Fallen For You H.S | AU - Four
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Rancher!Harry x Plus-sized!OC
🦋Delaney🦋
All week felt like a whirlwind of chaos. I barely found time to sit down and have dinner with my family; the only time I saw Harry was to deliver his food before calling it a night, and I couldn't help but feel disappointed with the lack of his presence in my day. I looked forward to our interactions; even if they were frustrating. Now the best I got was sneaking glances at him over my hands full of baking dishes as he took care of our animals.
I was currently on my way with Wren to deliver the fresh baked goods to the market stand, along with fresh bottles of milk.
"I feel like my arms are going to fall off. What is in these things?" Wrenlynn groaned, my eyes widening as I called out, "Careful! Don't drop them!" watching her shuffle around my freshly baked pies.
"They're fruit pies! They'll make us good money, don't you dare drop them!"
"Jesus christ, do they have bricks in them?" She huffed, my arms shifting the bucket of cookies and bars to my left hip so I could quickly open the door for her.
"No, you just have like 6 pies" I laughed, Wren glaring before quickening her pace to our market table.
"Wonderful! You're just in time! We just sold our last apple crumble bar!" Mimi grinned, my eyes falling on the empty spot at the table.
"I've got a few fruit pies: Strawberry, blueberry, banana cream" I listed, Wrenlynn happily setting down the baked goods as Mimi and I rushed out a reminder to be careful, "In here are some Oatmeal Raisin, Chocolate Chip, and White Academia Nut with Cranberries" I set down the large closed totes.
"Yum!" Mimi hummed, glancing at the fresh goods, popping open a container to take a whiff of the freshly baked goods.
"I have more of the apple bars; dad hasn't scarfed them all yet" I giggled, "And the lemon bars that Mrs. Housley requested. Her name is on them. Remind her they're five dollars a tote" I gave Mimi a stern look, knowing she's prone to giving frequent customers discounts.
It's not like I want to be a bitch, but we need all the money we can get. We need to order more dog food soon and I just wanted to make sure we were covered.
"This is wonderful Delaney! We should be good for the weekend. Have you found the ingredients for my famous cherry and pineapple pie?" Mimi asked, my nose wrinkling, making her laugh.
She knows how much I hate that pie.
"If you want that pie, you're making it. I won't be caught dead having my name attached to that" I scoffed.
Back at the ranch, a smile tugged at my lips as Harry turned around from the sound of the truck tires on the dirt road, only to drop when he looked away.
I sighed, licking my lips before rolling them inwards, Wren snickering next to me.
"Why don't you make a move? Worst he says is no"
My nostrils flared as I looked over at her, "No? That's the worst he can say? Clearly you've never talked to that man!"
"Laney-"
"No! He lives here Wren! I have to bring him dinner every night! I can't just knock on his door and be like 'Hey Harry, I like you. Would you like to go out sometime?' He'll kill me! You will no longer have a twin, Wren! I'll be horse food!" I freaked, hopping out of the truck, slamming the door shut before she could reply; my feet quickly carried me towards the main house, empty totes in hand when I noticed Harry was struggling to corral the sheep.
Brow furrowed, I walked over towards him, looking for the Aussies who were supposed to help him.
"Hey!" I called out, loud enough to make his head turn, "Where are the dogs? They'll do it" I asked, looking around for Milo and Daphine
Harry ignored me, shutting the gate behind him.
Is he serious?
I eventually found the dogs, bringing them out to the pen so they could do their job. Right as I opened the gate, letting them run in, Harry yelled, "I don't need their help!", sneering at me as I shut the gate behind me.
"You looked like you were struggling" I replied, "They can help you. It's their job"
"I'm perfectly fine on my own!" He glared, stomping over to me with his biceps flexing; completely distracting me as I watched his clothing tighten around his arms.
I wanted so badly to be held by those arms. To feel safe and secure in his hold. To lay my bed on his chest and hear his heartbeat. Or look up at him and have our eyes meet before he leaned down, kissing the top of my head.
Everything about him screamed comfort protector; even when he was acting like an asshole.
"Yeah, looked like you really had it handled" I sarcastically replied, tired of him not letting our pets work.
They're on the farm. They have jobs. They're here to help. Let them!
Every time I spot Harry working, there is no dog in sight. It's like they're dodging him completely. Like even the dogs know messing with Harry always ends in disaster.
"I don't need no damn dog to help me on the farm! I've done it by myself for years!" He continued to argue, completely unaware of all the hard work the Aussies were doing right behind him.
I motioned for him to turn around, Harry's jaw clenched as he turned; ready to explode at any moment.
