Heya! So here's chapter 2. I am on fire with updating at the moment :P
Nothing new to tell you apart from I hope you enjoy this chapter, they will slowly be getting longer. I hope so anyway :D
Let me know whether you're liking this story at the moment, it will be much appreciated :P
Also, I have fully planned each chapter with this story having a minimum of 41 Chapters!
Happy Reading xxx
The cowboy seemed livid at the sight of Chelsea. He stood up straight, his eyes burning into Chelsea. He took off his Stetson hat and strode towards Chelsea and the guard, she couldn't help but notice his unique silvery hair which surprisingly suited him. He wore a black shirt and jeans, a tan waist coat, and black working gloves.
"What is she doing here?" He snarled, pointing his finger right in Chelsea's face. His face was hard and stern, unforgiving like fire. Chelsea wanted to stay calm and collected but rudeness was something she could never stand.
"She has a name." She snapped but the cowboy took no notice at her small outburst. Chelsea folded her arms and looked up at the guard as did the cowboy.
"Miss Chelsea Thompson is here to work. To assist you." The guard stated. Chelsea looked back at the cowboy and smiled gleefully. He in return simply glared at her.
"I do not need her assistance." He returned back to the horse and started to brush it. "I can handle everything by myself." He said sternly, focusing on each brush of the coat.
"You'll become stressed if you take on too many duties." The guard said. The cowboy dropped the brush on the floor and turned back around.
"So be it." He scanned Chelsea up and down, scowling as he done so, "She is an amateur, I doubt she knows how to take care of herself, let alone these animals." Chelsea gaped at his comment.
"Excuse me?!" She exclaimed but again, she was not acknowledged.
"I'm afraid that she must assist you and you can teach her if needed." The guard stated. The cowboy folded his arms again.
"Why should I?" He questioned.
"It is an order from the King." The guard continued to stand his ground. There were exchanges of glances for a few moments before the cowboy turned back to the horse.
"Fine." He grunted. He gestured over to Chelsea, "Get over here then." He snapped as he picked up the brush again. The guard left the barn in an orderly fashioned, smirking to himself as he did.
"No need to be so damn rude." Chelsea growled as she slowly approached the cowboy.
"Get over it." He rolled his eyes. Chelsea inhaled deeply and exhaled just as much.
"You know what. I don't need this crap. If it were up to me then I'd be leaving." She looked up and down her horses and glanced back at the cowboy. "With my horses." She said as she held the rope tighter but did not move from her spot.
"Then what exactly is stopping you?" Chelsea wasn't expecting that reply and thought for a second. He was right, she could simply walk out and he wouldn't care.
"I don't want to let my family down. We work too hard but then we get treated like this." Chelsea thought about the stress and the tension the horse festival caused between her and Jack. It was actually just as he became ill. "Are you going to be civil about it or not?"
"I suppose I have no choice." He growled, still brushing the horse.
"So let's start over. My name's Chelsea, I won the horse festival with Arthur and Ginny." The cowboy glanced at the two horses behind Chelsea then continued to brush the horse, blanking Chelsea. "And you are?" She asked, trying to keep calm.
"Vaughn." He grunted. Ginny neighed and rested her head on Chelsea's shoulder who in return, gently stroked her. Arthur just stood there, obviously bored. Vaughn watched Chelsea and Ginny from the corner of his eye. He watched as Chelsea spoke soothing words to Ginny. "I see you have a close bond with Ginny but Arthur, not so much." He said as he approached Arthur, who started to back away, shaking his mane.
"He's always been like it." Vaughn started to scratch behind Arthur's ear. After a few seconds, Arthur started to neigh with happiness; he then draped his head over Vaughn's shoulder. Similar to what Ginny was doing. "How? How did you do that?" Chelsea asked in astonishment.
"He just likes it." Vaughn said simply as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. He looked at Chelsea, expecting the next thing to come out of her mouth.
"Er…So what are my first duties?" She asked, scratching the back of her head. Vaughn rolled his amethyst eyes and folded his arms.
"Stay out my way." He said with a slight growl.
"Hey!" Pouted Chelsea. Vaughn huffed in annoyance.
"Fine, you can milk the cows, a few of the sheep need shaving, collect eggs and brush the horses. Whilst staying out of my way. Got it?" Vaughn stared Chelsea down like a parent telling off a child.
"Yes, sir!" Chelsea smiled and saluted.
"One more thing." Chelsea cocked her head to one side. "Shut up."
"Rude." Said Chelsea, scrunching her nose up.
-/-
"Seriously, you have done all of those jobs in half an hour." Vaughn said in astonishment as Chelsea stood aimlessly beside him. She had done all of the jobs Vaughn had asked her to as well as spending quality time with the animals.
"Yup. If you don't know already, I have my own farm you know." She said happily.
"Belonging to the palace." Vaughn said flatly. It seemed Vaughn would say anything to offend Chelsea, or anyone for that matter.
"So?"
"Then it is not your own farm then." It was true, Chelsea and Jack would often receive eviction letters but would always scrape up enough money to pay for the debts on top of the tax.
"I still work my arse off on it." Her eyebrows furrowed as she held back forming tears.
