Just A Farm Gal

Chapter One

I puffed out my cheeks and exhaled as I picked up a heavy bag of compost. I grunted as I placed it onto my shoulder and carried it over to the barn.

I shoved it down on a pile of other bags and wiped the sweat off my brow with the sleeve of my flannel top. I smoothed the flyaway tendrils of my hair down and tightened my ponytail.

My waist-length, dirty blonde hair could be a right pain to manage sometimes but it was one of my best features, along with my dark green eyes. I had my daddies' eyes. I started to tear up just thinking about him...

My daddy died two years ago from a heart attack and it hit me and my mama hard. He was the picture of health before he died and that's what shocked us. It was just so sudden and so unfair.

This farm was his pride and joy and he worked so hard but now it was down to me. At 18 years old, I had to take over. I helped my daddy and his right-hand man, Eddie, every morning anyway so it wasn't new or hard work to me. My mama had back problems now so she couldn't help out with the physical work, but she took care of our house and the bookkeeping. Now at 20 years old, the farm was my pride and joy too.

We lived on an average sized farm in a small town in Texas. The population wasn't very large at all, we probably had around 300 people living here, so it was a town where everyone knew each other, and everyone knew everything.

"Hallie! Hey, Hal!" I heard a voice calling from outside of the barn.

I wandered out to see Eddie jogging over to me. He was a year older than me and although he was a very handsome boy; his hair was just a little darker than mine, he had lovely blue eyes and a strong jaw... I saw him as one of my best friends. We practically grew up together with him and his dad living in the house less than a mile away from ours. It wasn't a farm, but he knew about farming and as soon as he turned 16, he came to help out around here with daddy and me. He was just as crushed about my daddy's death as we were. He looked up to him and respected him.

"There you are." He greeted, when he reached me.

I smiled warmly, "Hey, Eddie, what are you doin' here this early?"

"It's harvest in a couple of days so I just wanted to make sure everythin' was ok." He replied, placing his arm around my shoulder as walked back to my house. "What are you doin' out so early?"

"The compost bags needed movin' before I milk the cows."

"I coulda done that."

"Y'all do enough round here."

We reached the house and he opened the porch door for me and allowed me to enter first. He was a gentleman, but I didn't need looking after.

"Mornin', Mama." I greeted her, as we walked into the kitchen.

Mama was standing at the stove with a mixing bowl and spoon in her arms, whisking something. She had the same colour hair as me, although hers was starting to grey a lot now. She had beautiful blue eyes and a lovely, slender figure.

She turned around and smiled warmly at us with soft eyes, "Oh, hey, darlin'. You're up early today. Mornin', Eddie."

"Good mornin' to y'all, Mrs Williams." Eddie greeted her politely.

"Oh, boy, call me Gracie. None of that formal stuff here, you've known me long enough." Mama waved her spoon in the air. "Are you stayin' for breakfast? I'm makin' pancakes."

Eddie nodded, "I'd love to, thanks."

As Mama dished up our breakfasts, she looked to Eddie and me fondly, smiling softly.