Eric smiles and nods in agreement. "The tackroom is probably my favorite place in the barn. There's just something about the smell of leather."
Nodding down the barn aisle, he leads the way, trying not to favor his leg too much, lest Ashlee worry about him. Getting to the tackroom, Eric flips on the light and sets his hands on his hips, looking around for a moment, seemingly deep in thought. "Ah. There we go. I knew there was a saddle that needed some attention."
Setting up a saddle rack in front of the bench, he retrieves one of the smaller western saddles. "I think this thing could use a little TLC."
Ten minutes later, he was sitting next to Ashlee, working on a few bridles, keeping one eye on her as she worked too. "When I was horse racing, on my days off the most relaxing thing I could do was oil saddles," he muses. "Some of the others thought I was crazy - they wanted to get away from the barn and work whenever they could. But to me... this was n ever work."
"Well, you look like you've been working hard." Becky smiles as Dylan wanders into the kitchen.
He was hot and sweaty from already having cleaned several stalls this morning. Nodding a little, he takes off his gloves, aiming for the sink. "I just need something to drink."
"How about some lemonade?"
Pausing, Dylan quirks an eyebrow. "That sounds really good."
"Good. Because I just made some." Becky retrieves a glass for him before heading to the fridge.
Leaning on the counter, Dylan looks around the kitchen. "Something smells good."
Becky chuckles. "Just working on the birthday girl's cake. Trying to get it done while Eric keeps her occupied in the barn."
Birthday girl... birthday... Ashlee. Dylan inwardly groans. He'd forgotten all about Ashlee's birthday. He'd thought he'd missed it while he'd been gone, but apparently it was later than he'd remembered. And... he had nothing for her. Sighing, he accepts the lemonade that's handed to him. "Thanks, Becky."
She smiles and gives his shoulder a pat. "You're welcome. Don't work too hard out there today, huh?"
He shakes his head, taking a long swallow of the sour drink. "Trying to cram it all in this morning so I can hit the books this afternoon."
"On a Saturday."
"Yeah..." He sighs. "I'm so far behind."
She gives him a softer look. "You'll catch up, don't worry."
"I hope so." Quickly finishing the rest of his drink, he nods his thanks again before leaving the kitchen by way of the back door. Returning to the barn, he sets to work once more.
Leaning on the window frame in the office, Mick stares outside, watching Dylan heading back to the barn. Sighing, he shakes his head. Eventually, he turns around and eases into a chair. "I wish I knew what was going through that boy's head."
Taking a short break, he'd ended up in the office while Rosetta worked at the desk. "Since he was able to go back to his own bunk, he's said about ten words to me. I thought maybe he'd talk to me after all that, but apparently not."
He looks down and picks at a new tear in his jeans he'd received this morning while working on a fence. "I just wish I knew he was okay. I know he's depressed... and when he was feverish there, he was telling me he almost killed himself while he was gone... I just... I worry about him." He shakes his head. "I still don't know where he went or what really happened. He just... doesn't say anything at all. Sparky knows him even better than I do."
Mick glances up to Rosetta, his eyes showing how much he just wanted to be close to his son. "What am I doing wrong?"
Taking Katie's number, Hunter grins. "Thanks."
Too soon, the check was paid and it was time to leave. Outside on the sidewalk, Hunter takes a long breath of the night air. It was far from country fresh air, but it wasn't too bad at this end of town.
No comments:
Post a Comment