He knocked on the door softly and twisted the handle.
"Come on in, John. You don't have to knock. You don't have a bathroom down there so you'll have to come up to the house. I should really build one. Have a seat." Rosie greeted him with a smile.
Daniel's mouth was watering. The smell of scrambled eggs, bacon, biscuits, and gravy filled the air. Rosie set the plates of food on the table and poured two hot cups of coffee.
"Rosie, this is delicious. I thought last night's dinner was heaven, but you've outdone yourself this morning," Daniel said with his mouth full, forgetting all manners.
"I'm glad you like it. I love to cook. If you're ever down there and get hungry, come on up and help yourself to the food. I just ask that you clean your mess up before you leave." Rosie smiled and sipped her coffee. "Did the heater keep you warm enough?" It wasn't yet April and was still pretty chilly at night.
"To be honest, I fell asleep the second I put my head on the pillow. I really like the room, Rosie. Thank you."
Daniel hadn't eaten that much food in his life. It was also the first time that biscuits and gravy had ever reached his lips. If he lived here permanently, he'd be the size of a house.
"Isn't anyone else showing up?"
"I'm kind of short on workers right now. There's just me and Sam. But now you're here so that'll be a big help!"
"Does Sam live here?"
"No, but he'll be up here around six. You'll meet him soon enough. His bark is worse than his bite. He's a nice man once you get to know him."
"I'm ready to get started as soon as I'm finished. That shouldn't take too long because this food is amazing." Daniel didn't know what he'd been missing. My father's chef could learn a few things from this woman, that's for damn sure.
"I would like for you to brush down my horses if you don't mind. Sadly, I only have two. I had four but had to put two of them down over the past three years because of old age. They were suffering and were my babies, so I wasn't about to let that continue. The vet said it was the best thing I could have done. She put them to sleep and they didn't feel a thing."
"Um..okay. I'm sorry about your other horses, but … " Daniel got a very nervous look on his face, and he could feel his heart begin to beat faster.
"John, have you ever worked with horses?"
"Rosie, I won't lie to you. I'll do anything that can be taught to me. I'm kind of fearful of them."
Rosie smiled, reached over, and patted Daniel on the shoulder. "Not all the work around here has to involve working with the animals. But I think you should spend time around the horses. They're great, loyal, and I think they just have a way of making everything better."
"Well, as long as you don't laugh at me too hard, I'm ready when you are."
Rosie opened up the barn door, and the nickers and neighs came quickly.
"Good morning, girls!" Rosie walked up to each stall and went inside.
Daniel was amazed at how much love was evident between this little older woman and these huge animals.
"Won't they hurt you in there?"
"No, my girls are sweet things," said Rosie as she led each horse out to feed buckets and tethered them to the gate. "I don't like the horses running around in the pasture with their halters on, so just make sure you take them off."
"They're so big," said a wide-eyed Daniel as he slowly backed up.
"First things first. You need to get rid of that fear. They can sense it in you. Go in that cabinet and bring the brush out."
Daniel nodded, went to the cabinet, and found the big brush. "Is this it?"
"That's it. There's another one in there. How about you grab both and I'll brush one of them. This is Patches, and this one is Daisy. Come to me so we can get you introduced." There was no way Rosie was going to trust someone with her horses without seeing firsthand how they interacted with them.
"Introduced … "
"John, come over to me." Rosie was trying not to laugh.
Daniel walked slowly up to the horse that was nearest to Rosie.
"Hold your hand out."
Daniel did as he was told, and Rosie placed a quarter of an apple in his hand.
"Okay, keep your hand flat and feed it to her." Rosie saw Daniel's jaw clenching.
"I've had my girls for almost twenty years and they've never bitten anyone. Don't be afraid, John, as long as you're loving and gentle toward them, you won't be harmed. But any animal that feels they're in danger has the ability to protect itself."
Both of Rosie's girls were large quarter horses. Patches was chestnut while Daisy was white. Daniel had to admit that they were very beautiful.
Daisy stretched her neck, smelled Daniel's hand, and gently took the apple from his flat palm. His smile was huge.
