Jud

He mopped his sweaty forehead before stepping into the smokehouse. The work felt easier since Laurey started acting so much sweeter to him the last couple of days. He didn't dare to wish it consciously, but a tiny part of him knew that the farm could be his one day, that he wasn't just working to make money off of people who didn't care for him at all.

He opened the door and nearly jumped out of his skin at the sight of another man standing there, looking at the pictures on his wall.

"The fuck are you doin' here?" he snarled as he recognized the figure in front of him. "If Laurey sees you—"

"Not to worry, as I say, it's part of my…job to be discreet. Besides, it's hardly likely she'd recognize me out of costume and out of character. A true actor must inhabit each role fully, and believe me, I am nothing if not professional." El Gallo said, smooth and calm as anything. "I merely wanted to see how the situation has unfolded."

Jud took a deep breath, reassuring himself that Laurey was safely in the farmhouse, taking a nap like she always did on sultry summer days. "It's…it's goin' fine."

"She's begun to appreciate your…attributes?"

"I guess" he didn't want to give too much away, didn't want to voice his newfound hopes, but El Gallo was clearly waiting for something more. "Seems a little flirty with me."

"Good" El Gallo turned back to the wall. "She is very attractive."

"Yeah" Jud tried to follow his line of sight to the picture on the wall. "That's one of my favorites; I think short hair looks awful pretty on a girl."

El Gallo turned to him, that patronizing smile back on his face. "I meant your farm girl. Your Miss Laurey"

"Oh. Yeah, I told you she was. She—uh—yeah, it's been good." He stopped himself from elaborating. Even if it had been to help him, the man had still kissed Laurey, still saw her with her clothes off, not to mention the fact that he'd somehow found out her name.

"I'm glad" Gallo patted his shoulder before stepping out into the fading sunlight. "I intend to be back in the area soon. I'll drop by again to see if you require my services further."

"Right" Jud couldn't imagine what else he could want, and he certainly didn't want to risk Laurey's seeing El Gallo again. Or, for that matter, El Gallo's seeing Laurey again. He already had Curly to contend with; the last thing he needed was a handsome bandit who found her attractive. He didn't want to say no, though, couldn't make him mad. One word to Laurey and everything could come crashing down around him.

He was hit with another wave of anxiety when Aunt Eller came into the smokehouse after dinner, asking him to go to Claremore again the next day. He agreed, as though he had a choice, but he couldn't stop his heart from nearly thudding out of his chest.

The dynamic between them was still so delicate—she'd promised him nothing more than baking another pie, and he was acutely aware that the slightest change could topple what he'd built with her. Curly's roundup was ending any day, and he'd start singing her pretty songs again. Aunt Eller could talk to her, raise just enough suspicion to erase her pert little smile. El Gallo could appear, lure her away with him to see the world. What would a girl like Laurey want with the world anyhow? He knew she belonged on the farm with him, where she'd be safe and loved in his arms.