"Yeah, you're probably right." He accepted his cellphone and then looked at her name.
"Darcie."
"Darcelyn." She leaned forward and whispered, "But my friends call me Darcie."
"Noted."
Swift grinned, hearing lust in her voice. He was trying to stay focused, but his dick jumped, alerting him that he might have a winner to drop his load in… covered, of course. He was feeling Starlah, but he also knew that whatever he felt had to be shelved.
"I'll be in touch."
"And I'll be waiting. Just drive around back. The guys will load the doghouses for you. I hope they enjoy it."
The more active Chevy and Papa were, the more he felt compelled to take them outside, but he also didn't want to have to sit with them while he walked around with Wrangler, getting to know the other staff.
It was Peyton who took care of the horses, Jackson who attended to the cows, goats, and pigs, and Randolph, whoattended to the chickens. Swift was becoming quite the farmer himself when Wrangler took him through the field, where corn, potatoes, even tomatoes, and pole beans were grown, explaining how they treated the crops and then prepared them for shipping once sold.
What they didn't sell, Lucky made sure to set some aside for the free pantry that gave out free food every other Friday. Unfortunately, since Lucky and Creed's deaths, the pantry has been closed, and the farm's production has suffered severely. Even payroll was late, but Logan was working each day with the accountant to pay out as much as they could.
"I'm sure they will."
Once the doghouses were loaded up, Swift took the long ride home. Colt being with some woman had really stumped him. He'd heard he was on the outs with Starlah through rumors at the mechanic shop, but the way he looked at her on the day of the funeral told him that Colt wanted her badly. It also didn't hurt that Colt would barely speak to him anytime they were at the mechanic shop.
Instead, Colt would pass by him, then he'd mumble an acknowledgement of sorts, but not much of anything else. Swift was no snitch, but he also wasn't sure if he'd sit around and let him pretend that he wasn't foul if he caught him snooping around Starlah's front doorstep again.
When Swift looked to his right, his eyes lit up when he saw an upcoming event on a sign. He had an idea that included Starlah. He couldn't make her go to work, but he hoped he could draw her out of the house long enough to force her to let her hair down. It also gave him some time alone with her. He felt something between them, and he knew she felt it too. He just prayed he didn't misread it, or he may fuck her up even more.
Starlah lookedout the window as Swift jogged around the perimeter of the farm. He did it every morning at sunrise with Papa and Chevy on his heels. Years later, he was no longer the tall, barefaced, dark-skinned poster child for the pretty boy he once was. He'd grown taller, his shoulders and chest broader, even his legs, as both puppies ran like hell to keep up with him.
Star swung her legs over the bed and looked down at the shorts and t-shirt she'd easily worn two days in a row. She sniffed under her arms and frowned. While she hadn't been outside, she'd been hiding under the huge comforter she'd taken off Lucky's bed. It smelled like him, just like the huge t-shirt she wore that belonged to Creed, but the least of her worries was how she smelled, not how much her heart ached.
She looked up, and her cheeks lightly flushed as she caught Chevy and Papa rolling around. Swift clearly had his hands full when he jogged back toward them and tried to intervene when Papa jumped up, knocking him down.
"Opps." She covered her mouth, pushing out a soft snicker. "Tough fella. Yeah," she celebrated. "Kick his ass."
Chevy barked, then circled them before Swift fell on his back, giving up the fight. He then had not one but two puppies that pounced on him before they rolled onto their backs next to him. He sat up, then gently rubbed their stomachs. When they settled down and rolled over, all three of them sat there… quietly.
In that moment, Starlah leaned toward the window, and Swift closed his eyes, his head leaning back. The sun covered his sweaty, chocolate skin as he sat there in peace, not moving. She wanted to feel what he felt, as he sat on the grass with two puppies who appeared to give him all the peace in the world.
Star stood and sauntered to the bathroom, turned on the shower, and slowly peeled her clothes off. Her heart raced with each breath she took, tears rolling down her cheeks. She was tired, tired of feeling tired, and she too wanted to feel the sun on her face.She felt she hadn't since that morning, when she woke up to hear that her father, brother, and godfather were all gone.
Life sucked before they passed away. It still sucked, but Star wanted to feel something different. She wanted to feel peace as she stood in the shower under the stream of warm water that spilled down her head and over her body. She turned her head to the window, and there Swift was, this time with Rhoda and Rocky, Chevy's parents.
He was a natural, or he seemed to be, as they took commands when he tossed a Frisbee, both taking off after it.
She'd never known them to play with one, but a lot had changed, it seemed, especially the fact that she'd never see herfather and brother outside again, rallying up the cattle and sheep while Rhoda and Rocky waited until they were all secure.
By the time she'd showered, dried off, and found something quick to put on, she heard a few voices inside. Shame washed over her after she'd avoided her houseguests. She knew if her father and definitely her mother were alive, she'd be chastised.
After Star had dragged some gel through her hair and spritzed a bit of perfume on, she made her way to the living room, preparing to greet her guests.
"Hey, Mrs. Brighton."
London looked up and gasped, a grin appearing on her face at the sight of Starlah. She was beautiful. Her already coiled texture was wet and curly, hints of gold strands appearing as she raked her hand through her hair, feeling nervous.
"Hey, sweetie." She took one step, then paused with her arms open. "May I?"
Star pinched her lips, holding back tears as she nodded. Within seconds, she was across the room with both arms wrapped around Swift's mother's body. The trembling of her body was felt, followed by her tears against her chest. They stood there in silence, his mother applying gentle strokes down her back. When Star pulled away, she lifted her eyes and smiled.
