The Working Men
By Lonelyrider

A very pregnant Lonely relaxes in her husband's farmer friend's home while the men are away logging with her hubby's draft horses in the nearby woods.

Story Highlights:
Pregnancy
Married couple
Husband's buddy
Farmer
Crafts
Logging with animals
Cooking
Good wife
Human angel
Anthro mule
Anthro draft horse
Feral horses
Farmhouse/farm

"Ahh, Marshall, so very good to see you, my guy." James and the immense anthro Clydesdale stallion shared a firm and friendly handshake, as James kept his other hand gently cradling his heavily pregnant wife's low back; she wore a beautiful brown maternity gown with many bows and ruffles with a cameo brooch pin at her high dress collar.
"Nice to meet ya again madam, please do come in. My, you are heavy with foal. You two must be very excited. James, I'll make some weak tea for your wife." Marshall the huge stud said, he was dressed in his usual overalls, brown ones today. James purred at his beloved wife and bent down to kiss her hair, rubbing her shoulders as she sighed in enjoyment of her doting man's pampering.
"Thank you Marshall. We are just so excited for the babies' arrival. Her due date is next week. We have everything all set up and ready, the nursery is decorated with the help of our moms, and our midwife came and set up all of the birthing equipment. We're all set now, aren't we, sweetheart? Now it's just a matter of waiting." James bent down and kissed his wife in several spots, also rubbing her hand fondly.
"Yeah, we're having a water birth!" Lonely squealed excitedly to Marshall; James looked down at her from his spot behind her with his hands kneading her shoulders fondly, finding her very cute and endearing.
"Aye, that'll go well I'm sure. I'll come and visit the babes when you're ready. Here you are ma'am, black tea with sugar and cream, and a dish of berries with cream."
"Oh thank you sir, I'll love this. Mmm, oh honey, it's so good." Lonely gushed gratefully to James, who shot her another very fond look, he bent down again and planted a big kiss on her cheek, making her giggle with happiness and blush joyfully.
"Aye James, your wife is a pleasure, she almost makes me want to be straight." Marshall chuckled with his hand on his pecs. James grinned proudly, his chest out and wings splayed.
"Absolutely. Maybe she'll turn you! But watch out, I'm a jealous man!" James teased back, sliding a burly arm over Marshall's shoulder affectionately, the two men guffawed loudly as Lonely stifled happy giggles and ate her berry treat Marshall had fixed her.
"I'll keep that in mind, lad. I need to ask your wife's permission for something, with your okay first to ask her." Marshall said to James with a nod.
"Of course pal. Honey, is that okay, sweetheart?" James asked Lonely in a tender voice.
Lonely swallowed the rest of her berries and cream and thanked Marshall as he took her empty dish.
"Of course my love, ask away." Lonely said in a ladylike way, politely folding her hands, which rested tenderly on her huge swollen belly.
"My dear girl, I'd like James's help with some logging in my woods, with several trees that have fallen there. But seeing your condition, I won't take him from ya without your blessing first. Is it okay if I borrow his muscles for a spell? It'd only be for a few hours." Marshall inquired.
James smiled warmly at his friend, then his wife. Lonely beamed kindly at the huge anthro horse.
"Yes, yes of course, dear Marshall. I'll stay here and work on the crafts Jamesey let me bring along. See, we brought pretty ribbons to make into decorations for all your produce baskets, and decorative price tags. Oh." Lonely gasped softly and felt her tummy; James was at her side in an instant, fussing over her.
"Oh sweetheart, are you all right? You feel okay? Is it time, honey? Sweetie." He touched and nuzzled her attentively, tenderly rubbing her big belly. Lonely gave him a loving smile and a kiss, making him moan.
"I'm so sorry I startled you, darling. I think it was just a little false contraction like Gertie was telling us about, it's all gone now. Darling, feel free to help Marshall if you like, I'll stay here and make the ribbons and price tags for Marshall's goods at the market." Lonely gushed, gently stroking James's thick groomed beard.
