The breeze flows throught the wheat field, it’s been a cool day on the farm. As the wind trail ruffles the stray hay in the barn, Beretta munches on her lunch chewing lazily, Rosita is lapping up her fresh water, and Beatrice is asleep standing up. “Boy, those mare’s have the life”, I thought with my muddy boots up reading my favorite mystery novel “Snakes in the Desert.”

I’ve been up pushing through chores and feeding the 236 animals on the Laslo Farm since 4:23 this morning. When the ad in the paper 12 years ago said “Help Wanted: Learn how to maintain and sustain on the Laslo Farm” I did not understand the monotony or manual labor that would be coming my way. Since then I have claimed the private room in the labor shack, saved up enough money for half a car, broken 5 bones, and enough understanding to never go to the grocery store again.

The normally mundane morning twisted into strange happenings starting at the first feedings. The chickens were huddled into the back corner of their house and not settled around pecking dirt hoping for a lost kernel. It took them 15 minutes to be convinced out of the corner to eat. The shepard Butch was running aimless circles through the field without noting any of wandering sheep. Making me have to add an additional fellowship to my fence checks. Of course the farm equipment needed extra care to start, even though I top off the gas an oil at the end of each day. Diana one of the other farm helpers slipped on her way to work and needed stitches putting her workload on my shoulders and not to mention the early arrival of Cleo the new calf born at 6:07.

Now that the morning chores were done I could slip into fantasy for the next 54 minutes. The mare barn is the best place to find quiet during the day. No one will be checking on them until their afternoon outside time and these sweet girls don’t mind my company. Finally settlingly into my book with the soft hums of the horses breathing and a huff here and there, I felt that my day had finally mellowed out.

The cool spring day was not common in Texas, we were use to the dry hot weather. The one where you step outside and want to sweat but the beads immediately dry up. As for a beautiful breeze to bring relief, that would be a laugh, this wind felt as though you opened the oven door. Today however, I was getting a chill that was not because the main character in my story was walking straight into a murderous trap.

As I shifted my sleeves down farther to give me some warmth, Beatrice opened her chocolate brown eyes as if startled by a sound outside letting out a deep whine. “What’s wrong Bea?,” I said in a calming tone. I hadn’t noticed that Rosita was tapping her hooves on the ground like a Riverdancer. “What is going on with this weird day” I thought as I went to go comfort the horses. When the girls get restless I normally give them a good brush and that calms them down. Not today, Rosita seemed to be more agitated as the seconds ticked by. “Okay girl, let me go get you guys a treat.”

I walked out the barn to see the sky black in the distance. “No wonder today has been strange, must be the first storm of spring” I said with a huff. “Better get their treat and check we have the farm set for a rainstorm.” Setting for a storm means running around and checking feed, making sure the high flooding area has extra protection, and that the barn doors are closed.

With a little pep in my step I grabbed a bucket of carrots and headed back to the stable. As I crossed the threshold to the barn the horses were going wild bucking their gates to try to get out. “Woah, girls, wo….” a huge rumble shook the ground. This shake was so strong that it forced me to my knees. A crack in the distance noted the storm was moving faster than I imagined. The siren blaring across the fields meaning trouble has been spotted close by . That’s when I knew the storm was already here and me and the mares are in for a long evening of being stuck together during a bad storm. The relief shot through me knowing that the girls knew the storm was coming and I could be with them to keep them safe.