"What are you thinking?"
Mentor's eyebrows puckered in a frown. He stopped staring into space to glance at the guy on the other side of the table. "Sorry?"Fabian stopped wiping at the table with a rag and flicked his long black hair out of his face. "What you thinking, boss man?""Hmmm," Mentor said absent-mindedly, shrugging. "Nothing much."It was Fabian's turn to hum in disbelief. But the guy didn't want to push it. So he went back to wiping at the table. "As I was saying, she said I had to get my ass home by twelve on weekends. Like, who does that? Is she seriously going to stay up all night waiting for me?"Mentor's mouth bent in a smug smile. "Dude, given your indiscriminately wild nature, I'd say your mother being autocracy is the best for you."The guy smiled, dropping the rag on the table. "Not you too, boss. Come on, she's making it hell for me."Mentor picked his own rag to give the table one last wipe. "I have a feeling she's going to stop doing that the day you start showing some responsibility."Fabian laughed loud and rolled his coal-black eyes. "Yeah, right. Next thing, I should be getting married too. How old am I?"His boss chuckled and followed him back up to the house. The other ranch hands had gone home about half an hour ago, with those staying on the ranch going back to the ranch bunkhouse. On their long dinner evenings, Fabian usually stayed last.Fabian was his closest ranch hand, although the guy was half a decade his junior at twenty years of age. And although their age difference wasn't that much, it was no secret that the younger guy looked up to him like a father he never had. Who was he kidding? The boy pretty much worshipped him. And he too saw the guy as a close younger brother, although a very mischievous and delinquent one at that.When they reached the lobby, Fabian started to fetch his overcoat from the coat closet and Mentor sat at a small tub chair to start untying his bull-hide boots."Oh, by the way, " Fabian spoke up, glancing at him while rummaging in the hall closet. "Who was that hot chick that came down here earlier?"A frown had started to form on Mentor's face again before he remembered the lady. "Oh. The new neighbour at Mrs Casss's house. She's a damn tourist." He glanced at Fabian and the frown turned into a scowl. He could practically see what the promiscuous bastard has in mind. "No way. Come off it, dude. You had better not."Fabian was not only mischievous, but he was also wanton as well. Part of the reason his mother wanted him to settle down. The guy had a huge thing for sleeping around. And it was especially worse during the tourist season. Come all tourist seasons, the female tourists were in for it from the Fabian. Mentor just constantly hoped he wouldn't let his affairs get in his way of work.That was the only thing he would not tolerate.Chuckling, the guy raised his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, I was just asking, " he said. "Yeah, she's smoking hot but I kinda noticed that soft-y look in your eyes at her presence.""What?" His head snapped back to the younger guy. "What the heck?""Yeah, boss man. I was thinking -"He started to laugh. "No way, man. Delete those godamned 'thinking' from your mind." He finger-quoted, scowling now.Fabian raised his hands in surrender again. "Okay, okay. I'mma head on out before you bite my pretty head off."Mentor rolled his eyes. "Good that."Fabian threw him that patronizing look he hated and Mentor swore low under his breath.The young guy had caught on to his pissy mood and he quickly started to excuse himself. "See you tomorrow, boss man. Condolences about the animals today."Mentor nodded grimly, his anger dissipating as the thought of the day's incident at the ranch crashed over him, wiping him clean of his anger."Say hello to little Ilene."With that, Fabian walked out of the house, down the road to where his moped stood. It was almost dark already and the nocturnal chill had set in. At least, it wasn't blustering windstorms today. Mentor watched as the vehicle stirred up a shadow of dust and disappeared down the gravel road.He turned back toward the house and thought about what Fabian said again. A scoff slipped from his lips. Wasn't the guy just plain ridiculous? He so didn't fancy that woman. She was just a bloody tourist, that was it. Although he would admit that he had been rather hard on her, she being a stranger and all, but he was ready to chuck all that up to the day's stress at the ranch, with them losing two of their cattle.Well, hopefully, he wouldn't be seeing her again, so he wouldn't have to apologise."I'm going to head on out now, sir."He glanced up at the frail voice, casting away his present