Chapter 372

"We miss you." Sebastian said over the phone. She could hear the kids in the background.

"I miss them so much. Please kiss them extra for me tonight." Pearl said. "I'm glad you are home with them finally."

"Yeah. I'm glad to be home. I am standing a lot more, trying to stand for all tasks. And the doctors think after one more surgery, I could be walking with a cane." He said.

"That's so wonderful. I am so happy for you."

Pearl said.

"And I'm getting feeing back. Everywhere except my left leg."

"Give it time."

"How is is going there?" Sebastian asked.

"Ok. I am finding out more about the program tomorrow." She said

"That's good. But I meant, how is it going with your trying to figure out what you want."

"It's only been a day that I have been here. I need time." She said.

There was a silence on the line.

"Pearl, I love you. I know you are upset with me. I'm upset with me. But if you'll let me, I'd like to show you that I am still the man that you married." He said. She felt a tear roll down her cheek.

"I know." She said.

He sighed and ended the call, telling her he would wait for her forever. She fell back into the pillows and closed her tear stained eyes.

*********************

"Good morning. Ready to make this day your bitch?" Dylan asked as Pearl came down for coffee. Everyone was eating breakfast already.

"I am." She said.

"Better eat." Dylan said.

"I'm not much of a breakfast person." She said. He nodded and smiled. He knew it.

"Ok, but don't say I didn't warn you." He said.

Cheyenne came up to Pearl and patted her on the arm. "Ready?" She asked.

"Yep." Pearl said, looking at Dylan and smiling.

"I got this." She said. Dylan nodded sarcastically and rolled his eyes.

Three hours later, after shoveling horse and cow poop in an enclosed area, Pearl was regretting not having breakfast. She was nauseous and weak. The bandana over her face was not helping at all. This needed a gas mask or something.

"Pearl. You ok? You look a little pale." Cheyenne asked.

"I'm good." Pearl said, lying.

Cheyenne giggled and shrugged her shoulders.

"Ok then. Two more pens to clean out and then we have to clean the water and food troughs. Then, lunch break!" She said. Pearl nodded thankfully. She had to make it to then. She had just had to.

After they finished, Pearl and Cheyenne walked up to the bunk house to the outdoor shower area to wash up.

"Whewwwww weeee. You smell riper than a bag of hot trash sitting in the sun." Gil said. Other men standing around him laughed and snickered.

"Yeah yeah. And your face looks like a mummy's ass." Cheyenne said. More laughing.

"Leave her alone, jealous fucks." She heard someone say. She looked up and it was Erik.

"Jealous? Of what could I be jealous?" Gil said.

"The fact that a woman like that wouldn't pay you the time of day and the only reason she is even acknowledging your existence is because you're here at the same time as she is." Erik said. He turned his gaze to Pearl. "Don't listen to this wanker. He is just as smart as he looks."

"Don't fuck with me, Prince screw-up." Gil said. Erik shrugged his shoulders and smiled.

"That I am. The most esteemed fuck up." He said as he turned back to the bunk house.

Pearl rolled up her sleeves and washed her hands and arms and switched out her muck boots with her regular ones. She followed Cheyenne up to the house for lunch. She was starving.

"Well, how did it go?" Dylan asked, handing her a plate.

"I am never taking any job I have for granted again." Pearl said.

"And that, my love, is the point of this place." He said with a smile. They sat down and Pearl literally gulped down every bite of her food.

*************************

After learning about inventory and what her role was in that, she carefully counted all the supplies in the large shed after lunch. There were first aid supplies for both the ranchers and the animals. Vitamins, medicines, wound care and ace wrap supplies. Also, cleaning and sanitizing supplies. And others for plants and various things around the ranch. It was a massive inventory. She documented everything, which took a few hours and then went to the house for dinner.

"The queen made it through a day here. I'm not impressed just yet but I'm glad you did." Gil said.

"Thanks." Pearl said, not looking up from her chili.

"This is good. The food is good." She said.

"That's great to hear because you will be on kitchen duty tomorrow all day. Our cook has a court date. So we need you in the kitchen ready to go at 430 am." Dylan said. Pearl looked at him with disgust.

"I'll be there with you." He said.

"Great." She said back. And with that, they formed their circle, said their chant and Pearl walked inside, took the longest shower of her life and promptly fell asleep.