Fate

Chapter 5: A Hard Day's Work

After swallowing hard, I rush out of the back door, where Tris has already exited. I see she's already in ranch- looking clothes: flannel shirt, jeans, boots. I suddenly wonder if I'll have to be doing any unpleasant work in just my tennis shoes.

"So, I hope you've already seen the barn, and the other buildings. 'Cause this is where you'll be most of the day." She looks back at me and smiles a small, fleeting smile that reaches her eyes and stays there. "You'll generally just be mucking stalls, cleaning up around the barn, mowing the grass, tending to the fences. That kind of thing. You won't be doing anything directly handling the horses considering you've never been around them before." When she looks back at me I just nod, though I'm trying to conceal my small smirk. They way Tris talks as though she commands the place -and she might-despite the fact that she's so small is somehow intriguing yet it's almost comical, until you see the fire in her eyes.

Tris stops walking and turns back around to me. "Any questions?"

I shake my head. "Nope." She smiles at me and I smile back, uncertainly. "Then let's get started."

I walk in the house with Tris three hours later. Tris is barely even sweating, as if we didn't just work outside for the past three hours. But she'd be used to it, I suppose. At first Tris was doing everything with me, so I could get a feel for it. We mucked out the stalls first and then I helped her catch the horses and bring them in. To my surprise she told me to brush them off with her, despite her previous statement saying I would have no direct interaction with the horses. But I was glad I got to be with her; something about Tris, even in a barn full of horses, is just so alive, and so beautiful.

However after I finished brushing the horses, Tris saddled two of them and let the rest go. Soon Caleb came out and they rode off together, doing whatever it is they do. I was left to fill water buckets, dump the now full bucket of horse poop, and sweep. To my surprise, time went by fast, as did the sweat dripping off my face like water.

I sigh as I take my seat next to Tris and Mrs. Prior around the dinner table. Immediately small talk about school and horses picks up and I tune out and enjoy the marvelous food. However soon I'm addressed with silence that seems to be full of waiting air. Tris kicks my foot under the table.

"Uh, sorry. What'd you say?" I say, realizing someone was talking to me. Mr. Prior clears his throat and repeats himself.

"How long are you planning on staying here? Do you have any plans?" Tris turns to me as if sensing my tension but I start talking before she has the chance to open her mouth.

"Well, sir, I'm not exactly sure. I don't exactly have any plans, or much of anything else either, except a broken down car and some cash."

Mrs. Prior cuts in before her husband has the chance to respond. "Well that doesn't matter, you'll be welcome to stay here as long as you need. We can go fix up your car. In fact, we've been in need of a ranch hand, so if you'd be willing to stay- you could stay in the loft in the barn, if you don't mind- we'd be able to feed you and pay you, not much of course. But that is if you're willing to stay and work?"

I'm repeatedly awed at the kindness of these people, and this is no exception. With out any other thought I reply, "Of course, I'd be willing to work for as long as you'd want me." I can't keep the smile off my face, and I glance sideways at Tris and see she has a small, but apparent, expression of delight.

"Great." Mrs. Prior beams at me in a smile that resembles her daughter's. "We could contact any family if you'd like." Even though I try very hard to hide any outward sign of discomfort, Tris seems to notice something's off and glances at me.

"That won't be necessary." I manage to say with out any waver in my voice. If Marcus ever found out about any of this, I wouldn't put it below him to come very near killing me.

"Fantastic. Who wants dessert?"

That night, as I'm moving my stuff- meaning my small bag of belongings- out of the guest room and into the loft, I sense, more than see Tris come up next to me.

"How are you liking it here?" She asks me in a soft, pleasant voice. It's soothing, her voice, the way it's not high like other girls, but quite and pleasant. Soft when she wants to be, but I imagine she could sharpen it to resemble the blade of a dagger if she chose to.

Before I get completely lost in my head I remember to respond, thankfully. "It's great here. So different from the city... but I like that."

"Great." She says, and looks at me. I can see her big eyes, grey now, reflecting to moon; beautiful. "I hope you'll want to stay for a while." She blushes and looks down at her hands, seeming to be flustered. "I mean.. you know- so you could help out, as a ranch hand." Her lie is smooth, but I have practice detecting them. But I don't know what she'd be lying about.

I smile at her in reply. She smiles back, a small delicate smile.

"So, will you be coming to school with me tomorrow?" I hear hope in her voice, like earlier. I look down at her. "Definitely," I reply.

"Good." She beams up at me. "Well, you're gonna need some sheets and blankets for you bed. I'll go get you some, wait here."

And I do. I watch as she recedes into the night, towards her house. I feel drawn towards her, in a strange way I've never felt before. But somehow I like it. Somehow, already, I feel a connection forming inside of me for the small girl with eyes as bright as bright as the moon.

So there is chapter 5! Hope you liked it. It was kinda a filler chapter but that's fine. Next chapter will be school and chapter 7 is gonna be good... so wait for the update! Please veiw and let me know what you think, any ideas, comments, recomendations you have. I'd love to get some suggestions for ideas. Also do y'all want me to do some of Tris POV? I don't know? But please comment :)

Until next time

-annades49800