CountryCore Series: The Ranch Hand (WLW)

Chapter Fifteen

Chris sat next to the tiny slit of a window in one of her hunting forts as she watched and waited for the hogs to take the bait she'd just laid. The sun was nearly down and a single boar was sniffling along the path she'd spotted earlier that morning. The day before after they had gone after her crops, she was ready to string them up, but thought better of it. The compound bow was just for protection for when she would descend the fort later that night. Just how it had been in the past, if she took just one of them out and the others got away, they'd only add to their numbers while continuing to destroy the ranch. She couldn't let that happen.

When she went into town, she got some advice from the wildlife preservation society on the best course of action. They had recommended she make a corral trap and with the help of Mike and Heath earlier today, she had built one. Placing a bucket of berries to the back of the corral, she had put a trap there but hadn't set it yet. She wouldn't for a few days. In the meantime, she'd monitor the situation and...

Four more feral hogs came out from the bushes. Chris had noticed a path of hog trotts leading to those bushes and figured that was where they had been getting onto her land. Lucky for her, they'd a hunting fort set up in a tree not too far off from the tracks so she would be able to watch each night. This was around the time the ranch started to clear, everyone was going home or to The Barracks for the night, and it made it the perfect time for them to come out of hiding.

She watched as six more hogs, including two piglets, came from the brush and followed the leader. He grunted toward the corral and they began to make their way there. Each hog was wary of their surroundings. These were very smart hogs for sure. They may have been feral, but that didn't mean they weren't still swine and swine were very smart creatures despite what so many thought of them.

Hairy was no exception to this. He surprised her daily with how smart he could truly be and she loved it. However, as heartwarming a quality it was in him, it was not in these hogs. She was ready to be rid of them and while she had learned patience growing up on a ranch, she realized she was tapping her foot in anticipation.

Suddenly, the creak of a couple of steps from the ladder they'd built against the tree when erecting the fort and Chris froze. She slowly turned around then shook her head at herself. Hogs can't climb, genius... She thought and stood. Whoever was coming up should have known better though. If the hogs sensed them up there, they may run for the hills and never go back to the corral trap again.

As soon as the person opened the door, Chris grabbed hold of them and silenced their yelp before they could finish it. This person's smell was so nice. She felt herself smile and chuckled. Hayley stood, stiffening her back as Chris held her from behind. She removed her hand from her mouth and bent her head down, looking into her eyes. Hayley gave her a shy smile and flinched when Chris slid her hand down from her chest to her stomach. She pressed her hand firmly against Hayley's abdomen and pulled her back against her body, making her shiver.

"Hey, doll." She whispered into Hayley's ear and watched as she shivered again. The fact that she could affect someone like this blew her mind and she couldn't stop herself. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I...I just...wanted to check--"

"That's sweet." Chris interrupted, then leaned down a bit further and kissed her neck. She hummed against her skin and smiled as Hayley hissed. "I'm okay, but slowly doin' better. Think ya could help out with that a bit?"

"Chris! W-What...?" She replied as Chris left a hot trail of kisses along her neck. Whatever arguments Hayley had dissolved as Chris took a bit of her skin into her mouth and bit down. Hayley placed her hand atop hers and guided it up from her belly to her neck, letting it rest along her throat. "Don't stop."