“I have to go. Don’t call me anymore. I have back to back appointments.”
“Don’t you miss me, baby?”
“Well--You know what? No I don’t miss you. Goodbye, Marissa. There are more rich guys out there. Go find yourself a different one.” Daniel hung up the phone. He didn’t even feel bad about it. He would love to have all the money right now that he’d wasted on Marissa. He could certainly use it! Women like her were just chasing riches and using anyone they could get their claws into. Hot women in New York were a dime a dozen.
The phone rang again. “Marissa, I was serious. I don’t want to talk to you anymore. I made a bad business decision and lost all my money. I’m totally broke.”
“Oh. Well you’re right. We probably wouldn’t work out…” She quickly hung up.
Daniel looked at himself in the mirror when he climbed up in his pickup. I can’t believe I was letting that woman use me for that long. Normally he broke it off after a couple of dates. Daniel looked at his own face. You were using her. You used every single woman you ever had contact with. You’ve been using people your entire life…Daniel proceeded to stare at his face for way too long. He shook the thoughts from his head and drove toward the farm.
Rosie met him outside and handed him the key and a slip of paper that had his new phone number on it. He smiled as he slipped it in his pocket. His fingers brushed the napkin from the bar that Katherine had written her phone number on.
“I put an extra blanket in there and made you a bite to eat in case you’re hungry. The phone number up to the house is the same, except the last number is a one. It was easier for me to remember that way.”
“Thank you so much, Rosie. I can already tell I’m going to have the best night’s sleep since I got here.”
Rosie smiled and said goodnight.
Daniel walked in through the back door. He didn’t want to disturb the horses, plus he was afraid of them. He’d never really been near one.
The room was so beautiful. He smelled the apple pie as soon as he opened the door. Rosie had made a plate of ham, potato salad, beans, cornbread, and a nice salad. She even included half of an apple pie that was still warm. The entire meal was at the perfect temperature because of the meticulous way she wrapped it. Daniel didn’t realize how starving he was. He ate all of it except for one slice of pie.
Time for the real test, he thought. Daniel stripped down to his black boxers and climbed under the sheets. The bedding was so soft and comfortable against his skin, and the scent was fresh, sweet, and clean. He set the alarm on his phone for four forty-five, then fell fast to sleep. For some reason he dreamed of his mother’s face, which he had only seen in pictures. Her voice sounded just like Rosie’s.
When Daniel’s alarm went off he cursed. It took him a minute to figure out what the alarm was set for, but then he sprang out of bed. He got dressed in a green flannel shirt and jeans, put his work boots on, then gathered his dishes and headed up to the house. The light was shining on the porch.
He knocked on the door softly and twisted the handle.
“Come on in, John. You don’t have to knock. You don’t have a bathroom down there so you’ll have to come up to the house. I should really build one. Have a seat.” Rosie greeted him with a smile.
Daniel’s mouth was watering. The smell of scrambled eggs, bacon, biscuits, and gravy filled the air. Rosie set the plates of food on the table and poured two hot cups of coffee.
“Rosie, this is delicious. I thought last night’s dinner was heaven, but you’ve outdone yourself this morning,” Daniel said with his mouth full, forgetting all manners.
“I’m glad you like it. I love to cook. If you’re ever down there and get hungry, come on up and help yourself to the food. I just ask that you clean your mess up before you leave.” Rosie smiled and sipped her coffee. “Did the heater keep you warm enough?” It wasn’t yet April and was still pretty chilly at night.
“To be honest, I fell asleep the second I put my head on the pillow. I really like the room, Rosie. Thank you.”
Daniel hadn’t eaten that much food in his life. It was also the first time that biscuits and gravy had ever reached his lips. If he lived here permanently, he’d be the size of a house.
“Isn’t anyone else showing up?”
“I’m kind of short on workers right now. There’s just me and Sam. But now you’re here so that’ll be a big help!”
“Does Sam live here?”
“No, but he’ll be up here around six. You’ll meet him soon enough. His bark is worse than his bite. He’s a nice man once you get to know him.”
“I’m ready to get started as soon as I’m finished. That shouldn’t take too long because this food is amazing.” Daniel didn’t know what he’d been missing. My father’s chef could learn a few things from this woman, that’s for damn sure.
“I would like for you to brush down my horses if you don’t mind. Sadly, I only have two. I had four but had to put two of them down over the past three years because of old age. They were suffering and were my babies, so I wasn’t about to let that continue. The vet said it was the best thing I could have done. She put them to sleep and they didn’t feel a thing.”
“Um..okay. I’m sorry about your other horses, but…” Daniel got a very nervous look on his face, and he could feel his heart begin to beat faster.
“John, have you ever worked with horses?”
“Rosie, I won’t lie to you. I’ll do anything that can be taught to me. I’m kind of fearful of them.”
Rosie smiled, reached over, and patted Daniel on the shoulder. “Not all the work around here has to involve working with the animals. But I think you should spend time around the horses. They’re great, loyal, and I think they just have a way of making everything better.”
“Well, as long as you don’t laugh at me too hard, I’m ready when you are.”
Rosie opened up the barn door, and the nickers and neighs came quickly.
“Good morning, girls!” Rosie walked up to each stall and went inside.
Daniel was amazed at how much love was evident between this little older woman and these huge animals.
“Won’t they hurt you in there?”
“No, my girls are sweet things,” said Rosie as she led each horse out to feed buckets and tethered them to the gate. “I don’t like the horses running around in the pasture with their halters on, so just make sure you take them off.”