"See. They help. All you have to do is open that gate. Why are you so stubborn about this? They're here to make your job easier; plus they love what they do!" I grinned, really wanting to shove an I told you so in his face. "And they love the meal and warm house they sleep in each night after a job well done" I reminded him, struggling to hold back the smirk my lips wanted so desperately to show, only for it to be completely wiped off my face as the ticking time bomb finally hit it's clicker.
"What's the point of working here, if these fucking dogs are just going to do my damn job?!" He snapped.
"They're literally making your job easier" I stated, "I don't understand why you're so peeved about a canine's help? Shouldn't you be glad you're not spending an hour moving sheep?"
"I don't want easier! I want my damn job" he sneered, his entire body looking like he was going to explode right in front of me. I swear I could see his forearm veins quivering. "At least at the Rickman's I knew I wouldn't lose my fucking job to some damn dog who won't live for more than what, 6 years?" He hissed, my brow furrowing.
Is he serious? 6 years? Herding dogs live 10-14 years depending on health issues.
I wanted so badly to say, "Then fucking go then!" and just get rid of all the drama in my life, but I knew how much I— we needed him. As frustrating as it was, he was getting things done around here, allowing my dad to do odd jobs in town, earning us all extra cash that was much needed.
"You have a job! You're the ranch hand, and a damn good one at that; remember? The dogs are a part of this farm. We love them. They love us, and they work just as hard as you do, if not harder! Accept help, Harry! We help each other on this farm! I don't know what the Rickman's made you do every day, but here we do things together. We work together. Whether you walk on two legs, or four paws, we work together. They had their job first, but that doesn't mean they're replacing you—"
"I can't earn my goddamn keep if I'm losing my work to some fucking animal" He interrupted.
I could feel my breathing becoming more rushed as I started to notice the quick spiral that was Harry Styles Emotional Tornado.
"Okay! Okay!" I rushed, "Listen, please" I begged, noticing the familiar look of his temptation to turn around and leave us in his dust. "Herding dogs. The Aussies and Borders; they have jobs on the farm. They are also quote unquote earning their keep. They help us, the humans, make our job easier. They get to run around and chase the cattle and sheep for us. So we're less tired during the day and because they move quicker than us. The perk of them is that they're helpful with quickening the task. They're not only helping us, but they have fun doing it. It's their job. They love it and when they're done, they retire. They work as long as they love doing it, and whenever they start to show lack of interest or are getting old, they retire. You're not being replaced, Harry. They're here to help you; not replace you. Let them help you." I urged, hoping to see some leeway, only to sigh and continue. Might as well list some perks the dogs get out of doing their jobs. "It gives them good exercise. Keeps them healthy. It tires them out physically and mentally making them better behaved in the house. It gives them purpose. They strive for a job well done just like you do. They want to make us happy. To do a good job; just like you. Am I wrong?" I asked, Harry's head shaking briefly. "You're both similar, Harry. You want to achieve the same thing and believe it or, you could both sleep in the main house but one of you decided not to. Why is that, Harry?" I asked, praying he wasn't fed up and decided to flee right in front of my eyes again.
"Why is what?" He questioned, frustrating me.
Does he ever listen to me?
"We need to go close the gate. They're done" I noted, Harry looking over his shoulder before turning to leave, me hot on his heels as I continued; "And why won't you sleep in the main house? You act like you've been banned to the so called rabbit shack, and you act like it's some sort of punishment when it's what you wanted! Everything you have an issue with you wanted!"
Harry stayed quiet, locking the gate as the dogs ran over to me with their tongues hanging out of their mouths. I praised them, petting them and cooing before they ran off towards the barn; Harry walked past me without saying a word. My eyes lingered on his tone back covered by a tight tan t-shirt; trailing down to his jeans, unknowingly chewing on my lower lip as I lingered on the back of his jean pockets; watching him walk away.
The things I'd do to see that man's—
"Laney!" Wren yelled, my body jumping.
'What?!"
"Mom needs your help!" God damnit. "And Harry's!" She chimed, a gleeful tone to her voice telling me she knows damn well what she's doing.
"Harry's? Why does she need both of us?" I asked, Wrenlynn shrugging. "Can you ask Harry? I'm pretty sure he hates me" I huffed/pleaded.
"No can do, Laney! I'm off to meet up with Dylan" She grinned, showing me the truck keys in her hand.
Dylan was Wrenlynn's wannabe boyfriend and she knew that; milking him of everything he was worth. It sounded bad, but she made it clear they were just friends, so as painful as I assumed that is for him to deal with, he decided it was better than being nothing. Now they hang out all the time and I'm convinced that he's just trying to woo her slowly; Wren falling for his obvious trap, getting free dinners and gifts along with it.
