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Wesley worked with the colt a bit more before leading the animal into the barn, latching the colt in a stall and grabbing another bottle. He hiked over to the dairy barn, milked a cow for however many boring minutes, and went back to the calf. It was awake and mooing mournfully again. Wesley slipped on a halter that looked more made for the calf, and plopped down on the same haystack he had been at before. Eh, it was comfortable. He then proceeded to bottle-feed the calf, sighing slightly and gazing out at the open plains. Wesley so badly wanted to be out there, herding cows, yelling, and joking around with his fellow cowboys. He was almost NEVER this quiet... but for some reason being around Ella seemed to make him shut his mouth. Like he didn't want to say something that would offend her. The sun was starting to set, and Wesley smiled as he heard hoots and hollers. Obviously the men were coming back. They came into the yard and dismounted off their horses, at least half of them coming straight over to Wesley. "Another one? You poor thing, being condemned to the barn first and having to take care of a calf second. I'll be laughin at ya!" One of them snickered, slapping him on the back. "Wull thanks, I needed the extra demoralizing support." Wesley snorted back, though a grin came onto his face. The cowboy's walked away and took care of their horses, not becoming any quieter in the barns. "It's a wonder I haven't gone deaf already." Wesley mumbled |
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Ella had been so invested and zoned out reminiscing, that when she heard the shouts of many men who she assumed were the cowboys, she jumped quite hard, startled. She froze, like a deer in headlights, and stared as they talked to Wesley for a bit, before putting her head in her hands. She pretty much wanted to pull her eyes out at the sight of them, hope it would prevent her from freaking out slightly. They were loud, incredibly loud, and she couldnt help but wonder what the horses at home would actually think. Or the people. She eventually jumped down from the hay bale, and barged past the multiple yelling men, making eye contact with none of them. |
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(Hey, they weren't yelling. They have just learned how to talk loud enough to raise a roof... XD)) - Wesley finished with the calf and led it back, glancing at Ella. She looked quite uncomfortable, and he could only imagine why. After he had made sure the calf was settled, he went to where the cowboys were untacking. "Hey, guys? I need to ask a favor." Wesley started, getting cut off. "Aw Wiley boy wants to ask a FAVOR... of us? Hm." One of the cowboys laughed, then the rest broke into chuckles. "Shut up. Now, I don't want you botherin' the girl. No jokes, teasin', or chuckles, laughs, or snickers. If possible, QUIET yourselves to below *breaking sound barrier* volume. Thanks." Wesley said sarcastically, but his hard gaze held no twinkle, just bored into the men. They all quieted, since Wesley was rarely ever... serious. "Yes sir." "Yes boss." "Right away sir." "Sounds good ma'am." Mutters came from most of the cowboys to show they understood, and the last one was just one of them trying to make a little trouble, so Wesley cast a death glare that way and departed. |
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I stand by my point with the yelling then xD) She wasn't exactly sure where to go, since she'd only been as far as the barn alone, and anywhere she'd been that was further, aka the trail ride, had been with Wesley. She just leant against the wall and watched out the corner of her eye, observing everything that was going on, the momvement of the men, he habits of the horses, the..cows. It was definitely better to sit back and observe than stand up and interrupt, you could miss things. It was strange, Ella never usually thought like that, courest of her parents. If something seemed different..talk. If something seemed even the tiniest bit weird..insult. But here, she just wanted to watch. Learn. It was interesting. She glanced over at Wesley talking to the multiple cowboys, and though she couldnt hear what they had said, they seemed to have quietened down slightly. She was grateful for that at least. Ella flashed Wesley a small smile to almost say thanks though she had no idea what he'd done, or if he'd even done it for her. |
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Wesley leaned up against a wall for a moment with his eyes closed, his brow furrowed, and a hand placed on his face. He never really understood exactly how ANNOYING those men were until he tried to stand in Ella's shoes. He took in a deep breath and then heard the call for supper, walking over to Ella first. "You, madam guest, will be sitting at the ranch house table... away from all these... things." Wesley spoke to her, then gestured to all the cowboys grinning as they went to go get their food. "Serves much better food with a lot quieter bunch. Plus there are other women, if that helps. Aaron, the ranch owner, and his wife, Elizabeth, with their young daughter, Mary. I hope you enjoy eating a quiet and civilized meal. Go into the ranch house and instead of going up the stairs, towards your bedroom, take a left and you'll magically appear in the dining room. Have fun." Wesley explained, giving a slight salute at the end before walking off to the mess hall... a seperate building for only cowboys to eat in. |
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"Right, thanks." Ella smiled warmly, then turned on her heel to enter the house. She was relieved he'd told her where to go, and even grateful he had told her about the other women. But eating in front of others? She would most certainly not enjoy that. She racked her brain for Wesleys instructions, and eventuall found where she was meant to be going. Having never had to actually sit down with others let alone people she didn't know, she imply gave weak smiles to everyone in there and seated herself, hoping at least one person would talk. |