thoughts."Mrs Rosenthal," he said, putting on his warmest smile.The elderly widow had been working for him for almost four years now and never for once had the woman, who was just a bit more than twice his age, listened to his pleas to stop calling him sir. She was the housekeeper and also minded his daughter.Every weekday, she came in late in the mornings and left early in the evenings. Today had been an exception, it being the ranchers' monthly dinner evening and all. The woman cooked for him, cleaned the house and also looked after his kid during her time here. She also left them enough stuff to last the weekends. She had pretty much been in his daughter's life, all the kid's life?Although he paid her a handsome salary for it (a fact the woman was perpetually grateful for), Mentor still always felt like it wasn't enough. The woman came all the way from the hustle and bustle of the town to mind his house every day, after all. And she did have children of her own too, although they were all grown and mostly married now."Dear God, you look so tired, sir." The woman's wrinkly brown eyes stared at him in horror.He smiled as much as he could to allay her fears. "It's okay, Mrs Rosenthal. Just a long day at the ranch." He winked at her. "Nothing a long hot bath won't wash away."The woman didn't look one bit convinced as she picked up her woollen scarf from the coat hanger and proceeded to wrap it around her.She glanced at him with a chastising frown. "You should go kiss your daughter good night and go to sleep instead."He folded his hands behind his back and smiled. "I'll do that, Mrs Rosenthal.""Huh," was all the woman said. She walked towards the big vase by the mantelpiece.She picked out the flowers in the vase every evening and came back the next day with fresh ones to put in. There were plenty of flowers lying around the property, but the woman preferred to bring from the ones in the special garden in her front yard.Mentor had no problem with it and let her have it her way since she pretty much ran his house."Thanks for today, Mrs Rosenthal," he said as usual. He started to head up the stairs to his daughter's room. The elderly woman could let herself out. She commuted daily in her small, old hunchback Nissan.On getting to Queen's room, the girl was tucked in bed already, clutching MeeMee, her big, fluffy red panda and she was still awake, waiting up for him. His heart went out to the elderly woman again. Mentor didn't know what he would do without her. He didn't think he could do anything in this house without her.The stupid white excuse for a goat bleated at him as he stepped into the room. Chagrin settled on him like a blanket and he threw the thing a quick scowl from where it was sitting in its bed by the door. Every second in the presence of that annoying thing had him regretting getting it for Queen's birthday."Go to sleep, Mr Goat," Queen said in a whispery voice. She looked up at him with eyes wide.Guilt poked at his flesh. He could tell the little girl was remorseful about earlier and it was his fault."Daddy, are you still mad at me? I'm sorry." Her mouth tightened as her eyes soaked with tears.He quickly took a seat beside her on the bed. "No, no, baby. I'm sorry." He looked up at the ceiling and sighed. He loved his daughter to bits and he tried his best to be in every moment of her life. His ideal way of raising a kid included showering with love and being strict when it was absolutely necessary. But maybe he was trying too hard.Queen was a good kid and had never given him any trouble. And that was something to be grateful for.He sighed again and absently smoothed the hair out of her face. "You really shouldn't go up there now as it's occupied," he said.Queen nodded vigorously in agreement.He tucked the duvet tighter around her and adjusted MeeMee in her arms. "Comfy?"Queen smiled. "Comfy."He returned the smile and bent to kiss her cheek. "How was your day?"The girl giggled and pretended to think deeply about it. "It was cool," she eventually said. "We went up to the big market in Mrs Rosenthal's ball car."Queen refused to be persuaded that the housekeeper's hunchback wasn't a giant soccer ball taken straight out of the field and fixed up on wheels."That's nice," he said. "Queen, Daddy's sorry for being harsh earlier today," he added after a long pause.The girl smiled and reached up to pat his cheek. "It's okay, Daddy," she said. "Are you okay?" There was a slight stress on the 'you'.A pregnant pause packed the air.He took hold of the tiny hand on his cheek and squeezed it fondly. He was deeply touched by his daughter's concern, she was such a sweetheart. But he didn't want to be the source of her