The crowing of the rooster woke me bright and early. I sprung out of bed with the excitement of being home washing over me afresh. Last nights awkwardness was all forgotten. I was simply eager to get out there and dig into the activities of farm life.
I rushed through my morning routine and even made a mess of unpacking my bags in my eagerness to the day started.
When I finally made it to the kitchen I was just early enough to catch the tail wind of Jace's exit. The freshly brewed coffee was still hot in the pot. So I poured myself a cup then cut myself a slice of bread. I pulled out the jam and butter from the larder and spread a generous if unhealthy amout of each on my toast. Then I sank my teeth into the crisp crust and tasted heaven.
I sipped my hot coffee while I ate staring with unbridled eagerness for the outdoors. I wondered if all my old friends were still about. I recalled my horse, the calf I bottle fed and the chickens that used to peck at my feet... painfully.
In no time at all I trust open the back door and slammed my way out into the great outback.
The rolling lanscape spread flat out as far as the eyes could see. Bound up barrels of hay lay strewn across the mild slopes that made up the spread, littering the landscape with spots of cylinder masses. I did a little jiggle and hop of excitement. I haven't felt this way in years.
I didn't linger but made straight for the old barn where my beloved horses were homed. I lifted my pace to a ...skip... as I made my way to the great wooden structure that has stood the test of time and weathered the harsh climates of the outback.
"Gdday!"
I whrilled around in shock at that unfamiliar greeting. I was surprised to see an elderly man cock his wide brimmed stetson down at me in greeting. His was an unfamiliar face, the first of many I suspected. I didn't doubt when Jace mentioned his purchase of the neighbouring lands, that the little expansion he'd undertaken with the farm was anything but little. I suspected that this guy would be the first of many I would meet today.
I offered him my wide and friendly grin before I returned his greeting and introduced myself.
"Whom do I have the pleasure of speaking to?" I asked politely.
"Samuel Jacobs, I am the foreman here," saud Sam, sparing me an appreciative grin before ambling off towards the barn, his gait slow and sure.
I stretched out to follow in his wake. "So you been here long?" I asked again wanting to know more.
"Been here four years now," he muttered quietly before unlocking the barn door and hefting it open. I went forward immediately to help out.
"You here for good?" asked Sam surprising me back to present as I got took in a deep breath and got a whiff of the soiled hay and musty barn that sent me spiralling into the past. I shot him a happy face and said blithely, not getting his intention, "Nope, I'm just a guest for a while." I paused then to recall what brought me here, Eric. He and the city seemed so far away, as if it was another world altogether.
I couldn't believe it. With a sudden clarity of thought, I couldn't believe I'd done all that I have in the years since I left the farm. I did so much. Saw most of the world even. And I even did, Eric. The pace I had been living had been fast and furious. A pace that had been frantic even grasping at every opportunity to move up to accomplish more, to earn more but to what end. I felt my eyes water at all that wasted time when I could have been having my own family or even just some mee time. I threw away all those years and now I had nothing to show for it but a bank balance that was miserly. The impact of living beyond my means to maintain that successful image that became all important as my next breath. I shook my head in disgust. Disgusted that I had let that happened to me. Disgusted that I had no appreciation of my worth and allowed myself to be reduced down to a petty corporate climber. Striving for an excellence that meant nothing. Then there was my feelings for Eric, was that part of the show too? Did I really have feelings for him? Or was this part of the ride a power trip that boosted my ego and made me strive for what I didn't want and didn't need.
I didn't know ... but at least now I knew just what I had to spend my days here figuring out.
I thought back to Eric and his strong muscular frame and his wicked smile. I had to admit there was more to my infatuation with Eric. It hadn't been all about me there. A lot of it had to do with Eric himself. He was hot! He was beyond hot! Just as...
My gaze settled on the lone figure striding confidently towards me. His jeans riding low on his sexy hips. He'd already whipped off his shirt and now only wore his sleeveless stretchy t-shirt that contoured his torso so lovingly that it was all I could do to hold back and simply stare.
I sighed with pleasure at the sight he made and cursed my stupidity for ever coming back here.
