Daisies in the Canyon(27)

Abby’s head bobbed up and down. If she’d been that pissy to any one of her training officers in the military, she’d have spent time cleaning the bathrooms with a toothbrush. She deserved the dressing-down, even in front of the other two, but it didn’t make it sting any less.

“You’re right, Rusty. That was rude and disrespectful. It won’t happen again,” she said.

“I’ll show them how to get things changed,” Cooper said. “Want me to plow a couple of circles around the fire?”

“No, I want Abby to do that,” Rusty said.

“Punishment,” Shiloh said under her breath as they headed toward the tractor.

“I deserve it,” Abby said.

“Then I’ll ride with her and teach her the method.” Cooper jogged ahead of them.

“You’ve done this before, haven’t you, Bonnie?” he said when he reached the tractor.

“Couple of times on an older tractor. Not much difference, though.”

“It’s pretty simple. Just unhitch, push the blade out of the way. Here, Abby, help me,” he said.

“How much does this thing weigh?” she asked.

“Somewhere around a hundred and fifty pounds. Too heavy for you?”

“No, I can do it.” She bent her knees and on Cooper’s count to three, they picked it up and moved it a few feet away from the tractor.

Cooper was close enough that every burst of breeze brought the remnants of his shaving lotion to her, but not so close that their bodies or hands touched. Still, the air crackled around them like it does just before a storm and she had to remind herself that he was there to help as a neighbor and Rusty’s friend. He hadn’t jumped the fence for her.

“Now, Bonnie, hop back in that tractor seat, turn it around, and back it right up to the plow attachment beside the truck,” he said.

Without a word she scrambled back up into the tractor and eased it toward the plow. Cooper jogged over in that direction and motioned with his hand until she was close enough, then he put up a palm.

“Good job,” he said. “Abby, we’ll have to get it lined up, but she did well enough that we’ll only have to move it about six inches to the left. It weighs a little less than the box blade.”

Abby picked up one end and he got a hold of the other and together they lined it up so it could be attached. Cooper didn’t tell her she’d done a good job like he had Bonnie, but that was okay. The way he squeezed her hand when they got the thing fastened said that he approved.

Bonnie was back on the ground in a minute, everywhere at once, helping get the plow situated. “So how many times do I plow around the bonfire?”

“Rusty says I have to do it,” Abby said.

“She’s being punished.” Shiloh leaned against the tractor tire and watched the procedure carefully.

“What for?”

“Insubordination, and I deserve it,” Abby said. “I was being a smart-ass and I got called down for it.”

“Takes a big person to take correction,” Cooper said.

“Takes a foolish person to need it,” Abby said.

“Is that a quote?” Bonnie asked.

“Yes, ma’am. Straight from my mama,” Abby answered.

“Okay, Abby, you take the driver’s seat and I’ll get in the passenger’s side,” Cooper said.

“What is going on between you and Cooper? There’s definite vibes every time he’s around,” Bonnie whispered when he circled around the back side of the tractor.

“I’m not sure. It’s complicated,” Abby whispered back.

“I bet it is.” Bonnie nodded.

“Ever driven one of these before?” Cooper asked when she was settled.

“Not exactly, but I reckon if I can learn to drive a tank, I can learn this thing,” she answered.

She put her hand on the gear stick and he covered it with his. Her first reaction was to jerk it free, but she took a deep breath and reminded herself that this was a driving lesson not a romantic episode. And yet, there was that sizzle that set her insides to yearning for the satisfaction that only Cooper could deliver.

“Not yet,” he said. “First make sure the PTO—or power takeoff—is on one, because you are pulling a plow, not pushing a box blade. That’s the lever over there to your left.” He removed his hand and pointed. “It’s on one right now, but you want to check it every time and adjust it according to the job. Now, see that lever right there. It’s got a high and a low range. High is for when you are driving the tractor home in the evening. You want low range when you are plowing the field.”

“Okay, now what?”

“Ever driven a stick-shift vehicle? Maybe one with a trailer on the back?”

“Yes, I have in the army.”

“Good, then the rest is pretty much like that. You’ve got four forward gears and a reverse. You’ll probably want to work in first or second, and remember you are never shifting when you are on the move.”

It took every bit of her concentration to think about what he was saying.

“Repeat all that back to me,” he said.

“This one goes to one when we are plowing. This one is on low and keep it in first or second gear because we want to go slow.”