Her Poisonous Tongue

Chapter One - New Environment

Moving to a new place was no child's play. I noticed that when I was moving my staff to my new place in a whole new environment in the Eastern Cape in a small town called Mount Fletcher.

I wasn't totally used to the environment and also the road here. Johannesburg was my home and where I grew up, but since my brother told me I was born here, I decided to come back to learn about my roots...and to also sort out some old family business.

It was so dusty on the road and so green on the sides unlike everything I was used to in Johannesburg.. But it was beautiful and I loved the nature side of it. I was glad a little bit that I had to say goodbye to that city life and hello to a new one here now.

I sighed though while driving up the steep road. I could tell that rain was about to pour really hard since the clouds were getting darker. A little part of me was really happy that this was my last load of clothes, but I was a bit worried because the truck I hired was wide open at the back and my staff could get wet.

The truck suddenly started making weird noises and then it stopped immediately. I tried starting it again but it couldn't burge...

"f**k no!"

I thought before getting out and actually going to open the hood to see if I could spot the problem. I looked around and couldn't even tell if something was wrong. Honest truth was that I wasn't a machenic so even if I could spot something wrong, I wouldn't know how to fix it.

The wind became a little cold and I could see the rain now coming my way. It wouldn't be long before it started raining where I was.

I looked around and houses were scattered with big yards that were full of beautiful vegetable gardens. I smiled thinking that's what I loved about being in the rural areas, the land that you have is big enough for you to have a massive house and also a beautiful garden.

I saw a car from a distance coming my way and quickly got inside the truck to get my phone so that I'll try and call the company I hired this truck from. I didn't know anyone here, literally anyone and my truck decides to stop working in the middle of the road.

I tried calling and the call wouldn't go through. I groaned in frustration when I realized that I didn't have network.

"great.." I said throwing it on the passanger's seat. I was screwed.

I looked around me feeling helpless a bit.

One thing I could do that would help would be to move some of my clothes from the back to the passanger's seat so that they wouldn't be wet. I thought looking at my staff.

I quickly got out and started taking my laggage bag and put it in the front.

"hey..." I was startled by a voice behind me. I turned around and was a bit surprised that the car I saw approaching was actually next to me now.

"oh hey.." I said and the lady smiled, "how are you there?"

I looked at the truck in front of me and back at her, "great.. I'm fantastic, how are you guys?"

"good.." she said laughing a bit, she probably saw that I wasn't fastastic at all, "Do you need help?"

I had no idea what to say.

"are you resting or is your truck having problems? I can check it if you want? Unless you want to sit here and wait for the rain.." she said the last sentence pointing at the rain that was slowly coming our way.

I laughed feeling a bit embarrassed, "well the truck just stopped moving.. I don't know what's going on."

She got out of the car she was in and I finally could see her. She was wearing jeans and rain boots with a tank top. She looked cute with her hair up in a bun.

"you must be new here, I've never seen you before.."

I smiled as she approached the truck, "umh I'm yeah... I'm new, is this place that small that you know everyone around here?"

She extended her hand, "no, but the houses are a bit few you get used to seeing the same face. So what seems to be the matter."

"If I knew, you wouldn't even know that I was here.."

She smiled, "open the hood for me please.."

I did as she asked and she took a look at it. I watched as she looked around seeming like she knew what she was doing.

"please start it again."

I obliged and did as she asked and it refused. Kept making weird sounds for a few seconds then it stopped.

She closed the hood and sighed, "your engine is messed up. Why did you drive a car like that up this road..?"

I scratched my head, "well I had no idea.. It's hired just to move my clothes and this is my last load.."

It then started to rain a bit and she looked at the truck and then back at me, "you're moving here? Woow.. Okay, look it's starting to rain here, my house is right over there, how about we take the staff that is at the back with us so that it doesn't get wet. We will get the truck later after this rain is gone.."

I saw no harm in that," thank you so much. I really appreciate this.."

She opened the passanger's door to her car," could you please put those clothes in the booth and then hop on the back? "

The guy that was sitting there got out and started doing what he was asked, she turned to me still holding the passanger's door open, "hop in or you'll get wet."

I did without asking any questions and she got inside the driver's side.

"is he okay?" I asked looking at the guy and she smiled, "yes he's done.."

We both kept quiet and I bit the inside of my cheek nervously. Here was a very beautiful woman being nice to me and I had no idea what to say. If we were in Johannesburg, I wouldn't have accepted her help because people there have agendas and would kill you without any questions. Yet we're I was doing it here.

I cleared my throat when I remembered I don't even know her name, "I'm Letti by the way.. Thank you so much for this. Where I'm from we hardly ever have good people with good intentions like you.."

She laughed, "I'm Zoe.. And don't conclude on me being good yet, I might feed you to my dogs.."

I gasped and looked at her shocked. She laughed more. She had a beautiful laughter.

"sorry that was a joke. My sister always told me never to joke.."

The guy got inside the car and he was wet from going back and forth moving my bags from the hired car to Zoe's.

"we can go boss.." he said and Zoe rolled her eyes looking at him in the review mirror before starting the car, "Woow, that's some laggage you have there Letti, are you moving here for good?"

"well... Yes and no... I have a land this side and an apartment in Johannesburg.. I'll try this out and go back if it doesn't workout."

"Try what? Rural areas? God will you cope here because it's a downgrade from Johannesburg.."

I laughed looking outside as it poured, "not really.. I've been looking forward to this since I got the land. After graduating University it was all I could think off.."

"oh and here I was thinking you were in high school.."

I laughed, "Zoe... I am not a child."

She smiled and turned to enter in one big yard. Before I knew it we parked in the garage, "let's go in for a cup of coffee so that you will stay warm.. You should have take a jacket or something.."

"says a person who's wearing a tank top.."

"see you tomorrow boss.. Bye miss.." this guy said and then left. I got out and followed Zoe inside her house. It was big and beautiful, it didn't make me feel like I was in the rural areas at all.

I turned to her, "boss? Does this mean I need to come to you if I want a job.."

She rolled her eyes after switching on the kettle, "he is an ass for calling me that. I fix him all the time and remind him that I have a name but it never works... And what job would suit you? Studying?"

I laughed, she just called me a kid again, "well I think you should tell your sister that your jokes are actually pretty funny.."

She laughed too and started pouring the hot water in the cups in front of her. I looked outside the window and the rain was still hitting hard. I turned to her, "if it rains this much, does it mess the crops or does it actually help there..?"

"depends on how heavy the rain it. This one won't do any damage though. This is the normal staff that we are used to.."

"wow... Well if it gets heavier than this I think I'll be scared."

She shook her head and put the coffee cup in front of me, "I don't know how many sugars you take?..are you into farming?"

I mixed three small spoons with the tea, "it's the only reason I'm here. I love it."

She smiled, "great... Well, I think I might take you up on that work offer.. I have a farm and if you are into farming like you say you are and are also an owner of a land I think I won't mind showing you around and the ropes here.."

I smiled at her, "thank you, thank you so much Zoe.. This means a lot you have no idea.. And you just being so kind and helping me.."

She smiled and took a sip on her coffee."

I bit my lower lip and looked at her, trying to find any feature that looked like them. But I didn't find it. She was just different and warm and there was that thing about her laughter..she was different from what I heard and definitely not the child that I once knew.

I took a sip on my tea before taking my phone out and texting him..

ME: I'm in.