by Jet MacLeod
He put his hands together and gave me a boost up into my saddle. He handed me the reins and I handed him the volume of poems. He took it and placed it back into his saddle bags. He rolled up the blanket and then rolled it back into his bed roll. Then, he tied it back behind his saddle where it always was. He took the reins of Scout and mounted.
“It isn’t so late we have to race back,” he said.
“All right,” I answered, “We can walk them back and just talk.”
“Sounds good to me, Miss Rayne,” he replied.
I was beginning to think that he enjoyed his alone time with me. He wasn’t as shy as he first was when he arrived in Junction City or even on the ranch. He was really starting to blossom right under my watchful eyes. I liked it.
I really like his smile. He didn’t mind showing it to me anymore. It was something that I like to elicit from him every day. It was a highlight for me. It made the days on the ranch not so boring and repetitive.
Chapter Nine
Reece, The Double Bar Ranch
The days were getting longer and hotter. I had been on the ranch for Miss Rayne Whittacre for about a month. The herds were doing well. We were awaiting the arrival of Jed and the boys, coming back from the rodeo.
My routine had changed little since I had started at the ranch. I would get up every day and let the horses out into the paddock. I would give them fresh hay and oats. She would sometimes give one or two of them an apple or carrot to spoil them. I would return to the barn and muck out all the stalls, while the rest of the boys that had stayed back would tend the herds in the fields. It wasn’t adventurous or even hard.
I would finish somewhere around lunch time. She would always be waiting for me in her rocker on the front porch of the main house with my copy of Shakespeare’s Sonnets. We would ride out for her daily inspection of the herds. We would sit somewhere and eat the sandwiches, while she did her best to dissect every poem. We would ride back in. She would go with Cookie to prepare dinner and I would do my afternoon chores.
The only strange thing that I had to deal with was that I was sleeping in her house. I wasn’t stationed in the bunkhouse with the rest of the boys. I was sure that Jed would have something to say about this when he got back, but I didn’t mind it. It was easier for me to hide my truth in the house than trying to keep it covered up in a bunkhouse full of men.
She seemed to becoming fond of me and I wasn’t sure that it was a good thing or a bad thing. I didn’t dissuade it, either way. I didn’t push it either. I wasn’t sure what to do. She was falling for a lie and I knew it, but I couldn’t see any remedy for it. I was just glad that my door locked. I wouldn’t have wanted her to come barging in, at any time.
My days were normal for a ranch hand. I worked. I ate. I slept. I did my share of the chores. She would send me into town to get supplies. She didn’t want Loren to worry about me and it was her way of sparing young Carlos and Stefan from having to make a delivery to us.
I was doing good until the day that she gave me Silas. He was a young a lad. He couldn’t have been more than twelve and already he had a mean streak in him that made me want to kick him out. She told me that I needed to “learn him some manners and teach him how to care the horses.” I was further devastated when she told me why. I thought that maybe she had finally lost it in the heat of the summer sun on the Texas prairie. She wanted him to care for the horses when we went to the Round Up in Amarillo at the end of the season.
I knew I blinked. I had to have. I had to stifle myself from wanting to shake her until she saw reason, but then it was her ranch to make better or destroy. I was just a worker in scheme. I would do it, even if it was against my better judgment because it was my job.
“Well, Silas, it looks like you are with me, from now on, boy,” I told him.
“Yes, sir, it does,” he answered.
“Well, until I am comfortable with you around the horses, I want you to muck out the stalls. When you’re done with that, come and get me,” I explained.
“The stalls?” he asked.
“Yup, clean them out good. Don’t want the horses getting sick or anything. Rake it out. Shovel it out. Then pick it up and put it in that cart. When you’ve finished that, I’ll show you how to check the stalls and such,” I said.
“You must be joking,” he stated.
“Nope,” I said, throwing the rake at him, “I’d get to work. When it gets hot, the stench is horrible. Have fun.”
He looked at me like I had two heads. I couldn’t help it. If he wanted to be a horseman, he was going to learn to take care of the basics first. He would have to climb the ladder. He would have to start at the bottom. He was just a stable boy. That is where all horsemen had to start, I’d be damned if he didn’t, too.
I thought that Rayne was laughing at me. Why else would she send this boy to me? I must have done something wrong. I decided that I needed to talk to her about it. I couldn’t wait any longer. It was bothering me.
I stormed into the house. She was sitting in the kitchen reading the paper and drinking lemonade. I was never one to get angry with her, but she’d pushed me too far with Silas.
“What’s wrong?” she asked as I sat down at the table. She poured me a glass of lemonade. She passed it across the table to me.
“Silas,” I said flatly.
“Did he do something?” she questioned.
“No, not yet. It is just his attitude. He is mean and I don’t want him near the horses. He is going to beat one of them, I am going to know about it, and then I am going to have to hurt him. I don’t want to do that,” I replied.
“Then don’t,” she said.
“Easy for you to say,” I quipped.
