I wanted to scout the town I used to call home. Apparently everyone preferred looking at their cellphones instead of actually having a real conversation. The streets were unfamiliar and had changed in many years, however, one place hadn't changed with the times. In fact she was getting lost in town already luckily Helena gave me a flip phone for emergencies, it was the only thing I knew how to use and holding a smartphone was awkward for fear of breaking it.
Someone bumped into me. She turned to see a girl of about fourteen wearing black make up, wearing a black hoodie, tight fitting jeans, pin straight auburn hair, her eyes were round and green, holding a black smartphone that chimed every second, she wore a smug look. "I'm walking here." She said while raising an eyebrow.
I stared at those features closely. That face, that nose, they were mine. Chloe waited for an apology but the girl looked at her with chagrin. had grown so big and different, I remember Leo saying something about Lana's outlook but he had been wrong, it was Lisa, she looked ridiculous. I quickly turned away to avoid recognition.
"Oh, really? Maybe you should try holding that as a bus runs you over." I replied with a glare while pointing at the phone.
"Whatever, you're in my way, and you're supposed to apologize like an actual human being." Lisa demanded.
"Oh, I'm sorry." I cooed. "Sorry that your parents have to watch that ugly make up you put on as you left the house." I smirked as the girl frowned, groaned and walked away.
Later that evening, as Warren did the dishes and the boys had thirty minutes of TV time left before bed. Chloe sat out on the porch swing watching people pass by.The door opened and Helena walked out holding two cups of cocoa, Chloe could tell from the rich aroma and marshmallows. "What are you doing out here? If want I can set up Netflix for you on my computer. You need to catch up on Grey's Anatomy."
"What's Netflix?" I asked trying for a joke.
"And a lot of other things." Helena sat next to her and gave her the cocoa which she gladly sipped.
"So what position did Scott give to you?" Helena asked.
"I have zero ideas until tomorrow." Chloe watched a stray dog run by.
"Well, it should be good, Scott hardly does favors but I think he'll be generous on the pay."
"How'd you know that guy anyway?" She asked.
Helena looked at her in shock. "Seriously? Tall dark and broody, QB of all season? Took my sister to the senior prom?"
I tried to remember but it did not come to me.
"Come on, I literally cried when he twirled her in her perfect blue gown and she was so happy I had to suck it up." Helena looked hurt when I shrugged.
"Well, I had this major crush on him but he was into Daphne."Helena reminded me.
"Whatever I remember of high school is a dark and an empty void. Still holding out a candle light to him are you?" I teased. Helena's cheeks went red.
"Might I remind you that I am married now. Besides Scott left town after high school, he only came back to take care of his Uncle's ranch." Helena sipped her cocoa.
"So, he's not a total idiot after all." I drink my cocoa hot and fast.
"You know you can't say that out loud right? Try to do whatever he says, he's a good guy."
"So, like prison?" I asked.
Helena looked away in disbelief.
I didn't tell Helena I had seen Lisa because then she would pester me to pay a visit. I needed to lay low. When I woke up the next day, the alarm clock on my bedside desk read nine fifteen. I groaned, I was supposed to be at the ranch by eight, Helena had told me she needed to get to the next town for a meeting. I managed to take a shower, brush my teeth and put on some clothes, my hair was sort of okay. I trudged downstairs holding my new backpack and jacket. Warren was just cleaning the kitchen counter top as I walked in.
"Yo, what's for breakfast?" I demanded. He flinched and turned to look at me. He covered his eyes immediately.
"What?" I asked then I realized I hadn't zipped up my jeans, the cotton underwear I wore flashed. I zipped up immediately. "What's for breakfast?"
"Oh it's going to take a while to forget what I just saw." Warren muttered.
I chuckled.
"Anderson has been calling all morning, you need to get down to the ranch." Warren passed me a plate of toast, eggs and orange juice which I ate quickly.
Warren drove me to the ranch. It was quiet.
"So, how did you meet Helena?" I asked.
"Santa Barbara." He replied.
"That's it?" I asked.
"Pretty much." He stared at the road.
"What's so great about you that you tied her down with marriage?" I inquired.
"Look, I need to focus, I need to get to the office. Whatever answers you need, ask her." He made a turn into the ranch waving at a worker. He parked and I got out, he drove away without a word.
The ranch hands stared as I walked by. I saw the kid from yesterday pouring water into a trough. He stared at me. "Morning ma'am. Boss is over at the canteen, next turn. You're late on your first—"
"Whatever." I say and keep walking.
"'Thank you?'" The boy says.
"You're welcome!" I called back.
