Clean horses

Just walking slowly beside Beth, Zach listens, trying to fit all the pieces together but still not having enough to see a clear picture. Who was Justin, really? What was in Beth's past? Did it have to do with why her sister was here? They were all questions he would not ask.

Glancing to her as they walk, the same gentle smile he'd given Sarah returns for her this time. "I'd love to hear your story. But I know that sometimes things like that are hard, so you're not going to find any pressure coming from me, okay?"

Arriving at a room down the hall they'd been walking, Zach stops and just looks at Beth for a moment. He wanted to ask if there was a reason Justin would have a problem with him but... maybe he should wait until later when they were out at lunch or something. So for now, he pushes that thought to the back of his mind.

"We've arrived," he announces. His eyes twinkle. "Come on in." Opening up the door, he leads the way inside. It was a similar room as Sarah's, though without a feminine touch. A calendar hung on the wall, there were a few family picture and a few trinkets here and there. A man with gray hair sat in a wheelchair near the window.

"Hey, Uncle Harry," Zach greets. "How are we doing today?"

Harry turns slowly and seems to be trying to remember who Zach was, and whether or not he even knew the new visitor.

Zach approaches him quietly and with a smile. Taking a knee in front of him, he makes eye contact with his uncle. "Remember me? Zach?"

The old man's lips curl up slightly in the corners as recognition flashes in his gaze. "Zachary," he mumbles.

Zach grins. "Yep. You're looking mighty fine today."

Harry nods and points out the window to some bird feeders he'd apparently been watching.

"Ahh, I see you've had some other visitors too," Zach muses. "Looks like a couple bluejays?"

"And a cardinal," Harry states flatly.

Zach motions Beth over close. "Harry, this is a new friend of mine. Her name is Beth."

Harry squints up at her. One might think he looked simply like a crazy old man, but if one took the time to really look into his eyes, they might find a mind racing with suppressed intelligence. "You're fine." He nods with approval.

Zach stifles a chuckle. "Yeah, I think she is too," he agrees.


Getting paid back with bubbles, Eric grins and keeps up with bathing the horse, though the soapy nice war continues between him and Ashlee.

Once the mare was cleaned, Eric puts her away and retrieves Remington from his stall. "Maybe we can get in good with the boss if we clean up his horse, eh?" He winks at Ashlee as he ties up the tall gelding outside.

Remington snorts and shakes his head, a bit excited but more curious than anything as to what they were going to do with him.

The process is pretty much the same, but when the big horse is all clean, Eric motions Ashlee to the barn. "In the tack room there's a little box in the far corner - it's got some rubber bands in it. Bring that and the baby oil - it's by the door."