Harry and I walked into the garden, my mom now on the opposite side of the fertilized patches; one of the black and white bunnies hopping around, munching on the scrapes that were being tossed to her.
"You needed us?" I spoke, making her aware of our arrival; my mom's head snapping up as she nodded.
"Yes! Lane, I need you to take these to Grandma so she has them for dinner, and Harry, I wanted to ask if there was anything you wanted planted? Anything you like having fresh?" Mom started, picking up a bin of harvested fruits and veggies, holding it up for me to take before shooing me away.
"No Ma'am, I'm okay" He replied as I grabbed the bin.
"It's no problem, truly! This is your home, Harry. We all have our things. Lane likes the lemon tree; my mom loves her carrots and strawberries. Matt loves the raspberries. I want you to have things you like in here. You sure there isn't anything?" Mom asked again, Harry's lips parting before closing again, shaking his head. "Alright, well, if you think of anything, let me know. I need to start prepping for our next big planting. Some of these plants have seen better days" She huffed, scooping up the bunny who had crawled into the bed of strawberries. "Oh! Harry, can you wash this out for me?" Mom asked, grabbing a bucket that had leftover soil in it, tapping it out over the dirt before handing it to him; "Then bring it back. I want to put scraps for the bunnies in here" Harry nodded, grabbing the bin. "Delaney, show him to the kitchen, please"
Harry and I walked down the path to the main house, my fingers turning weight as I struggled to carry the bucket of harvestable.
"Here" Harry stated, handing me the dirty bucket.
I frowned, "I don't want your bucket. My hands are full as it is"
His eyes rolled, grumbling, "Trade me. You're struggling"
"I'm fine" I huffed, shifting the bucket up, almost losing one of the apples.
Harry stopped walking, setting the empty bucket on the ground, reaching over and grabbing the full bucket from me, "Teamwork, right?" He said, not giving me time to reply before hiking the bucket up the porch steps; "This place is a fucking shit show" I heard him mutter as I picked up the empty container.
I frowned, following him.
Why is he constantly insulting the farm? I know it isn't luxurious, but it isn't like it isn't livable, and one can argue that he has the best lodging on the entire farm!
I quickly met up with him in the kitchen, Harry placing the container of harvestable on the counter with a huff.
"That's why I'm so jacked" I teased, turning on the tap, letting it run in the farm sink whilst I grabbed a washcloth.
"You looked like your arms were going to fall off. Do you have an ounce of muscle in you?" He asked, my head tilting.
"Is that a fat joke?" I asked, my heart starting to pick up in pace as my stomach did a whirl of disappointment.
"What? No. I mean—" He fumbled.
My arms crossed under my boobs, "Just because I have extra weight doesn't mean I'm incapable. I was doing just fine before you came in to save the day"
"That isn't what I was saying. Look, I'm sorry—" He tried but my head shook, dismissing him as I pulled the bucket closer to me, grabbing a few of the apples I'll need for later, washing them. "Delaney" He sighed, walking around the kitchen peninsula, hovering behind me as I rinsed out the bucket. "I can do that" he reached for the bucket, my grip tightening on it as I shook my head.
"It's fine" I dismissed, expecting him to give up and go away; only be proved wrong as he turned off the tap, my brow furrowed as I looked over at him, "What are you doing—"
"I'm sorry" He apologized, confusing me even more.
"For?"
"I don't mean to be rude. I'm not used to the change. I'm used to doing everything by myself" He sort've confessed.
The way he said it made it feel like he was telling me some jaw dropping news, as if I haven't picked up on that clue already.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, turning the tap back on, only for Harry to turn it back off. "Harry!" I snapped, turning it back on, Harry yet again turning it off.
"No, listen, please" He begged, shocking me.
So he does have manners.
"I'm waiting" I hummed, Harry nodding, his throat swallowing before his lips parted.
"I wasn't making a fat joke. I was trying to joke in general. I apologize if I unintentionally hurt your feelings. You joked that that's how you got jacked, so I joked back and I can see it didn't land. I apologize" he said, looking, and sounding sincere.
I sighed, setting moms bucket in the base of the sink, "Harry, it's fine. I was slightly pulling your leg. I know I have more flab than muscle. Trust me. I live in this body. I know how it works; and the bucket was heavy. So thank you for taking it, but I carry heavy things all the time. I know people who are fit struggle to understand when someone who has more weight on them says they're comfortable in their body.... but Harry, I'm not looking to be thin. I'm looking to be healthy. Thank you for clearing up the misunderstanding though. Can I uh, ask you something?" I asked, feeling like I needed to tread the waters carefully.
He nodded, turning the tap back on to finish washing out the bucket for my mom.
