The next morning I was up and had oatmeal before grabbing the ladder again. It must have rained and the grass was wet. As if on queue, Angela appeared, looking refreshed.
"Did it rain on your run?" I asked.
"No, just meditating this morning and then I took a little ice plunge to quell the hangover." I kicked myself for letting her have those binoculars. Would have been nice to watch. "But anyway, I'm here for some help with the sunscreen and a plum." She smirked, "You promised."
This time she had her own fancy Korean sunblock. Her sports bra was more underwear than outerwear with barely any structure in the back. She gave me a big glob and didn't even joke about her husband this time before stepping in close to me and leaning into my hands. I felt her shoulders melt under my grip and I swear she purred as I rubbed it all in. Her skin felt soft, with just a little skin damage from these last few years in the country that gave her a dusting of freckles on her shoulders and upper back.
"Any skin cancer, doc?" she joked after noticing how closely I was admiring her body, then she turned around to briefly raise both her arms over her head and stick out her chest. The bra strained against her tits and her underarms were spotless and smooth. It was just for the bit, though and before I could say anything she pulled back to take a more relaxed pose before motioning to the plum tree. "Can you get me that one?" she asked. Her finger was pointing to the topmost fruit on the topmost branch.
"Does it have to be that one?" I asked.
"Yes," she smirked. "The guest is always right."
She was technically paying the Air BnB fee to be here, while I was paying with my sweat equity. It felt good to serve her, anywayso I set up the ladder and climbed. The tree was so tall I would have to stand on the second rung from the top. Not much stability so I asked her to hold the ladder. She did, and quipped again: "The women of St. Croix Falls just love a daring farmer."
"As long as it's not a farmer with a broken neck." Then I climbed. I had developed a steady gait as a surgeon but ladders still scared me. That's why I bought disability insurance before this trip. At the upper rungs I could feel the slight uneveness of the ground amplify. Angela must have sensed it to because she raised her hands and held just below my butt to stabilize me.
"Hurry doctor, your patient is so hungry," called Angela from below. I reach up and snatched it then dropped it into her waiting hand. She caught it and when she stepped back the ladder started to wobble, then lean.... then... fall. I was quick though and lept from the ladder to tumble safely on to earth, and into a huge patch of mud. Crash. The aluminum clanged out and Angela immediately started apologizing and rushed over. Sorry. Sorry. SORRY. I told her I wasn't hurt. But the mud was everywhere: up my shorts, my elbows, all along my side, and coating my shirt.