Cowboy Like Me

A week into living with her grandma, Lily was bored out of her mind.

The days had started to blend together in a haze of slow, sun-baked afternoons. She’d spent the last few days wandering around the farmhouse, getting used to the slower pace of life, and adjusting to the odd rhythm of rural Texas. There was a certain charm to the place, but it wasn’t enough to stave off the nagging boredom that had settled in her chest. Her mornings were spent helping Rosemary with small chores—gathering eggs, picking herbs for tea, sweeping the porch—but none of it felt substantial.

The books stacked by her grandmother’s rocking chair were starting to look uninviting - which was shocking, Lily loved nothing more than she loved reading - and the long stretches of empty fields outside the farmhouse only made her feel more restless. It was the quiet that was the hardest to get used to—no honking horns, no sirens, no bustling crowds. Just the constant hum of cicadas and the occasional moo from a distant cow.

This morning, she sat at the kitchen table, absently stirring her coffee while Rosemary hummed in the background, flipping pancakes. The smell of syrup and warm butter filled the air, making Lily feel even more detached from her usual city life. The kitchen was cozy, homey, with its floral curtains and the old wooden beams overhead, but it didn’t make her feel much at home.

“You look like you’ve got the weight of the world on your shoulders, darlin’,” her grandmother remarked, glancing up from the stove with a teasing smile.

Lily let out a small sigh, one that was barely noticeable. “Just trying to find something to do that doesn’t involve mucking out stalls or picking weeds,” she said, drumming her fingers lightly on the table.

Rosemary chuckled, flipping another pancake onto the plate with a flick of her wrist. “Well, that’s farm life for you. You’ve got to get your hands dirty sooner or later.” She set the plate down in front of Lily with a wink. “But don’t worry. We’ve got more exciting things coming up today. I’ve got a feeling you’re about to get a little surprise.”

Lily raised an eyebrow. “A surprise? What is it, a cow to milk?”

“Oh, don’t be like that. You haven’t stepped a foot out of the house all week, unless you were sweeping the porch,” Rosemary said with a grin. “You’ll see.”

Lily wasn’t sure what to make of that. A surprise could mean anything on this farm, from chasing down a runaway goat to finding out they were building a whole new barn. But before she could press further, there was a knock at the door, followed by the unmistakable sound of it swinging open.

“Morning, ladies,” Evan’s voice called out as he strolled into the kitchen, his usual easy grin plastered across his face. He tipped his hat toward Rosemary, then turned his eyes toward Lily, his smirk widening slightly.

“Ah, there she is,” he said with a wink. “You look like you could use a little excitement, princess.”

Lily raised an eyebrow, half-expecting some sarcastic remark about her being too bored to function. “What do you want, Evan?”

Evan leaned casually against the doorframe, his cowboy boots clacking softly against the wooden floor. “Well, since you're clearly in need of something to do,” he began, drawing the words out like he was setting up a punchline, “how about you come feed the chickens with me? It’s a real thrill.”

Lily blinked at him, not sure if she had heard him right. “Chickens? Really?”

Evan gave a playful shrug, his smirk never fading. “Yup. Trust me. It’s one of the most exhilarating activities on the farm.”

Lily couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up. She leaned back in her chair, folding her arms across her chest. “I’m not sure ‘feeding chickens’ qualifies as thrilling, Evan.”

He grinned wider. “You’d be surprised. Plus, you’ve got nothing better to do, right?”

Lily hesitated for a moment, glancing at her grandmother, who just raised an eyebrow and took another sip of her coffee, clearly enjoying the exchange. She was tempted to turn him down, but the thought of another day spent in idle boredom was enough to convince her.

“Fine,” she said, pushing her chair back. “I suppose I can’t get any more bored than I already am. Might as well give it a shot.”
Evan raised his hand in a mock salute. “That’s the spirit. Let’s go, then.”

Lily followed Evan out the back door, the warm Texas sun hitting her face as they stepped onto the dirt path leading toward the chicken coop. The farm stretched out before her, quiet and endless, but Evan seemed perfectly at ease in it, like he belonged to the land in a way she couldn’t yet understand.

