“What?”
Eli laughed. “Just come on.”
“Now?”
“Good a time as any. Why?”
“I’m not really dressed to go wrangle a cow.”
Eli’s laugh echoed in the barn. Sarah’s cheeks heated as Eli continued to laugh at her expense. When Eli brushed tears from her cheeks, Sarah crossed her arms over her chest and glared.
“You are not wrangling the cow. Not this cow.”
“Why not? Don’t think I can do it?”
Eli’s gaze moved slowly up and down Sarah’s body, and Sarah’s skin heated under her keen look. Swallowing hard, Sarah regretted asking the question. “Maybe you could, but not in that, and not this cow. She’s mean when she’s mad.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Bites.”
Eli took Sarah’s hand again and led her toward the truck. She opened the passenger door for Sarah and waited for her to get inside. Sarah slipped into the seat and bit her lip. Eli shook her head, laughing again and muttering, “Wrangle a cow. Ha!”
The old truck was still warm from when Eli had been out earlier, but it rattled in a worrisome way. It didn’t seem quite ready to make it to the field and back, or perhaps it had done it too many times. She worried the wheels would fall off, but sure enough, they made it out to the pasture.
Eli uttered “stay here” before she got out and jumped the fence line. It took Sarah a minute to see the cow, but there she was, eating the wheat.
Eli clapped her hands and shouted as she moved Cassie toward the fence. Sarah strained her neck to see Eli in action. Cassie scraped at the ground and lowered her head. Sarah worried Eli was about to get headbutted over the fence line, but instead, Eli stood up straight and put her hand out, yelling at Cassie. She couldn’t make out what Eli said, just her tone of voice.
Cassie changed her tune quick and started walking toward the fence line. Eli followed her and then started running at her, clapping her hands again. Cassie sped up before she jumped through the small break in the fence. Eli shook her head as she herself jumped back over, then messed with the fence while Cassie meandered off in the other direction.
When Eli swung into the truck, she let out a heavy sigh. “Cow is going to be the death of me someday.”
Sarah gave her a small smile.
“Don’t suppose you know how to fix fences.”
“No,” Sarah answered.
“Didn’t think so.” Shoving the truck into reverse, Eli drove toward the house. “We’ll switch out trucks and then head to town, all right?”
“Yeah.”
“She’ll be fine for a day or two. I promise.”
“Okay.” Sarah glanced out the window at the fields surrounding her. She had no idea what just happened, but they’d gone from flirting back to cold again. The ping-ponging was exhausting, but she wasn’t sure how to put an end to it. Keeping her mouth shut, Sarah watched the different fields pass as Eli drove her to town to get her car, and thankfully, her phone. She was going to have to call Kara as soon as she got a chance and fill her in on all her adventures since she’d arrived.
* * *
They got to town as dusk hit. Eli was glad Sarah was going to have to follow her back to the house. That way she could guarantee she wouldn’t get lost this time. Her day had been interesting. Unlike with any other guest, she felt Sarah was trying to learn something new, not just experience something once and leave with it that way. Sarah also showed a genuine care for her cattle and herself.
Eli pulled into town. They were meeting the Hargraves at the sausage supper and would grab the keys and the car there. Eli drove around until she found the rental car and parked nearby.
She knew without a doubt that Sarah was going to stick out like a sore thumb, but she’d wanted to go in the first place. Eli could have skipped it for all she cared. It was a place for gossip to happen, which she didn’t really enjoy, but she did like seeing everyone and catching up with them. She knew there would be a lot of talk about the calves already born.
Eli prepared herself for the mass of people who were going to be inside. She only hoped her ex wasn’t there. That would be an adventure, since they hadn’t figured out how to be in the same room together since they broke up, like two years before. Since then, they’d just avoided each other when they could.
She was nervous in a way she hadn’t been before. Something about bringing Sarah to a town-wide event where she had no doubt her ex was going to be was nerve-wracking. She stayed right where she was but jerked suddenly when Sarah’s hand found hers.