"Whatever. Go clean out the pigs' pen." He ordered her, pointing over to the smallest, but dirtiest pen in the barn. Vaughn dropped all of his horse utensils and started to exit the barn.
"Wait." Chelsea called after him.
"What?" Chelsea jogged up to him, "What do you want?" He said impatiently.
"Where are you going?" She asked. Vaughn rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"For a break." He grunted.
"Do I have one later?"
"No."
"Oh well, if I don't ask, then I'll never know." Chelsea smiled and headed back to the pigs pen. Vaughn found her annoying and ditzy, he contemplated actually leaving the barn, he didn't trust her alone but never the less, left.
-/-
After about twenty minutes, Vaughn finally returned to the barn where Chelsea was sweeping the floor, she looked up and acknowledged him but continued to sweep. He then gave her a small sandwich, cut in half, into her hands making her drop the broom.
"What's this?" she asked, eyeing the strange looking item.
"A sandwich?" Vaughn said, staring down at her.
"What's a sandwich?" Vaughn raised an eyebrow at her question.
"Food. What else would it be?" He said sarcastically.
"Don't be a smart arse. What is it exactly?" Chelsea opened up one of the bread slices and inspected the contents.
"Bread, cheese with lettuce." Vaughn said with his eyebrow still raised.
"Sounds fancy, workers get good food here?" Chelsea asked expectantly, in her opinion it would be good food for Jack. Might even make him a little better.
"I suppose." He watched Chelsea still continue to inspect the sandwich but grew a little impatient with her behaviour. "Just eat it." He snapped. Chelsea bit a large chunk out of one half and chewed. Her mouth watered with the taste of fresh lettuce and creamy cheese, the bread was soft. It was like a taste of heaven.
"It's good." She said with her mouth half full, Vaughn scowled in disgust. She waffled down the rest of the half and grabbed her rucksack around.
"What are you doing?" He asked, watching her open the sack up and pick up a small cardboard box.
"Saving it." She said, opening the box.
"For what?"
"Well, my brother was supposed to be working here as well but he couldn't make it." She thought about how Jack was without her but trusted Julia to keep an eye on him. She knew he was fine but can't help but think about him.
"So?" Vaughn's eyebrows pressed together.
"So I want to give him the other half. It's not fair if I have all the good stuff and he's stuck with cabbage soup." Chelsea put the other half of the sandwich into the box and then zipped up the rucksack. "Any more questions?"
"No."
"So what now?" Chelsea brushed the bread crumbs from her hands
"Let out all the animals for the rest of the afternoon. They should not stay cooped up inside on a day like this." Vaughn said whilst he opened up the cow pen.
-/-
Chelsea and Vaughn leant against the oak fence as they watched the animals roam the field. The grass was a rich emerald colour with little buttercups sprouting up here and there. A slight spring breeze whipped through Chelsea's chestnut hair. It was a peaceful day.
"They seem happy." She said after a few minutes silence, gazing at her two horses.
"Hm?" Vaughn didn't look at Chelsea but he knew what she was talking about.
"Ginny and Arthur. They have a home here that I couldn't possibly give them back home. You know, in terms of fresh grass and room." It was difficult to provide for her horses on her farmland but she would take them down to the forest at least once a week for rich foliage.
"You will still get to see them."
"I know." It was possibly the nicest thing Vaughn had said to her all day and yet she took no real notice of it. She was so focused on her two horses grazing on the green grass. She felt at peace.
"We will give them a better life." He sneered but it hardly surprised Chelsea for him to come out with something like that.
"And you're saying I can't?" She asked, giving him a chance to rewrite himself.
"Well yeah." He said, finally turning to face Chelsea who was looking particularly hurt. Her blue eyes were wide and her mouth gaped open slightly, it was like a knife was shoved into her back.
"That's a horrible thing to say." She shouted.
"So? You said so yourself." Vaughn said, keeping his cool.
"It's not like I haven't done my best for them." Chelsea spat.
"I never said that." He folded his arms.
"I can't believe I thought the palace workers would be down to Earth and nice but you're just as stuck up as any other rich person."
"Get over it." He glared at her.
"When we're working, just stay away from me and I'll take care of my own horses." Chelsea hopped over the fence to start herding the animals back in.
"Sounds fine to me." He called over to her.
"Fine."
"Goddess, you flip out so easily." Vaughn said a little more quietly.
"Shut up." She shouted over to him, he was just surprised she could hear him.
-/-
"I suppose you've worked hard today." Vaughn stated as he locked up the last pen. By now dusk had started to fall. The sky turned from a baby blue into a rich scarlet colour. Shepherds delight.
"Thanks, I think." Chelsea replied, rolling her eyes in the process.
"Actually remember to come tomorrow." Vaughn said as they left the barn and closed the doors.
"I'm not stupid."
"I beg to differ." He grunted as Chelsea walked down the path to leave the palace grounds.
"Whatever, see you later." Chelsea said without waving goodbye. She wasn't looking forward to work with him. She couldn't stand his arrogance.
Typical Vaughn, totally contradicting. One minute he's nice (or just enough to be around) then he can be a complete jerk.
So what did you think?
Until next time xxx