Woohoo, chapter 7! I honestly don't have much to say except thanks for the kind reviews, and also that I'm going to be starting driving courses next week, so I'm probably not going to have as much time to write as I normally do. Then again, since they're only two hours, it shouldn't really hinder my progress, but I thought I'd mention it while I still had the chance. (My dog is watching me as I type!)
Also, quick disclaimer since I mention Separate Ways by Journey, I DO NOT OWN THAT SONG!
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Claire hummed "Separate Ways" as she swept the barn. Unfortunately, Baden, (the oldest bull on the farm), became disgruntled the night before, and had decided to unleash his wrath on the fodder bin, spraying it all over the room. Thankfully it was a sunny day out, so the animals were able to be sent to the pasture so Claire could clean up.
Claire was less than pleased when she was assigned this chore, as she already had plans to meet up with Rick at the inn, but Mark was going to the city with Takakura to learn how to sell things at market, and her parents had their own things to attend to. Her humming was interrupted by a knock on the barn door. Claire looked at it questioningly, since it wasn't a common practice. "Come in?"
Rick shyly entered the room, his eyes widening at the messy sight. "Hey." Claire nodded in greeting. "Your brother, ah, told me that you wouldn't be able to meet with me today, told me what happened." Claire blinked in surprise. "Well…that's uncharacteristic of him." Both just stared at each other awkwardly. "No offense, but what are you doing here, then?" Rick rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh, I thought I could help you, if that's alright."
Again, she blinked in surprise. "As much as I don't want to make you do these chores, I don't think I can do them myself." She gestured towards the tool shed. "You'll find a broom in there." Rick nodded, and began sweeping once he got a broom. After about 30 minutes, he took a small break, leaning on the pole of his broom.
"You'd have thought it was a bull in a china shop!" Claire grinned. "Yeah, Baden is quite the…grumpy one." Rick raised his eyebrows. "That's one way of putting it. More like a pain in the- ""Please don't cuss." Rick threw his hands in the air jokingly. "Well he seems like he is."
Claire just shook her head. "You have no idea. We've been trying to sell him for months, but he won't budge if we try to drag him out of the barn. If he doesn't stop, we'll probably be forced to put him to sleep." She shook her head at the thought. "I'd be a waste of money."
After about another hour, they finally finished sweeping. Claire looked over at Rick fondly. "Thank you. It would've taken me all day to sweep had I not had your help." Rick nodded. "It's no problem, anything for you." Claire blinked. It seemed that Rick wasn't aware of what he had just said, so she quickly decided not to say anything about it. In all honesty though, Rick knew perfectly well what he had said, or more accidentally said. He was glad that Claire didn't seem to notice.
"Wanna go sit down?" Claire asked, motioning to some boxes in the corner of the barn. He nodded, wiping sweat off of his forehead. Once they sat down, they remained silent for about 5 minutes, relishing in the work they accomplished. A burning question in Rick's mind made him break the streak.
"If you don't mind me asking, why couldn't Mark clean up the barn?" He asked delicately. Claire sighed, "Takakura had already planned to take Mark with him to the city so he could learn how the market works for when he inherits the farm. I argued that since he'll be inheriting it, he should be the one to do it, since Takakura could take him to market any day, but as per usual they didn't see my reasoning." Rick glanced at Claire to see her turned away from him.
"Hey. What's wrong?" Claire looked at him with tears in her eyes. Rick blinked, unsure of how to react. "Hey, don't cry. What's the matter?" He asked soothingly, carefully taking Claire in his arms. She didn't make any sound as the tears flowed from her eyes; she just buried her face in his chest.
"I'm tired of being treated as if I am just a shadow to my brother. I've done a lot for this farm, yet they don't seem to care about that. They didn't when they decided to give 'Perfect Mark' the farm. I've put more heart and soul here than they know." Rick listened, pondering what to say to her.
"Hey, listen to me," he lifted her face to look at his, "sometimes things don't go our way in life. That's just the price of living in it. The thing is, just because you don't think you can win the race doesn't mean that you should stop competing all together." Claire's eyes began to shone slightly at his words, her mouth forming a little 'o'. "Claire, I know this farm means a lot to you, but you shouldn't stop caring for it because you won't inherit it. This place is your legacy whether it's yours or not. How do you want to be known to your nieces and nephews? A quitter? Or the person who continued to give this place as much heart and soul even when they knew it wouldn't be theirs?" Rick stopped, completely shocked at what had just happened. Claire stared at him, her mouth gaping open.
Rick gently placed his hands on her face staring deeply into her eyes. "Claire, I know you're not a quitter." She gazed back into his, time seeming to stop altogether. The two of them remained in this position for what seemed like a small eternity until they heard Pony approaching the barn. They scrambled up from the boxes just as she opened the door.
"Well, how is the sweeping…" Pony's voice faded as she saw the spotless floor of the barn. "Claire! How did you finish that fast?" Pony exclaimed, quickly noticing Rick's presence. "I, uh, had a little help, mom." Pony nodded to Rick in gratitude. "Well, thank you Rick. That was very gracious of you." She looked at the room in awe. "Well, I guess I don't have anything else for you to do Claire so…you're free to do what you like." Pony exited to the doors that led to the pasture to tend to the farm animals.
Claire and Rick exchanged a look, before realizing that they were holding hands. They immediately let go. Rick silently walked away from Claire, heading towards the doors. When he opened there, he lingered in the doorway briefly to get a good look at Claire before leaving her there alone entirely.
