" I shoot a soppy smile his way to which he nods earnestly. The light blue in his orbs seem to light up as we hold each other gaze for a second. Gulping softly I look away from the intense gaze and to a curious barn cat that is weaving through my legs. I glance down at the little fellow, he seems to be hoping for a stray morsel or a bit of my attention. I can't tell which.

"So, what's next on your itinerary?" I take up another egg and place it into the basket along with others.

"After this, breakfast then we'll head over to the stables and check on the horses," Luke replies, his tone is casual but with a hint of excitement. He really never gets tired of this and I am starting to see why. "Gotta make sure they're fed and groomed."

I nod, looking forward to spending some time with the horses. There's something calming about their presence, and I'm eager to learn more about them.

We finish collecting the eggs and head up to the house. As we walk, Luke playfully nudges me, and I nudge him back causing both of us to laugh. By the time we reach the house, I am in high spirits, enjoying the camaraderie. My heart flutters at the fact. It's crazy because I've only known this man for like two days now but somehow it feels like a lifetime. It's so easy to get along with him.

We step inside the house, the cool interior is a welcome contrast to the warm morning. In the lobby-like area, we greet Wendie, the friendly receptionist who always has a smile for everyone.

"Morning, Wendie," Luke says, tipping his hat in her direction. Gosh, he's such a charmer.

"Morning, you two," Wendie replies with twinkling eyes. Her attempt to not only regard Luke is pitiful but I smile back at her nonetheless. "Looks like you've been busy."

"Yep, got a good haul today," I hold up my basket of eggs.

"That's great to hear." The woman says. "Breakfast is almost ready in the kitchen. You two better get a move on."

We nod and make our way to the kitchen, where the comforting aroma of sizzling bacon greets us. My stomach growls at the scent. Grandma Bea is at the stove, tending to the bacon and eggs, while fresh bread seem to be  baking in the oven. Her homemade cooking is truly one of a kind, it's different than what I am use to but it's quite delicious nonetheless.

"Morning, Grandma Bea," Luke says, setting his basket of eggs on the counter.

"Mornin', you two," Grandma Bea replies, her Texan accent is really warm and inviting. She makes you feel right at home. "How was the egg collecting?"

"It was fun," I say, placing my basket next to Luke's. I look over at the man with a teasing smile. "No broken eggs."

"Well, that's good to hear," Grandma Bea says with a small smile tugging at her lips. "Why don't you two wash up and then help me finish breakfast?"