Read Online Love Means Courage - Andrew Grey by Andrew Grey - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Andrew Grey
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raining when they paid the bill and left the restaurant. A quick dash to the truck, and they all climbed inside.
Fred turned on the radio, and they heard the end of Steve Perry’s Oh Sherrie and then the news. The reporter droned on, and Fred sped up when they reported a barn fire but relaxed when it wasn’t Cliff’s.
They arrived at the farm, and Len made a run into the barn while Randy raced to his truck, and then both vehicles crunched down the drive.
The barn was quiet, and Len peered into each stall occupied, making sure the occupants were settled and happy. He was about to leave when he heard the door open and close. Turning, he saw Cliff and Geoff under a huge umbrella. Geoff squirmed to get down and ran to the nearest stall. “Hos.” His little blue-jeaned legs were going ninety to nothing.
“He has a one-track mind.” Cliff let him go.
“That he does.” Len walked to the toddler, who at that moment was jumping up and down, trying to reach the horse. “You want to give him a treat?” The small body stilled, and he turned and smiled.
“Yes!”
“Yes, what?” The scolding was mild.
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Andrew Grey
“Yes, pwease!” Len picked him up and handed Geoff a carrot from the bag he’d brought that morning, and the boy immediately put it in his own mouth.
“That’s for the horse.” Geoff took it out of his mouth and held out his hand, giggling as the horse took the carrot, its lips sliding over his tiny palm.
“More, Wen.” Geoff insisted on giving each horse a carrot, tasting them all first. Len held him as he fed each horse. Len peeked over at Cliff, making sure he was okay with this, and the look on his face nearly stopped Len in his tracks. His face was relaxed, soft, with a gentle smile and sparkling eyes—the Cliff he remembered.
Len felt the flippity-flop in his stomach start up again. As soon as Len put the toddler down, Geoff raced back to his dad, laughing and clinging to his legs.
“I should be getting home.” He packed up the carrots and put them in the tack room. When he got back, Cliff had the umbrella up and Geoff in his arms. “I’ll see you in the morning,” Len called as he raced to his car.
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Love Means Courage
“THE commerce department reported yesterday that failures of family-owned farms reached their highest level since the Great Depression.” Len turned off the radio as he drove. That type of news he didn’t need.
It was still dark when he arrived back at the farm the following morning. Everything was still wet from the rain, but the clouds were gone, and the spring sun would dry everything pretty fast. He let the horses out into the pastures and spot-cleaned the stalls. He was just finishing up when he heard the phone ring. Figuring it rang both in the barn and at the house, he answered it. “Laughton Farms. Can I help you?”
“Oh, thank goodness.” The woman on the line sounded frazzled. “I was wondering if you board horses.”
“Yes, we do, and we have space available.” Len could hear her breathing a sigh of relief. “We have an outdoor ring as well as lush pastures.” 62
Andrew Grey
“What are your rates?” Len had no idea and began looking around the tack room to see if there was anything. He found a sheet that listed rates from 1982. He figured they were in the ballpark, but added twenty-five dollars just in case.
“It’s a hundred and seventy-five dollars a month.” He tried to remember the terms at the barn from when he was taking lessons. “First and last month paid in advance. That includes the stall, hay and oats, as well as time in the pasture if you request it.” He ticked the items off on his fingers. “Vet fees, supplements, and any special requirements are extra.”
“How often are the stalls cleaned?” The anxiety was gone from her voice, and she was now all business.
“Minimum of once a week, with spot-cleaning daily. I like a clean barn.”
“I’m a trainer as well. Would you have any objection to me using
Fred turned on the radio, and they heard the end of Steve Perry’s Oh Sherrie and then the news. The reporter droned on, and Fred sped up when they reported a barn fire but relaxed when it wasn’t Cliff’s.
They arrived at the farm, and Len made a run into the barn while Randy raced to his truck, and then both vehicles crunched down the drive.
The barn was quiet, and Len peered into each stall occupied, making sure the occupants were settled and happy. He was about to leave when he heard the door open and close. Turning, he saw Cliff and Geoff under a huge umbrella. Geoff squirmed to get down and ran to the nearest stall. “Hos.” His little blue-jeaned legs were going ninety to nothing.
“He has a one-track mind.” Cliff let him go.
“That he does.” Len walked to the toddler, who at that moment was jumping up and down, trying to reach the horse. “You want to give him a treat?” The small body stilled, and he turned and smiled.
“Yes!”
“Yes, what?” The scolding was mild.
60
Andrew Grey
“Yes, pwease!” Len picked him up and handed Geoff a carrot from the bag he’d brought that morning, and the boy immediately put it in his own mouth.
“That’s for the horse.” Geoff took it out of his mouth and held out his hand, giggling as the horse took the carrot, its lips sliding over his tiny palm.
“More, Wen.” Geoff insisted on giving each horse a carrot, tasting them all first. Len held him as he fed each horse. Len peeked over at Cliff, making sure he was okay with this, and the look on his face nearly stopped Len in his tracks. His face was relaxed, soft, with a gentle smile and sparkling eyes—the Cliff he remembered.
Len felt the flippity-flop in his stomach start up again. As soon as Len put the toddler down, Geoff raced back to his dad, laughing and clinging to his legs.
“I should be getting home.” He packed up the carrots and put them in the tack room. When he got back, Cliff had the umbrella up and Geoff in his arms. “I’ll see you in the morning,” Len called as he raced to his car.
61
Love Means Courage
“THE commerce department reported yesterday that failures of family-owned farms reached their highest level since the Great Depression.” Len turned off the radio as he drove. That type of news he didn’t need.
It was still dark when he arrived back at the farm the following morning. Everything was still wet from the rain, but the clouds were gone, and the spring sun would dry everything pretty fast. He let the horses out into the pastures and spot-cleaned the stalls. He was just finishing up when he heard the phone ring. Figuring it rang both in the barn and at the house, he answered it. “Laughton Farms. Can I help you?”
“Oh, thank goodness.” The woman on the line sounded frazzled. “I was wondering if you board horses.”
“Yes, we do, and we have space available.” Len could hear her breathing a sigh of relief. “We have an outdoor ring as well as lush pastures.” 62
Andrew Grey
“What are your rates?” Len had no idea and began looking around the tack room to see if there was anything. He found a sheet that listed rates from 1982. He figured they were in the ballpark, but added twenty-five dollars just in case.
“It’s a hundred and seventy-five dollars a month.” He tried to remember the terms at the barn from when he was taking lessons. “First and last month paid in advance. That includes the stall, hay and oats, as well as time in the pasture if you request it.” He ticked the items off on his fingers. “Vet fees, supplements, and any special requirements are extra.”
“How often are the stalls cleaned?” The anxiety was gone from her voice, and she was now all business.
“Minimum of once a week, with spot-cleaning daily. I like a clean barn.”
“I’m a trainer as well. Would you have any objection to me using
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