An Unlikely Place for Love

by Ruth Ann Nordin

  Bob waited until Chad was across from him before he began eating. Chad thought that was strange but in a nice way. It was better than feeling invisible.

  “So, are you going to the horse race, square dance, and potluck tomorrow?” Bob asked.

  “No.”

  “Why not? Don’t you want to see me beat Nick at the horse race?”

  “Are you that certain you’ll win?”

  “I used to train other people on how to handle a horse. I get along with every horse I meet. Reliable and I work in perfect unison. That horse won’t let me down.”

  Chad was tempted to go to see if Bob’s claims were based in reality or if he was simply bragging to look good to Sam, Tim and Jeff. But why would he brag to me? I’m not impressed with such boasting. “I’m sure it would be a sight to see but I’ll just hang around here and catch up on the laundry.”

  “If I help with that chore, then you’ll have time to go. It would be fun. We could pig out on some great food. That Rachel makes the best fried chicken I ever tasted.” He took a bite of the lamb chops. “Though this is great too.”

  He grinned, pleased that the man found it to his liking. He shrugged. “I’m content to stick to myself.”

  “Don’t you like to socialize?”

  “Only if I have someone to go with that I like.”

  “You can go with me.”

  “That’s not exactly what I meant.”

  “Oh, you mean you would rather go with a woman.” He paused from eating and looked at him. “Maybe you should go to meet women. Some of them in town are good looking and have good morals.”

  “I know the women in town and none of them are interesting.”

  “Why not?”

  “I don’t know.” He sighed. Bob didn’t ask easy questions. “After Georgia died, I was just so glad to be out of the marriage that I didn’t bother to think of marrying anyone else. It’s nice to not have a woman running every facet of my life.”

  “Do you mind if I ask what she did?”

  He wasn’t sure if he wanted to talk about the woman that made him miserable but there was something about Bob that he could relate to. “I guess not. She had to keep track of everything I did. Whenever I went into town, she had to come with me to make sure I didn’t reveal her secrets. She looked good to everyone. You’re right about me. I am a fool. I believed she was who she pretended to be. It was as if she wore a disguise when I was courting her, and as soon as we got married, she took the mask off and I got to see her for who she really was. Only, she kept the disguise on around everyone else. She looked the same and dressed the same but she was two completely different people. She was warm and kind to everyone on the surface, but she brought a lot of misery that they never knew about. There were things she plotted behind their backs that messed up their lives, and while she pretended to let them cry on her shoulder, she would come back here and laugh about it. She used to say that people were easy to manipulate.”

  “Do you think I’m manipulative?”

  “To a point. You lie about who you are to get Sam, Tim and Jeff’s approval. I mean, I can understand why you do it. You’re not here for the long-term so you should do what you can to fit in.” He paused. “I may not like those men, but they are honest with me. At least, I know what they’re saying about me to my face is what they’re saying about me behind my back. That’s why I can tolerate them.”

  “Sometimes someone has to lie. There are situations where you can’t reveal the truth for fear of being harmed or unintentionally harming someone else. Not all disguises are bad.”

  He considered Bob’s words. “I can see your point.”

  “Did you join Georgia in her goal to make everyone think she was a perfect person?”

  “I did after her brothers made it clear that I better talk nice about her.”

  “How did they do that?”

  “A year into our marriage, Georgia made it look as if the man who was courting Lacy was secretly courting another woman. The truth was that the man wanted to marry Lacy, but I didn’t find out what happened until several months later. I went to tell Lacy, but she didn’t believe me and neither did her brothers. Her brothers were so upset I would say something bad about Georgia that they beat me up until I got the point. I hope you’re careful when you’re playing your game with them. Considering your strength, you don’t stand a chance against them.”

  “How awful for Lacy.”

  That struck Chad as a feminine observation but he dismissed the thought. Bob was just a strangely sensitive man. “Lacy discovered the truth on her own four years later. She tried to get her own revenge but it didn’t work.”

  “She tried to sleep with you?”

  “Thank God it was just ‘tried.’” He didn’t want to think of that night. It turned his stomach to think of how close he came to committing adultery. He finished his meal. Now he was depressed. “I’m not proud of certain parts of my past, but there’s nothing I can do about it now. I just go on and try to live right before God.”

  “Well, you do a good job.”

  The validation meant a lot to Chad, though he didn’t tell Bob that. Instead, he stood up and went to the sink to wash his dishes and the pot and pan.

  “If you met a woman who was sincere about caring for you, would you be interested in marriage?” Bob asked.

  Chad took a moment to reflect on the question before answering. “I know that very few women are like Georgia. I’m not opposed to marriage. I just want to make sure she’s real. I don’t want her to pretend to be something she’s not. That’s the problem I had with Georgia and I spent ten years regretting that mistake.”

  Bob slowly nodded. He stood up and took his dishes to the sink. “I’ll wash them if you want.”

  “No. I got it. You should go to the loft and rest. You worked harder than usual today.”

  “Do you mind if I take Reliable for a ride in the fields? I’d like to prepare for the race tomorrow.”

  “Go ahead. I hope you win.”