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Wesley went into the mess hall and ate with the other loud people, a grin coming onto his face the first time that day. -I need these people, even if they are loud ... all times- He thought cheerily, refueling himself. "So Wiley, how ya doin' with that girl o' yours?" One of the cowboys asked with a sly smile, and the rest snickered. "Well every time she sees you loudmouths, not very good!" Wesley teased back, and the cowboy he was now having a word battle with narrowed his eyes. The rest took in a collective breath to help with the dramatic pause. "Wull it ain't my problem I'm loud. Maybe you should just take her somewhere alone." The cowboy (Troy) sneered. Laughs were heard round the table. Now, this happened a lot... one cowboy would challenge another and they would toss insults and teasings back and forth until one of them gave up. It happened to Wesley quite a lot, because he was the highest ranking person there. Every time it happened, he won. He was quite good at this kind of thing. Wesley took in a slow breath and smiled. "Ah but Troy, it IS your problem you are loud. Maybe you should just take your big mouth out and go round up some cows. It might help grow you some new braincells." Wesley said quietly, and gasps were heard round the table with his last comment. Troy let out a growl and glared at Wesley. "I have more brain cells than you could get in a lifetime. You obviously don't have that many... no wonder the boss put you with the girl instead of me." Troy snickered. "Or maybe the boss put me with the girl because I was smart enough not to annoy her to death? Hm, think about that madam no-brain-cells." Wesley purred smoothly, standing up after he was done eating. All the cowboys roared with laughter, and Troy got very red in the face. "Just remember, I rank higher than you because I am smarter. If you have a brain to think about that with, use it." He laughed cheerily, and everyone continued to laugh. Wesley sauntered out, having won yet another *battle of the titans* and went to the barn. Aaron, his wife, and their 12 year old daughter all ate at the table with Ella. Elizabeth (the wife) asked Ella how she was doing, if she needed anything, and whether she should tell Aaron to kick those loud cowboys out to the other side of the range. Quiet conversation went on, and Elizabeth and Mary were very welcoming. The food was quite good, and fit for a queen as far as Aaron was concerned. |
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Ella responded the best she could to Elizabeths questions, doing her best not to keep her words to an absoute minimum as she tended to do around here. She engaged in conversation as best she could, and shook her head at the mention of the cowboys. As much as, at the moment, she really did not like being around them, she didn't want them thinking badly of her either. If at any point she inconvenienced them, who knows what would happen? She didnt, and certainly didnt want to find out. Ella was overly relieved that Elizabeth and Mary seemed so welcoming, it calmed her nerves a lot. Aaron, not so much, but then again she didnt really..look at him at all. As she had finally finished, she made sure they allowed her to leave before heading up to her room, sticking her phone on charge and was ready to head down to the barn when she read a rather..interesting message. It was from the same unknown number as it had been since the accident, and yet again read- miss me?- Ella threw her phone back down on her bed, rested her head in her hands and pushed back tears, though it proved difficult. She had high suspicions it was the man who attacked her, he was..known round there for that. Out of jail and everything. But he couldnt leave her alone at all? Not once . Ella had let a few tears slip, resulting in wet eyelashes, but she did her best to dry them as she was heading downstairs, smiling as she passed others. She made her way to the barn, her heart racing. She felt dizzy, a result of silent panic attacks, but was able to push it down as she found Wesley. "Hey...Is there anything i'm meant to actually do now?" She asked, rubbing her eyes. |
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Wesley ended up sitting on the same boring haybale, feeding the same boring milk to the same boring calf. He was, admittedly, at this point... almost falling asleep. He snapped awake when Ella came over, his brow furrowing as soon as he saw her. She looked mighty unhappy, and he could tell she had been crying.. or was still crying. What could have upset her that much? -I guess being away from home may have overwhelmed her... but I have a feeling that's not what it is- Wesley thought, standing up. The calf snorted with a sad moo, wanting more milk. "What do you mean? Like, is there a job for you? You really don't need to do anything..." Wesley sounded a little hurried, but that was because he was worried. He didn't let that show too much though, only like the 50 warning signs flashing across his face to show he was worried. Apart from that, nothing. |
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Ella did her best to subtly wipe her eyes again, and forced a weak smile as she peered down the barn at the various horses. "Are you..okay?" She asked, looking at the large amount of worry displayed on his face. She hadn't ever shown people she cried, not once. Apart from when she saw a jellyfish, she cried then. They're terrifying, arent they? But this time, Wesley seemed to have picked up on it, and, not being used to it, Ella had no idea whether to act like she was fine or just..cry. No, she couldnt cry in front of him, he certainly wouldnt know what to do. Or believe her about the somewhat stalker-like man. The attack was enough of an unbelievable story. Ella kept the smile on her face for a little while longer, her hand shaking slightly as she wiped hair out her face, and pushed down the immense feeling of fear. Like the guy was there. "I know. But I really dont have anything else to do, being.new here and stuff." She did her best to keep her voice steady, and her breaths regular. If not, she'd have a panic attack. |
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Sunny
