41 "blonde who cried wolf"

I listened closely to the tussling and rustling of the men in the other room as they let out their energy in the bunkhouse. They laughed and yelped through out the night making me leap out of my skin as if someone was hurt. No one was. I was as safe as I have ever been living here in this testosterone filled house. I patted my warm face before wrapping the towel around myself As I opened the curtain. Before I knew it I was making eye contact with walker whom was lining his beard in the mirror. I didn't say a word to him. I just grabbed my toiletries and waltz to the door. I was embarrassed by the other night. My father wacking me infront of many of his men as if I was his dog or something. Before I could walk out of the door he wacked me with his towel. He had a large grin on his face as I jumped. "Hey!" I smirked as I playfully kicked him. "Your turn to hit me with your towel!" He teased "yeah! Nice try!" I laughed. He quickly pulled my body against him, I still clutched my towel in my palms as it shielded me"what" I smiled. "Come here" he demanded. "Whhhaatt" I laughed aloud. "You've been reeeaaaal quiet since ya know what your dad did a few days ago" his hands rubbed my toweled covered hips like he owned them. "One thing you'll learn about me walk is that I'm real quiet anyways. Try not to take it personally" I say softly. His hands held my jaw like he was going to smooch me again "whys that?" He asked. "It's always better to be quiet and out of the way. If anything bad happens I can't be blamed" i batted my wet lashes up at his sweet face, the face that still held shaving cream on it. "I guess that's a well enough motto huh?" I took the towel from his shoulder to wipe his cheeks gently. "I've used the same motto my entire life... yet I still find myself in crappy spots" I gently used my finger to slick his hair from his eyes. "Is this one of those shitty spots?" Gently his lips kissed mine. Deeply. Very deep. Almost like he wanted to go a step further in the shower or on the sink counter top. His hands moved from my hips to my butt in seconds. He slide his hands to move my towel upwards as he kissed me more rough. I didn't like it.. or at least I didn't want it... I peeled away from him pulling my towel down quickly... "Sorry.. I'm just.. not. Like that... I'm sorry.." quickly I shimmed my clean tank top over my towel along with my boxer like panties underneath. "Was it somthing I did?" He asked a bit confused as if he's never been rejected before. "No! God no! Trust me.. you.. You're Perfect in every way. Every inch of you is just so perfect. It's me... I.. I'm just..I.." I was getting frustrated not knowing what words to put together. "I'm not like that.. I.. I don't.. I really dont do a lot like that.. ya know.. like" I sighed heavily. "It's me.. I'm sorry.. it isn't you at all.." I was frantic for an exscuse. walker smiled "you're such a dork" he said as he stepped over to me again. "..I know..I know.." I looked down as I was scared to have disappointed him.. but instead he cupped my cheeks again to kiss me. This timeOn my lips and forehead. "Go on git. I'm gettin in the shower. Unless! You wannaJoin" he smiled over at me once more, wacking me with the towel. "Okay! Okay! I'm outta here" I stepped out of the bathroom with my towel on my shoulder and a small cute grin on my lips. I neatly put away my items before folding the laundry I had finished earlier that day. As I did so I glanced over my shoulder at a loud voice that roared around the room. It was a short haired woman with pink hair, she dressed like a hill Billy who fell in a pink cotton candy machine. She had a toned body and strong looking arms. Her voice was loud but very drawn out with a strong accent, And I thought walkers accent was bad. I watched her closely as she teased the other men. She skipped to her bunk as rip pointed it out to her "have fun boys. Try and not to fall in love with this one!" Rip snickered before shutting the door behind him. I watched her maybe for a bit too long as I folded my clothes. "Fuck you lookin at you skinny blonde bimbo" she snarled. I frowned heavily as I nervously answered her "I.. um.. uh I..-" I held my folded jeans against my chest "lookin at what!? You wanna fuckin fight or somthin!? I'll stomp my mother fuckin boot right on your fuckin head!" She shouted. I looked around me at the men who knew I was quiet and gentle. Most of them watched with smirks on their faces."I.. I didn't mean to-" I was scared that I may have to fight this girl. I watched her with fear in my eyes. "I don't give a fuck. Mind your business. I don't care what cowboy in here you be fuckin! But this is a bunkhouse not a whore house!" She pointed in my face. Slowly I stepped back as I gulped down my fears. "I'm.. I'm sorry ma'am" I didn't want to fight. I didn't want to get beat up. "Do y'all have whores here often?" The woman scoffed as she unpacked her bag. "She ain't a whore" walker spoke up as he stepped out of the bathroom with a towel around his waist. "Buckle bunnies are whores my sexy friend" she looked walker up and down before digging back into her bag. "She ain't one of them either. She's got the Same rights as you do around here" he stepped passed me to get dressed, rubbing his thumb against my arm as he passed by to let me know it's alright. "You're much too pretty and skinny to be a ranch hand. Look how clean them hands are. You suckin them dicks to get them to work for ya?" she judged with a long spit of dip from her mouth into a cup. "N..no.. im.. I'm just.. I'm just starting out" I say very gently as I kept my eyes on her. I was too scared to put my back to her. Almost like she was going to be the new Beth in my life and beat me senseless. "Whose dick did you suck to get here?!" She spat again. "None. Leave her alone would you?" Walker said as he dressed himself. Teeter scoffed as she looked my body up and down. Her mean scowl frowned as she noticed my scrapes and bruising. "What happened to you?" She asked a bit more on the calmer side. I sat down on my bunk and I brushed my long blonde hair. "She's worked her ass off. That's what happened. Leave her alone" walker defended me again. I stayed quiet trying to stay away from any drama that could occur. Teeter smirked at me "I see who your lover is" she snickered. I sighed as I laid down. "What's your name blondie?" Teeter asked. "Willie" I spoke very soft. Teeters demeanor softened "Willie? Like the mans name?" She questioned. I nodded. "Man. Your mama must've hated you" she snickered. I nodded my head "...yeah.. she must've.."

