The morning soon came, Maddox’s mind still scarred from the night before. As he went to leave his room, he found his clothes piled on the floor. After the incident he decided it was probably best just to go to sleep, and to avoid seeing Daisy till the next day. He made a point to sleep on top of the bed, not in it, he didn’t want to get the sheets dirty so quickly. He’d hoped he could get up a little early so he could at least freshen up, but that didn’t happen as come 5am he was still asleep, the only thing that could wake him was the booming voice of Angus screaming into the room of GET UP YOU LAZY SON OF A BITCH! YOU’VE GOT WORK SOON!

As he made his way down the stairs, a gentle waft entered the air, the smell frying meat drifted towards his nose, sending his body on autopilot as he floated towards the kitchen. As he entered, Corina was standing by the cooker, Daisy was already at the table, chewing gleefully upon a sandwich. At the head of the table was the glaring eyes of an old frail man. He looked familiar but Maddox couldn’t put a finger to who it was, lost in thought starring, the old man’s voice roared in a familiar tone “WHAT YOU LOOKING AT ARSEWIPE!”

Wiping the sleep out his eyes, he took another look at the old man “Mr. Ridge...mont?”

“What!” Exclaimed the old man, like he was the only one who had noticed this monumental difference.

“You look... different...” He uttered the words out of his mouth, confused.

“You expect me to remain in spirit form twenty-four seven!” Cried out Mr. Ridgemont “You know how exhausting that shit is!”

“No... just...” He looked again at the frail old man sat at the head of the table, skin draped over his nearly visible bones, his eyes had sunken into his balding head.

“Choose your next words wisely kid...” A fire developed in the old man's eyes as his arms began to expand, revealing the muscles Maddox had contended with the day before.

“Understood...” He took a deep gulp as he turned to Corina “Morning!"

“Morning Maddox” she beamed over to him.

“Wha... What you cooking there?” He drooled as the words left his lips.

“Huh...” She acted confused, before playfully looking to the pan in her hand “Oh this? Just a bit of bacon to get the morning started.”

“Ohh...” He drifted closer to her as the sound of the frying bacon echoed in his ear “Is there any left?”

“Oh, did you want some?” she exclaimed surprised “I’m sorry I used the last of it for Mrs. Daisy’s sandwiches.” Upon hearing this, Daisy nearly chocked on her meal at the mention of her name.

“That so...” A tear dropping form his eye as he sadly turned to Daisy. The smell of the bacon now only served as punishment... Wait there was still bacon frying? “What about those?” He questioned.

“These?” She looked at the pan in her hand, then back to Maddox innocently “They were mine... But if you want them?”

“No, no, no, no, no, no it’s fine, I didn’t even think sorry!” He hadn’t even thought she may have not eaten yet, he felt terrible for asking.

“Hehe” She giggled to herself playfully “Joking, these are yours”

“Huh?”

“I already ate before you came down” She admitted with a playful grin “you just had the most adorable look on your face I couldn’t help but tease, can you forgive me?”

“That was mean Corinaaaa...” Wiping a single tear from his eye.

“I’m sorry” she moved the bacon from the pan and placed it into an already buttered slices of bread “Here, a sign of my apology”

As he bit into it, the delicious flavours hit his tongue from all directions, since when did bacon taste this good! “So gooddddd” he dribbled as he chewed merrily.

“I take it you forgive me?” She looked at him inquisitively.

“Mmmhmm” he nodded as he continued to chew, tears now streaming down his face with delight.

“Good” she smiled to herself.

“Oi! Shit!” Shouted the old man, snapping Maddox from his fantasy. “Get your arse to this table and we can talk about what I need you to do!”

“Yes sirrrr...” he said unenthusiastically as he sat opposite Daisy. He looked in her direction but she quickly turned her head away. She was clearly still annoyed about yesterday. Corina went to sit opposite her father, and as all four were finally at the table, Angus began.

“Right! Lizard boy! You’re with me!” He ordered loudly “I’m gonna take you through farming 101 so you best pay attention or you’re out of here!”

“Lizard boy...” He was not keen at his new nickname, although it sounded a lot better than the others he was given in the past.

“Problem!” Glared the old man.