"Well, I think she likes you, John. Here's one for Patches."
Daniel took the apple and fed it to the big chestnut beauty. "Should I pet them?"
"I think you should. Just remember not to startle them and don't stand or walk too close behind the horses. That way you won't get kicked. I can go behind them but they trust me. They don't quite know you yet." Rosie walked over to the side of the barn and opened up the large sliding door.
Daniel stood in front of each horse and softly stroked their necks and faces. "Wow, this is pretty cool. Talk about a soft nose. Can I brush one of them now?"
"You sure can. Just watch what I do and repeat it. They love getting brushed and it's a great way for them to get to know you."
It was an hour or so before Rosie and Daniel let the horses out of the barn. Daniel squinted up at the sun as he took a deep breath. He didn't ever think he would smell such clean air.
"Oh there's Sam! Come and meet him, he's your other boss while you're working here."
"Howdy, you must be, John. I'm Sam, and it's my pleasure." Sam offered a rough, tanned, and calloused hand. His weathered face, framed by gray hair, revealed too much sun exposure and decades of hard work.
"Nice to meet you, Sam. I'm ready to work."
"Great!" Sam's smile dropped instantly. "Go in the barn and shovel out the horse stalls. Put the manure over there in that pile. We'll be using it in the garden. Put fresh straw down, then start cleaning out that field." Sam walked off.
"His bark is worse than his bite. Don't forget that, John. He'd give someone the shirt off his back if they needed it. He's just gotten more crotchety in his old age. I'm going up a ways to do some clearing. I'll see you in a bit." Rosie turned and walked toward a shed, which contained the supplies she'd need.
So, shovel horse shit. Nice. Daniel's cell phone rang.
"How is it going, Daniel?"
"Carl, you always know when to call me."
"Daniel, are you still in Prairie? I stopped by your apartment and the office informed me that you no longer reside there."
"Yes, Carl, I'm in Prairie. But I moved out of that disease-ridden dump my father had me in."
"Where are you staying, Daniel?"
"On a farm. I'm working here as kind of a ranch hand."
"Oh my … " Carl busted out laughing. "Excuse me, Daniel, I do apologize." Carl laughed even harder.
"What's so funny, Carl?"
"Just thoughts of you out running in the pasture, stepping in horse and cow manure. Thankfully you have work boots." Carl laughed until he was coughing.
"Actually, Carl, I haven't stepped in it yet, but I have to let you go because I need to shovel horse shit out of the stalls. Go tell my father that, so you can both get a good laugh." Daniel hung up the phone.
He found the wheelbarrow and a shovel easily enough. Walking into the stall, Daniel didn't have to look down to know what he stepped in. He heard the squish.
Chapter 4
Daniel finally climbed in the hot shower before heading to the table for another delicious meal that Rosie would serve. His entire body ached. Not just soreness like he experienced after a hard workout at the gym, but broken. His body felt absolutely broken, and Daniel was convinced that it was. But tomorrow was Sunday and Rosie had told him he could have that day off. He was looking forward to going up to the bar. He had been thinking about Katherine almost constantly.
Rosie looked at his boots and told him he'd have to leave them on the porch. She found a pair of her husband's tan cowboy boots, and Daniel tried them on. He wouldn't be caught dead in them around anyone he knew, but they were good enough for this town. Better than smelling like horse shit.
He climbed into the old pickup truck and headed into town. He was hoping he'd find Katherine. His eyes lit up when he saw the sign posted out front that advertised karaoke from eight until midnight. Please let her sing.
At seven forty-five, Daniel walked into the crowded bar. Once again the music was blaring. He noticed that the table in the back corner was empty. Daniel had to sit down slowly because every muscle in his body was protesting with each movement he made.
Katherine was at the bar putting drinks on a tray. Her hair was loose, and her strawberry blonde curls flowed down the back of her little black dress. Daniel couldn't stop himself from watching her move. Her hips swung slightly to the beat of the music, and he found himself wanting to sneak up behind her. Her long, slender legs moved so gracefully, and he hungered to know what they would feel like wrapped around him. Stop it, Daniel. But it didn't work. Daniel was turning to putty.