......

"I need three with me to ride the fence. Check for break downs. Last thing we need is loose calf's on the highway into town. So Willie, Ryan, Colby you three are with me. Let's get going before we lose anymore daylight" rip whistled with his fingers to direct his massive stead to lead the way. "I'll see you later my sweet milk chocolate lover" teeter whistled near Colby's direction. Colby shook his head in annoyance. "I can only pray a horse bucks her off into a pile of horse shit" Colby mumbled as we followed rips lead. Quietly I listened laughing very slightly as I didn't want to annoy Colby. "Willie you go left with Colby. Ryan you and I will go south bound. Got it?" We nodded at rips demands. Colby groaned as I followed behind him "can't I call dibs on Ryan?" Colby whimpered. "Shut the fuck up Colby! do your fuckin job! You're over here wining like a prissy bitch. Shut the fuck up and grow the fuck up" Rip didn't take shit from anyone. He was the boss for a reason. Colby huffed and puffed while splitting apart with me. Colby was always annoyed when I was paired with him. I never understood why as I always got my work done. It may have took me longer than most but it was honest work. "No running around chasing butterflies got it? We have work to do" Colby shouted at me as if he was my boss. I listened to him but didn't acknowledge him. The both of us split apart a bit to explore the fencing at a wider and faster pace. That until I came across a broken down fence. "Colby! Over here!" I shouted as loud as I could. "Colby!" I said again as I hopped down off my horse to investigate I come across five huge bisons.. they had to be twice the size of a pick up truck. I froze in place as I couldn't believe my eyes. These types of bisons were not really native to here. They sometimes carry illnesses usually depending on where they came from. I noticed quickly the animals had heavy drooping and oozy eyes. They were Ill. "Shoo! Go on! Get! Get!" I quickly waved my arms to herd them back over their fence line. "Do you mind?" A Voice called out. I looked up to see a man with a grey aged face. He looked mean and scary, as his younger partner did too. "This is private property sir. Your bisons can't come onto this land. We have thousands of cattle here. I can't risk them getting sick" I say politely as I picked up the heavy wired fencing. "Put it down princess. This land isn't owned by anyone" he spat in my direction. "No sir. It's private property" I repeated "owned by whom!?" The younger guy growled. "My.. my father sir. This fence also belongs to him. You can't be cutting down property that isn't yours" I said again a bit more sternly but still awfully polite. I began to stick the post back into the ground. "I would stop doing that if I were you!" The younger man hopped down from the seat of his horse To crunch his boots through the sticks and mud to get closer to me. I stepped back as he came closer "you're not allowed on this property" I said once again. "Man ain't you the purtiest thing I've ever seen" he smiled. I reached up onto my saddle for the hammer that would help me hammer the post back into the ground.... Or bash some heads in if I need them to be. "Please sir.. I'm not gonna ask you again.. please leave my property" I gulped. The man got even closer to me. "You said your father owns this land?" The elder asked. I nodded. "Ahh.. I Remeber you., you were just a wee little thing when I was around" he said but with an evil grin. I didn't know who this man was. But he knew me. "What's going on here!?" Rip called out as he and the other two finally arrived. "These buffalo broke down the fence. They look sick rip. They can't be here... neither can they" I pointed at the man infront of me with my hammer "Sick?" He looked at the men more than he did the animals. "Yes sir. They have oozing eyes. They're really sick. Those bisons can carry crazy diseases that can kill our cattle" I called out as I refused to move my eyes from the younger man. "Listen here. You don't worry about my fuckin buffalo you little cunt!" The younger man shouted at me. "Hey!! You watch your fuckin mouth!" Rip pointed at him as he leaped down from his horse to confront the man... he walked quickly with anger in his steps. "And they're bisons! Not buffalo!" I shouted to him. Instantly Ryan held up his badge "you're trespassing on private property. I can have you two hauled in!" Ryan threatened. The old man cackled "I don't give a fuck! I'm just doing my god damn job! I just do what I'm fucking told!"

