The sun glowed orange as it peeked over the roof of the house. The warm mug in my hands didn't help much against the wind but I pushed forward towards the old aged barn, "Got damn goats!" I grumble as I push the door open with a load creek and greeted with the calls of hungry goats and cattle. I make my way over to the bin and grab a heap of hay, "I should let y'all roam today, huh youngin'?" I look to the calf who cling to his mother's side, eyes wide and curious as I tossed hay in his mother's bin.

The farm chores seemed endless but my work was done as the sun finally turned white and the clouds looked soft. I open the barn doors and let the herds into the gates field, much to thier enjoyment as a few goats leaped and he's butted each other. "Pop-Pop!" A little voice calls behind me as she rubs through the door way to slam herself against me. I groan and look down at the little hair ball, her eyes wide and excited, "I fed the dog a bug!" I frown, "Dogs don't eat bugs, Olivia. He need meat." She frowns back at me, "Well this one does and he licked it! I'll show ya!" She grabs my hand and pulls with all her might, leading me to the dog leashes up in the backyard. I frown as it looks at me and growls, "He ain't a nice one." I mumble and Olivia lets me go to run to the mutt, "See! The bug!" She points to the dead bug between its paws and I frown, "How it like you but not me? Little gremlin." She smiles wildly and pets the dogs head, "Can we feed him?" I nod my head, "'Might as well.. I got a few hours before work." She squeals, making me and the mutt jump. I chuckle and shake my head, "Get used to it. She been doin it the second she could breathe." The dog huffs and lays it's head on its paws.
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"Do you gotta go?!" Olivia whines loudly as she lays her head on my lap, "You was gone yesterday!" I sigh softly, "Yeah I gotta go. Now get your big head up and go grab my car keys." She giggles and does as told, her littl feet pattering away. I slip on my boots and groan at my back, "Gettin too old for this.. as usual." I stand slowly and stretch, sighing at the cracks and pops, before heading towards the front door.

I frown as the door remains wide open, "Olivia! Where are my keys!" Janelle peeks her head around the corner, "She went to see the dog. Sayin she wants him to eat a bug." I sigh and shake my head, "Your a bug." Janelle chuckles as she shakes her head, "I'll have dinner ready for you when you come back and don't let them work you too hard." I nod as I walk out the front door, "Yeah yeah I know." She stand in the doorway, "Don't make me come down there, Charles!" She yells after me and I wave her off, "You ain't gettin me fired, Janelle!" I look back and point a finger, making her laugh.

I turn back and make my way to the back yard to check on the weird little girl and her dog. I smile and sigh as she kneels in front of the dog, a bug pressed against its lips as she mumbles, "You ate it earlier!" I whistle and catch both of their attention, "Didn't I tell you to stop tryna feed that damn coyote a bug?!" I yell and she quickly moves it behind her back, "I was just showin him it!" She pouts as I give her a little glare, "Look at his paws! You tryna feed him!" I point to the dead bugs in front of the dog. She frowns, "No.. They just sleepin'." I frown at the bugs before looking at the plate I left the dog. The meat sat there, pink and dry.

I look at the mutt which just simply stared at me, blank and silent. I grab the plate and notice the blood licked away, "Maybe his tooth hurt.." I mumble and look at the dog once again before turning to Olivia who looked through the grass blades for more bugs. I sigh, "Leave them Got damn bugs alone, little girl!" I scold and frown as she gets up and guiltily looks at the ground. I point to the house, "Go see if your mom needs help." I could tell she wanted to talk back but I give her a mean look, making her rush into the house.

The mutt huffs as he watches her leave and turns to look at me, bored and obviously not in the mood to be near anyone. I step closer, earning a soft growl, "Hush it. Lemme check you up, damnit." I could have sworn it's eyes narrowed before laying it's head back on its paws. I hesitantly reach out and touch the soft fur, rubbing my hands down it's back gently, "See? Ain't nobody here gone hurt you." I take my time to feel the animal, pressing against it's muscles and waiting for a reaction.

My hand presses against its ears and I flinch back as it snarled, "Ain't like that.." I grumble like a dumbass and wipe my hands on my pants, "Alright.. Vet trip it is.. I ain't a professional but I can tell something hurt." I step back and sigh softly. It watches me silently before huffing as usual and laying it's head back down. I shake my head before stepping away and walking to the car, but not before looking back one more time to see it staring at my livestock. I whistle, snatching it's attention, "If I come back and my cattle gone-" I make a tight fist, "I'll punch your lips. Mutt."