Chapter 4: The Buying Trip

Frank Ominbach called Frank Mullins into his office, "Frank," he said. "You and I are going on a short trip to the horse sales."

"When, boss?" young Frank asked.

"Tomorrow morning, so get the truck ready please." Frank senior said.

"OK boss," he replied.

The next morning they travelled in silence for quite some distance before Frank Omnibach spoke.

"Frank," he said. "What do you think of Belle?"

"Speaking truthfully, boss she is a looker, she can be temperamental and stubborn at times. When she's old enough to be bred, depending on the sire she should throw good offspring." He replied.

"She's old enough now, But I'd sooner wait until spring before letting her mate." Frank Senior said.

"Will Angela, have any say in how and when she is to be mated?" Young Frank asked.

"No," Frank senior said. "It was her own fault when she got pregnant in the first place; she made that decision on her own."

Their discussion ended as Frank drove into the saleyard grounds. Once he parked the truck, they had time to check out all the colts and fillies that were for sale. They went from yard to yard until they saw three mini colts and three mini fillies in one yard.

Frank Mullins recommended the piebald. The bidding on the colts started at a measly price of $5,000 but quickly rose to $10,000,

Frank Omnibach bid $15,000, for the piebald it was the winning bid. Once all the colts were sold. The auctioneer started with the first of the fillies a proud chestnut.

"Frank, my boy," he said. "Your turn, pay what you have to, we have $85,000 of our allotted $100,000. You can start the bidding at what ever price you like."

"Are you sure you want me bid this time? Young Frank asked.

"Yes I am, spend as much as you want to," was the reply

When the bidding started, nobody wanted any of the fillies. Young Frank held off until the auctioneer asked for a starting bid. A voice from within the crowd offered a bid of $200 for one of the fillies the auctioneer was about to drop the hammer with the opening bid, when Frank Omnibach quietly asked, "Are you going to bid on this one?"

The auctioneer got as far as done, done all when, Frank Mullins called out $20.000, for all three. The auctioneer looked straight at Frank and said, "Are you sure you can afford that amount young fella?"

Frank Omnibach said, "Don't worry sir, he can afford it."

"Are there any more bids?" the auctioneer asked. There was none.

They had bought four horses, a colt and three fillies.

Frank Omnibach said, "You are quite a conservative buyer, aren't you?"

"Yes boss, it wasn't my money," he replied.

Once they had the horses loaded and were on their way home. Frank Mullins asked, "When are you thinking of letting Belle mate?"

"That's up to you, you will be the first to know when she's on heat," frank senior replied.

"I suppose you know that Angela has been visiting the stables more often than she used to," Frank junior remarked more than asked.

"Yes I know, my brother John has kept me informed," Frank senior said. "He is convinced that she is looking forward to getting pregnant again, besides, she can't resist the temptation to mate again, now that Belle is full grown."

A short time later, young Frank drove over the cattle grid gateway onto the property and pulled up outside the stable yard.

With the horses unloaded, stalled and fed. It was time for relaxation. Frank Omnibach invited young Frank into his office and poured them both a generous drink of Scotch whisky.

"Frank O," said. "Frank, you have been employed here for over two years now, and you have performed your chores much better than I could ever have imagined. I know all about your trips to the paddock and the mare you have sex with, that's not important. What is more important is that Belle is now over the flighty teenager stage and is a yearling."

"I know that, boss," he replied. "I have also noticed that she spends a lot of time outside her father's stall, she can't get in with him because I keep him locked in."

"When she comes on heat, who you mate her in with, is entirely up to you," Frank senior commented.

"Thankyou, boss, for the trust" young Frank replied, as he walked out of Frank senior's office.

The next morning frank led the new colt out of his stall and tethered him to the hitching rail. Returning to the stalls, he released the fillies and turned them loose into the paddock with the older mares. He knew that if he turned out the new colt with the fillies and mares that he would probably mate with them.