Chapter 4
Chapter Four
ELLE
How dare he!
I’m storming away from my building, seeing red.
A small voice tried to remind me he has no way of knowing about my past problems with my name but I ignored it. How fucking dare he!
I’d stopped acknowledging my full name in second grade. Tammy Jacobson called me Smellspeth in front of our whole second grade glass when I was presenting my book report. That awful nickname stuck with me until middle school when Tammy moved to California.
Bitch.
Mom and Dad frequently tried to remind me that my name, like the farm, was a family legacy but I’ve refused to share my name with anyone or answer to anything outside of Elle from that moment on.
The only person that did not apply was Henry.
He could call whatever he wanted. He seemed to prefer to just screech Eee at me but he was only two and half but he would learn eventually.
Stupid sexy intruder.
Stupid tall tattooed intruder.
Stupid perfectly curly hair—no, stop. BAD Elle.
I shake my head to clear those traitorous thoughts.
I made a promise to myself that I would provide the barest level of warmth to this man, not even be nice, just not mean.
Asking about my name, trying to be friendly.
We aren’t friends, we are co-workers. Barely even that!
Once he gets his new office space, we will hardly see each other. I couldn’t fucking wait.
Nobody comes to my area of the farm and that’s the way I like it!
I’ve been doing all of the farm's paperwork for years.
It's not the most conventional way to run things but our parents were determined to make space within any of the farm's operations for all of their children, as long as it was something we were really passionate about.
Us kids always knew Lola was going to take over for Dad, Mabel is the resident crafty queen and Paul, well, Paul went and started his own handyman business, running it as far away from the farm as he could get while still staying within city limits.
He still helps around the farm whenever we need him but he explained that he wanted to make something himself.
He brings Henry, his two and a half year old, around as much as possible and wants him to learn the farm aspects like we all did but he insists that if Henry wanted nothing to do with the farm, he would support him. I respect the hell out of my little brother and how he raises Henry.
Henry is my favorite person in the world and probably the only member of the Warren clan that actually likes to spend time with me.
I’m sure as he gets older, he’ll come to the realization my sisters and brother have, I’m a grouch and best in small doses.
But until that day, I will soak up all the time with Henry that I can and I’ll pray another one of my siblings graces my life with a new niece or nephew who will be able to stand me for just a little longer.
“Meow!”
I halt my stomp through the farm, pausing my attempt to calm myself down so I wouldn’t attempt to murder the Intruder the next time I saw him, and drop down close to the ground, resting on my haunches.
A smile teases my lips as I spot my best friend prowling through the grass and flowers.
“Honey Cat, come here baby.” I stick my hand out, beckoning the tabby barn cat to come give me some love.
She does not disappoint, nuzzling my knuckles before jumping to rest on my lap.
She boops her head against my chest and I move myself so I’m now sitting criss-cross applesauce, creating a small hammock with my skirt in between my legs for my feline friend.
She purrs in what I am going to assume is appreciation and I can feel my temper simmer to its regular low boil.
Honey Cat appeared randomly one day last summer and hasn’t left.
She is the unofficial mascot of Warren Farms. Coming and going as she pleases and takes no shit from anyone.
In a way, she’s my hero. Especially because the only two people she will let remotely close to her are Henry and myself.
She is obviously a genius with impeccable taste in companions.
Henry was instantly enamored by the feline and named her, refusing to entertain any other suggestions.
She’s a cat at a honey farm. Simple and to the point.
I decide to stay in the field as long as Honey Cat will keep me company.
It’s a fairly nice day and I could use a moment to rest my eyes.
I’d been working night and day, making sure every t was crossed and i’s dotted on the needed permit applications.
Anything I could do to get that building up and running, I was determined to make it happen and that was before meeting the Intruder.
Now, I could guarantee the permit office would be getting constant check in calls to make sure our work wasn’t stalled in any way. If I could attempt some charm, maybe I could even get them to expedite things.
Ha, yeah right.
I had as much charm as a snake, curled up in a basket listening to some idiot try to coax me out with a pungi.
Chuckling to myself, I lean back, laying down into the field.
Honey Cat lets out a soft meow to make me aware she’s not the happiest with my readjustment but she starts making biscuits on my soft stomach, so I know she isn’t too upset with me.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath, trying to center myself and enjoy this moment for what it is.
Clearing my mind of the Intruder and all the frustrations I know will be coming in the next few weeks, I allow myself to enjoy this moment for what it is.
Time with my cat surrounded by wild flowers.