Read Online Echoes From The Past (Women of Character) by Grace Brannigan - Free Book Online

Boy continued to move sideways, neck
arched and nostrils flared.
    "I’m behind you, Boss,"
said Sam Connors, his barn foreman. Sam sounded winded. "I’ve got Miranda
and she’s in a foal heat. We’ll use her to lure him into the smaller
corral."
    Sam’s plan to use the young mare
worked like a charm. Blue Boy followed the mare as Sam led her at a trot into a
smaller corral on one side of the paddock. Garrett pushed the gate closed
behind Blue Boy just as Sam and the mare exited a gate on the opposite side of
the corral. Still speaking to the stallion, Garrett approached him and snapped
a lead line on Blue Boy. He ran his palm soothingly down the horse’s trembling
neck.
    Sam led the mare away from the
corral as Sue came running over. "I’ll take the mare," she said.
    "Let’s get everybody
inside," Garrett said to Sue. "Have Ally help you get them back
inside."
    "Sure, Boss." Sue led
the mare toward the barn.
    Garrett kept a hand on Blue Boy’s
shoulder. Away from the mares, the horse had already calmed considerably.
    Garrett glanced at his foreman,
taking in the sweat-streaked gray temples. "Take it easy out in this heat,
Sam." Sam was a hard worker but he was pushing seventy. Knowing Sam’s
pride might take offense, Garrett added, "I’m already sweating my ass off.
The humidity’s a killer today."
    "And it’s supposed to stay
the same all week. I’ll check who put the horses out. Let’s hope no one’s
hurt," he added dourly. "I’m off for half a day and things go to
hell."
    Garrett restrained a smile.
"I’m putting Blue Boy back in his stall while I check the fence. I don’t
want a repeat performance. I’ll let you know when everything’s secure."
    "I’ll come with you."
    "Aren’t you still off
work?"
    "Not anymore."
    As Garrett led the stallion back
across the pasture to the barn he looked thoughtfully at his foreman.
"Sam, I’ve been thinking if you need more personal time off, just say the
word. You’ve got a lot of vacation days stored." Sam hardly ever took time
off. If he let him, Garrett knew he’d work seven days a week.
    Sam stared at him, his dark gaze
direct in his lean, tanned face. "I appreciate that Garrett. I’ve been
thinking about taking a few days." They walked in silence for several
moments before Sam cleared his throat. "You know, of course, that I’ve
been helping Ruth out since Vern died."
    "Yeah, and I’m really glad
you found her for us. I don’t know what we’d do without her."
    "Well Vern was a good man. He
worked hard his whole life." Sam looked uncomfortable. "We grew up
together and worked some of the same places here and there."
    Garrett stopped and faced the
other man, not sure what he was trying to tell him. "Listen Sam, we’ve
known each other since I was a kid. Whatever you tell me will go no
further."
    Sam pushed his hat back on his
heat and scratched his head. "Well, the truth is, Ruth and me have been
spending time together lately. No disrespect to Vern, but he didn’t leave her
real flush, if you know what I mean."
    Sam paused again.
    "My job here at the farm is
sweet, what with the place on the back acres that you let me use. I was
wondering if you’d mind if Ruth moved into the cottage." Sam seemed to
swallow a few times. "With me, that is."
    Garrett looked at the man who had
been a good friend to his father, and a steadfast, reliable employee to him.
"It’s your decision, Sam. I have no problem with that."
    Garrett caught a rare glimpse of a
smile on his foreman’s weathered face.
    Just then a movement on the far
end of the paddock caught Garrett’s eye. He could see Christie sitting on the
paddock fence. "Let me check the fence and the gates," he said.
    Sam gave him a quick nod and
reached for Blue Boy’s lead. "I’ll get this guy cooled out and catch up
with you."
    Garrett strode back out to the
paddock where he’d spotted Christie, and found her standing beside a steel
gate. She swung the gate closed.
    "Why is that gate open? Now I
understand