She glanced at him as he led the way, the slight sway of his boots and the way he walked as if he was used to the weight of the earth beneath his feet. She had to admit, there was something oddly magnetic about his confidence, even if she couldn’t figure him out completely.

“Don’t tell me you actually enjoy this,” Lily said, crossing her arms over her chest as they approached the chicken coop, which was nestled in the corner of the property.

Evan looked over his shoulder, his eyes twinkling. “Oh, I do. Nothing quite like the sound of chickens clucking and flapping their wings first thing in the morning. You’ll see.”
Lily shot him a look. “I think I’d rather be anywhere else.”

“Trust me,” he said, giving her a side glance as he opened the chicken coop gate. “You just haven’t given it a chance. Plus, it’s the only part of farm life that doesn’t involve getting your hands dirty. Unless the chickens shit on them, of course.”
She snorted, following him in. The inside of the coop smelled faintly of hay and dust, with a few stray feathers scattered across the floor. The chickens were pecking around, clucking softly in the dim light. It was a peaceful sort of chaos—quieter than she had expected.

Evan reached into the metal bucket near the door, pulling out a handful of grain. He turned to her with a sly smile. “Ready to live the high life?” he asked, tossing the feed into the feeding trough.
Lily hesitated for a moment, before taking a small step forward. “I’m just here to keep you company,” she said, but there was a small smile tugging at her lips. Evan had a way of making the most mundane things seem more interesting than they had any right to be.

“Good enough for me.” Evan handed her a small scoop of grain. “Just scatter it around. They’ll come to you.”

Lily took the scoop, holding it awkwardly at first, then tossed a handful of feed onto the ground. The chickens scrambled eagerly toward it, clucking in a frenzy.

“Not bad, princess,” Evan said, his tone teasing as he bent down to grab another handful of grain. “You’re a natural.”

Lily rolled her eyes. “I’m sure the chickens are thrilled to be fed by a ‘natural.’”

Evan grinned, his eyes never leaving her as he threw the next handful of feed. “They don’t care where it comes from. They just like food.”

For a moment, the two of them worked in companionable silence, tossing grain and watching the chickens peck and squabble. It was strangely relaxing, this quiet task that didn’t require much effort or thought. The warmth of the sun on her skin and the rhythmic sound of clucking slowly started to ease the tension that had been building in Lily’s chest for days.

“See?” Evan said after a while, breaking the silence. “Not so bad, right?”

Lily glanced at him, and for a moment, she saw the humor in his eyes—genuine, but with a touch of challenge behind it, like he was trying to prove something to her. She couldn’t help but smile. “Okay, fine. I’ll admit it. It’s... kind of relaxing.”
“Figured you’d come around,” Evan said with a grin, clearly pleased with himself.

Just then, they heard the sound of boots crunching on gravel outside the coop. A second later, Barty appeared in the doorway, wiping his hands on his jeans.

“Evan,” Barty said, his voice carrying the familiar, obnoxious drawl that made him sound like he’d been roused from a nap. “Got a job for you. The fence needs fixing over by the west pasture. You coming or what?”

Evan glanced up from the chickens, raising an eyebrow. “Can’t you do it?”

Barty shrugged. “I have a million things to do, and we both know it’s a slow day for horses, which means you are not busy. Plus, I need it done today, or when you put your horses in the pasture tomorrow they will escape.” He glanced at Lily, then back at Evan, his eyes narrowing. “You’ll be fine without him for a bit, won’t you, ’princess’?”

Lily wasn’t sure why, but the way Barty said it rubbed her the wrong way. Maybe it was his tone, or the way he’d called her "princess" in that dismissive way, but something about it made her bristle.

Evan seemed to notice the shift in her mood. “You’re not getting off that easy,” he said, half-grinning, before he turned to Barty. “I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Don’t take too long,” Barty muttered, turning to leave.