"Then tell your fucking boss to shove it! Your dick buffalo are gonna kill my herd!!" Rip shouted. "We don't give a fuck about your fuckin cattle!!" The old man growled. I began to hammer the stake back into the ground as rip and the younger guy bantered back and forth, I still had a job to do regardless of their disagreement. "I said to leave the fence down!" Angrily the Young man said as he ran even closer to me... but this time with his hands were raised ready to grab me... I stumbled back to dodge him, That until rip clipped him in the face with a strong swing of his arm. I could almost see the man's teeth soaring through the air. They swung punches like they were protected their own lives... but in reality rip was protecting my life. I stepped back to get out of the way of the fight while dropping my hammer in the process. I stumbled back to reach for my horse..until Suddenly my throat was caught. I was yanked upon the older man's horse with his large wrinkly hands gripped around my throat. He growled deep into my ear as he shoved A pistol into my temple. My legs squirmed as I gagged upon his grip..suddenly my ears began to ring as he shot the pistol into the air to receive their attention. The men stopped fighting instantly asThey realized my danger "if you don't leave my men alone I'm gonna blast this sweet baby dolls heads off. You wanna seeHer brains on the fuckin dirt!? Maybe a littleOn your fuckin shirt!?" The old man grumbled under his long silver mustache. I can feel his spit splatter on my skin as he screamed.  I stared at rip with my eyes widened. I was shaking with fear. Rip..with a bloody face, shoved the young man to the ground away from him. "Put her down" he said. "I suggest you get your shit and fucking go!" The elder shouted. My trembling fingers reached along the holster of the old man as he held me Infront of him. Slowly I felt my way around, rubbing my fingers along a large knife used for butchering deer. I slowly shimmied it out gripping it in my palm. I stared at rip waiting for him to tell me what to do. As he bantered with the man he watched me grab the knife. Closely rip stared at my hand then back at my face. He shook his head telling me to put it down.. so I did. I dropped it to the ground. "This is a warning Wade" rip said. Wade? That was the old man's name. "Oh yeah?" Wade chuckled. Wade tilted my face up to look at him. I was sweating so much I was scared. I didn't show it. I refused. I stared Wade in the eyes as he still held me by my throat. "Gosh. You're just too gorgeous. Drop dead if I do say so myself." The tip of his gun smooched my lips as he grazed them in a seductive manner. "Mmm! If you love them... I guess you gotta let them go " his hands released my throat.. dropping me, tossing me to the ground. I quickly scurried off of the dirt to run behind rip for shelter. I refused to look at the men. All I heard were their horses feet banging in the dirt as they walked away. "You okay?" Rip asked as he placed his hand on my cheeks. "I'm fine.." I said very monotone. I was very shaken up though. "...you sure?"I pulled away from rip. "Yes. I'm fine" I whistled over to my horse as I could see him yards away. I was breathing fast. Trying to keep any sort of panic I had in the low. "Bird! God damn it bird!" I called out to the young stud. "Willie. Get on. I'll get you to him" rip held out his hand to me. "I'm not a baby. I can handle my own" I scoffed. "This isn't about being a baby wills. I just wanna help you" he said again with his hand still out. "I don't need help!" I whistled again but louder "bird!!" He finally listened. I pulled myself on the horse then I was quick to race back home. "Willie come with me " rip said a see finally reached home. I just wanted to go inside. I was much too upset. I wasn't ready to have a gun to my head so soon.. if at all. I was becoming more angry than scared now. I wasn't sure at who. It was either those men... rip.. or myself for being too weak to protect myself. "What for!?" I called out a bit irritated. "I