Brooke ran her lithe fingers through her auburn hair, slightly damp from the early morning fog. Her pale arms had goosebumps, but not from the still spring air. The smell of dairy cows was thick and comforting. Her canvas sneakers sank into the soft grass as she followed the familiar path around the back of the hill. As she rounded the corner just before the treeline it emerged from the fog, its paint wind-stripped and roof thick with moss. Lime green algae coated the concrete troughs punctuated both ends of the low barn. The walls were still straight and strong. She smirked as she rubbed the dust from the ancient glass window. It was just as she'd remembered. The hot water pipes, the stanchions that would gently hold the cows as they were milked, they were still there. The neighbors cows had been allowed to graze the pastures of the farm since her aunt's passing, a way to help keep the fields in check, she'd told the neighbor. Their hooves had churned up much of the path beside the creek, a muddy path grew wider and thicker as she approached the structure.

The low barn had likely started life as a milking parlor, but as the small farm had modernized it had been demoted to storage before being demoted to chicken coop and pig sty surrounded by a rock wall, now partially collapsed, but a simple task to mend some future afternoon. She took one more look around before retreating back up the hill to the main farmhouse beyond the stables. She couldn't believe it was all hers now.

Brooke stood on the veranda of the small farmhouse as the memories flooded back. She'd been sent to live here with her aunt when her mother had passed. Her aunt had taken her in, even taught her how to drive the tractor and tend the animals. Her father had hoped that the family connection, the animals, and escape from city life would help Brooke grieve and tame some of her wildness. It certainly had accomplished the first part. She broke into a grin remembering the summer she'd graduated from the local high school. She and her high school sweetheart had snuck away from the graduation party choosing instead to make out in the small. low barn. Startled by an owl, they'd rushed out the nearest gate, straight into the center of the pig sty, Scott wearing his suit and tie, and Brooke in her party dress. Brooke had plunged face first into the thick mud, while Scott howled with laughter, "You're the most beautiful little piggy I've ever seen!" he chuckled. That had earned him a full on tackle into the thick slimy muck.

They'd wrestled in the thick muck under the moonlight for what seemed like hours, only to sneak back to the glow of the farmhouse two unrecognizable blobs. Scott had suggested they sneak into his truck to escape but Brooke just grabbed his arm, grinned sweetly, and marched arm and arm with him into the center of the party. The only sound was Brooke's aunt's gasp.

She couldn't even remember why she'd broken up with Scott. Some vague thought that you never marry your high school crush. Two marriages later and she'd found herself missing that playful spirit, to recreate the sensations. She had plans for this place alright. She fired up the old tractor and set to work, backing the tractor's backhoe until it could reach. The aging hydraulics hissed gently as she idled the engine and plunged the bucket into the soft earth. She dug and dug, more to pass the time, like idly toying with the food on your plate with your fork when you're no longer hungry. Soon, she broke into a grin. Now she dug and mixed with a purpose. She scooped as deep as the digger's arm would go. She scooped out one or two ancient stones and dropped them to the side. She scooped a bucket of slimy green water from the trough carefully, not wanting to chip the ancient concrete structure, pouring the water into the rectangular pit she was forming. A mix of emotion washed over her, what she was planning felt naughty, reckless, but very natural, and very, very hard to resist!

She turned off the tractor and stepped off into the brown, muddy pit she'd made to test out her work. Her shoes vanished in the wet muck with a splat as both feet sank up to her knees. Brooke flailed both arms to keep from toppling over into the mess. She blushed. Was she really doing this? Glancing around, Brooke grinned before leaning all her weight forward against her shins and knees, leaning forward slowly at first, until the mud at her calves began to give way. She resisted the urge to catch herself with her hands, turning her face away from what she knew was coming next. With a splat her chest and jeans connected with the thick mud, she could feel the dampness soaking into her clothes. "No turning back now." Brooke thought to herself. Spreading her arms out, she placed her face tentatively into the soft mud. It felt like the most elegant spa treatment imaginable, and she let a contented sigh escape. Feeling the contrast of her still clean butt and back, it was time to remedy that! She sat up onto her knees before allowing herself to fall backwards into the thick mud, plunging her head back until there was no longer a part of her that was clean. She giggled as she scooped up handfuls of mud and tossed them into the air, allowing them to land with a heavy splatter onto the top of her head. She crawled forward, searching for a deeper spot. She soon found the perfect place, the mud thin at the surface and a cloying mire at the bottom. She stepped in and immediately sank to her chest. She held her breath, ducking her whole head under the viscous muck, the earthy smell overwhelming her senses. She let her fingers explore the sensation, closing her eyes and shifting into a backfloat.

She heard a twig snap and her eyes shot open, clawing the mud from her face she saw a man in jeans and a warm tan barn coat, "Brooke? Is that you?"

"Scott!" Brooke shrieked, leaping up from the mud and wrapping him in a messy hug before thinking. He returned her hug, wrapping his strong arms around her warmly.

"I'm glad you're here. Also, why are you here?" Brooke asked with some suspicion.

"I saw in the county records the ownership had changed so I wanted to see the place once more." Scott admitted. "I've dropped by a few times after your aunt passed."

"Sorry I got you muddy." Brooke responded, stepping away awkwardly.

"Don't be." Scott responded warmly. "I've been muddy here before." he chuckled, before dropping his voice conspiratorially. "And more than a few times." He admitted.

Brooke smirked. "Well, are you going to join me, or just watch this time?" Brooke teased.

"I was hoping you'd ask!" Scott smiled warmly before scooping her up and leaping with her into the middle of the thick mud with a splash.

As the two muddy figures frolicked in the thick goo, Scott smiled again, white teeth punctuating the deep brown muck. "You know, you're still the most beautiful little piggy I've ever seen!"