“No sir!”

His attention now shifted to Daisy “You! Young lady!”

“Epp! Yes sir!” she squealed as she responded to him.

“I want you to stay with Corina! She’ll show you around the house and what work you need to do to maintain this house! Understand!”

“I’m going to be the cleaner...” She muttered under her breath. At least she wanted to be outside, being of help to Maddox. Unfortunately, it appeared she hadn’t muttered it quite enough as her words reached Angus’s ears.

“I’ll throw you both out now if this is the gratitude I get!” Roared Angus in outrage.

“Sorry sir! Ready to clean sir!” Saluted Daisy as she stood abruptly at the table, nearly knocking off all the plates and glasses.

“Better! Right Lizard boy! You’re with me! Let’s go!” He indicated to Maddox as they both got up and exited the dining room.

As they left the house, they made their way towards a plot of flat land. Standing in the corner of this field was a large contraption, red in colour, multiple blades were fixed to its frame, at the front was a bar that appeared to be used as a handle. “A plough?” questioned Maddox.

“You’re not completely brain dead then! Yes and you’ll be pulling this one! So don’t mess it up!”

“How am I supposed to mess up ploughing?” Retorted Maddox unimpressed.

“That’s the kind of attitude I don’t need to see! Get in and start pushing and I’ll tell you if you’re doing a good job or not!” Directed Angus, pointing towards the plough.

“Fine, fine...” As Maddox clambered under the frame, he took a hold of the bars in front of him. Slowly he began to push forward, the plough didn’t move at all. “... *Sigh*” With a deep exhale, his arms and legs began to scale, and once complete, he began to push the big lump of metal with ease, quickly moving along the ground.

“STOP!!!” Cried out Angus “You’re going to fast!”

“Excuse me?” Maddox turned unimpressed to a holt.

“Too fast!” Criticized the old man “All you’re doing is throwing ground all over the place and ruining the quality! Now slower!”

“Dammit... Fine! How’s this?” He began again pulling the heavy machinery, before starting to pick up the pace a little. Much to Angus’s irritation.

“Still too quick!” He moaned.

“Course it is...” Maddox sighed under his breath. Even though it was early, Angus was sharp as ever as he seemed to catch every word uttered.

“Say something boy!” He scolded.

“No sir...” begrudgingly answered Maddox. He began pulling once more, this time closer to a snail’s pace.

“Good, now that’s better, keep at that pace!”

“How long is this gonna take old man?” He turned to Angus.

“This area?” He looked into the distance in thought for a moment “I’d say around an acre in... eight hours?”

“How many acres is this farm?” Continued Maddox.

“Around forty so I’d like to be done by the end of the month”

“Serious...?” Questioned Maddox disheartened.

“In my youth!” Angus began with accompanying hand gestures “I’d have had all this finished in two weeks! Even now in my old age, it takes just over a month, ten hours each day! I told you I’d work you boy! You can leave if you want...” His eyes grew smaller as he stared at Maddox hopefully.

“No, I can do this...” He confirmed, continuing to pull the plough at the steady pace set “This ok?”

“Hmm that should be fine” Muttered the old man as he watched from the side.

Meanwhile, in the house, Corina had already taken Daisy through almost all the areas and they had now finally made their way to the last stop, the attic. Karin took hold of a pole standing near the hatch to the roof, revealing a set of ladders as they clumsy fell from the ceiling. “After you” she remarked to Daisy as she followed behind upstairs.

“Wowww, this really is big huh?” She looked around at the attic, it was immaculate. Organised up there, sets of boxes laid across the floor, mixed between them were old painting, a guitar, amongst other oddities.

“We mainly use this for storage so there's no need to worry about cleaning up here, but it’s a nice place to think, you know?” Karin continued toward a window in the corner. By the window sat a comfortable looking chair, Corina beckoned Daisy closer, pointing out of the window. “Come, look!” She waved her over as the two girls stood next to each other.

As Daisy looked out, she could see how large the farm really was, far in the distance she could make out the outline of trees, but the size of the farmland truly was mind boggling “This... is all yours? This farm is nearly as big as my village!”

