CountryCore Series: The Ranch Hand (WLW)

Chapter Four

Was there a chance that Hayley could be fired? The idea had done nothing short of ruminating in her mind over the last few days, planting seeds of fear and torment. Where would she go if she was fired? Well, if she focused on the idea for too long, she'd have her answer, so she made herself busy with her work until today.

She'd been on the ranch for seven days and since her last interaction with Chris she hadn't seen too terribly much of her. Every time Hayley did, that terror rose to new heights. She decided she wouldn't give Chris the chance, or rather, the reason to fire her. She may have encroached on her personal space and definitely angered her, but Hayley was determined to prove her worth. Even if that meant letting her asthma become susceptible to a harsh environment.

Something in Hayley's chest told her she should be asking to be moved away from the orchard, but she didn't want to complain. What if it gave Chris just the spark she needed to fire her?

Hayley's everything hurt even though she hadn't worked on account of it being everyone's weekly day off. Yesterday, however, was particularly arduous. She wasn't used to such strenuous work and even with having today off, being able to rest as much as she could for most of the day, she was still so sleepy and achy all over.

The day prior they reinforced the wire fencing around the orchard as the blossoms were starting to have little bits of growth. It was gorgeous and smelled so amazing, Hayley would bet money that if they could capture it's true essence in a perfume, women would buy all any store had in stock in droves. Regardless of that, she was exhausted and had used muscles she didn't even know she bore that now ached as if they were old and atrophied. When she showered yesterday evening, she nearly melted to the floor of the stall, but remembered it was outdoors and maintained her stance on jelly-like legs. Her arms were still dead and her hands so sore it hurt to zip her dress when she'd gotten ready for a celebratory outing for the new staff, having to ask Sav for help.

They were now on their way to a place in town called Humphrey's, a bar and grill that was very loved within the community. Hayley sat in between two burly men who kept chatting away behind her shoulders as she leaned forward, her elbows on her knees. It was cramped and after the work she'd done the day before, she just wanted to go back to the ranch and relax while she still could, but Sav insisted she come along. She claimed Hayley apparently wouldn't regret it.

She and Daniel chattered away in the front seat with wide smiles that said everything they were feeling for each other. As sickeningly bittersweet as it was to see them so enamoured with one another and as jealous as it may have made her, Hayley couldn't help but be happy for them. Things may not have been going in the direction she hoped with everyone on the ranch, but she was in a jovial mood for the first time in three days and wanted to see where it would take her. The night was young and she had two people she really cared for enjoying themselves. What more could she request?

Sav turned in the middle front seat and smiled back at her, making Hayley completely forget about whatever worries she may still possess for at least the time being. It was time to party and have fun, not time to remain hung up on the darker possibilities in her future. She may not get another chance for a while to enjoy herself if she was fired, so it was time to free herself of the doubts in her mind.

"We're almost there." Sav explained and Eddie turned from his place in the passenger's seat giving Hayley a grin as well.

Eddie was such a strange boy. One minute he would look like he hated the world and all it had to offer, then the next he was literally, not figuratively, jumping out of his boots with what Hayley could only describe as a small boy's excitement. He was very twitchy as well. It reminded her of Chris' horse, whom she now knew was named Thomas, and made her stomach churn with something like sibling worry. Even when he was smiling, that sadness she'd seen in his eyes upon meeting him was still there. Still, he never complained and did his work.