Forest Guardians Chronicles: A Matter of Humanity Beth Roose (good books for high schoolers TXT) 📖

later.” Bev thought she was a wonderful mother type. She walked over to Coco’s cage and peered inside. Coco was still fast asleep. Bev decided to put more feed into her dish bowl. She opened the top of the cage and pulled out the bowl. She was incredibly careful to not wake Coco as she pulled the bowl from the cage. The straw in the cage kept the noise to a minimum. The food was in a separate storage area of the barn directly across from the rabbit cages. She opened the door and stepped in the highly-organized and extremely clean room. She grabbed a gallon size plastic pitcher from the hook by the door. She set it on the food storage ledge and opened the rabbit pellets. Then she decided to fill the entire pitcher so she could fill the other rabbit’s food bowls. First, she filled Coco’s bowl and walked the filled bowl over to the cage. As she opened the door Coco awoke and stood up on her hind legs to greet Bev.  Bev petted her head and told her she was a good girl. She placed the food bowl inside the cage and Coco immediately dropped down and began to eat. Bev chuckled and said, “Eat up. You are eating for you and your kids.” She closed the lid and walked back to the feed room. She closed the rabbit pellet bag and then shut the bin to the bag. In picking up the pitcher she felt it was damp. She said to herself I should have dried my hands better. She walked out of the room and turned to shut the door. As she shut the door, she heard a horn honk. She jumped. It scared her and dropped the pitcher of food. She looked down at the food on the floor and immediately dropped to her knees to scoop all the food back into the pitcher. She looked up as she heard footsteps. She was so surprised to see Travis, her boyfriend, falling to his knees to help in the effort of scooping up the scattered food. She dropped the pitcher again, spilling the food she had already scooped back in. Travis and Bev embraced and kissed.  They both sat back on their knees and legs smiling at each other.

“Travis, what are you doing here? You're supposed to be in Alaska on that contract.”

Travis laughed and said, “I finished early and headed back on the red eye. He reached in his coat pocket and took out a small white box and handed it to Bev. She looked surprised and took the box from him and asked if she should open it. Travis smiled and told her, “Yes, Honey. I love you and I just could not wait another second.” He paused as she removed the bow and opened the box to see a beautiful diamond ring. She looked at Travis and he said, “Honey would you marry me? PLEASE. I love you and cannot imagine another day without you.” Travis stood and took Bev’s hand to help her up. They both embraced again and walked toward the house, not even thinking about the rabbit pellets scattered all over the cement floor of the barn.

Bev and Travis sat down at the kitchen table with coffee Bev made for them. As Bev sat down, Travis jumped back up to help her scoot her chair closer to the table. She laughed and said, “Come on, you already have me. But I love your gallantry. So, keep doing it Travis.” Both laughed.

“Bev, I want to be not only your husband, but also your partner in this farm. I do not know how you manage this since your Dad’s passing. I can and will help you.”

“Travis you are so sweet and kind. Just what do you know about farming in general, planting corn, soy, and cabbage? Not to mention caring for livestock…”

“Well…. Bev, I know I have a lot to learn, but I am willing. I can help you in the mornings and then work online from home,afternoon through the evening.”

Well, that sounds like not much time for I don’t know ... maybe US! Travis, my sweet, I have Zonga and his tribe trained to help me. They keep the vermin away and when it is picking time, they pick for a portion of the crop to keep the tribe fed through the winter months. They are fast and efficient. All their work is done at night when no one can bother them. Cleg assigns a couple of his tribe to watch over the fields while the Pukwudgie harvest the crops. Works like clockwork. When I get up in the morning the trucks are loaded and ready to roll when my drivers show up that day.”

“I just love you, Bev, and I want you to trust me to look after your back. You do trust me, honey, right?”

“Of course I do, Travis. Just letting you know it is not as arduous as you think. I, well, you and I have a highly efficient farm. Being well-organized is what I am most proud of. And I have never had an accident here on the farm, so even the government likes me. My farm is all organic, so I do not have to worry about how to store and effectively use chemicals. It is a headache I never want to take on.”

Bev asked Travis what he would like to do for dinner. “How about I take my best friend, and fiancé out for a candlelight dinner?”

“Oh, look at me. I am a mess, Travis.”

He gave her a nudge and said, “No, you go on upstairs and clean up and look your prettiest for me. No arguments, get going. I have a sports jacket in the car I can slip on. Now go.”

Bev smiled and said, “Okay, I will be quick.”

“No, you will be beautiful, stunning, and captivating. I can’t wait till you walk down those stairs.” Bev ran up the steps