The faint lines under his eyes echoed sadness, deep brown pools reflecting emptiness. He rubbed his hand over his mouth and took one last sigh. Heaving himself upwards, the numbness in his legs subsided and feeling returned to his arms. There was a tingly sensation; it was as if he was re-born. The pools of emptiness full were now of knowing and determination. Slowly, he shuffled over to the bunkhouse door and stepped outside into the crisp autumn air.
“How’re you doin’ today?” asked Candy brightly.
“Doing jus’ fine Candy, workin’ for my last fifty bucks and then we’re outta here.” The pale lifeless face had been replaced by a younger looking, vibrant George. “We’re gonna do it, by God, you an’ me.” It had been nine months since Lennie had left. Out of those nine, four were spent lying in the bunkhouse staring into space, another finding peace and the rest working as hard as ever for the fifty bucks that would enable George to leave and open the dream ranch. George had decided, with the help of Slim and Candy, to open his and Lennie’s dream ranch, it had took a while but after months of work and a little help from Slim as well as Candy, he had secured the ranch and was finally going to be able to live off the “fatta the lan’”.
The sun shone down brightly onto the ranch as the clear cloudless sky ricocheting a deep blue. Slim’s broad, handsome frame basked in the sunlight making him appear as striking as ever. His lean shoulders and arms were wrapped in a slightly aged, deep red shirt, whilst his muscular legs were immersed in worn blue jeans. He strode over to the bunkhouse door, opened it purposely and strode in. A few minutes later, he emerged, swaggering slightly under the weight of two boxes, one marked ‘George’ and the other, ‘Candy’. He made his way over to a cart that sat by the side of the path. It was virtually empty apart from a few things. Slim pushed the two boxes on with a mighty grunt and made his way to the front.
“Well I’ll be seeing youse two.” Slim sighed, his voice threatening to break. “Keep in touch.”
“Course we’ll keep in touch, you ol’ bastard”
“Yea, an’ besides we gunna have to if we wanna have any fun, you know, won’t be much fun jus’ me and George.” Candy observed innocently.
Slim chuckled fondly, while George whispered a soft, “Yea, won’t be much fun…” He sighed contemplatively and looked down at the ground in deep thought. He was jerked out of his daydream at the sound of a bullet, the bullet coming from Carlson’s gun. He looked up and around at the nearby tree, the tree that towered over the ranch, casting a long shadow over a part of the bunkhouse. He took one last glance and turned away. The gunshot was heard again as Carlson pulled closer to the cart.
“Can’t let ya leave wit’ out saying goodbye... ya kno’...” Carlson shifted uncomfortably while looking down at the ground.
“Ok then. Thanks for the concern.” George said abruptly. “ppreciate it.” With that, George joined Candy at the front of the cart, and set off.
A few days had passed and things seemed to be going as slow as ever, the days seemed like months and the nights like years. Nothing exciting had happened to George and Candy, all except for a frog that was hopping along. The monotonous sound of the horse’s hooves threatened to send George into a deep slumber. And Candy, he just sat next to George occasionally lifting his left hand to rub his stumped wrist.
Just then, a woman appeared. Not just any woman, the most beautiful woman in the world according to George. Her light brown hair with streaks of a deep red that almost looked brown in the light was delicately waved. It framed her oval face perfectly. Her emerald green eyes looked at George wistfully, as if to decide whether he was approachable. Her soft pink lips parted as she slid her perfectly manicured fingers into her mouth. She whistled at the cart to grab George’s already given attention.