The ranch isn't that bad. A huge house sits at the back. A lot of buildings and an orchard as far as the eye could see. The canteen was small, she walked in it had stools and tables. A TV with a football game on. Scott was talking to a woman who made gestures with her hands. I looked around for nothing in particular.
"...I don't need extra help." The lady stated. She glared at me. Scott must have noticed because he turned to look at me.
"Good morning Miss Carter, you're about two hours late on your first day." He says. I shrugged.
"Won't happen again."
"Never heard that one before. On this ranch, you turn in by eight, no excuses unless you call in got it?"
I give him a thumps up. "Crystal."
"Wendy, this is Chloe Carter, she'll be assisting you on kitchen duty. You can cook right?"
Scott asked me.
"The kitchen? Are you serious? What is this 1952?" I couldn't believe my ears. Me on kitchen duty.
"You'd rather shovel hay all day?" He asked.
"Yes." I nodded. He stared at me for a second.
"Meet Wendy Ortega, you'll be working for her." He said.
"Hell no, I'm not that desperate." I say.
"You heard her Mr Anderson, she doesn't like it here." Wendy said.
Scott pulled me aside.
"What exactly do you need? You don't have a choice." He muttered.
I could smell peanut butter in his breath and cologne.
"Wrong, I always have a choice. A choice not to be your cook. So what's it gonna be cowboy?"
He searched my eyes in disbelief. "Get to work, any complaints from you and you're fired."
He turned to Wendy. "Take it from here." Then walked away with his boots clacking on the floor.
Wendy stared at me from head to toe. "Well, don't just stand there, pick up a rag and clean these tables."
I scoffed. "Talk to me that way again and I'll—"
"You'll what?" She inquired due to my hesitation.
I had to remember that this was a new environment. "Report you to the boss." I cringed at the thought of that.
"Uh-huh." Wendy smirked. "Pick an apron."
* * *
Lunch hour was literally rush hour as the entire farm workers flooded into the canteen settling down on tables and chatting while yelling orders. They gave me glances. Wendy kept yelling my name pushing trays to my arms. I was frustrated.
"What's your name hun?" One asked. I ignored him and dumped his tray of food on the table. They stank of fertilizer and sweat.
"Must be new." I heard another say.
After over thirty minutes of working, I slumped on a stool after almost everyone had gone back to work. A man sat at a table carefully munching on his chicken sandwich. I noticed he was staring at me then pretended to be interested in the ad for women's shower gel on TV. I rolled my eyes then Wendy stepped over me. "What do you think you're doing?" She asked.
"Taking a break?" I replied.
"Not when you have dishes to do." Wendy retorted. "Your job is to help around not sit out here."
"Looks like you can handle things quite on your own, I need a break so get to it Wen-Wen." I crossed my boots over the table.
Wendy flinched at the sight of that. "Take those filthy boots of that. People eat off that table."
"And I can still smell horse crap in here." I told her.
"It's okay Wendy, let her rest for a bit." The guy who had been sitting over a table said casually.
Wendy looked at him with disbelief and walked back into the kitchen in annoyance.
"You must be Chloe." He told me as I looked at him.
"I didn't ask for your help so, I'm not doing you any favors or going out with you." I said quickly with a glare. He snorted and wiped his lips with a napkin and drank from his glass of water.
"No, I don't want any favors Chloe." He told me. He had dark brown eyes, his chin was chiseled, slender shoulders, military hair cut. I could see a few grey hair on it.
"Really?" I pursed my lips.
"Yes, people can actually be polite when helping without asking for favors in return." He stated.
I looked at the TV watching a basketball game come on. I didn't need to engage in a conversation with him, I know a trouble maker when I see one. Back in prison, we could only watch old telenovelas and helpful videos on anger management, the real world felt bleak and pointless now. The guy stood up and walked by me. "Have a nice day." He told me.
I ignored him.
"You should count yourself lucky that the Foreman helped you out. You really shouldn't be acting like that in front of him." Wendy told me as I did the dishes. You'd think a state of the art ranch canteen would have a workable dishwasher. The kitchen was cool, with green marble tiled worktops, a big cooker, grills, a fridge, neatly arranged utensils in drawers. Not a spot of dirt, well, except the sink filled with dirty plates.
"Act like what?" I asked.
"Self absorbed, rude." Wendy replied as She wiped the cookers clean.
"So, it's like looking into a mirror right?" I say and smile when she glares at me.
"I don't appreciate your tone Chloe." Wendy told me.
"Aw, if only I gave the tiniest shit about it." I replied sarcastically.
Wendy didn't speak to me again.