A Touch Of Poppy (Complete)

Three🐄

Poppy seems hard on the exterior but she's passionate about animals.

This morning we were up until 7 am with that heifer giving birth but she did it with our help and all went well.

I've been staying here at the Ranch with my dog Romeo. Worth wouldn't say no and put me up in a little two-bedroom house on the Ranch.

They built these a few years back for different workers and they have bigger ones but this is all I need. Hell one-bedroom would have been just fine for me and Romeo.

I hate it was late in the day but I needed some sleep after last night. I got up and showered and got dressed and fed Romeo and we walked over to where the heifer and calf was.

When I walked into the stall I didn't expect to see Poppy standing there.

"Hey there! I figured you would still be asleep." I said.

"Yeah, I couldn't sleep long so I decided to get up and come check on things. Who is this cutie?" She asked.

"That's Romeo." I smiled.

"Oh, aren't you cute Romeo?" She said bending down scratching his head which he loved.

"I think you made a friend," I said.

"Afternoon guys!" Worth said as he walked into the barn.

"Hey, dad! Things here look good." Poppy said.

"You two work well together but please exchange numbers so I can sleep next time." Worth laughed.

"Yeah didn't even think of that," I said handing my phone to Poppy.

When she handed it back to me I smiled at her and looked up and Worth was watching me.

"So there is a mare down in the stalls that's also pregnant and could be anytime." Worth said.

"I'm going to head down and check on Cotton so I'll take a look." Poppy said.

"Cotton?" I asked.

"The horse that I've had for many years," Poppy said as she walked off.

"So now that Poppy isn't in the room how did she do last night?" Worth asked.

"She was great. She baby-talked the heifer and jumped right in when it was time for the calf to be born. Honestly, I think we make a good team." I said.

"She's like her mom with that baby talk." Worth laughed. "But all jokes aside Luke just because Poppy graduated and is now a vet don't think that I'm going to let you go. It will be easier with two of you on the Ranch." He said.

"I appreciate that Worth. Romeo and I like it around here." I smiled.

After Worth left I went to find Poppy and she was brushing down a beautiful Appaloosa horse I'm assuming is Cotton.

"So is this Cotton?" I asked.

"Cotton candy but yeah Cotton for short. Can you tell I was just a kid when I named him?" She laughed.

"Well, he is a very pretty horse," I said letting him smell me.

"Thanks! I was going to go pick some apples for them if you would like to help." She said.

"Sure. Is it ok if Romeo goes?" I asked.

"Of course." She smiled as she finished brushing Cotton.

We went and grabbed some buckets and got on the side by side and headed down to the apple orchards.

"So is it true that your mom's skincare came from these apples?" I asked.

"Yes, that is true. That is how they met because mom lived in Albany New York." She said.

"So I guess the rest was history as they say?" I laughed.

"Yeah pretty much." She said as we started picking apples off the ground.

We watched and laughed as Romeo ran and jumped and barked at us. "I'm guessing he thinks we have balls."

I watched as she threw an apple and Romeo took off after it and brought it back to Poppy.

"Well, that answered that." She laughed.

We gathered up two five-gallon buckets of apples and headed back to the stables.

Three of the horses were waiting and we couldn't help but laugh when we saw them.

"They must have known," I said.

"Cotton can smell it a mile off and well so can Apple and Champ." She giggled.

We fed the apples to the horses when Holland walked out.

"Hey, mom!" Poppy said.

"How's it going you two?" She asked.

"It's going well. Just feeding these hungry guys some apples." Poppy said.

"Is she being nice to you Luke?" Holland asked.

"Umm yeah so far." I laugh.

"Mom! Ohh Luke's mom is a big fan and I told him that you would give her some free samples." Poppy said.

"Of course honey you know I have a bunch in the house including your new stuff coming out. What is your mom's name, Luke?" Holland asked.

"Her name is Daisy and I appreciate it. She freaked out when I told her who I worked for. She loves your cosmetic store." I said.

"When we have our Sunday dinner why don't you invite your parents over that would be nice but I'm going in to get samples. I'll be back." Holland said.

Once she left Poppy looked at me and smirked. "I told ya. She has a room upstairs that is dedicated to samples."

"No shit?"

"No shit. My aunt Emma and Jess and Sidney they just get whatever they want when they want. I mean I could too but well I don't." She shrugged.

"That's really nice of her and well when I tell mom about Sunday dinner she will jump on it." I laughed.

"We have Sunday dinner every Sunday. Clara is such a wonderful cook and she has taught mom everything and she helps her now that Clara has gotten older." She said.

"Oh, Roger and Clara are the best. They are in the house next to mine." I said.

"Oh, thats right you live on the Ranch, don't you? The two-bedroom?" She asked.

"Yeah, it's more than enough for Romeo and me," I said as Holland walked back out with a shopping bag full of makeup items.

"Wow, thanks Holland." I smiled.

"Your welcome Luke! Don't forget about Sunday!" She said walking off.

I looked over at Poppy and she smiled at me and man she's beautiful.