worries. He never wished to be. She was just so little and too young to be having worries. At such young age, she ought to be carefree and happy, like other kids. How many five-year-olds frowned in worry at least once a day?None, he answered his own question.He rubbed her hand in-between his and smiled. "Daddy's going to be fine, sweetheart. He just had a super tough day at work," he said. "A cow ran away but Daddy got him back." He made a show of strength by flexing his bicep and doing a mock strong face.Queen giggled and clutched the panda tighter.Satisfied, he bent to place a deep kiss on her forehead. "Good night, sweetheart.""Good night, Daddy." Her eyes fluttered closed with a beautiful smile on her face.Mentor was just at the door, reaching for the light switch when his daughter spoke up again. Her voice has gone all drowsy and sleep-laden."Aunt Shilla called today."He froze, his hand in mid-air.Shilla? He frowned intensely as a tiny feeling breezed past. What did his sister want this time?"What'd Aunt Shilla say?" he was quick to ask."She said . . ." Queen's voice had been slurred and barely audible.When she didn't say anything again he turned back to the kid and sighed. She had gone to sleep. Her panda was clutched tight and a happy smile rested on her face.A soft feeling unfolded in his chest. She was so adorable.He turned off and closed the door behind him. God knows what Shilla had said. He had better go get his phone.Mentor was already settled in bed. He picked up his phone from the nightstand and found Shilla's number.After three rings, the call was picked. A baby voice came over the line."Heyyo?"His eyebrow quirked and he smiled. That had to be Dexter, his two-year-old nephew. "Hi, Dexter. It's Uncle Mentor. Can you give the phone to your mommy?""I don't have a uncle," the boy protested rather loudly.A chuckle broke from his lips. "Yes, you do, sonny. I'm Mommy's brother."The boy didn't reply to this and all Mentor heard was heavy breathing on the line. He started to wonder if he should cut the call or try calling his brother-in-law and he settled for the former, the latter being something he didn't look forward to doing.As luck would have it, Shilla's voice came in the background. He heard her asking her son who he was speaking to. The boy blew a loud raspberry and giggled, and then Shilla's voice was speaking on the phone."Oh my God, Mentor. Sorry about that." She chuckled. "I can har
If this wasn't pure bliss then Everest didn't know what it was. Lounging in a cold and calm lake on a cool night, all alone and with nothing to disturb you.Despite the frigid cold in the air, the pale white full moon shone down in all its glory. Its multiple bursts of reflections on the repose lake shimmered and sparkled like a thousand white jewels on the sleeping water.Although it was yet to rain for the season, the fresh, earthy scent that came with rain permeated the air like an air freshener. Everest could see the bright, translucent beads of moisture that the early late-night dew had formed on the blades of grass about the lake.Daring to explore beyond her backyard had been worth it after all. The landlady hadn't mentioned anything about a lake being on her property, so when she had found it in all of its restful glory, she had been astonished.It turned out the picturesque prairie that stretched on at the back of her house had an ending after all. She had just finished her s
The next two days were pretty uneventful for Everest. She spent time setting up her small rented house properly and of course, keeping up with her friends online.She had been wanting to go into town to check out stuff but had been putting it off to enjoy a few days of quiet she had come here for. Opening the pantry and finding it full of all of a bag of chips and pretty much nothing else had done it for her. She had had no choice but to go into town today.She walked down the piazza and broke into a small laugh on seeing the bustle before her.Finally! It seemed like she had found her way to the market successfully. She dropped into the nearest canopied seat at an open shop to the side and stuffed the map back into her tote bag to wipe the film of perspiration from her hot brow, breathing heavily. The real reason she had been postponing going into town was the absence of transportation. The distance from her side of the town to the umbra was a huge fucking stretch that couldn't be
