The Country Summer

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

I woke up and felt the soft amber glaze of the merry sun warming my cheek.

“Life is good,” I muttered. I got up and put on a comfy pair of jeans, a cotton plaid shirt and my cowboy hat sitting on the edge of my desk. I ran downstairs combing a hair brush through my hair as I jumped downstairs.

“Why is sleeping beauty getting up this early?” Margie asked while he sipped a steaming cup of coffee. I jumped up at hearing his voice.

“Margie, you scared the living daylights out of me. And I wanted to take Ace out for a ride. Why aren’t mom and dad awake?”

“Oh, well it’s Saturday so they thought about sleeping in,” he said.

“Oh, well” I said while grabbing a cup of coffee, “I’m gonna go get Ace stretched out.” He nodded in reply and just sat there. I ran outside and grabbed Aces bridle on the way in. Walking in I searched for the stall, even thou in my mind I knew exactly where it was. I walked in and began to lazily groom his ruffled coat. I carefully brushed his mane and then I took a look at me handsome boy. I sighed realizing how lucky I was to have trained him myself, with the help of dad obviously. It took some time getting the saddle up on him, because he kept walking sideways (One of his bad habits). I finally got his saddle on and effortlessly put the bit in his mouth. Leading him out of the stall I saw Tops looking at me nervously like he wanted to come.

“Not today big boy” I said sadly to him. I jumped up on Ace and we trotted over to the gate where, I unlocked it and walked him through. I locked the gate once more and turned Ace to a jog. We jogged for awhile then I got him to lope, when he got stretched out I turned him into a full out run. He loved running, mainly because he was still a little young and had a lot of energy. I felt my hat tug on the sting that I had to attach to it because it would fly off my head. I let my hair lose and I felt the tug of it in the wind. The feel of the wind against my clothes we’re close to tranquil. The love of riding, my passion was something I wasn’t going to give up. I could feel Ace underneath me, his muscles relaxed. I slowed him down in an easy fashion. When we got back to a walk, I rubbed my hand up and down his neck. I turned my head to see another rider coming up to us. I stopped and I squinted my eyes toward the figure, only to see Tucker riding up on his horse Rooster.

“Hey Tuck,” I yelled over to him.

“Hey Oak,” he said in an awkward way. I got kind of worried for a second.

“Everything ok Tuck?” I asked mildly concerned.

                “Yea, just…” He said softly.

                “Tucker, you can tell me anything. I’m not going to get mad or anything,” I said trying to be hopeful.

                “Oakley… I got accepted into University of Michigan.” He finally said and my jaw dropped.

                “What…?” I said not believing him, “I’m so happy for you!” I practically squealed, which was NOT a common thing I did.

                “You… you are?” He asked confused.

                “Of COURSE, it’s a great opportunity for you there!”

                “I’m so happy to hear you say that,” he said whipping sweat from his neck. I nodded, but in the back of my mind I didn’t want him to go. But the front said, ‘GREAT JOB! Go it’s a great thing to do!’ so like any sane person I did what my front said and went with it. Ace started to sweat a lot from the sun so I took him back and bathed him, groomed him and put some fresh hey in his stall. I also got Tops some hey and gave him a treat. I ran up to the house and found my parents sitting there drinking coffee and reading the news paper.

                “Did you know that Tucker got accepted into The University of Michigan?” I asked excitedly.

                “He did?” My mother asked, “That’s great to hear!”

                “Yes, it’s good career choice wise.” My father replied, “Oh hey, where did you go this morning?”

                “Oh, on a ride with Ace,” I replied with a wave of the hand brushing it aside. My father nodded knowing my passion. Just then, Hugh walked in covered in goo.

                “Violet is about to give birth,” Hugh said while walking back outside. Oh Violet is our mare who is pregnant, well was. We all jumped up and ran outside. I ran to Violets stall and I peeped in seeing her on her side breathing hard. I jumped in and began to softly pet her neck trying to ease the pain.

                “Hugh, go grab some towels.” I heard my father said. Hugh jogged out and moments later came back outside with a handful of towels.

                “Here boss,” Hugh said while tossing them at dad.

                “Thanks,” dad said keeping his eye on Violet. Just then, Violet started to breath harder and harder and my strokes became longer and longer. Violet started too whiny and then she pushed hard. She pushed again and again. Until a little colt push his way into the world.

                “OH! He is so cute!” I concluded as I started to brush him off with a towel. Just then Violet pushed again and two legs popped out. Then a head and then the rest of the body, but this time it was a filly.

                “Oh my goodness,” I practically yelled. I gave a towel to Hugh and he went to the filly and gently brushed her off. The babies were pretty wobbly but they gained strength and they walked over to the now standing Violet and started to drink some milk. ‘My work was done.’ I thought, ‘Violet can take care of them all by herself.’ I started off to the house after carefully making sure the babies were ok.

                That night at dinner, my father said something I thought I would never in my life hear.

                “Oak,” He began, “Your mother and I have been thinking. Because Hugh can’t get everything done, we have decided to take in someone to help be a stable hand. He will stay in the barn; there is a room in there that you will need to fix up.” He said trying to sound hopeful.

                “Ok,” I muttered, “But if he is a stubborn jerk who can’t keep himself in check, can I set him straight?” I said firmly, then everyone burst out laughing and my father nodded trying to contain his laughter.

                “If he even touches you, of course you not asked for him to; I personally will take his pride and dignity.” Margie said firmly, then he mumbled, “And his manhood.”

 Then that set everyone’s laughing to a second level. Once we stopped laughing I helped mom with the dishes and I headed up stairs. I sat at my computer and put on “Cowgirls Don’t Cry, by Brooks and Dunn”. I listened for awhile and chatted with Amanda until I got tired and I went to sleep. Thinking about how I was going to have to share my life soon. But soon I was fast asleep and dreaming away.