BPOV
It took me forever to wake up. I usually had to set my alarm clock an hour before I actually had to be up. this morning was no different. I rolled over and hit the snooze 6 times before I actually got up and turned it off. The light in the bathroom hurt my eyes when I turned it on and I had to wait a few moments to let them adjust. My hair was a mess. I seriously looked like a white Tina Turner when I woke up in the morning, no matter what the state of my hair had been the night before. I dragged a brush through it and then pulled it up into a ponytail.
It took me several moments to remember that I didn't actually have to do anything today. I watched in the mirror as my face split into a huge grin. Today was Edward's day to work on the farm. I could think of several things for him to do but I couldn't be to mean. As I went back to my room to get dressed I could smell coffee wafting up from the kitchen.
"Ang, you are a total lifesaver." I called from the top of the stairs down the stairs. "I'll be down in a minute." Although it was early I could hear Walt and Linda moving around their room as I passed so I didn't worry about waking them. I finished dressing and headed downstairs, talking as I went.
"Ang, I might need your help today." I walked into the kitchen and straight for the coffee pot, continuing to talk as I poured myself a cup. "Edward lost a bet and gets to work on the farm for a day and I need some ideas of what things I can do to him."
"And what do you plan on doing to me?" I about jumped out of my skin. I turned around and saw Edward leaning against the door frame, sipping on a cup of coffee.
"Oh, hi Edward. What are you doing here?" he smirked.
"You told me to get here early remember."
"Oh yeah, I did huh?" Was all I could say. My brain was not quite awake enough to have any surprises this early in the day. He nodded and pushed away from the door jam. Setting his cup on the table, he started towards me at a deliberate pace.
"Edward, what are you doing?" I started to back around the kitchen island.
"Can't I hug my girlfriend good morning?"
"Usually I would say yes, but when you look like that I am gonna have to go with no."
"Look like what?" he asked innocently as he continued to stalk me around the kitchen.
"Well to be honest, you look like you are about to pounce on me."
"Ah, and how right you are." He stated simply and then launched himself across the distance separating us and grabbed me around the waist.
"If you don't behave I will have to think of something so awful you will stink for a week and no one will want to go near you. Myself included." He grunted.
"That is hardly fair Bella. All I was going to do was kiss you good morning."
"Uh-huh, sure. And my name is Gilligan."
"Your no fun Bella." He complained but his feelings obviously weren't hurt to bad because he still kissed me.
"So what is the plan?"
"Well you need to feed all the animals first. Chickens pigs horses cows. All of em."
"Ok that shouldn't take to long. I did that with you last time I was here I think I can handle it." I smirked slightly.
"We will just start with that for now and see how you hold up." he shook his head in my disappointment.
"Ye of little faith."
"Well, go one now, git." I shooed him out the door but he paused for a moment.
"Did you just tell me to git?" I threw the balled napkin up on the counter at him as he laughed and went out the door.
Today was going to be a wonderful day to just relax and watch someone else do my work. I was definitely going to enjoy it.
EPOV
I couldn't believe I had to do this. Its not that I didn't want to I just still couldn't believe that I had actually lost the race. I never lose. I had majorly underestimated Bella and it cost me. I would just have to try and enjoy the next few hours somehow. Honestly how hard could farm work be?
The animals took no time at all. I gave the horses some hay and grain, the pigs their slop which was disgusting. I have the chicken their feed and the cows only a little grain and hay. They sorta feed themselves in the field grazing all day.
"Ok what's next?"
"You can muck the horse stalls and the pig pen. Shovels and rakes are out back." She gave me a saucy grin and walked off. She was really enjoying this. I went around to the shed out behind the barn and grabbed a rake and shovel and headed back to the stables. It had turned out to be a nice day after all, in the low 80's. Bella had brought out a lawn chair and was sitting there reading a book in a t-shirt and shorts, in plain sight. She was really taking this to far.
The smell coming from the stables once I started cleaning and disturbing everything was awful. How Bella could stand to do this kind of stuff everyday was beyond me. Inside the barn was stiflingly hot and sweat was running down my face into my eyes. I took my shirt off and wiped my face with it, and after thinking a moment, decided to leave it off. I could feel the breeze coming through the barn and it was wonderful.
I thought for a moment, walked over to Bella and tossed my shirt on her, then walked back into the barn and continued shoveling and raking. Smiling to myself, I looked up for her reaction in time to see her take off her t-shirt, leaving her in her bathing suit halter. Now that just wasn't fair.
BPOV
I couldn't help myself. I had worn my bathing suit knowing that at some point I was going to get to hot, even in a t-shirt and shorts, but I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to taunt him. I also wanted to try and get a little bit of a tan. I usually burn like a lobster and then peel leaving me the same pasty white as I started out, but this summer I took precautions. I started tanning once a week in early June, and it was now almost August. I was very proud of the bronze tone my skin had acquired and I wasn't about to give it up so soon. I made sure to put a bit of sun-block on just in case.
