It was another hot day on the ranch. She sat on the porch resting her feet in the chair as she read form the new book her father allowed her to buy. Her house work for now until after lunch. Her father sat inside eating his lunch at this time as always. He had to be on schedule as always. If she did not have his lunch good in time there would be verbal hell to pay, but that was how life had always been.
She looked up at the sound of old Candy's voice echoing all over the ranch. Two men were walking up together side by side. He lead them over to the house, and at that moment she realized they were here for a job.

"The boss is in here,'' Candy stated walking up the steps. "He is eating his lunch always at this time,'' he gave a smile at the young girl. "Good as always.''

She chuckled softly at his kind comment. "I do hope so,'' she smiled warmly fixing the end of her dress that ran down her legs. The taller man looked her over as if he was studying her slowly. He noticed the book in her hand.

"G..George, dat bo..book she reading,'' he pointed at the book in her hands. "It has big animals on it. No rabbits though.'' The other man said nothing as he tired pulled the taller one inside the house. "George, George I..I just want to-''

"Goddamn it! Get in here,'' he fired back giving him a shove inside. "Don't worry about that book,'' his tone was rather cold, but that was little shock to her. He just had that cold tone look. Like he was always in a bad mood at something. There was something else she noticed about him and that was he always seemed to be stressed about something.

Once they were inside her eyes moved around the ranch slowly looking it over. She noticed Curley's new wife flirting with another ranch hand, or at least trying to the best she could. He did not show much interest in her not that anyone would blame him. It was better to just ignore her in order not to get on Curley's bad side. No matter how hard he tired he couldn't shake her because she continued to follow and talk to him.

Slowly she got of her chair making her way over to the them both. "Hey,'' she smiled at the beautiful woman. "Do you think you could help me with something,'' her tone was soft and gentle as always. Unlike her old man and bother her voice never went over a whisper hardly. "Will not take to much of your time,'' she was always willing to try to get along with her new sister-in-law, but honestly they had nothing in common. Nothing in the least which meant they would never have much of a relationship.

"What could I possibly do,'' she replied with her flirtatious tone as always smiling at the field worker. He took that chance to slip off just before Curley found out. "I mean, what could be so important?''

"He is gone so now I will say the truth,'' her tone was still soft though she was very annoyed with the woman. "You are going to get him in trouble acting like that. You know how Curly can be, so why do you push his buttons?''

She shrugged as if she didn't even want to talk to her. In the two weeks she had been here all she had done was cause trouble for all. No one wanted to be around her, but that did not stop her from trying or complain as much as she could. "Why do I even bother,'' she mumbled to herself making her way back to the house.

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"What the hell kind of beds you given us,'' George fussed at Candy as the old man petted his sick dog.

"Now hold on,'' he got up and looked over what was in George's hand. "Oh that,'' he chuckled remembering the person who owned the bed before. "Man that had that bunk before was a black smith. He would spray this stuff all around without a bug in sight. He..he,'' he laughed loudly remembering the weird fellow. "He would wash his hands even after he ate.''

A short angry looking man came emerging into the door. He worn a green shirt, tan pants, and a black leather glove on his hand. He eyed down the three men before moving his eyes to Candy. "Candy, you seen my old man?''

"Up at the house.''

His eyes than moved to the new men he had not seen before. "You the two new guys my old man been waiting for?''

"Yeah, just came in,'' George answered for both him and Lennie. "Names George Milton. This is Lennie small.''

"Let the big guy talk,'' he fired back rudely.

"Suppose he don't want to,'' George uttered standing up for Lennie. The two went on firing words back in forth before Lennie finally spoke up saying they just got here nervously.

"Next time you talk when your told,'' he threatened before walking out to look for more trouble.

"What the hell,'' George had clearly grown pissed off which did not always take much. "Lennie didn't do not nothing to him. What's his problem anyway.''

Candy smiled as he spoke, "Curely is like a lot of little guys. Hates big guys wishing he could be one,'' he walked to the door bringing his dog with him. "Come here and see this,'' he lead them out to the porch outside the bunk house. "The boss has two children both completely different from each other. One boy and one girl.''

"Da girl...she...she da girl we saw on the porch,'' Lennie asked looking around as if he was looking for her. "W..was that the her?''

"Yes, Joanna. Sweetest thing you will ever meet,'' he smiled pointing out to the girl standing talking to another ranch hand.

She was around the same height as her brother, but that was all they had in common. She had long wavy auburn hair, blue light green eyes, long eye laces, with nice high cheek bones. She was a very lovely lady in the face, and body wise just as good. Her body was skinny but healthy looking with a nice size chest that was not to big or small just right for her body.

"She's purdy,'' Lennie noted eyeing her as she talked happily with another person.

"Lennie,'' George got all serious now pushing him back into the bunk house. "Don't you even look at her. That guy that just came in trying to raise hell with you. That's his sister, so don't you..''

"Oh no,'' Candy chuckled. "You ain't got to worry about Curely with her. One she ain't nothing like him,'' he reminded again. "Nicest gal you will ever meet. That there man she is talking to...,'' he pointed out the screen door. "She is just talking because she is proud of him. She taught him to read and write.''

"Y..you think she talk to me too,'' Lennie asked curiously. "Only if George let me.''

George thought for a moment. "If she is willing but...,'' he got serious again. "You better not lay one finger on her you understand,'' he warned. "I mean it Goddamn it.''

"I...I not do that George,'' he shook his head. "I..I remember not to do it.''

George nodded giving Lennie a pat on the back. "All right, get your stuff out and make your bunk,'' he went over to the screen door looking out.

He had to admit it was a nice ranch something he would love to him. That was a dream that would possibly never come true. If anything he would be happy with a small one as long as he had something other than this tiny bunk house. His eyes moved over to the pretty girl standing by Candy now. She reached into her pocket and pulled out what looked like a nice little treat as she fed it to the old dog. Though clearly she hated the smell of it her mannerism did not show it. George had to admit she was a very pretty girl just like the kind he liked. He shook his head quickly clearing that thought out of his mind.

Girls who were raised on nice ranches like this didn't go for poor men like him.