Help wanted on a farm.

A truck and two strong arms. Not scared of dirt and willing to work until the sun goes down.

That couldn’t be too hard, Simon thought. So he pulled up and told the farmer he was the man and could start right now, and they shook hands. He said what was expected; the fence need fixin’, the peaches need pickin’, and the cows need bringin’ ‘round.

Simon got to work, haulin’ hay, feedin’ the hogs, all while under the heat of the summer sun, sweatin’ like a dog. After the work was done for the hour, he went and cooled off in the creek. Sooner than he wanted, he was back to work in the dead-gum heat.

After just six hours of work, he was cussin’ out loud, thinkin’ about quittin’. But, his eyes moved up when he heard wheels on the gravel, the pretty car a stark contrast to the dusty farm. Oh, man, he was sure glad he didn’t quit. ‘Cause just when he thought it couldn’t get any hotter, he caught a glimpse of the farmer’s child.

“Who’s that, dad?” You asked from the porch, your eyes taking in the man out in the field. He was tall, buff, and sweaty. It was a… glorious view.

“The farmhand. Go introduce yourself,” Your father told you, “I gotta go down to Miss Bell’s. I’ll be all night, sugar. I love you.”

A kiss to the top of your head and the man was gone, his truck kicking up dirt and gravel, leaving you and Simon alone on the big old farm.