"Are you sure, my love? Listen honey, I'll have my magic mirror on me, and we'll only be right over through there, see? You can see us through the far window in the other room. If you need anything, you call me up, & I'll come right back. You're sure you're comfy being here alone, sweetheart? Marshall, you have good locks on these doors, right?" James asked his friend nervously, feeling protective of his expectant love.
"Aye James, I'll even bar the front door and we'll go out the cellar. We'll be 5 minutes away, less on horseback." Marshall assured with a nod, taking a big swig of black coffee in a huge mug.
"Would you like me to call someone to keep you company, my rose? Your mom, or Amber, or Magnus?" James asked, naming his own friends that he trusted with his wife; for James was jealous of two of his wife's own friends and she had lost a third due to his issues there, to his guilt.
"That sounds tempting honey, but don't worry, I'll be okay. I'll just start on these nice ribbons now. Have fun guys, and be safe! Oooh I wished I could join you, but I think Marshall is right, the farmhouse is safest for me this time. Mmm, mwuah. I love you! See you in a bit, my love." Lonely replied cheerfully.
Lonely and James grasped hands after his kiss to her, and she watched fondly as her hulking hubby changed into the big green overalls and plaid shirt Marshall had saved for him and the two men went outside through the cellar after locking her safely inside the home, she saw James nervously glancing back her way as the two men talked and laughed and harnessed James's two draft horse stallions with Marshall's logging gear, and on long leads, the two men headed out in their work boots following the two obedient stallions, the logging harnesses dragging behind as Lonely watched James glance back again and again to be reassured by his even larger friend. Lonely hummed to herself happily and made pretty bows one after the other with the many types of craft ribbons she'd brought in the saddlebag of James's stallion; her own pony mare had recently given birth to a foal sired by one of James's stallions, so the mare was on rest so she could nurse her baby and recover before returning to riding & driving duties. Lonely smiled fondly as she brought up the image of her mare's foal in her magic mirror, he was a handsome little colt that was stocky and big, half draft pony and half Percheron like his dad.
"I'm so proud of you, girl. What a fine little family Bridgette and Thunder have. So cute." Lonely thought fondly as she kept making the pretty bows and fancy price tags for her husband's friend's wares, recalling how James and she had quickly decided the strong little colt would never be sold but kept as family. She had just finished crafting the final price tag to give Marshall lots of choices with her crafts and was about to begin tying the decor to the produce baskets Marshall took to the market to put his crops in when she heard a knock at the door. Unsure on how to answer as the men had locked the farmhouse up like a fortress, she had an idea and waddled to the window, opening it with a careful grunt and greeting the stout & handsome human man outside.
"Ahh, hello there! Marshall is away in the forest logging with my husband, may I help you with anything, sir?" Lonely asked through the window. The man's belly wiggled as he went up to her, handing her some wrapped meats in butcher's paper, which she took carefully, thanking him and placing them gingerly in Marshall's ice chest.
"Oh, a butcher! How delightful, while you're here, can I please get a few cuts of your juiciest steaks for my hubby? Here you are." Lonely poured a handful of silver coins from the vastly huge allowance James gave her each week & handed them to the pudgy human, who went to his cart with a nod and came back with three prime marbled steaks wrapped up nicely. "Oh thank you sir, I'll be sure his cook gets these to make him a nice tasty rare steak. Thank you again!" Lonely waved and the butcher bid her a thank you for her patronage and led his ox and cart away, Lonely hummed to herself as she placed her love's meats atop his friend's in Marshall's ice chest and Lonely sat down and finished adding the pretty decorations to all of Marshall's produce baskets, after that she decided to make the men something hot and tasty to eat for when they returned, and she told herself she'd apologize to Marshall and compensate him for the ingredients as she figured out his nice kitchen and went about making hot open roast beef sandwiches for the hungry men to enjoy on their arrival, using the fresh roast beef the butcher she bashfully thought was cute had just brought. She cooked and mashed some potatoes and found a packet of gravy base, whipping some up and pouring it over the hot dish over bread. She heard male voices outside and the clanking of harnesses and blustering of the stallions as the men came back from their work, & she set a hot plate for each man and sat down with a small plate for herself, waiting for them politely as she heard the cellar door open as the males came back. James walked into the kitchen, looking a little tired and slightly sweaty but happy, he wiped his face with Marshall's rag and took off his work boots, going to give his wife a big kiss.