  Bob smiled. “I always do. Are you sure you won’t come along? You don’t have to marry a woman to enjoy dancing with one.”

  “No. I’ll stay here. I have plenty to keep me occupied.”

  He shrugged. “Suit yourself. I like to get out and socialize.”

  “I can tell. You need to be around people.”

  Bob left the house.

  Chad turned his attention back to the dishes. He hadn’t considered marrying again up to that point. He didn’t believe that all women were evil. His mother and aunts, after all, had been good women. He was aware of how lonely some of his days and nights felt with it being just him in the house all the time. He did like having Bob around. One of the reasons he set up the loft was so he could have someone to talk to on the weekends. Sadly, even being surrounded by people whom he didn’t care for was better than the resounding emptiness that plagued him on the farm. After Georgia’s death, he had been relieved to be alone because it was better than being with her. He still preferred the loneliness to her. But her brothers and cousins weren’t as bad as she was. She was in a class by herself.

  Having met Bob, however, he realized how nice it was to have a friend. He figured that a good woman would be even better. God gave man animals in the Garden of Eden and man was still plagued with a loneliness for someone who was his equal. He didn’t want to be with any of the women who knew Georgia. He wanted someone who never met the woman. He didn’t want to be reminded of his dead wife. I should get out of here. I can’t just expect the right woman to show up on my doorstep. But where would I go? That was the question that haunted him every time he thought about leaving the farm.

  ***

  When Bob returned from town late the next afternoon, he reported that he won the race. “Nick was upset but he’ll get over it. You missed a great show. We were tied for most of it, but good old Reliable came through. You got a terrific horse. He lives up to his name. He’s very dependable.”

  “I’m glad to hear y
ou won.” Chad smiled as he looked up from the cow he was milking.

  “You missed some great food. Square dancing wasn’t so bad either. I never did that kind of dancing before. It was actually fun. Have you square danced?”

  “I did when Georgia was alive. It was alright.”

  “Do you like to dance?”

  “Yes, it was fun.”

  “I sense you used to have a lot of fun.”

  “That was a long time ago.”

  “Well, just because you stopped, it doesn’t mean you can’t start to enjoy life again.”

  Bob walked out of the barn.

  After Chad was done taking care of the milk, he went to see what Bob was up to. He knew that Bob wouldn’t be having dinner since he was full from the potluck. He walked into the horse barn and noticed that Reliable was gone. Curious, he saddled Buck and went to see what Bob was up to. He should have known. He couldn’t help but be impressed with Bob’s determination to learn how to lasso cattle.

  Bob swung the rope several times before he threw it at one of the cattle. He got the rope around the cow and pulled on it but fell off when the cow began running away from him. He let go of the rope and stood up. He brushed the dirt off of his clothes and hopped back on Reliable. He chased the cow until he caught up to it. He waited until the cow stopped before he took the rope off of it. Then he found another cow to try to lasso.

  I’ll give Bob credit for not giving up. Chad shook his head in amusement and went back to the barn.

  ***

  The next morning after breakfast, Bob offered to help him with his garden.

  “You can take the day off,” Chad replied. “I don’t expect you to work on Sunday.”

  Bob shrugged. “I have nothing else to do. I read enough at night. I’d like to do something to stay active.”

  “I suppose if I say no, you’ll continue painting the barn?”

  “I could do that instead if you’d prefer.”

  “I could use help with the garden. We’ve had more rain than usual over the past two weeks, so weeds have been springing up everywhere. Do you mind pulling some?” That should be a task Bob could handle with ease.

  “I’ll be happy to do it, boss.”

  Chad grinned as they left the house. “Did you take the time to explore the property?”

  He nodded. “I did after I got back from the potluck yesterday.”

  “So you know where the vegetable and fruit gardens are?”

  “Yes.” He paused. “Why don’t you plant crops anymore?”

  “I thought I’d give the land time to rest. The soil was beginning to wear down from years of use, so I figured if I gave it a break, it would replenish itself. I got the idea from the Bible. I think all things can use a break, which is why you deserve a day off. Even when you come back from town, you do some type of work.”

  “I don’t mind. It keeps me from being bored. Besides, I notice that you don’t take a day off.”

  “Well, this is my property. I have to constantly maintain it or else the work will be overwhelming.”

  “I notice that you take good care of your things.”

  “I try to. It’s easier to do upkeep on things that need attention than it is to wait until the whole thing is destroyed.”

  Bob nodded. “It probably is.”

  When they reached the vegetable garden, Chad got on his knees and started pulling some weeds. “These are the weeds.” He showed them to the farmhand so he wouldn’t accidentally pick the growing vegetables by mistake.

  Bob seemed hesitant.

  “What’s wrong?” Chad asked as he continued pulling out the weeds.

  “You don’t use gloves?”

  He shrugged. “I wash my hands at the water pump with soap when I’m done.”

  Bob glanced at the ground uncertainly.

  Chad decided not to comment on how odd it was for a man to be picky about touching dirt. Instead, he said, “If you would like to wear gloves, I do have several pairs in the shed.”

  The younger man looked relieved and went to get them.

