Chapter 2

Dinner was a loud, boisterous, and a happy occasion. The working crew joined us. Five guys and what surprised me, a lady. She was about 26 or 27 and was physically able to do the job. Agnes told me later that she, Lois, had a hard time convincing everybody she could handle the job. But she had held her end up even when she was handed the shitty jobs that a cattle ranch can offer.

Both Suzy and I were introduced, and a couple of the old hands remembered me. Most of the evening was spent telling war stories and outright lies. Both of which were sworn to be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth (sort of).

While all of this was going on, the kids were being kids, making up some of the most outrageous games and scenarios. Most of which involved running, jumping, and yelling. When Donny discovered Shadow, I watched closely. I wasn’t quite sure how Shadow would react. It took about 2 seconds, and my fears were forgotten. They were best friends, and I realized that I had a new problem. How was I going to break it to the kid that Shadow was going to have to leave with me? This was going to require some thought. In the meantime, all of the kids were having a great time.

It’s confusing to me about the world today. You take a kid, park him in front of a tv or a video game, and he’s hypnotized. A zombie and as far as their parents are concerned, that seems to be okay. But with country kids, turn them loose in a pig sty, and they’ll have a gay old-time making mud pies and raising imaginary porkers. These kids were doing things that in the city would require years of psychological counseling and medication. In my opinion, most country kids are smarter, stronger, and more emotionally adjusted than their city cousins. But what do I know? I’m just a broken-down country bumpkin, one of the flyover people.

Around about 9 o’clock, things started settling down and breaking up. The kids were sent off to bed. Donny had to, reluctantly, abandon his new best friend. To both of their objections. The crew members also started drifting off to the bunkhouse. Morning comes early on a working ranch.

Marsha had joined the kids when they were sent off, and all that remained was Bruce, Suzy, and myself. Bruce reached into the cooler that had been sitting, unopened, under the picnic table, and brought out his mason jar of apple pie. “Just a nightcap, folks. Anything more and I’ll be sleeping on the couch.” he poured a shot for all three of us and sat back in his chair.

“Well, Matt, I guess we need to get down to brass tacks. When Pete called and said that you two were on the way, he also told me that you were looking for a good working horse for Suzy?”

“That’s right, Bruce. I’m sure Pete told you about where we live. We don’t have a road to the cabin, and I’d like to stay that way. We both value our privacy, and we figure the best way to keep it is for it to be as difficult as possible for the general public to come up. That means you either walk or ride.”

“Works for me, Matt. Although you will probably be pressured by the powers that be to change that, it’s amazing what happens when civilized people think someone is having a better time than they are.”

“Well, that’s a long way off, I hope.”

“So, tell me, Suzy, what kind of horse are you looking for?”

“Well, Bruce, basically a workhorse. I don’t want or need a dandy. No delicate Arabian used to stable life and a light load. Something with strong ankles to handle slippery ground and a sure foot at the run. Even-tempered and used to other horses. We also have a mule that is in the mix as well as Shadow.” she pointed to Shadow, who was curled up at my feet. At the mention of his name, he raised his head and looked at Suzy. Then he went back to his snooze. He had a busy day and needed his beauty sleep after all.

“I think we have a few that’ll fit your bill. I’ll have the guys bring them up tomorrow. If you see something you like, well, my pappy’s, pappy’s, pappy was known far and wide as the best horse trader in Texas. So, it’ll be buyer beware.”

After that, we finished our pie and headed to bed. I don’t know if Bruce spent the night on the couch. I know I didn’t.