"Mmm, honey, what smells so good? Oh Marshall, wow, just look at all your baskets now! Those will sell nice for sure. Great work sweetie. My now, what is this? Mmmhmmm, I am starving. Did you put this together, sweet thing? Come here baby rose. Thank you! Marshall, dig in, Lonely cooked for us. So sweet. Mmm, it's delicious. God I'm hungry. Mmm, iced tea too." James gulped the cold tea thirstily, thanking his doting wife as she poured him more.
"You're very welcome, sweetie! Marshall, please forgive the intrusion of using your kitchen and groceries. Please accept this sack of coin as reimbursement for their use." Lonely pushed a little coin sack towards a hungrily eating Marshall with a sweet smile.
"No my honey girl, put that back in your purse, now my dear. I've got it. Here ya go, pal. Honey, thank you so much for this delightful lunch, it's fantastic." James plopped a heavy coin sack three times bigger than his wife's and rubbed her arm as he spoke to her fondly and they shared a purring kiss.
"No my boy, keep it. This lunch is on me for your help, and your wife is always welcome to use my kitchen & wares. Ahh, excuse me, madam." Marshall added after he'd let out a satisfied belch. Lonely got up and served the two hungry men seconds, topping off their fresh iced tea to thanks from them. James and Marshall looked ready for a nap as Lonely took their plates and began to wash up, James got up and went to her at the sink, kissing her and wrapping his brawny arms around her and their growing brood lovingly.
"Thank you honey, but allow me, please go and rest, my flower. I'll take care of these. Thanks so much again baby, it was divine. Mmm." James purred as Lonely gave him a nose rub and obeyed him, she sat down and James looked over and smiled fondly at his excited wife as she gushed to his friend and showed Marshall all the pretty bows and price tags she'd affixed with satin ties to his produce baskets for him. After some time enjoyed reading together with his wife to Marshall in his den, James packed his saddlebags with the steaks his wife had bought for him and gently lifted her onto his second stallion's sturdy back, taking the feed bag off the beast and petting him as Marshall came to see them off, eyeing Lonely sat securely in her saddle atop Diablo's back.
"James, Lonely, thanks for the aid and for visiting, and ma'am, ty for the kindly decor and the fine meal. Good luck with the birth, to both of you." Marshall shook James's hefty hand and arm and the men shared a rough hug.
"Bye now Marshall! Nice to see you again, it was my pleasure! Take care now! Thank you so much for your wonderful hospitality." Lonely gushed and smiled warmly as Marshall gave her hand a polite kiss.
"I'll see ya in a few weeks, buddy. I'm so glad you could spend some time with my beautiful wife. Come and visit our little ones soon." James also gushed eagerly. James grunted as he mounted his huge stallion's stirrup and swung himself using the aid of his wings into his saddle, looking back with a loving smile and a blown kiss to his wife, getting both gestures in return.
"Ready, baby rose?" James asked her as she sat on his second steed tethered loosely behind his own.
"We are, my beautiful angel! Good boy, Diablo. Oh, bye now Marshall! Take care!" Lonely gushed a sweet goodbye to the big anthro Clydesdale as she fondly patted a nickering Diablo who carried her off at a slow trot behind her husband's horse, as James called with a hearty wave and farewell to his best new male friend, who raised his muscled arm in a goodbye as he watched the close-knit couple ride off together in tandem file towards James's ornate manor where they lived.
"She's a very sweet-natured mare. I hope the birth isn't too hard on the kind girl. James told me she's carrying at least 3 of his cherubs. Aye though, that'll surely bring them much happiness. Goodbye for now my friend, I'll await your return."
With that Marshall went to load the pretty baskets Lonely had fancied up to his wagon and covered them with a tarp so they'd stay dry & intact, and then he went inside to relax for the rest of the evening, his belly pleasantly full from Lonely's hot meal.






A big thanks & photography credits to:
https://unsplash.com/photos/man-sta.....ys-_gtAytFqvPw