And then something clanked. The entire tractor rocked. I sat up, scrambling to turn everything off, and the entire tractor began to shake like it was having a seizure. Mower first, I remembered. RPMs next. Brake. No, not that pedal. I needed the brake. The machine around me was banging and clanging in a very bad way, and I was sure I'd broken it.
I should've been paying attention. I'd been sitting here daydreaming, and I'd broken this thing bad. Fuck, fuck, fuck. Yet somehow I got it all shut down, and then I did the one thing I really didn't ever want to have to do. I picked up my phone, found Luke's contact in the list, and sent off a text.
Cy:Pretty sure I just broke the tractor.
What I got back first was a string of tilted crying-face emojis. The laughing kind. Thankfully, more came right after.
Luke:Guess you found that rock I couldn't get out. Sit tight. I'll be right there.
Cy:So, did I already fuck up the hay before we started?
Luke:A farm boy you are not. It's supposed to do that. I got a replacement bolt. OMW.
Oh, thank fuck. Leaning back on the seat I pushed out a sigh of relief. Yeah, he could laugh at me for this. I'd even take it. Granted, I also wanted to know what the hell had just happened, because I was too damned old to have another heart attack like that. But when I looked up and saw Luke making his way across the pasture, I decided that maybe this little interruption would be worth it. I might even steal another kiss.
Chapter Forty-Nine
Icouldn't stop laughing. I'd heard the blade hit the rock from up at the barn. I knew the resulting rattle had probably freaked Cy right the hell out. I'd already grabbed the necessary tools and a couple of replacement bolts before he managed to shut the whole thing down and send the first text. Of course, he was stuck on the far corner of the property, out where no one would see him, but not too far from the barn, so I wasn't about to bitch.
"Set it all down," I yelled when I was close enough.
Cy released the hydraulic pressure, and the old pull-behind swather sighed as it sank down. I headed right for the part I knew would be broken, and Cy hopped off to meet me around the back. Sure enough, the breakaway bolt for the gearbox had sheared, preventing the blades from snapping and causing an even bigger problem.
"What the fuck is wrong with it?" Cy asked.
So I grabbed what remained of the bolt and lifted it out. "This? It takes the strain if the blades stop spinning. Prevents the gears from stripping, and makes sure there's some elasticity so the blades won't break. Safety measures, Cy." I looked up and smiled, all too aware that he was looking at me as if I'd made some miracle.
"So I'm not in shit?"
"Nope," I promised as I worked the new bolt into place. "I knew that rock was out here. I just forgot to say anything. It's a big one, too. Not gonna get it out unless we have a backhoe, so not really worth it. Sticks up just enough to hit the blades if you're centered over it."
"Love it when you talk technical shit," he teased.
"Well, hop back up there and lift this up again so I can get to the underside," I told him. "Don't turn on the PTO. I'd like to not die today. Just lift it all the way up."
"Can do," he promised.
But Cy knew enough about tractors that he didn't bother starting the thing. He just flicked the key so the glow plugs were warming, and that gave him enough to lift the swather up so I could get under it. When I heard him engage the parking brake, I dropped to my knees and crawled under the whole mess. Yep, the blades were still good. No permanent damage done.
And right there was the other part of my bolt. I scooted a little more, and heard Cy climb back down. A moment later, he was beside me, peeking under the thing to watch what I was doing. Giving in, he flopped down on the ground the same way I was.
Then I felt a hand on my inner thigh. High.
"You trying to distract me?" I asked.
"Just appreciating the fit of your jeans," he promised.
"Little higher and to the left," I teased.
Damned if he didn't obey. I felt his palm run across my dick, and that shit was no longer soft. I tried to ignore it, concentrating on getting this nut onto the bolt, but it didn't help. Just the name of it had my dick getting even harder. When he cupped my balls, I damned near dropped the thing.
"You are not making this easy," I laughed, finally getting it threaded.
"Not my fault you're hot when you're doing your thing." But he moved his hand.
Never mind that my dick was like a damned rock now. I could fucking feel it throbbing each time my heart beat. Still, I managed to replace the bolt, got the nut tightened, and I was sure it would work, then I made my way back toward him.
My hands found his chest and I pushed him down, rolling over him even as I came out from under the equipment. "Starting to think you broke down over here on purpose," I teased.
