This is the thirty-fifth part in a series, so if you have not already done so, you might want to read Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII, Part IX, Part X, Part XI, Part XII, Part XIII, Part XIV, Part XV, Part XVI, Part XVII, Part XVIII, Part XIX, Part XX, Part XXI, Part XXII, Part XXIII, Part XXIV, Part XXV, Part XXVI, Part XXVII, Part XXVIII, Part XXIX, Part XXX, Part XXXI, Part XXXII, Part XXXIII, and Part XXXIV before continuing.
I had heard someone walk into the house, and I assumed it was Charlie, but when I called out to her, the person bolted for Charlie’s bedroom and slammed the door without answering.
I stood in the kitchen for a moment wondering what to do. I was hardly about to barge into a woman’s bedroom, but I did want to at least confirm it was Charlie and that she was OK.
I knocked on her bedroom door, only to hear, “Occupied” get shouted from the other side of the door.
I bit back a laugh. “I figured. The question is whether you want pancakes with your breakfast, or do you just want to stick with eggs and sausages?”
There was a pause before Charlie’s voice said, “You made pancakes?”
“I’m in the process of making them now, but I have to hurry back to the stove before they start burning. I just wanted to make sure you’re OK and that you’re … you.”
I heard a chuckle come from the other side of the door. “I’m fine, thank you for asking. And, yes, I’m me. No body snatchers here.”
“You sure? I’d hate to get the body-snatching authorities involved, but I’ll do it if I have to.”
“I’m sure.”
“That’s just what a body snatcher would say.”
“Go make sure your pancakes don’t burn!”
That did sound like the Charlie I know, and she had a point, so I hurried back to the stove.
No sooner had I headed for the kitchen than I heard her door open and heard her run for the bathroom.
I can understand wanting a shower after herding cattle. What I didn’t understand was why I wasn’t allowed to see her.
I had just plated a batch of pancakes and was starting to pour out the next batch when Jen walked in.
“Breakfast for dinner?”
“We haven’t had a chance to eat breakfast yet, and I’m starving. I figured eggs with toast and sausages would be the fastest thing to cook.”
“What about the pancakes?”
“They don’t take too long, either. And I’m starving, and I assume Charlie is too, so I may have gone a little overboard.” I looked over my handiwork and realized it resembled that scene from Pleasantville when Reese Witherspoon sits down to breakfast and the table is stacked with towers of breakfast food.
My stomach rumbled and Jen laughed. “Why don’t you let me finish up the pancakes while you sit down and eat?”
“You sure?”
“I’m sure. I had breakfast.”
I was so grateful I barely said thanks as I shoved the spatula in her hand and grabbed a plate. I had already shoveled a few forkfuls of food in my mouth before I thought to ask about Charlie. I hurried to chew and swallow before asking, “Is Charlie OK? She ran through here without talking to me.”
Jen cackled. “I bet she did.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“She was in charge of getting the cattle down the chute while I waited at the other end with the medicine. Some of the cattle gave her a run for her money. Literally!”
“What does that mean?”
“It means they dodged out of the way and she tried to dive after them, lost her footing, and landed face first on the barn floor. Now she’s embarrassed for you to see her like that.”
Realization dawned as all the pieces fit together and everything suddenly made sense. Charlie wasn’t used to getting that dirty, much less having people see her that dirty.
“I had understood the need to shower after herding cattle, but I was wondering why she apparently didn’t want me to see her.”
“Yep. Miss City Slicker’s embarrassed.”
“She’s not a city slicker.”
Jen looked at me with one eyebrow raised. “You didn’t see the way those cows ran circles around her. She might think she belongs here, but she hasn’t been one of us for a long time.”
To be continued…