Lily glanced at Evan as Barty’s boots faded into the distance. For some reason, she felt a little disappointed to see him go. Sure, it was just feeding chickens, but the way Evan had made it feel like a small adventure was... nice. And now, with Barty here to drag him away, the moment felt unfinished.

“Looks like your fun’s over,” Lily said, trying to sound casual, even though she felt a little frustrated by Barty’s interruption.

Evan shot her a playful look, clearly noticing her change in mood. “Yeah, looks like. Don’t worry, I’ll be back in no time.”

Lily rolled her eyes, but there was a slight pout to her lips that she couldn’t quite hide. “Sure you will.”

Evan gave her a knowing look, as if he was about to say something, but then thought better of it. Instead, he just reached for his hat, tipping it back onto his head. “Don’t miss me too much,” he said with a wink, and then, before she could reply, he stepped out of the coop and followed after Barty.

Lily stood there for a moment, her arms crossed, watching the two of them head off toward the fields. She hadn’t realized how much she’d been enjoying their time together until it was interrupted. And now, with Evan gone, the chickens seemed just a little less interesting.

The pub was buzzing with the usual rowdy chatter, the dim lights of late afternoon casting long shadows on the wooden floors as the jukebox played another country hit. Evan, Barty, and Pandora sat around a worn table near the back, nursing their drinks and enjoying a moment of downtime after a long day. The air smelled like beer and fried food, and the laughter of regulars mixed with the clink of glasses.

Pandora, who had been listening intently, finally broke the silence with a laugh. “Okay, okay, spill it. What’s with you two tonight? You’re both acting like you’ve swallowed a hornet or something.”

Evan leaned back in his chair, a lazy smile on his face, his cowboy hat tipped back just enough to show off his shaggy blonde hair. “What do you mean? We’re just enjoying a quiet drink,” he said, shrugging nonchalantly.

Pandora raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. “Yeah, and I’m the Queen of England. Come on, Evan. You and Barty both look like you’ve been chewing on nails all night. Something’s going on. Spill.”

Barty, sitting opposite her, rolled his eyes dramatically, slamming his drink down a little too hard on the table. “I’ll tell you what’s going on,” he grumbled. “That fucking city girl, Lily, is what’s going on.”

Pandora’s grin widened as she leaned in, clearly amused. “Oh? Tell me more.”

Barty shook his head, clearly frustrated. “She’s so annoying, Pandy. I swear, she thinks she owns the place. Every time I see her, she’s got something smart to say. Just everything about her rubs me the wrong way. She’s been here, what, a week? And she’s already acting like she’s queen of the farm.”

Evan, ever the cool one, took another long pull from his beer, watching Barty with a little smirk. “Oh, you’re just mad ‘cause she’s got that sharp tongue of hers,” he teased, his tone light, but there was an edge of something deeper in his voice.

Pandora was grinning like she was watching the best comedy show in town. “What, Barty? You don’t like her? I thought you’d be all over a new girl like that.”

Barty snorted. “Please. She’s too much work. Too much attitude. I’ve got enough to deal with already without some princess telling me how to do my job. And she keeps giving me that look,” he said, gesturing dramatically. “Like she’s so much better than the rest of us.”

Evan chuckled softly, the sound low and easy. He was clearly enjoying Barty’s discomfort, though there was a hint of something else in his eyes—something not quite so dismissive. “I don’t know, man. I think she’s funny. You just gotta get used to her sass. She’s got a bit of fire, I’ll give her that.”

Barty shot Evan a pointed look, clearly not appreciating the way his friend was defending her. “Oh, I’m getting real used to it, alright. But if she comes around here again acting like she has a stick up her ass, I swear I’m gonna lose it.”

Pandora leaned back in her seat, eyes flicking between the two of them. She clearly found the whole situation hilarious. “Wow, Barty, you’re really worked up over this. What’s the deal? You got a crush on her or something?”

Barty’s eyes shot wide, and he quickly shook his head. “No! No way. That girl’s too much. She—” He cut himself off, his words stumbling as he realized how defensive he sounded. “I just... i don't like her attitude, that’s all.”

