He heard those distinctive footsteps and let out a silent sigh.
"Neil's Animals. State your business and piss off." His voice was a drawled monotone as flipped through a catalogue of especially flattering milking harnesses for cows. He didn't bother looking up at his customer.
Why would he need to, anyway? There was only one person in town who actually purchased anything from him.
Rio said nothing, but was busy staring down the cow in the pen of animals for sale. She took a step closer and the cow attempted to back up in the tiny pen. He vaguely wondered if the animals were terrified at the fact that she was wearing a hat that was fashioned to look like their skin. It wasn't real cow hide – that shit was expensive, and Rio wasn't the type to invest in herself.
The young woman lived off of fish she trapped in the streams out in the woods and she stayed up until three every morning chopping wood. The noise rang through the aptly named Echo Village and he had adapted to wearing ear plugs to bed. Perhaps he'd have a word with Dunhill about the noise. Neil was certain he'd get unwanted visits from the old man at six every morning asking how he slept if he actually reported her. Perhaps it wasn't worth it; he'd deal with the noise.
Long story short, Rio didn't take care of herself. She looked half-dead most of the time with dark circles under her eyes and a pale, lifeless face, her blonde locks hanging limply around her shoulders. He cringed; he tried hard not to look at her. Something about her face simply pissed him off.
"You gonna buy something or not?" he asked impatiently, turning the page of his catalogue. While the young farmer was potentially creeping out the young cow, Neil wouldn't say no if she offered to buy the animal. Papa needed a new yak harness, after all.
"Cow treat, please."
She hardly ever spoke, and when she did, she didn't mince words. Their fingers brushed as she handed him the money. Her skin was soft and gentle; he hated it.
He dug into the crate below his table and produced a stale biscuit, nearly shoving it in her face. She held onto it for a moment, staring at him with those large, disarming blue eyes. Neil nearly jumped out of his skin when she thrust the biscuit back into his face.
Surprised would hardly describe his reaction. "Is this for me? … A cow treat?" When he received an emphatic nod in response, a smile cracked across his face, causing the puppies in Rod's stall beside him to begin howling incessantly. "I like this."
She gave him a small wave and headed back toward her farm. Mystified by her strange behavior, he tucked the gift in his pocket.
It would go lovely with a cold, crisp glass of milk.
0o0o0o0
Author's Note: So, I'm finally diving in to writing about A New Beginning. I decided to go with a lighthearted, silly approach on this one. If I made you crack a smile, I did my job. I'd love to hear what y'all think!