“Listen, Reece, I know that he isn’t the easiest boy to deal with, but I owe his father a lot. He asked me to get him started on my ranch. He wants to raises horses. Teach him what he needs to know, make him understand what you do, and then he will be better for it,” she told me.
“I am not sure that I am the one that needs to be training, Young Master Silas,” I stated, “Wouldn’t it be better for Juan or Jed to do it? They have had more training in that field.”
“Nope, I want you to do it,” she said.
“Why?” I asked in desperation.
“Because of the way that you are with horses. Silas needs to learn that. You have to teach it to him,” she told me.
“I can’t teach him that. He has to want it. He has to love horses for anything that I teach him to sink in. He can’t just learn it. He has to want to learn it, understand it, and practice it,” I explained.
“Then make him see that,” she stated.
“You might be asking too much,” I said.
“I have faith in you,” she replied.
That was my undoing. I knew that I would do it. I would have to try. I didn’t want to fail her and I knew that if I didn’t at least try to make him see what he needed to do to be a horseman, then I would fail her on some level. I hated being in that position, but I think that she knew exactly what she was going when she did it.
“I will do my best,” I told her, “But, I am not promising anything.”
“That is all I’m asking,” she responded.
“No, Rayne, that isn’t it,” I stated, as I left for the stables to see how young Silas was doing.
He was having a time with that shovel. I guess he didn’t realize how heavy dung could be. He was sweating and grunting. He was swearing and mumbling. But, I had to admit he was working and doing a good job.
“Good job, boy. Take a break and get some water,” I told him, “Then, you can finish that up before lunch.”
“What then?” he asked.
“Not sure yet,” I replied.
“Sir?” he questioned.
“Maybe we’ll go for a ride or something,” I said.
“Where to? Should I saddle the horse?” he asked.
“All in good time, boy. Just worry about those stalls first. Then, we’ll move on,�
�� I told him.
I went to look in on Scout. I knew that Silas was going to be hurting tomorrow. I also knew that he would have to learn to speed it up if he was going to get anywhere above stable boy.
Scout seemed to be happy in his stall. He neighed as I neared. His stall had been mucked out earlier. I looked to see that the other hands had already given him his hay and new bucket of water. I lead him out of the stall, by the lead roped and tied him off to the rail just outside.
I was checking his stalls for loose nails and anything else that might hurt him. It was a daily ritual. It was something that I did with all the horses. I thought about how important it was to do for the horses every day.
First we put them in the fenced off paddock near the stables. Then we muck out all then stalls. Next we have to check the stalls, their blankets, to freshen the water and the hay. If we take them riding, we have to brush them before and after. We have to check the hooves and clean them out. Then once a week we take the manure into town to sell it to the farmers for fertilizer. At the end of the day, we put them back into their stalls only to do it all again the next day.
It was a lot of responsibility. It was a lot from someone so young to learn. It was a lot to do every day. I had no idea how I was going to make Silas understand. I had no idea how I was going to teach him everything. I had no idea how I was going to make him love horses.
He was standing outside the stall. He was watching me intently. It was slightly unnerving. I didn’t know how long he was there. Actually I didn’t notice him until he spoke to me.
“Mr. Reece, whatcha doing?” he asked me.
“Checking the stall, making sure that is safe for the horse to be in again,” I told him.
“Show me,” he begged.
I was astonished. Maybe, I had the boy pegged wrong. Maybe, he loved animals. Maybe, his mean streak only had to be with people. I arched an eyebrow at him.
“I want to learn,” he said.
“Come here then,” I said, reaching out for him.
He came into the stall with me.
“Whatcha looking for?” he asked me.
“See that nail there?” I asked, pointing it out.
“Yeah, what about it?” he replied.
“Well, that nail could hurt the horse and we don’t want that. So I am going to hammer it back in. If I come in here again tomorrow and see it, then I’ll pull it and put a new nail in the board near where the old one was,” I said.
“Oh,” he responded.
“Eventually, you’ll learn to do this while you’re mucking out the stalls,” I explained to him.
“I am not worried about that. I am just wondering when I am going to be able to do something else,” he said.
“Well, Silas, you have to work your way up. You have to start with the basics and sometimes the messy things before you learn about the nice things. Everything that I am going to teach you is important for horses. Don’t forget that. It might seem simple or tedious and unimportant but it isn’t,” I stated.
“I guess I never knew there was so much to do for horses,” he said, “But, I want to learn. I want to raise horses of my own someday.”
“Well, listen up and listen well. I am going to teach a lot. And everything that I teach you will help you. You are going to be sore later, so keep moving your arms and legs. If you do a good job, tomorrow, we’ll go for a ride out to the pasture,” I told him.
“Great,” he stated, “My dad would have liked you.”
“Your dad? What happened?” I asked. I hadn’t realized that he was orphaned. That explained his anger. He just wanted someone to show him some affection. That is why Rayne wanted me to teach him. She knew that I would care for him more than the other hands.
“He died,” he replied.
“If you don’t mind me asking, when?” I asked.
“A year or so ago,” he answered.
“How?” I questioned.
“Cattle stampede,” he said, sadness filled his eyes.
