2

Sophia waited until the day before she had too to pack up her clothes. Though she knew this was going to be a working trip no one would be wearing business suits and the like. She packed up her old working jeans though she knew they were way to big for her they were the most comfortable things she had. She had spent many hours chasing after the cows and just general farm work breaking them in. Though she was never supposed to show off her body in them they would do the trick for this trip.

She had also picked some of her sexiest underwear with the hopes that she may be able to use them at some point during the trip. It seemed that while she hoped there would be one useful ranch hand there that would be working with them she did still have some standards to uphold. The idea of a quick fling was not something she would normal consider but the people she worked with had driven her to it.

There simply had to be someone at the ranch decent enough for her to have some fun. She hoped and prayed as she placed everything in her bag and then headed off to bed. The night would have been a complete waste for being able to do anything but they all had to be at the airport way to early for the two hour flight across the country.

She laid her head down and somewhat easily found sleep. When the alarm went off and it was still dark she groaned and rolled to turn it off and disable it. The last thing she wanted was her neighbors calling or texting her to tell her alarm was still going off. She had already told her father where she was going for the trip so at least he knew. She avoided telling her mother anything these days.

When she arrived at the airport she hopped out of the cab after paying him and went to check in and get her luggage squared away. The lobby of the airport was almost dead and when she looked around she couldn’t see anyone from the company. Though she knew she was a little early she expected someone else to be there. It was eerie in a way she thought maybe she was wrong with the times and such. She went outside after getting her ticket copies and her luggage tag so she could have one last cigarette before she went the check point to get to the gate. As she lit up there was a voice in back of her, “You’re here early.”

Sophia turned to see the president of the company there standing in back of her. “I like to get to the airports early if I have to fly.” She smiled at the man she hardly ever had a chance to talk to. He was in his early thirties and was well built in a suit but as she gazed at him now in a pair of jeans and a pullover shirt she had to admire how well built. His dark hair was brushed off to the side and she could see the muscles in his arms.

“I do like to hear about some one actually being punctual for once.” He replied and then she smiled knowing that he was referring to their meetings at work where they often had to hold it for at least fifteen minutes every time.

“I try, sir,” Sophia said as she took another drag off of her cigarette.

“I’m not sir for this trip, Miss Phealn.” He replied and she looked up to meet his eyes. There was something in them that looked like amusement, “Unfortunately the first ranch we contacted didn’t have any spots available for a team building thing like this. I had to schedule it at my family’s ranch. When we arrive no matter how well I do in business I will simply be Micha there.”

“You’re a rancher?” Sophia asked surprised. “You don’t look like one.”

“Lived on the ranch for eighteen years.” He chuckled, “I guess that makes me one. Since when do ranchers look the same as well?”

“Well since I grew up on a dairy farm. All of our hands kind of looked alike.” Sophia said with a slight smile.

“A dairy farm?” he asked, “Well we must be kindred spirits then. Call me Micha from now on.”

“Sophia.” She replied as she looked out to see his put out his hand and she instinctively reacted by placing hers out to what she thought was going to be a quick handshake. When he flipped her hand and brought it to his lips she forgot to think.

“Well Sophia I believe your cigarette is done and we should be going inside.” He said as he placed his arm out for her to take. “I also believe you may have had a seat upgrade as well.”

“oh really?” Sophia asked as she was still in shock the president of the company was acting like this to her. More shocked that he had managed to keep his eyes on her face and not her breasts.

“Well being another cow person and all I think we have to stick together with all these city folk don’t ya think?” Micha said with a wink. Sophia was being led back into the airport where they waited together to get through the line for the flight when she looked down and saw he was already approved for a quick check she wondered why he was standing in the much longer line with her. Nothing about this man she worked for made any sense to her really. Though she did want to question it she didn’t say anything. “What breeds did your father have?”

“Scottish Holsteins mostly,” Sophia said as she thought about it. “They are smaller and have weird fur on their backs but they are much hardier producers for their size and lower cost to feed.”

“We have angus at the ranch. Can you ride?” Micha asked.

“A cow or a horse?” Sophia asked with a laugh.

“Either,” Micha said laughing as he looked down to the tiny woman and saw her smile.

“Both,” Sophia replied. “I can ride pretty well.”

“I’ll be the judge of that.” He said softly. Sophia heard the comment and wondered what he was really saying. Sophia thought about what she had planned and now with the president of the company on her tail she wouldn’t be able to enact her plans. Though disappointment went through her for a split second she really couldn’t be all that upset. It wasn’t like her in the first place. She sighed softly and wondered again how long he would be right there next to her. She really didn’t believe it would be all that long. He did have to be with the other executives for the company and she was just an assistant manager. Sophia was surprised really he knew her name at all.

After what seemed to be a forever wait to get through the line she saw him putting his sneakers back on as he had kicked them off to get threw the x-ray machine. Now she could see why he had the muscles that he did. Ranching was hard work and it was hard labor on any scale. Life on any farm even with all the extra help her father had was enough to make the second generation look elsewhere for jobs. It was a hard life.

It was a rewarding life as well. Not many people got to see the complete circle of life from birth to death of animals. It also was a life that taught you how to survive. She knew that she could live off of any land in the world if she had too. Not many others could really ever say that. She knew how to do things that were practical in this life of living in a city. She could hunt, fish, and even clean an animal for eating.

Her upbringing though was somewhat weird with the way her parents acted to their children and each  other she knew had the best of both worlds. Her mother who had some roles in some television shows and movies was the one who nearly beat grace into her as well as knowing how people really saw her in life. Her mother was the first to tell her if she thought she needed to lose weight or eat some more. Nothing would ever come easy because of her mother’s lessons.

Sophia’s father however taught her about life and death. It was a part of living on a farm. He taught her how to live as well. Life was never easy, he would say to her when she complained about the long hours before and after school, but working to make things good for others was worth it. He would then make her work even harder.

Micha looked up from getting his shoes on and saw she was fighting with her carry on bag to get it to roll so she could move on to the terminal and the correct gate. He had his in his hand when he walked over and took hers in the other hand. “Umm. Sir.” She said as she looked at him surprised. When he arched his eyebrow at her she amended the statement, “Micha you don’t have to do that. I just need to kick it a few times.”

“Well I don’t want you to be late,” Micha said as he looked at her and waited for her to question him. “Really Sophia it is no bother. Did you even pack this thing?”

“Yeah just the stuff I couldn’t live without.” She said.

“Well it feels like nearly nothing.” He said as he looked at her. “Let’s get going. It looks like we have a walk ahead of us regardless.”