Taken By The Bull

“Don’t touch the fence in the East field,” Steve pulled out a chair, and sat opposite Staci. He moved with a lot of grace, for such a well-built guy. “I’ve waterproofed the entire thing, and it’ll be tacky still.”

“Duly noted. Laters.”

Staci held her silence until she heard the door close behind him, and knew that she and Steve were alone again. “He seems a little stressed.”

“You might say that. In fact, you should say that, on account of it being true.” Steve leaned back, placing his hands behind his head. “He’s looking to get his name out there, and make some waves. But, it’s not an easy thing to do.”

“He’s trying to follow in your footsteps?”

“Somewhat.” Steve shrugged. “But these things take time, and he’s got about as much patience as a mayfly. I keep telling him, his time’ll come.”

“Hmm.” Biting her lip, Staci cast her eyes down to her drink; the ice was almost melted. “I think my being here to talk to you might not have helped. Maybe I should make an effort to get some time with him too.”

“If that’s what you were going to do, anyway. But don’t be offering anything if you don’t mean it.” The softness in his tone struck her, and she looked up to see calm blue eyes looking back. “There’s nothing harder on a man’s sense of self then looking for a fair shot, and receiving pity instead. And he’ll know it, too.”

“I – I guess. I mean, you know him better than I ever could.”

Steve chuckled, and propped his elbow up on the tabletop, regarding her with a half-smile. “You always worry so much about the family of your interviewees? Or are we just special to you?”

Her face flushed as she dropped her gaze again. “I just – I’m trying to be good. I don’t want to cause any bad feelings or hurt. That’s not how my mother raised me, you know?”

“Seems to me like she did a fine job.”

Oh, Steve. If you only knew why I was really here, what I’m really hoping to hear from you. You wouldn’t say that. You shouldn’t say that, because it’s not true.

“How’s about I get us some lunch?” Steve was up on his feet, heading over to the refrigerator as if she’d already agreed. “It’s easier to answer questions on a full belly. Anything in particular strike your fancy?”

“I…” Come to think of it, she was famished. “Steak, or a burger, or – something with mustard?”

“Well, uh-” He reached up and rubbed the back of this neck as if it was paining him, the other hand on the handle of the refrigerator door. “Mustard, I can do. The rest, not so much. There’s no meat in the house at all, I’m afraid.”

“Really?” Her surprise was evident in her face. “You don’t strike me as the vegetarian type, at all! How does a big guy like you keep yourself strong, living on rabbit food?”

“It’s easier’n you’d think,” he grinned. “Especially since Seth and I inherited our dad’s genes. Our stomachs just don’t tolerate meat at all.” He almost seemed embarrassed by that, quick to move the subject along with a smile and shrug. “But, if you’re dead-set on something hot with a lot of protein, I cook a mean spicy mushroom omelet.”

*****

“No, seriously!” Pushing the loose strands of hair from her face, she grinned at his appalled expression while toying with the last forkful of food on the plate. “Just, mix in the peanut butter with the microwaved rice – it has to be crunchy peanut butter, of course – until it melts. Then, you need a big splat of chili sauce and plenty of barbecue spice and salt for seasoning. Can’t be skimping on anything.”

“Okay.” He nodded slowly, lips pressed together in an attempt to hide his smile. “And that’s what you call a meal?”

“It’s what I call ‘heaven in a china bowl’. Costs maybe two bucks for the whole thing.”

“I’d… I’d like to say, I’ll give it a shot, sometime. But I’d be lying.”

It turned out that there was nothing like a friendly conversation over a nice lunch that had a way of making Staci forget that she was supposed to be here doing a job. The voice recorder lay forgotten on the table by her elbow, her feet crossed at the ankle under her chair.

“So, you’re into healthy living, are you Steve?” Spearing the last mushroom on her fork, she regarded the morsel. Could she manage that last bite? True, she’d eaten her fill, but the well-browned edge and coating of sweet red spices was proving to be quite the temptation. “I didn’t think that anyone could manage to maintain muscle mass without meat. Most of the vegetarian types I’ve known are more in the – the artsy crowd, or calorie counters. Know what I mean?”

“I do know. And I’ve heard people saying that before, but when you think about it, it doesn’t make a lick of sense.” He’d finished his plate a long time before she’d downed hers, and was sitting with his elbows up on the table. “Cattle don’t eat anything but grass and plant life, but they’re solid muscle, through and through. The biggest and strongest creatures walking this Earth are all vegetarian, ever noticed that?”

“Well-” Actually, he had a point. “I guess, lions are pretty big. But not as big as elephants and the like. But you know, rabbits are little. And mice.”

“Mice are omnivores. They’ll eat just about anything, like most people. And it’s true, rabbits are little, and they eat grass. But weasels are littler, and they eat meat.” He pushed back his chair and rose to his feet, taking the empty plates, one in each hand. “Skinny little things, weasels. But smart, you gotta give them that.”

“I guess. I mean, I’ve never seen a weasel. But you’d know a lot more about animals than a city girl like me ever would.” Staci paused, biting her lip as he carried the dishes to the sink. “How’s about I give you a hand with that?”

“How’s about, you let me play the good host?” He glanced over his shoulder as he placed the dishes in the sink. “I’m not bothering with the washing up yet, anyways. Can’t say I’m enamored with domestic chores, myself. I’d rather have a walk out in the sunshine for an after-dinner treat. Would you like to join me?”

Well, Staci thought as she worked hard to keep the look of dismay from her face. My favorite after-dinner activity is lying down for at least fifteen minutes. “Yeah – yeah, why not?”

*****

“We keep the cattle in the North and East fields at this time of year. It catches more sunlight, gets some good grass in them. Of course, every one you’re seeing here is a cow or steer. We keep the bulls in their own space. Makes it easier to herd and handle this lot, without the bulls running amok.”

The North field stretched out before them as they leaned on the fence, the sun at their backs. It was so big that even if she squinted and shaded her eyes, Staci still couldn’t see the fence on the far side.

“Just about the only things I know for sure about cattle is that they make meat and milkshakes, and bulls are scary.” Reaching out, she patted the back of the wide-eyed, soft-skinned half-grown cow grazing on the other side of the fence. “Especially if you’re wearing red.”