Hanging On (Jessica Brodie Diaries #2)(102)

Mental note: hang out with William next time he was doing his chores.

"Wow," Lump breathed.

"I do not know to what you are referring..." I said carefully.

"Yeah, right. Christ he is good looking. Look at that body. If only we were in any way compatible."

"What happened with your dude last night?" I asked, suddenly remembering that they were going to have a talk.

"Oh. I didn’t meet him. We are going to see each other tonight." Lump was still staring at Adam. The car was parked and we had yet to get out. Adam was looking at us with a cross between a guarded expression, and curiosity for us sitting in the car looking at him.

“Don’t break it off for no reason, Lump.”

She stopped looking at Adam and met my eyes. Then nodded once.

It was the age old problem with Lump. She met a guy she might be happy with, then got scared and ran. She was enlightened enough to know that she did it, but said that if they were good enough, she wouldn't be able to leave. Then she'd know.

I always asked the question, "What if they’re good, but you run anyway?"

She always just shrugged.

We got out of the car and said hello to an impatient Adam.

“Sorry Adam,” I said. “Girl talk.”

“Uh huh.”

“Listen, I really need to get a Christmas present for William that he will like. And I overheard you talking to him yesterday about some bull, or blood line, or something that he wants but can’t get. I was wondering if you could give me some more information?”

Adam looked at me like I was bat shit crazy. “Look, I need to get all this done while it’s still light.” He pointed to the large pile of hay that still needed to be shoveled.

“We’ll help,” Lump spoke up quickly.

“What?” Adam and I said at the same time.

Lump turned to me. “We’re asking for something, he needs something. We’ll swap. Get the blood flowing.”

“But Lump, you don’t even need anything. I just want you along to help seduce the cowboy fellow into selling me that bull.”

“If you want my help, you will shovel.”

“But—“

“My help equals shovel."

I looked back at Adam. He had a smirk playing around his face, waiting for my decision.

“Is this funny to you? My being cajoled into hard labor? In work clothes?”

“Yup. She’s got you figured out.”

“Oh shut up. Fine. Give me a freaking shovel. P.S. I hate both of you!”

Adam still had a smirk on his face, but this time he was talking to Lump. “It’s hard work.”

“Good,” Lump said. “I need something to occupy my hands so my mind can’t wander.”

“My mind is fine,” I muttered.

Adam nodded like he knew exactly what she was saying, and of course, ignored me completely. I was used to it.

He pointed to where the forks were. Lump went and got a couple, handing me one. She stripped off her cute, long-sleeved shirt down to her tiny singlet and got to work.

I followed suit, down to a tiny tee-shirt. It wasn’t something I would have worn had I known I would be working, but I apparently had no choice.

“So, you want to buy our Willie a bull, huh?” Adam asked.

“Yeah.” I was already out of breath. He wasn’t kidding—it was hard work. Forced hard work at that!

“It will cost you a pretty penny.”

“How much, roughly?”

“Willie offered five, I think.”

“Hundred? For a bull?”

“Thousand. For a blood line.”

Thousand?

“Yiks, Jess,” Lump said between shovels. She was going at it like the world would end unless we finished by dark. Adam was working hard at it, too.

“He is worth it.” I huffed.

Adam stopped for a minute and analyzed me. “Jess, do you have that kind of money?”

“Adam,” I said, using speech as an excuse to stop. “I am—“

“Keep working,” Lump cut me off.

“Dang it! Why is it so important to you that I sweat?”

“Because I know you hate it, which makes it funny.”

“It is not funny,” I sulked, getting back to work and ignoring Adam’s loud and irritating guffaws.

“As I was saying,” I panted, “I am finally going to break down and buy a car with my Christmas bonus—I’m sorry I took so long. But, thanks to you, and thanks to William buying me dinner and stuff, I have saved a bit. I can swing it.”

“I weren’t talkin’ about the car. You can buy it off me for worth if you want. I was just wonderin’ if you’re going to spend all your dad-gum money on a bull that is a farmer’s whim?”

I straightened up and wiped the sweat from my brow. “Well, uh...I thought he said he wanted it for blood lines or something?”

“He does.”

“Well, then he wants it. It isn’t a whim. Right?”

“The blood line might be useless. It might not pan out. The bull might turn out wit’ defects. Nothing’s certain. He don’t need it—it’s a whim.”

“Well, yeah but, it might turn into a magical mystery bull filled with candy. Regardless, he wants it. It is important to him and it is his passion. So...I just don’t understand why you are so uptight about what presents I buy him. Do you want the bull or something?”