Payback by Kim Brogan Page B

I had that part down, but I had to do a lot of research on the restaurant part.  I told him about the research , and he seemed genuinely interested.  In return, he told me about some of the strange people he met in the green rooms waiting to go on the shows. He had a way of telling a story that made me laugh.  No matter how serious the subject, he could find something humorous about it,
    without being cruel.  Between the two of us, we were always smiling and teasing each other.
    I was falling in love with him.

Chapter 7
    Chores and Punishment
     
    “The salt lick goes out in the middle, along with some oat cakes that are infused with vitamins and minerals they need to get through the winter.  The winter grass isn’t as nutritious as the summer grass so we have to supplement it.  When the snow finally covers the winter grass, we’ll start feeding them hay we baled during the summer, along with the straw.  The hay gives them the nutrition they need, but digesting the straw helps keep them warm.” Jason and Marie were sitting on the tailgate of the truck while a local eighteen-year-old named “Buck” drove them and the squares of salt licks to the meadow where she and Jason set them down every hundred feet for the cattle to lick.
    “What else do you do during the winter?” Marie asked.
    “We delouse them, feed them, clean the barns, and inoculate them. We move them around so that they don’t over fertilize one area.  Between the two--make that three--of us, we’ll keep busy.”
    Marie nodded as she looked down at her Nikes , which were now trashed from the snow, the dung, and the slush she had been slogging through for the last three weeks. Jason gave her a mournful look.
    “You need to get some boots, a real jacket , and winter clothes.”
    “I know, but I’m absolutely broke, not a dime. If I do buy something, he’s going to put it on my tab.”
    Jason almost laughed at the absurdity of it. “Well, you still need the clothes.”
    “I know.”
    They made their way back to the house and waited while Marie prepared the three men lunch.  Caden walked in and saw the two workers sitting at the breakfast table drinking coffee while Marie hurried about in the kitchen.
    “Lunch isn’t ready?” he asked in an accusatory tone.
    “I was putting out salt licks.”
    “Your main job is to make sure we’re fed on time. These two guys are on the clock, and now I’m paying them to sit and watch you make lunch!” he growled, as he pushed past her to grab a mug.
    Jason nodded to Buck , and they stood up to leave.
    “Sit down!” Caden yelled.
    Buck sat down right away, but Jason stood and stared back at Caden. Jason wasn’t going to take this from Caden, even though he knew it came from the pain he was in.  Jason knew that his friend was going to be in this pain until he either extracted his pound of flesh from Marie or he found a way back to her. Or, there was one other option, he could let her go and let the past go too. But Jason could tell that Caden wasn’t strong enough to let Marie go.  He wasn’t sure why, perhaps because he needed his revenge, or maybe it was that he just needed her in his life even if it was so he could torture her, but he wasn’t strong enough to let her go a second time.
    “Caden, I’m not some child that you can yell at. You need to remember that. Buck and I will leave , if you’re going to scream. Marie filled in because Buck’s brother couldn’t make it. She worked very hard out there, so it’s not her fault that lunch is late.  And you’re right, Buck and I should be out earning our pay, but we didn’t think you’d mind us taking a little break.”
    Caden shifted his weight and looked contrite. “Well, she should have prepared lunch before leaving.”
    “I asked her at the last minute to help us.”
    Caden nodded that he understood and joined them at the table. Jason gave Marie a wink and sat back down.  
    As she served the lunch, ham sandwiches and tomato