“That so?” Karin chuckled giddily “Look other there” she pointed at two small figures, one was thin and standing, watching over the other who seemed to be pulling along some piece of machinery.

“Is that?” She sharpened her eyes to get a better view.

“Hmm, my father and Maddox” Confirmed Corina.

“I’ve never seen him like that before...” She remarked as she watched him pulling along the machine. Back home, he would of never had the chance at this life.

“Really?” Corina looked at her intrigued.

“Well back home...” She started before stuttering “Back home he didn’t really get on with anyone, he was a real loner but he always worked so hard, I couldn’t help but be inspired by him you know... He was always in a bad situation, but he never let it get him down, he just continued to work hard, it makes me happy I get to see him like this, he deserves it so much” She raised her hand to her eyes to wipe away a tear, when did she start crying she wondered as Karin watched.

“It sounds like you two are really close, you’re not dating are you?” She questioned further.

Daisy’s face became beet red “No, no, no nothing like that! We’re just close friends is all...” Her voice faded as her sentenced trailed off.

“Oh that’s good then” Coronas face looked relieved.

“Why’s that?”

“I’ve taken a liking to him, I wanted to talk to you to see what kind of person he was, now I know this how could I not be interested!” She had a giddy grin on her face which caused Daisy to panic.

“Wha... What do you mean a llll...liking?” Her words stuttered harshly out of her mouth.

“Did I not make it clear?” Corina looked at her confused before reiterating “ I want him to be my lover”

“L... L... Lover!! You can’t!!!” Daisy protested.

“Why? I thought your not dating?”

“We’re not... not now anyways...” her voice trailed off again, she couldn’t admit her feeling for Maddox to this girl, not when she couldn’t even tell him how she feels.

“So you should have no trouble if I take him then?” He burrow began to frown as she became more irritated by these objections.

“I said you can’t!” Cried out Daisy once more.

“I didn’t speak to you to seek you’re approval...” A certain venom carried out in her voice now “I wanted information and now I have it... If you want to stop me then go ahead but I don’t think you will... I mean you’re nothing but a country bumpkin after all...”

“You high-minded farmers whore!” Her heart couldn’t take this anymore, she couldn’t forgive this, she couldn’t let this go! She’d never hated anyone before, she’d disliked the others in the village but not this hatred, not this pure anger than was running through her gains for this girl right now.

“What did you just call me!” Spat Corina in disgust “Don’t forget who hired you...”

“...” She bit so hard on her tongue it nearly fell off.

“Exactly” she reiterated smugly “I’ll keep you around for now as I wouldn’t want my darling to leave just yet, but once I've replaced you, then you’re free to go...”

“So this kind farmers daughter thing... it’s all an act right?” Whispered Daisy in despair.

“Not that he’d believe you... All I have to do is keep on smiling and making him blush, he’ll be putty in my hands.” Her wicked smile sent Daisy’s blood boiling, did she really think it was that simple, all she had to do was flirt a little and he’d be hers?

“I won’t let you...” she muttered quietly.

“Excuse me?”

“I said I wont let you!” She yelled defiantly “He’s mine! I won’t let you steal our precious memories!”

“Hmm.. You’re welcome to try, but I look forward to you’re face when his arms around me and he doesn’t look at you anymore” She brushed past Daisy’s shoulder as she made her way down the ladders. Daisy was holding back the tears, she turned to watch Maddox hard at work, she couldn’t lose him, not too someone like that! “If you’re done looking at my darling, we’re finished here...” Corina’s voice echoed from below.

“I’m coming...” she turned away from the window before making her way down the ladder.

“I’m going to prepare some meals for my darling and papa, perhaps you could clean my darlings room, get it prepared for later?” That smug face now etched onto her conniving features. She may have looked the pretty girl next door, but she was cold and calculated on the inside.

“What do you plan to do later!” Retorted Daisy.

“Does it matter to you?”

She held her tongue once more, as she brushed past heading downstairs, uttering “Clean your darlings room yourself, I’m heading out”

“Did I say you were excused?” She chided mockingly.

“Piss off…” her parting words as she disappeared from Corina’s sight.

A look of irritation slowly formed before she let out a soft breath “*Sigh* Ah well this works too...” she thought out loud as she headed towards the kitchen.