  He turned back to the garden and pulled out more weeds and some small rocks that were in the vegetables’ way. He had been rough on Bob since the man showed up, but despite the hard time he gave the man, Bob still gave his full effort to helping him. Therefore, he was determined that he wouldn’t give the man a hard time anymore. Not everyone was built for farming.

  When Bob returned with the gloves, he knelt close to Chad and began pulling up the weeds. Feeling uncomfortable with being so close to his farmhand, Chad worked his way away from Bob.

  “Do you like this work?” Bob asked him.

  Chad hadn’t ever thought of it before so he had to take a moment to consider it. “I suppose it’s alright. It’s a living. There’s a feeling of accomplishment in working with my hands. Unfortunately, this is a profession that’s reliant on the grace of God. He sends the rain and the sun. I can’t take credit for all the profit I obtain.”

  “I can tell that God has blessed you with all the healthy animals and your gardens doing as well as they are.”

  After a couple of minutes of silence, Chad asked, “Do you mind if I ask what other jobs you’ve done?”

  Bob worked his way down the row across from Chad. “I have had a desk job and even had to use a telephone.”

  Chad had heard of telephones but hadn’t had the need to use one.

  Bob continued. “I’ve cleaned up a library and helped restore it to its former glory. I’ve acted in a play. I’ve trained horses.”

  “That explains why you’re so good with Reliable.”

  “Well, I can honestly say that the horses were often easier to train than the owners. You’d be surprised at how many people think they understand their horses, but they miss subtle cues from the animals. That’s the danger in riding a horse. If you aren’t attuned to its cues, you run the risk of getting hurt, or worse.”

  Like Georgia being thrown off of Star. He wondered if Star sent out a cue that Georgia missed.

  “I used to do a lot of racing but it was always for fun,” Bob continued.

  “Did you win all of them?”

  “No. My brother used to beat me in every race. He’s the one that taught me how to lean forward on a horse to increase my speed. I managed to beat him a couple of times but he can still outrun me if I’m not careful.”

  Chad glanced at him. “I thought you said you were the best.”

  “I might have exaggerated a little bit but I’m pretty close to it. I just need a little more practice and I’ll beat my brother in every race. He’s worried about it too, though he does his best to hide that fact.”

  “I’m fast too.”

  Bob looked up from the ground and studied him in interest. “You are? Why haven’t you said anything before?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t care to say anything in front of the other men.”

  “You know, I can’t resist asking if I can see your skill on a horse. Care to race?”

  “A friendly race might be fun, but I’m not making any bets. I don’t believe in gambling.”

  “I don’t either.” He sighed. “My family doesn’t race for anything but entertainment. I can’t help it if the other people insist on making bets.”

  “You made a bet about the eggs the other day.”

  “Only because I was trying to fit in.” He pulled a couple of weeds from the ground. “I realize I’m compromising some of my beliefs in going along with the other farmhands. I just want to get by while I’m here, but I have to confess that you’re not weak. I’ve had time to think about it, and they got it all wrong. They think that anyone who joins them is strong, but the truth is, it takes strength to stay true to your convictions, even when it means being unpopular.”

  Chad appreciated the man’s compliment. “Doing the right thing isn’t always easy. Just be glad you can get out of here.”

  After they finished clearing the gardens from unwanted weeds and rocks, they went to the barn to ra
ce the horses.

  “Which one do you want to race?” Chad asked.

  “Which one do you race best on?” Bob wondered.

  “Reliable is the best for speed. Buck is good about holding his own too.”

  “But you won’t even ride Star?”

  “Star is best left alone.”

  The man hesitated but finally spoke up. “Do you mind if I check her out? I won’t ride her. I just want to get a feel for her and see what she’s about.”

  Chad nodded. There was no danger in that. He led Bob to the fenced land behind the barn so he could check out Star. He watched as Bob approached the mare. Bob was careful in how he walked over to her and gave the animal sufficient time to get used to him before he touched her neck and back. Star remained calm while Bob walked around the animal, touching her the entire time, probably to notify her that he was still nearby. It was a good tactic.

  When Bob returned, he said, “I can see why you don’t want anyone to ride her. She’s easily spooked. She doesn’t like surprises. Anything remotely small that pops up in her path is going to disturb her. You have to know how to train her to overcome her fears. I could work with her on that if you’d like.”

  “No. I’d rather just let her be as she is.” Chad wasn’t comfortable with anyone riding the animal, even if that person did figure her out. Apparently, Bob’s gift wasn’t limited to reading people.

  Bob shrugged. “It’s your horse. I’ll abide by your rules. Alright. Do you want to have that race? Give me the horse you think won’t win.”

  “No. I’m going to give you the horse I think will win. I don’t want you handing me a victory.” Chad had to admit that he enjoyed the opportunity to compete with Bob on a horse. “I’ll take Buck.”

  Once they saddled their horses, they agreed on a path to race and set out on the horses. Chad had to admit that he was impressed with Bob’s grace and ability on the animal. Chad won the race but it was a close win.

  “I can’t believe I lost!” Though Bob pretended to be upset, Chad noted the amusement in his voice. “You really know how to handle a horse.”