2. Chapter Two
Chapter Two
Libby
“Pull your head out of your ass, Devon!” I cannot believe he just hooked up that bay before cleaning that damn udder. “Now you gotta disinfect that whole claw.”
“It’s like rule number one,” I mutter to myself.
Always gotta clean the shit off the bags before the machine goes on.
“I’m hungry,” he whines, whipping his head hard enough to toss his long hair out of his eyes. “It’s Thanksgiving. We should get a day off.” He might be protesting, but at least he disconnects the lead like he’s supposed to and sets it aside.
“I promise that the Duggar’s are saving a huge plate for you.” I’m starving too. But I’m heading to the McCullough’s for dinner.
Char has brought me along on her crazy journey to join their family, and now they practically accept me as one of their own.
I toss a fresh towel at him and it wraps across his shoulder. “But you aren’t going to get there any faster by cutting corners. One day you might be in charge of all of this. We need to do it right, each and every time.”
I never thought I’d be the one teaching my little brother how to run the dairy.
But since Mom died a few years ago, and Dad has been gone more often than not lately, it seems to sit heavier on me.
It’s overwhelming some days.
“Why isn’t the rest of the crew here? We’d be done faster.” Devon finishes wiping down the next cow and attaches the clean equipment.
Just like he’s supposed to.
“Because it’s Thanksgiving. Duh.” I roll my eyes at him. “These are the perks of ownership. It’s our name on the board outside.”
My muscles ache though. I can feel the weary in my bones and it’s barely nine in the morning. I’m too young to be this tired.
And to think in two weeks I’ll turn twenty-one.
“This sucks. I’m on vacation from school, why not here?” Devon finishes milking his last cow and begins to wipe everything down.
“Because we can’t skip a day. It’s one of the trade-offs. At least tomorrow Jeb and Darla will be back to give us a break.” I can’t wait. I’m going to sleep in like crazy.
Maybe I can bring a huge plate of leftovers home, too. Then I won’t even have to cook .
Devon grabs the hose to finish spraying the stalls down.
He doesn’t need my help for that part.
Besides, I want to make it to the shower before he does.
And see if Dad is home yet. He’s supposed to take Devon to the Duggars.
I’m not sure why he insisted we accept the invitations to other houses this year, but he’s been acting strange the last few weeks.
I hope it’s because he has a girlfriend. It might help dig him out of the funk he’s been in since Mom died.
I miss her something fierce, but she’d want him to be happy.
Coming out of the heat of the milking parlor, the cold blowing snow is a slap in the face. I heard there was supposed to be a storm coming in, but thought it wouldn’t hit here until later.
Great. I hate driving on icy roads.
“Hey, Lib. Got a minute?” Dad is leaning over the kitchen counter with a cup of coffee between his palms.
“Um, I was gonna get the bathroom before Devon. He’s in the body spray age, and I left my gas mask in my other coat if he goes first.” Peeling my boots off at the door, I try not to drip cow shit across the floor as I shed my coveralls next.
“I was hoping to talk before he came in.” Dad’s lips thin, and he glances into the living room.
Blue startles me when he leans forward .
I’ve only met him a couple of times, but he’s hard to look away from.
Must be the dimple over the mustache.
Or those damn blue eyes that feel like they’re burning through me.
“Is this about the cows? Can we talk about work another time? It’s Thanksgiving, Dad.” I’m trying to work my way towards the hall as I talk.
I swear Devon is going to burst in at any moment, and then I’m screwed.
“No, this isn’t about work. Well, maybe a little. Hell, I don’t know.” Dad runs his palm over his face and sets down his mug.
That’s strange, it’s full. He never lets coffee just sit.
“Your dad suggested I could give you a ride to the Black Gulch tonight since it’s gonna snow.” Blue tilts his dark cowboy hat back. “If you wanted?”
“What? This is about the weather? Sure, fine.” I catch a glimpse of Devon outside of the window. “I’ll be back.”
Tugging my hoodie over my head, my t-shirt tags along.
Fuck it, I have on a sports bra.
I manage to lock the bathroom just as I hear the front door open.
The scalding water washes away the grime, but it doesn’t reveal why Dad looked like he was constipated.
And why would he ask Blue to give me a ride? They’re buddies, but I barely know him .
Being in a truck alone with him is a little unnerving.
My own blue eyes stare back in the mirror, but they’re darker, almost like the deep ocean.
His are like ice. Pale and piercing.
It makes goosebumps come out on my arms thinking about them.
Damn it, I forgot to grab clean clothes. I grab my dirty ones and hold them in a bundle in front of me, then dart a quick look when I crack the door open.
If I move quick enough, no one will notice.
“Libby? What the fuck?” Devon grumbles and slaps his hand over his eyes.
I shift so my bare butt faces away from him, then dodge into my room.
“If we had more than one shower, it wouldn’t be an issue!” I yell through the door. “I had to get in before you used up all the hot water!”
Dad has six siblings that all grew up in this house. How in the hell everyone managed with only one bath, I have no idea.
Probably the hoses in the barn.
“It’s gonna take all of it to burn your ass out of my eyes!” Devon squawks.
I dump my nasty britches into the basket and start sliding into a fresh set of clothes when I realize that Blue was sitting in the living room.
And probably saw my full, nude backside.
Shit.