Mentor Gayle Calloway had never found himself so worked up like this before. Well, at least, not in the past four years. The most he had done was get angry at some occurrence on the ranch or get worried.But the way his heart palpitated so fast like the workings of a water turbine, and the way the thing called fear clutched his whole being in a vice-like grip, it all sprung a new one on him.And that it was all happening because of his new neighbour was something that scared him the most. Akin to the emotions of a prepubescent school boy getting a first glance from his crush.When the subject of his unwonted feelings smiled his way, Mentor could have sworn his heart had done a rolling somersault in his chest of its own accord. Was it because of the way that elegant smile showed the slight dimple on her left cheek and lit up the room? Or the way that same glow of a smile seemed to affect all the males around her, dazzling them into a frozen audience?"Hi," she said softly. He struggle
It was early morning, maybe a bit past six. Filmy blankets of mist still wandered in the low sky, shrouding everything down below it in damp layers of cold. Everest wrapped her white terry robe tighter around her body and shut the curtain. Then she turned away from the window and leaned against the wall beside it.She covered a yawn and eyed the four-poster bed. Going back to sleep would be a good thing right now, but she had made up her mind to start working today. Her days of lazying about were over.After that trip to the market a few days ago, she had barely stepped out of the house. With the gardening equipment she had found in a metal box in the barn, she had worked on her front garden, discovering her very green fingers. Then she had been to the big bookshop cum library in town just yesterday afternoon. Bored and having all day on her hands, she had wandered her front yard as though looking over her garden when Mrs Casss's rusty old truck Lassie pulled up at her front gate.Th
A normal day at Calloway Cattle Ranch involved nomadic cowhands and ranch hands herding the cows out to new pastures all day, workers that operated the dairy and those that were in charge of animal care and the likes. Most of the ranch hands slept in the ranch bunkhouse, a gentrified redbrick building that sat further up the hillMentor walked towards the large stable, having handed off his daughter to a trusted worker who was wager to give her a tour. The stable held a total of thirty-four stalls and twenty-nine horses, with seventeen lined on either side of the wide longitudinal walk path.The smell of juniper and steed enveloped the air as he entered through the main front door.He could hear some whistling ranch hands busy in the empty stables with spades and iron pans and he remembered the stables were supposed to be mucked today."Nice morning, boss," they greeted him.He returned their greeting and nodded."Where's Pinky?" he asked a guy carrying a filled pail beside him."He's
It was afternoon before Everest knew it. She had spent all day on her laptop sketching and then working on the foundation of two houses. Now the inertia had worked a kink into her shoulder.She pushed to her feet from the desk and massaged her shoulder blades, working her neck from side to side. She closed her laptop to put it to sleep and walked toward the dressing table.She bent to inspect her fatigued face in the mirror. Her black curls were packed into a puffy bun on the top of her head, and now perspiration clung to her hairline.She stood and examined her pink dress shirt and tight black leather shorts. Maybe she could go out.The sheet of perspiration in her hairline trickled down her right temple. A cold shower should probably be in order first. Everest had started toeing off her sneakers when she remembered the lake and how it'd be a perfect place to have a cold afternoon bath. Besides, the shower was likely to be too hot at this time of the day anyway.While slipping off t
When Everest had made the offer to help the rancher's kid braid her hair someday she hadn't expected the girl to show up on her doorstep thirty-two minutes later with a toothy smile and a kvetching goat.She had been mixing cake batter and had just slid the last cupcake tray into the oven whether doorbell chimed.The little girl had changed out of her dress into a sky-blue spaghetti top and blue and pink jeans. She gripped a small box to her stomach and also tried to plead to the recalcitrant goat with the same hands."Mrs Rosenthal said I could come," she explained with a smile."Come in." Everest opened the door wide and let the girl walk in. She cast a glance at the goat and hoped the headstrong creature wouldn't cause a nuisance in her house.She closed the door and turned to the girl. She wouldn't lie, she was excited. And nervous. She hadn't made someone's hair in a long while.The time she had been consistent with hair making had been when she was young and her kid brother youn