"Why do you refuse to accept help? I know you've turned away my dad, telling him you've got the jobs. You won't let the dogs help you, even though they're trained to do so, and it's beneficial for them" I commented again, Harry stilling, the washcloth frozen at the bottom of the bucket before he moved again. "We're not the Rickman's Harry" I reminded softly, hoping I don't accidently say the wrong thing.
"If you couldn't do it alone, you weren't worth doing the job and if you didn't do the job, you didn't earn your keep" He stated, scrubbing the bottom of the bucket harshly.
"At the Rickman's?" I questioned, Harry nodding. "What do you mean earn your keep?" I asked, backing into the corner of the counter, my hips resting against the edge.
Harry exhaled through his nose, "You earned things. They weren't given to you" He stated, rinsing out the bucket before grabbing a rag to dry it.
"Earned what?" I pressed, hoping what was popping into my head was incorrect.
"Shelter. Food. Sleep" He listed, setting the bucket on the counter, drying his hands on the rag before placing it back on the rack.
"Harry" I sighed, wishing I could hug him, but I knew my limits, "You were given shelter. You didn't have to earn it. You're always invited to family dinner, you refuse. Why is that?" I questioned, wishing to get as much out of him as I could since he was apparently willing to talk.
"I'm not the family. I'm the employee" He stated, "I need to get this back to your mom and go finish my work for the night. Please bring me my dinner when it's ready" He said, grabbing the bucket and leaving me standing there dumbfounded and sad.
He had to earn his keep.
I knew the Rickman's overworked their employers, but I didn't know he had to quite literally earn the right to sleep.
I could feel my eyes sting with tears at the idea of him being so overworked, and then not being allowed to sleep all because of what, a job not well done?
That evening, my mom scooped Chicken Dumplings into a soup bowl, placing a bread roll on the side of the plate that was sitting underneath before sending me on my way to deliver his food.
I hated this.
I hate walking down this stupid fucking pathway to his rabbit shack of a home with my hands burning from the hot plate or bowl of food all because he didn't want to join us, or well.. I guess doesn't feel like he has the right, no matter how many times he's invited.
I knocked on the blue door, Harry calling out that it was open, my face scrunched as I twisted the knob, walking into what appeared to be an empty living space.
"Harry?" I called out, setting the bowl on the small table.
The bathroom door opened, Harry walking out, sweatpants sitting on his hips as a new black shirt covered his torso. Hair dripping wet, his fingers running through it, shuffling it around a bit before shoving it out of his face as he walked to the table.
God he looked yummy.
I tried to inhale as he got closer, hoping to inhale the scent of whatever he just bathed in, only to just smell my mothers Chicken Dumplings.
Harry sat down, sliding the plate over to him, grabbing the spoon only to look up at me.
"What?" He asked, "Did I forget something? Your dad said it looked good" He said, more so sounding worried rather than confident that he's done for the day.
"No, I uh.. um.. are you sure you don't want to come over for dinner?" I tried again, Harry giving a small nod as he spooned the soup into his mouth. "You're welcomed Harry. You've always been welcomed" I continued, wishing he felt worthy of joining our family.
Harry pulled out his phone, starting to scroll through it, silently dismissing me.
I sighed, leaving his house and walking back down that stupid dirt pathway that led right back to the gray rickety wooden stairs that flexed even more under my feet.
I grabbed my bowl, dishing up my food as my dad and Grandma sat down; my brothers asking my mother something when Mimi asked, "Harry isn't joining us?" I shook my head, grabbing a roll, dishing myself the same way my mom did for Harry.
"Do guys mind if I eat alone tonight? I just want to decompress after today" I asked, my dad and Mimi shaking their heads, Grandma too caught up in whatever my mom had just asked her.
I thanked them, slipping away and walking down the hall towards my bedroom before taking a quick right turn down a hallway, slipping out a back door and quickly walking down the same dirt pathway.
Is this a bad choice? Am I royally fucking up right now? Should I just leave him alone? He didn't seem like he wanted to be around me.
I couldn't help but think about his confession of having to earn his keep. Of not being family; just being an employee.
He was far more than an employee.
I quickly knocked on the door again, having an internal war with myself of if I should make a run for it, the blue door opening, Harry looking confused.
"Did I forget something? I can do it right now" He stated, moving to slip on his shoes.
I quickly shook my head, "No. You're done for tonight" I eased, watching him freeze, looking up from his shoes to me.
"Then... what are you doing here?" He asked, his eyes falling on the same dinner I had just delivered, looking even more confused.
"Do you mind if I join you for dinner?"
* * * *
I'm finally hitting the point in my outline where things start moving hehe
Written on: September 25th, 26th, 27th 2023
Published on: September 27th 2023
Word Count: 3869
Part Five
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