The rest of the people had arrived in groups and were walking around the common areas of the ranch waiting for the next instructions. They saw Micha and Sophia ride in from their small gallop and watched her as she dismounted the horse and walked it back into the stables. She brushed the horse down and then gave him some extra oats. Micha wasn’t far behind her. When she was walking out of the stall he looked her over again and it was like seeing her with new eyes.Sophia had not only impressed his mother to the point she had talked to his father about the younger woman but she had impressed his brothers and father as well. When he had the idea of using her as a shield between his parents and family with himself he had no idea that she would blow all of them away like she had. It was like she was supposed to be there next to him.“Where ya go

   Micha helped Sophia get right with her clothes and then he straightened himself as well. Though he had no doubt one of his brothers had been close enough to possibly overhear something he knew nothing would be said to the pair. If anything it would be the opposite and they would have made sure people went away. Micha knew about some of their escapades in the stable and knew the code they lived by.As they walked out he looked down at her and saw the slight flush that was still in her cheeks. Though he didn’t think it was because she was embarrassed he wanted to check in with her later about it. He saw his father who was giving him the look that he knew what had just happened. Micha just smiled and looked away. His father wouldn’t dare say anything to

  The two were being watched by everyone at the dinner. Their co-workers were eyeing them both close and his family was watching the other people. Sophia hated being the center of attention. She could feel every eye on her. Knowing that they were all planning to come at her during this trip at sometime was unnerving as well.The idea still stung that they wanted to get her somehow. She had never done anything to them but she knew it was going to get a lot worse before it got better. She would steal looks at Micha. In this setting it was easy to see past the fine polish he had to the man he was underneath. He had the same core values as her. Family was everything. She understood his little talk they had before they came outside to wait for the food though. These were not people who could easily fit into this type of life. Even hobby farm

  “Micha they are already trying to come at me,” Sophia said as she looked up at his face. She had a look of slight fear in her eyes. Like the idea of sharing time with him was putting her in danger. She was at peace though with the cow and be herself.“Cowgirl they will but that doesn’t mean a thing,” Micha said. “Nothing is going to happen to ya here I promise that.”Micha moved her to his side. She was intent on looking over the cow though. She ran her hands over the animal again and Micha watched. She was a natural with animals. That was not a learned trait it was just a part of her. He was watching every movement she made.She was talking to the animal as she moved over the flanks. “You’re a good girl. I think a few more days and then you should have your calf.”

  Micha was dead asleep when he heard some noise on the first floor. He didn’t want to get out of the warm bed with Sophia curled around him. He didn’t realize them that he had missed this. The feeling of a warm body next to him completely relaxed with the sedation from a wild bout of sex. With Sophia was different though. He never felt this relaxed, This unwilling to leave the bed feeling.The noise was growing though and he rolled out of the bed and reached into his suitcase and pulled a pair of sleep pants out and slipped into them. He walked to the top of the stairs and stood as he heard the opening and closing of doors on the first floor. He wondered what the hell was going on. His mind was still half asleep. He walked down the stairs not hiding his annoyment in being woken up in the middle of the night.