Beneath the Country Sky

Chapter 4: Strains of Acceptance

A week had passed since Scarlette had reluctantly settled into life at the hacienda. Each day seemed to drag on, the monotonous rhythm of farm life wearing on her nerves. She still resisted everything about the countryside-the quiet, the simplicity, the lack of excitement she had once thrived on. But her grandmother was unrelenting, keeping her on a strict leash, constantly reminding her that this exile was her own doing.

On a hot, oppressive afternoon, Scarlette found herself standing at the edge of a vast rice field, the midday sun bearing down on her skin. The fields stretched endlessly before her, vibrant green stalks swaying lazily in the wind, while the murky water shimmered under the light. Farmworkers, their clothes drenched in sweat, were bent over in the knee-deep mud, pulling out weeds and checking for pests.

She wrinkled her nose in disgust at the scene. It all looked so filthy, so...primitive. Why anyone would willingly spend their time ankle-deep in mud was beyond her.

"Why are we here?" Scarlette grumbled, shading her eyes from the sun as she looked at Cooper, who was watching the workers with a casual ease she envied.

"We're checking on the irrigation system," Cooper replied, not bothering to look her way. He was focused on something far more important-the delicate balance of water flowing through the fields.

"Irrigation?" Scarlette echoed, unimpressed. "I thought you just, like, dumped water in here."

Cooper chuckled softly, shaking his head. "It's a bit more complicated than that." He paused for a moment, then gestured to the workers who had begun taking a break from the scorching sun. "Come on, let's take a closer look."

Scarlette frowned. She had hoped to avoid getting any closer to the mud, but Cooper was already walking down the path that led to the rice paddies. With a resigned sigh, she followed him.

As they approached the workers, a few of them straightened up, wiping sweat from their brows. Their weathered faces broke into smiles as they saw Cooper.

"Engineer!" one of them called out, waving a hand. "Good to see you!"

Scarlette blinked in surprise. Engineer?

She shot Cooper a sideways glance. "They call you Engineer?"

"Yeah," Cooper replied, his tone modest. "I studied Agricultural Engineering. Helped design the irrigation system for this farm and a few others in the province. It's more efficient now-less water wasted, better for the crops."

Scarlette was caught off guard. She had pegged Cooper as just another simple farmhand, someone who knew how to plow fields and haul sacks of rice. But this-engineering, efficiency, systems-this was unexpected.

For a brief moment, she felt a flicker of respect. Then, just as quickly, she squashed it.

"So you're the one keeping this place afloat, huh?" Scarlette said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "I'm sure my grandmother is so grateful."

Cooper gave her a pointed look but didn't rise to the bait. Instead, he turned his attention back to the workers, who were now seated under the shade of a nearby tree, enjoying their snack break. They were eating simple fare: chocolate moron, sticky and rich, alongside bananaque skewered on sticks. A jug of juice was passed around, and the workers laughed and chatted, relieved to be out of the sun, even if just for a moment.

Scarlette watched them, still trying to wrap her mind around the idea that Cooper wasn't just some farm boy. He had a degree, had designed something that helped keep the hacienda running smoothly. That wasn't the image she had of him.

"Want to give it a try?" Cooper suddenly asked, snapping her out of her thoughts.

"Give what a try?" Scarlette asked warily.