Pandora gave him a knowing look, clearly seeing through his bluster. “Uh-huh. Sure, Barty. Whatever you say.”

Evan raised an eyebrow, watching the back-and-forth between Barty and Pandora. There was an unspoken tension in the air, but Evan wasn’t going to be the one to address it. Instead, he took another swig of his beer, eyes drifting to the side as he considered the conversation.

“I think you’re just jealous, man,” Evan said casually, his tone almost too relaxed, though there was a hint of mischief in his smile. “I’m pretty sure Lily could get under anyone’s skin with that mouth of hers. But she doesn’t bother me.”

Pandora leaned in again, clearly enjoying the drama. “Wait a second. You’re not telling me that you have a thing for her, are you?”

Evan gave her a wry grin, his eyes glinting with something playful. “I didn’t say that. But she’s... different. I dunno. She’s definitely pretty, I've gotta give her that.”

Pandora’s smile only widened, clearly seeing where this was going. “Oh, so you like the challenge, huh? I bet it’s the whole ‘I’ll make her like me’ thing.”

Evan just shrugged. “Maybe. Maybe not. It’s not like I’m trying to make her fall for me or anything. Just... she’s a little more substantial than the girls around here.”

Pandora looked at Barty, who was glaring into his drink. “Well, looks like we’ve got a bit of a situation on our hands, huh? You two better not go making things more awkward than they already are.”

Barty shot her a sharp look. “There’s nothing going on. I’m just saying, she’s trouble. I don’t like how she’s got you all wound around her finger, man.” His eyes flickered over to Evan again, his expression just a little too tense.

Evan leaned back in his chair with a lazy smile, clearly enjoying how off-balance Barty was getting. “Oh, come on. You’re acting like I’m the one who can’t handle it. I’m just saying, she’s not so bad once you get to know her. It’s... complicated.”

Pandora, watching both of them with a keen eye, chuckled. “I see what’s going on here. You two are like an old married couple, bickering over nothing. No one’s fighting over Lily. You’re both just annoyed that she’s not paying attention to you.”

Barty’s face flushed slightly, and he quickly stood up, knocking back the rest of his drink. “Whatever, I’m not getting into this with you two. I’m out,” he muttered, grabbing his jacket and heading for the door.

Evan watched him go, his lips curving into a half-smile. “Relax, man. I wasn’t trying to start something.”

Pandora leaned in with a mischievous grin. “Oh, you weren’t? That’s not what it looked like to me. But don’t worry. I think you’ve got more of a shot with Lily than you’re letting on.”

Evan just laughed softly, shaking his head. “You’re too much, Pandy.”

Pandora raised her glass in a mock toast. “You’re welcome. You two are adorable together.”

Evan gave her a side-eye, but there was no malice in it. Just the kind of easy banter that came from years of friendship. “You’re the one making things weird. I’m just here for the beer.”

Pandora just smiled, sipping her drink as she watched Evan’s eyes wander toward the door, where Barty had just disappeared into the night.

There was a pause, then:

“I better go look for him, huh?” Evan sighed, necking his beer and standing, patting Pandora on the back. “I’ll see ya tonight—don’t wait up for me, I’m getting dinner out.”

Pandora raised an eyebrow, her grin not quite fading. “If you’re getting dinner out, I’m guessing you’re not asking me along.”

Evan’s smile was easy, but there was a flicker of something else in his eyes—a trace of concern. “I’m gonna check on Barty. He’s got a bee in his bonnet about Lily, and I think he’s taking it a little too far. I don’t want him blowing up the dinner later.”

Pandora just laughed and waved him off. “Go play referee, Romeo. But don’t be too long. I need someone to get Luna to sleep, and you’re the best at it.”

Evan gave her a wink, then slipped out of the pub and into the warm evening air. It was still early, but the sun had already dipped behind the horizon, casting long shadows over the dirt roads as he made his way down the gravel path. He knew where to find Barty. His friend wasn’t hard to track down when he was in a mood—he’d either be sitting on the tailgate of his truck or by the old barn, fuming.

