My Indian

Two

I was woken by a tap on my door at five o' clock in the morning. I was to have expected it, but the early start was still a shock to my system. I was used to flashing alarm clocks telling me I’d slept past eleven and it really was time to get up. Oh well.

Franklin stood outside my door, eyeing me with suspicion. To him, I was still a city boy, not worth his salt this side of the interstate. I tried to be overly friendly, try and get the boss’ son on side but it didn’t look like he was taking it.

He was a good looking guy, if nothing else, with rough stubble and bright blue eyes. He kept his close-cropped hair swept back and had a strong nose that stern-ed up the whole face. Bella had the same feature, although her surrounding countenance was much softer. She was a beauty too.

I was led down to the kitchen, table laid out with breakfast, simple eggs and bacon and a huge pot of maple syrup in the centre of the table. Some of the other hands were eating and acknowledged me as I came in. We’d eaten together the night before and many seemed sceptical. Billy Hart gave me a few pointers of what I’d be up to but kept saying that Rex’d sort me out.

The mysterious foreman wasn’t around, choosing to stay out with the horses and check on the cattle. I was even more curious to meet him, the image of the cowboy hat and tight jeans clinging to my mind like a tick.

He wasn’t even at breakfast. I asked why.

“He gets up ‘bout four, before everyone else. Gets his ass working till late too,” Wilkes, the younger wrangler was smiling at me. “I dunno how he does it.”

“It’s that Red Indian in him,” Bella said, offering her pa more syrup. “Always working hard no matter what.”

“Indian?”

“Yeah, don’t know what tribe, he’s never said, but you can see it in his eyes, his colorin’. Yeah, he’s Indian alright.”

I made a note of this, choosing carefully to not point out it was Native American. That was the city in me and I needed to remember I was in back country now.

“You’ll see him soon enough,” Old Billy said, finishing off his plate. “He’s the one that’s got jobs for you.”

Then it was talk of business, something bout new stock coz of the rising cattle prices. I tried to take it all in, but Bella touched my hand and gently whispered, “You don’t need to worry that head of yours, Zack. You just keep an eye on them horses and you’ll be fine.”

I nodded my reply, cleaning up my plate. Bella knew how to cook a good breakfast.

“To work, boys,” Billy commanded and we left the table, Lyle taking me to one side.

“Now, few pointers before Frank takes you to Rex,” he kept his voice low. “He don’t talk much. He gives you your work and you go do it. Don’t ask him questions and if you do don’t expect much of a reply. He ain’t the conversational type.”

“Alright.”

“And if he gives you advice, you listen. That bastard knows more bout horses than anyone else I know.”

I seemed to be nodding all the time to things people said. If I’m honest with myself I was a little unnerved by the Hart crowd and their other relations. They had a tight group and I was invading.

Franklin then took my arm and indicated the work was to begin. I walked with him out the house into the cold morning air, the Texas heat preparing to take off. I could see the light in the stables that showed Rex was already working.
I walked across the yard and Franklin pointed into the stable door, “Rex, new blood.”

The foreman turned and looked at me with intense brown eyes. I was scanned, much as I had been the day before by all the others, “Alright. Frank you and Wilkes take the herd out and check the back fence, I dunno why but I think we might have a problem there. And make sure Sam don’t leave the gate open again.”

“Will do.”

Franklin abandoned me with Rex.

My thoughts on the man were not wasted. Without that wide hat to shadow his face, I could see the tanned skin of his face, high cheekbones and soft features. He had the native in him alright, with thick, black, shining hair-although it fell in slight curls around his brown face – and deep, dark, chocolate eyes that pierced fiercely. He was tall, well over six foot, and incredibly lean, but not skinny. There were defined muscles on those long limbs of his.

“So, you worked a ranch, yeah?”

“Gave it a go on a friend’s place. Know a few things bout horses,” I swallowed heavily and scanned my surroundings, trying not to look at the bending ass of my foreman.

“Ok then,” Rex pointed to a black horse in the far corner. “Tack her up.”

I nodded (again) and was pointed in the direction of the tack for this specific mare. She wasn’t a timid beast, her head tossing and turning. She had the biggest stall of all the specimens that were there and she used it to full advantage.

Rex had turned to watch me, an unlit cigarette in his mouth.

“What’s her name?” I asked, opening the stall door.
“Pride.”

“Ok, Pride, let’s sort you out, yeah?” I placed the horse blanket and saddle that I had carried on the stall wall and held out my hand to the mare.

She looked at me with hard eyes and snorted. Carefully I placed a hand on her nose, rubbing gently. I started as she back away, her manner aggressive. I glanced at Rex then back to the girl, whispering gently. She was skittish.

Again, my hand was on her nose, other hand cupping her head beneath, “Shh, girl, it’s alright.” Remembering the techniques Micky had taught me, I blew my scent into her nostrils, familiarising myself to the girl. She calmed as I stroked and blew.

Subdued enough to handle, I took the saddle and blanket, placing it on her back. She tossed her head, stamped her hoof, but stayed still, allowing the heavy leather the be settled.

“That’s enough,” Rex called.

I turned and saw him beckon me forward. I left the stall just before Pride rose up, tossing the saddle from her back. The sound gave me a jump.

“She likes you,” Rex muttered, passing me a bridle. “Can’t get anyone else to go near her. She’s wild, that one.”

My eyes widened at that and I immediately tried to protest. Rex held up a slender hand, “You did good, kid. Now, take this and tack up Saffy over there. Then you can ride her out and we’ll see how you get on.”

Rex turned away from me and began polishing up a dress saddle, the leather hammered with Mexican roses.

Stunned into silence, I wandered over to the bay mare, Saffy, and did as he asked, setting her up for a ride. Rex let me out the stables and watched as I rode out into the yard. Unlike the black horse at the back, Saffy was a calm beast and she had a pleasing foot, not too heavy on the ground.

“Go take her for a run, up to where the other boys are then come back, we’ll set you up with some real work then.”

Lyle was right, Rex didn’t say much at all.

But with a face and body like that, I’d listen to him breathing…