"How you doing in there?" I called behind me. I heard a small grunt and laughed to myself. This was to fun.
I watched as Edward walked out of the stables, shovel and rake in hand, and head to the pig pen. I probably should have given him some boots to go tromping around the muck in, but I forgot. I started laughing at him as he realized how deep the mud and crap was. The mud came up to just about his ankles. I felt a little bad about his now ruined shoes, and watched a scowl cover his face as he registered the fact. In the next moment, he tried to pull his foot out of the mud and lost his balance, falling over backwards on his butt into the mud. I couldn't help it. I nearly collapsed with laughter and was gasping for air. I saw him stand up out of the corner of my eye and try to clean himself off which just made it worse because his entire lower half was covered in mud as well as his arms and hands and back.
"You think this is funny?" he had climbed out of the pen and come to stand in front of me. I took one look at him and started laughing all over again. once I could breath again I sat up straight in my chair and saw that he had a slightly mischievous look on his face and before I could react he turned and sat on top of me. I was so shocked that for a moment I just sat there. Then I started to fight, still laughing.
"Edward, get off me! I just bought these shorts." I tried to push him off but all my hands did was slide across the mud covering his back and I was starting to run out of air.
"I am quite comfortable here, thanks." As if to articulate his point, he wiggled his butt and back a bit.
"Seriously Edward, can you get off. I can't breath." He finally relented and I took a deep breath. I was covered in brown much all down my front. It was a good thing the swim top was old otherwise I would have been pissed. My clothes were completely ruined.
"Look at me. Do you see what you did? I look absolutely awful." he just laughed.
Don't be absurd Bella. You look fine. You are just a little muddy. As opposed to me who fell full length in it and can feel it soaking through my jeans."
"We should probably get cleaned off a little before you get back to work."
"More work? What else do I have to do?" his face looked like a 6 year old kid who got just got denied cookies.
"Yes there is more work. You still have to learn how to saddle and groom the horses." At this his eyes widened slightly.
"Bella, I…" he started but I didn't let him finish.
"Edward, we have been through this before. Nothing is going to happen." I looked him in the eyes. "Trust me." He hesitated for a moment but agreed.
"Alright. I think maybe we should get cleaned up first though." We went and grabbed the hose from the outside of the house and cleaned off as best we could. Since I was the least muddy, I went in the house and got a change of clothes for myself and tried to find something of Walt's for Edward, changed and went back outside.
"I tried to find something for you but they might be…Edward?" he wasn't on the front porch where I had left him. I continued out into the yard and saw him walking back from the truck in a clean pair of jeans and a tank.
"You came prepared. I am impressed."
"Yes well, since you were the one that decided the stakes, I figured something might happen." I stuck my tongue out at him.
We got to the stables and I told him where all the saddles blankets and brushes were and waited for him to bring them to Princess' stall.
"Ok blanket goes on first. Then the saddle." I told him how to cinch up the saddle and before long he was mounted and ready to go. I saddled up Sir Prize and we headed out into the field. Edward looked over at me after we had been riding a bit and grinned.
"How bout a race?" I stared at him.
"Edward, you were scared to saddle them up and now you wanna race?"
"Sure."
"Edward, I don't think you're rea…" but he didn't let me finish. He slapped the reins and kicked into Princess' side and took off. Me right on his heels. I knew he was going to hurt himself somehow. I just didn't think he was ready. But once I rode up next to him, I realized that he was doing quite well. His form was good and he was Princess her head and just letting her run. We went along for a bit and then stopped and dismounted to water the horses at the little stream.
"Where the heck did you learn to ride like that?" he shrugged.
"While you were…incapacitated…I came out here once or twice a week and Walt taught me how to ride."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I wanted to surprise you." I grinned.
"Do you understand what I mean about running through the fields now?"
"Oh yeah." We waited there for a bit longer and then mounted back up.
"Wanna race back?"
"Sure. What are the stakes?" I asked. He laughed.
"Oh no, I learned my lesson. How about a friendly race, no stakes?"
"Deal."
"Ok, ready…"
"Go!" I yelled and heeled Sir Prize into a gallop. I knew that Sir Prize was faster than Princess but I decided to hold him back just enough to let Edward win. Not that I would tell him that. He was absolutely beaming when we dismounted and led the horses into the stables to be groomed.
"Absolutely amazing. I never though I would actually enjoy riding horses."
"There isn't anything else like it." I agreed.
"So what now?"
"Now we get cleaned up and head in for dinner. Its 5 o-clock."
"Awesome. This time its my turn." I looked at him curious.
"Your turn for what?"
"To make dinner of course."
"And what are you gonna make?"
"Ah, that I can't tell you. You will just have to wait and be surprised."