The bale of hay comes at me unexpectedly. I barely have time to face it and bring my arms up, let alone stop it from bouncing off my chest. I see Angela smile and hear, “Sorry!” through the hay dust. I see another bale lobbed up into the hay wagon and Angela turns to pick it up. I stack the one I have and turn to catch the next one she sends to me. I’m smiling too.
It’s a hot and sticky late July day. Perfect for baling and drying hay but hard on the body. Water seems to evaporate as soon as I drink it. Sweat is pouring off our bodies and after hours in the sun with only a few breaks in the shade, we are tired, thirsty, and hungry. An hour later, the last row is on the wagon as we head back to the barn to stack what we have. It’s after dinner when we finally put the tractor away and wave goodbye to Mr. Barrett, the farmer we work for. As he disappears through the screen door, Angela turns to me and asks if I’d like to go for a swim. There’s a swimming hole at the back of the big field, where the White River makes a sharp bend, and after years of swift water, a deep pocket in the river bed has formed. Big enough to make a shallow jump into. I say, “I’d love to!” partly because the water will be refreshing and partly because I like spending time with her.
I started working for Mr. Barrett less than a week ago. Angela has been here since early June and has his trust. She’s a hard worker, knows how to handle the tractor with implements, and even plowed a few of the fields in June. I am reminded that she has also built up muscle as I remember the bale that struck me with some force. She’s petite, beautiful, and has a mind of her own -- what’s not to like?