“I’m sorry, Silas. Is that why you are here?”
“Yeah, my dad was going to marry Miss Rayne,” he told me, “She was going to give him the horses to care for. He loved horses. She told him that when I came of age the she would give me a horse ranch. I have been staying here, ever since.”
I didn’t know what to say. He would have become Rayne’s child. That is why she wanted me to help him. She was going to keep her promise to his father. She was a woman of her word. But, for some reason, it upset me. I needed to know more about the whole situation. I didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes, but I needed to know, to help the boy and myself.
I dismissed him for the day. I saddled Whiskers and Scout for my afternoon ride with Miss Rayne. We had to talk and this would be the best way for us to do it without any interruptions or other complications. It seemed when we were out there that she didn’t try to be coy and flirtatious. She was herself and that was who I needed to talk to today about Silas.
Chapter Ten
Rayne, Gulch pasture and tree grove, The Double Bar Ranch
We rode out for our daily ride and Shakespeare lesson. Today, however, the air between us seemed different. He seemed troubled, more so, than usual. He was extremely quiet. I wondered what was wrong. I didn’t know what to say to him. Every time that I tried to start a conversation with him, he would answer me with short answers and that would be the end of it. I got tired of trying. I knew that something was wrong, but I couldn’t figure it out without his help.
We finally arrived at the groove of trees. We dismounted and he tied the horses off as usual. He laid the blanket down and set out lunch. I didn’t see the volume of Shakespeare and suddenly, I was worried.
“What’s wrong?” I asked him.
“Nothing, I am just thinking,” he replied.
“Did I do something?” I questioned, not giving up.
“No…it’s just that I found out something that I didn’t know earlier. I am sorry,” he stated.
“What is it? Something is bothering you and I know it. Don’t lie to me. I hate it when people lie to me. Just tell me what’s wrong,” she demanded.
“Silas,” he said, simply.
“What did he do?” I asked.
“He didn’t do anything,” he replied.
“Then what does it have to do with Silas?” I inquired, “If it isn’t him?”
“His father,” he stated, “He told me what happened to his father. You should have told me.”
“I should have told you what?” I questioned.
“That he was killed in a stampede. He just wants someone to show him love that is why he is so angry,” he said, “But, that isn’t it.”
“What else is there?” I asked.
“You should have told me that his father was your betrothed. You should have told me who he was to you,” he stated.
I couldn’t tell if he was angry or annoyed that the boy had told him that. He seemed to be upset and a little worried. I didn’t know what to say.
“I didn’t tell you because it wasn’t relevant at the time. I am not sure that it is now,” I answered,” But, what else do you want to know?”
He could tell that I was angry now. I didn’t like being blindsided like that. This was a happy spot for me. I didn’t want to remember the pain of Cooper’s death. I wasn’t sure that I wanted to share everything concerning Cooper with Reece.
“I am sorry,” he said.
“I didn’t tell you because it wasn’t important. Silas needed someone to teach him about horses, that is why I sent him to you,” I explained, “ I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with Silas until I met you. I was thinking about sending him back East for an education. But, then you came along and it made sense. His father wanted him to have a horse farm; you know horses, so it fit. I am sorry that I didn’t tell you about Cooper. I just don’t like to talk about it.”
“I am sorry,” he told me, “I shouldn’t have been so upset about it. It was wrong of me. Forgive
me?”
“I forgive you,” I said, “How is he doing? Good, I hope. He really loves horses.”
“I am starting to see that,” he stated, “He is eager to learn. He asks a lot of questions. It might just be interesting to teach him a thing or two. I am just worried that I won’t get it all done before I leave at the end of the season. It isn’t like I can make him learn everything that I have learned. It would take years and years I haven’t got.”
His statement hit me hard. I didn’t want to think about him not being on the ranch. It hurt to think about it. It was something that was hiding in the back of my mind, but it was something that I was hoping that I could change. He didn’t need to move, he needed to stay with me. He just didn’t know it yet. I had to make understand that.
“Well, I guess that you will have to do the best that you can with the time that you got,” I lied and then continued, “That boy is sponge. He will learn whatever you teach him and he will do it fast.”
“I am hoping that he will stop swearing though, while he does his chores. Maybe we should take him to church on Sunday. He might take to it,” he suggested.
“You want to go to church with me on Sunday?” I asked him, surprised that he would say such a thing.
“I’ve seen my share of churches and I know the stories. He might learn a few good things there. A little church now and again, never hurt anyone that I’ve seen,” he told me like it was nothing.
“All right, we will go to church on Sunday then,” I said, a little apprehensive and a little happy.
If he wanted to take the boy to church, then maybe he was willing to try and be a father to him. If I could make him act like a father to Silas, then maybe I could convince him that he should stay with me on the ranch. If I could make him stay with me on the ranch, then maybe he really did love me. It was a lot of “ifs,” but a girl had to hope when that was all she had in the Texas sunshine on a prairie ranch in the middle of nowhere. I wasn’t sure that I was ready to not have Reece around.
“You’re upset. I am sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you,” Reece told me.