Sure enough, when Evan rounded the corner of the barn, he spotted Barty leaning against the truck, arms crossed, staring into the distance like the world had wronged him.

“Hey,” Evan called out, giving him a wave as he approached. “What’s going on, man?”

Barty didn’t look at him at first, but the muscle in his jaw twitched. “Just… tired of pretending everything’s fucking fine, that’s all,” he muttered, not bothering to give Evan the satisfaction of a full greeting.

Evan clicked his tongue, walking up to the truck and leaning against it next to him. “You’re not really mad at Lily, you know. You’re just pissed because she doesn’t like you.”

Barty shot him a sideways glare. “She’s impossible, Evan. She’s got that… attitude.” He scoffed. “I’m not putting up with her high-and-mighty act. Not for a second.”

Evan raised an eyebrow. “It’s not that bad. You’re overreacting. And you know it.”

Barty shook his head, clearly still wound tight. “It’s not just that. It’s the way she looks at me. Like I’m some kinda idiot. And every time she opens her mouth, I want to smack it shut. It’s not like I’ve got time to babysit some city girl who thinks she knows everything.”

Evan let out a soft sigh, rubbing the back of his neck as he thought for a moment. “Look, man. I get it. She’s got a mouth on her. But she’s not the enemy. You don’t have to like her, but at least don’t make it worse. We’re going to dinner with her and Rosemary later tonight, and if you can’t keep it cool, it’s gonna be super awkward.”

Barty made a sound of disgust and kicked a rock across the gravel. “Yeah, great. Dinner with the princess and her grandma. What a treat.”

“Look,” Evan said, his voice turning a little more serious, “I’m asking you to just… be nice. Can you do that? For one night? I know you’re not in the mood for it, but this whole thing is gonna blow over if you don’t make it into a big deal. She’s just—she’s just trying to figure out how to fit in here, okay? And we don’t need to make it harder on her. You can’t expect someone from the city to just walk in and understand farm life. Hell, you’re still trying to figure out half of it yourself, aren't you - city boy?”

Barty huffed, but this time, his shoulders seemed to relax a little. “Fine. I’ll keep my mouth shut. But I’m not gonna pretend to like her.”

Evan smiled, relieved. “That’s all I’m asking. Just… don’t make it worse for her. And maybe, try not to stare at her like she’s got two heads, alright?”

Barty muttered something under his breath but finally nodded. “Whatever, man. I’m just not gonna go out of my way to be nice. But I’m not starting anything either. I’ll get through dinner without losing my mind.”

Evan slapped him on the back. “Appreciate it, man. You’re a real trooper.”

Barty gave him a half-smile, clearly in a better mood, though there was still a trace of frustration lingering in his eyes. “Yeah, well, don’t expect me to start baking her cookies or anything.”

Evan chuckled. “You know I'd never let you near an oven anyway. Now, let’s head back to the house before you do something stupid.”

The two of them got into Evan’s truck, and the short drive back to the farmhouse was quiet, with only the hum of the engine filling the space between them. As they neared the house, Evan glanced over at Barty, who was still scowling out the window, though it was more in thought than actual anger now.

“I know it’s not easy, man,” Evan said after a beat. “But she’s got her reasons for being like that. She’s not from around here. Doesn’t really understand the way things work. You should get that more than anyone.”

Barty didn’t respond, but the way his jaw relaxed a little told Evan that he was at least considering what he said. As the truck came to a stop in the driveway, Evan put it in park and turned to his friend.

“You gonna be cool?” he asked.

Barty gave a sharp nod, though it was reluctant. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll keep it together.”

Evan clapped him on the shoulder. “Good. Because if you mess this up, I’m not backing you up next time.”

Barty gave a half-hearted laugh and climbed out of the truck. “You’re real fun, you know that?”

Evan grinned, watching his friend head up the porch steps before following him inside. “Yeah, I know. I’m the life of the party.”