need you to come with me so you can explain to your father the dangers of them buffalo" rip pulled his leather gloves off to wave me on. I sighed under my breath as I followed rip inside my father's home. It had been two months or so since I even stepped foot inside this house of horrors. "Mr dutton" rip called out as he pulled his hat off his head. I did the same.. I held my hat in my palm as I nervously played with the brim. "What's a matter rip?" My father spoke from the glasses pointed down the bridge of his nose. I hid behind rip to shield myself from any heat I may receive. "Wade marrow sir.., he's returned. He's herding buffalo by the west end of the ranch. Willie says they seem ill. May get out cattle sick" rip relayed. "How sick?" My father asked. Rip looked back over his shoulder at me for answers. I was terrified of my father to speak. "Wills" rip nudged me out from behind him into the limelight. "It.. it.. it looked like they.. they had.. um.. it looked like they had some kinds of.. of infection spreading .. Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy would be by guess.." I said with my head bowed.. I was clenching my hat as I spoke.  "You guess? Are you just playing a guessing game? I'm not gonna just take your word for it" my father said as he seemed annoyed I was even present. "They.. they had symptoms daddy. And.. and they crossed the fencing.. we.. we need stronger fencing. They will walk through that barbed wire like sticks and twine. We need something a lot stronger too. And possibly vaccines" I was worried. Worried for the herd. I had a feeling my father wouldn't want to listen to little ol me. "We ignore it rip. Ignore it. Unless Wade thinks differently. He has somthing I want" my father tapped his foot as he thought for a moment. "What about the buffalo?" Rip asked. "Fuck the buffalo. I don't even know why they are even there" John scoffed. "They are bisons" I said. My father looked at me with A face of irritation. "Scuse me?" He scoffed. "They're bisons. Bisons are local in North America.. buffalo are from.. from Africa you can call them the same thing but. It's honestly diffrent. And.. and I'm pretty sure they are there for Tourists. They belong to the park. I saw the tags in their ears. " I smiled softly with my dumb fun facts. "Bisons are cool. Just useless animals" I nodded my head..but then I  frowned quickly as my father's stare became a threat. "Did I ask for a fucking fact of the day!?" My father snipped. "No.. I'm just saying daddy.. your.. your cattle can become very ill... very fast if we don't do somthing about this now."

"Did you want the keys to this house? How about The badge as commissioner? It seems you think you know what's best for this god damn ranch more than me!" My father rose his voice at me once again. I shook my head "no! Not at all daddy! I'm just.. I'm just.. I'm sorry.."

"My answer is we do nothing! Nothing!! Until they become a fucking threat! You understand me!? Both of you!?" My father looked at me then at rip. I nodded as we both said "yes sir" I was the first one out of the house. I was scared he was to say something worse. I heard rip follow Close behind me. "Nice one will" he scoffed. I looked back at rip "I.. I.. I didn't mean to upset him. I knew me going in there was a terrible idea!" I blurted. "Relax will I'm just teasing you!" "There was no point of going in there. I'm telling you now rip... those bisons will bankrupt my father. They will take out every calf and heifer we have" I was getting a bit angry. Almost like an unheard bird trying to sing. Like the boy who cried wolf but the wolf was real. "I will take care of Willie. Just help me keep an eye on the heard. Keep an eye on their health" he watched me as I walked towards my beaten up truck. "Fine. But if I find an illness you have to tell my dad. He will never believe a word i would have to say" 

"Okay. But where are you going?" He asked. "I have something I have to do.  Just warn Lloyd about the bisons. He will know what to do until I get back.." .....