Dancing

Ch. 8

I woke up on my own to light gently streaming into the room. Reality flooded back to me. I went with Tex back to his herd and I don't know where that is. I sat up just before there was a light knock at the door. I laid back down. The door opened. The same guy that was talking with Tex last night about the bruise eased his head in.

"How are you this morning?" He asked. "Alright." I answered. "May I come closer to you?" He asked. "Yeah." I answered. He opened the door and moved closer. "Mind if I check the bruise?" He asked. "No." I answered. I laid down completely. He came around to my right side and moved the covers.

A hand rested on my back as I felt another hand touch right below the bruise. "Might need to start putting that cream on it now so it'll heal faster." He said. I sighed. The hand that was on my back started massaging it. I sighed and relaxed into it.

"Mind if you start helping us out with the garden?" He asked. "No." I answered. "I'll let you get get dressed. I'll meet you in the living room." He said then left the room while closing the door. I found some shorts and a tee shirt of mine before opening the door.

I walked barefoot out of the bedroom and down the hall. The guy was waiting with what looked like a breakfast bar and a bottle of water. He held them both out to me. I ate the bar with him watching and drank half of the bottle.

He then led the way out of the house and to the garden. I finished the water bottle off and saw what they already were doing. Some of the dirt was already tilled up with the gate open. I stepped through it and when my bare feet touched the dirt I had to dig my toes into it. "Dude get that thing away from me!" One of the guys said. "It's a harmless worm!" The one holding it said.

They had the entire place tilled up ready for planting. I walked down the middle and back up towards them. The one that had the worm suddenly turned when I wasn't paying attention and I ran right into his back. I was caught before I hit the ground.

"Careful sugar. You have to keep your head up to see what's in front of you." The guy said as he set me on his hip. "How's it looking?" Tex asked coming over. The one holding me set me down. I stood between two of the guys. Tex took a look around. "Do we know what's going to be planted?" Tex asked.

"Yes." A chorus of males answered. "Plant it how she wants it. We won't plant any trees until early spring next year." Tex said pointing at me. They all nodded. "I'll be back by here around noon. Wesson go and get the girls out of their houses. Chores need to be started." Tex said as he left. The guy named Wesson started moving towards the gate and left.

One guy asked how far apart the rows should be. I went to where the fence was going to be and moved two feet over and lightly pressed my toes into the soft earth. "No wonder she's barefoot. It's easier to mark things when you measure that way." Another said.

I measured across the whole way before making tight lines. I drew lines where to stop the planting on each and pretty much mapped the whole thing out by noon. While three quarters of the guys were putting the fencing up, the other quarter were planting.

I then started helping by planting the black eyed peas. "How is it going?" Tex asked as he came in to inspect. "Nearly done with the fence Tex." "Shouldn't be too far until we're done planting." Two said at the same time. I finished the black eyed peas and went to greet Tex.

He pulled me to his side and held me to him. "You doing alright?" He asked. I nodded. "Are you drinking water?" He asked. I shifted my weight. He sighed. Then handed me a bottle. "Drink this." He said handing it to me. I unscrewed the cap and took a sip. "More than that Honey." He said.

I took more of a drink. Then looked up at him. He looked more satisfied with that one. I leaned on him a bit more. He ran his hand through my hair before having to let me go. "Finish up here and make rounds. When the fourth planting are done, go help Wesson." Tex said.

"Half of us can go help him now." One that was working on fence said. "Then go." Tex said. The group looked at each other briefly before half left. The remaining half went back to work. I dug through the packets after Tex left and found the partial shade plants. I planted them and sat underneath the tree nearby.

I finished off the water bottle and caught my breath and tried to cool off the best I could. "Do we need to keep the tree in the garden or fence it off?" One of the remaining three fence builders asked. "The tree would keep pressing on the fence." I said. "Good point." He said sitting down next to me.

"I don't think Tex officially introduced us to you." He said. "I'm Madysyn." "Why a girl's name?" I asked. "My mom wanted a girl instead of a boy. I've already heard it from almost every herd from the Mexican wall to the Oklahoman territory." He said. I smiled.

"What are you laughing too?" He asked. "Not necessarily." I said. "Ok. I've got five minutes before I have to get up off my a— and finish the fence." He said. "The one planting tomatoes is Axel, the one with the hammer and nails is Greg..." "How many are there?" I asked interrupting him.

"How many what?" He asked. "Guys." I answered. "Twelve counting Tex. I'm not even going to start on the girls." He said. "I'll meet them later." I told him. He scoffed. "Good luck. The one that found the bruise on your leg and came to wake you up this morning is Chester. He notices if anything is wrong and will inform Tex if you do not.

"He will give you a warning before he does it then asks a few hours later if you did then will tell Tex then." Mady said. I nodded. "Who's waking me up in the morning?" I asked. "Who would you prefer?" He asked. "I don't know all of them yet." I said. "Well. Tex's plan was for you to meet us individually every morning and to be your daily helper while the rest of us went on about our day." He said. "Mady."

"Got to go. If you need more water just ask for it from one of us." He said getting up. I watched him walk over to the two guys that were continuing to work.