A Horse Is Worth More Than Riches

Chapter Six - A New Addition

It was early Monday morning and Clancy and I were driving to Sam and Ellie's house to pick up Lecky (Electronite). We had the horse trailer attached to our dusty ute and were singing along to the country music on the radio. 

A gravel driveway moved into view past a copse of trees, and Clancy turned into it. Red Hereford cattle grazed in paddocks either side as we drove towards the house. A corrugated iron shed with wood corrals was built behind it, with Sam's horse, Henry, and Lecky peering over the fences. We stopped the car and climbed out to greet Sam and Ellie. 

"Hi, Hall! How are you? I heard Mercutio won his first class!" Ellie was always eager for a good chat.

"I'm great, thanks. How are you? Mercutio did brilliantly, especially for his first time!" I enthused. Sam and Clancy had wandered inside and were chatting about the stock market prices. Or rather, complaining.

"$600 for a good heifer! $600!," Sam frowned.

"Ridiculous, isn't it! You used to be able to get three for that price!" Clancy shook his head, and the men continued to commiserate.

Ellie and I giggled. We followed them inside and Ellie offered to show me their dog's latest litter of puppies. I accepted and was soon in love with the thirteen bouncing collie pups.

"You MUST take one home," Ellie insisted, laughing as the puppy she was holding licked her nose.

"I'll ask Clance. Everyone needs a dog, after all," I was very taken with one pup in particular, a black and white baby with irregular patches.

"He's adorable!" I pointed the puppy out to Ellie. 

"Oh yes, he's the troublemaker of the litter, though!" she replied, "Cheeky little thing!" 

Just then, Sam and Clancy appeared in the doorway.

"Oh, no way!!" Clancy laughed, anticipating my appeal. "Not a mischievous puppy in our house!"

"Oh, please, Clance?" I pleaded. "He's just so cute!"

"Maybe, but first, let's collect Lecky from the barn," Clancy said, though he did smile at the sight of the little pup squirming in my arms.

We all walked down to the small shed, where Henry and Lecky were waiting. Lecky nickered and stretched her elegant neck over the fence towards Clancy and I, recalling the faces of her master and mistress. I petted her nose, while Clancy clipped on her halter and lead rope. We led her out, thanking Sam and Ellie for taking such good care of her over the weekend.

"Oh, that's fine, glad to help friends, and anyway, we know you'd do the same for us if Henry needed a horse-sitter," they replied.

"Congrats again on Mercutio's win," Sam called, as we climbed into the ute after loading Lecky onto the trailer.

Ellie held something out to us, a squirming bundle of black and white fur. It was the puppy.

"Go on, take him!" she insisted. "Here!"

I glanced at Clancy, who seemed to hold back a protest.

"Oh, very well, go on," he sighed, having given up arguing, "He will be useful,"

"Thanks, Clance!" I replied. "And you too, Ellie, for letting us have him,"

"That's okay!" she laughed. "Good luck keeping him out of trouble!"

I grinned and cuddled the puppy in my lap as Clancy reversed out onto the dirt road.

"What's his name?" Clancy asked. "Something good and easy to say,"

"Ummmmm . . . . . . How's Max? Is that good?" I queried.

"Be-autiful!" Clancy answered, swerving to avoid a pothole in the road.

Lecky snorted indignantly from the trailer, not having taken nicely to the sudden movement.

Ten minutes later, we were home. I set Max down on a nearby haybale, and went to help Clancy unload Lecky. She settled back in quickly, chewing her hay and stomping in the woodchips that lined her stall. Everyone was back home, safe and content.