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I tried not to let her little smiles work on me. Most of our conversations were petty squabbles in the dark or somewhat-companionable silence when Eric was around. But I knew she was doing research on how to start the berry farm again, and the time to plant was soon.
I wondered if she would try to get me to do it, or if she would attempt it herself. Either way, the work was going to fall on me. She’d mentioned hiring employees, but school was in session and workers were hard to find.
She’d either figure it out or fuck something up trying.
My money was on the second one.
It was a crisp October day when egg production slowed to the point where I only needed to make one trip a day. This time of year, I would spend more time with the cows.
Mollie sometimes followed me to watch what I was doing, but the majority of her time was spent indoors on her computer. I didn’t know how she managed to walk after sitting for so long.
Obviously, she’d decided to have a change of pace. When Iwalked to the cow fields, I saw her in the distance. Moosley had taken an interest in her. The resident diva was following her.
I didn’t know how, but Moosley knew what time of year it was, and she always demanded more attention on the cooler days.
Apparently, she thought Mollie was good for it.
Mollie didn’t understand what was happening.
“Um, what?” she asked. “Listen, I promise I won’t hurt you. I’m just going for a walk.”
Moosley moved closer, and Mollie tripped over a cow patty.
“No, seriously! I can go.”
Mollie walked backward, but Moosley followed. She sped up, and Moosley did the same.
Then she broke out into a full run.
Moosley kept up the pace.
“What do you want?” she called. “I swear, why do all animals hate me!”
I could have helped her.
I didn’t.
She ran back and forth, only egging on Moosley, up until she finally got enough of a start to clear the fence and fall into a heap in front of me.
“You saw all of that, didn’t you?” she muttered as she caught her breath.
“Yep.”
“I could have been attacked, and you would have let it happen?”
“You weren’t getting attacked.” I walked up to the fence and pet Moosley. “She just wanted you to give her attention.”
“Fuck,” she groaned. “If I tried that with Hennifer, she’d peck my finger off.”
“Every animal is different,” I said. “But I thought you knew that.”
“I have actual cow shit on my foot, and that’s not the worst part of my day,” she muttered before pointing at me. “You are.”
“Happy to be of service.”
She groaned and walked toward the house. I laughed, only for her to give me the middle finger.
I watched as she walked. She was, once again, in a ridiculous outfit.