Chapter 2
When Ennis parked his truck at the Yosemite Trails Saddle and Sleigh Company, it felt right. On the drive, he'd been nervous, but excited and eager too. Arriving as an employee made him feel lighthearted...like the kid he'd been so many years ago when he worked at the stable that one summer. Back then, it hadn't even felt like work, even mucking out stalls, and he knew that was on his job description, and he actually looked forward to it.
He gazed across at the corrals and saw two young women assisting three children on horseback. In another corral, a young man adjusted an adult's saddle. He knew that after he was there awhile, he might have to work with the tourists too, and that would be okay, but he looked forward to his first weeks of becoming acquainted with the horses and the barn.
As soon as he opened his door, the fragrant wild azaleas brought him back to that day in April—the day of his interview when he'd been filled with nervous tension. He felt a lot better today, and that was good, because animals could pick up on unease, and he wanted to make a good impression on the horses.
He left his lunch in the ice chest, not knowing what the procedure would be, and exited his truck to check in at Mr. Knapp's office. The so-called office was right up Ennis' alley. The only way to reach it was right through the stable, clear in the back. He remembered it being simple and rustic, not to mention cluttered. It had put him right at ease when he'd sat down across from Mr. Knapp that day. Now here he was, opening the creaking barn door, taking in the smell of the hay, dirt, and best of all, horses. Beams of sunlight shone through the cracks in the wooden walls as he headed toward the office. Passing the stalls and getting a look at each horse was a thrill. He couldn't wait to groom the magnificent animals.
He was nearly to the office when he saw a young sandy-haired fella bent over at the waist moving straw with a pitchfork. He wore tight jeans covered with a layer of dust, a cowboy hat, gloves, a brown plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and boots caked with horse dung. He straightened up and swatted at a fly on his arm, and then looked intently at Ennis. Ennis noticed that his eye color matched his shirt. The young man smiled and blew a bubble with his chewing gum. A cowboy blowing bubbles, now that was not something he expected to see. He could picture the bubble popping and sticking on this guy's strategically placed facial hair. All over scruff, but mainly a scruffy mustache and goatee, with one of those clumps of hair he'd heard called a soul patch. He wondered if maybe the guy wasn't able to grow a full beard, or maybe he was trying to look older.
"You must be the new stable hand," the gum-chewing young man said. He stuck his pitch fork down hard into the hay-covered floor and leaned his weight slightly on it.
Before he could answer, Mr. Knapp appeared. "Hi there, Ennis. Good to see ya." He reached out to shake hands.
"Morning, Mr. Knapp," Ennis said as he shook hands with his new boss.
"You're right on time. That's good." Mr. Knapp glanced at the other man. "Oh, that there's Brian, one of the other stable hands. Brian, come say hello to Ennis Del Mar."
Brian pulled his gloves off as he approached, grinning widely. "I'm Brian Weaver. Nice to meet you." He grabbed Ennis' hand and shook enthusiastically, using his whole arm.
"Same here," Ennis muttered, nearly thrown off-balance. He wondered if this Brian guy was always so zealous. He was certainly in good spirits. He wondered if it was because he was overworked and glad of another set of hands, or if he saw the prospect of pushing off some of the dirty work on someone else. Of course it could just be his way. He supposed he'd find out soon enough.
"Brian will show you where everything is, and he'll introduce you to my nephew, David, who's acting as barn manager." Mr. Knapp looked around the stable and toward the open back door. "I don't see him around or I'd introduce you myself. Come into the office and we'll take care of some paperwork."
He followed his boss and didn't look back when he heard Brian call after him. "See ya in a few, Ennis."
"Brian's a good kid," Mr. Knapp said. "Well, he's not exactly a kid. Not too much younger than you are, and you probably don't take kindly to being called a kid." Mr. Knapp laughed. "Brian's worked here six months now. Our other stable hand, Pete, is off today."
They entered the office and Mr. Knapp motioned for him to sit down. He took the same chair he'd sat in before. After about twenty minutes, he headed out of the office with his head full of what was expected of him and what he could look forward to in the future.
The barn was large, and it took him a minute to find Brian. He recognized one of the women from the corral talking to him.
"Hey, Ennis!" Brian motioned him over. "This is Teri. She's one of the riding instructors."
"Real nice meeting you. I'm Ennis," he said to the tall blonde with her hair in two long braids. She wore a pink cap with the words Cowgirl Up on the front.
"Nice to have you on board, Ennis," she said. Her smile lit up the barn. He figured that was why she was an instructor...she was good with the public. Of course she must be good with horses too.
"Well, I'm gonna take my break. I'll see you later." She headed toward the back door.
"I'll take you out to meet the other instructors in a bit. Looks like they're still busy," Brian said, craning his neck to look out the front door.
"Seems like a big crew," Ennis said.
"This isn't even everybody. There's a pack station cook...he serves breakfast...dinner too, if you're here that late. We make our own lunch from what he sets out. For the evening cookouts there's another cook, teamsters, and guides for the daytime trail rides. Mr. Knapp's wife works here too, sort of like a secretary."
He was about to add something to the conversation, but Brian kept on talking. "I'm hopin' that this summer I'll get to go on the cookouts as a teamster. I know I can do the job...they pick up the tourists at Tenaya Lodge in horse-drawn wagons. Teri goes sometimes. Would you like to go if Mr. Knapp lets you?"
"Uh, well, I guess."
"They cook hotdogs grilled over an open campfire, beans in a dutch oven, corn-on-the-cob, watermelon, smores..."
He figured maybe Brian was hungry as excited as he sounded talking about the menu. He really wanted to start his job, so he tried to get Brian on track. "Mr. Knapp said you'd show me where the cleaning and maintenance tools are."
"Oh, yeah...sure, I can do that. Are you a good rider, Ennis?"
He sighed. "Uh, yeah, I was...guess I still am once I'd get up on a horse."
"Been awhile since you've ridden?"
"Regularly, yeah, but I've been on a horse now and then. How 'bout showing me where the grooming tools are." He wished that Brian would focus and start showing him around. Maybe Pete would be better able to give him some direction. Too bad he was off. He wondered where David was.
They made their way toward the stalls. "You like muckin' out stalls?" Brian asked.
"Sure, it's part of the job."
Brian laughed. "That's a good way to look at it. I like you, Ennis. You're agreeable and willin' ta work. I like that."
He wondered what kind of people Brian usually worked with and if there was a big turnover. He hated to ask too many questions because Brian was a little too talkative as it was. He could imagine what he'd be in for if he asked the guy something.
It took longer than he would have liked, but finally he had a curry comb in hand gliding it over the muscular contours of a chestnut gelding. The time flew by, and it was soon lunch break. He looked forward to calling Jack.
"Ennis!" Brian called from somewhere in the barn.
He let out a sigh. He knew he had to answer. "Yeah, I'm over here," he called.
"You wanna come eat lunch with me? I can share mine, or I'll take you up to the kitchen to get you something." Brian's voice got closer until he stood at the stall that Ennis and the gelding occupied. He was still chewing gum.
"Thanks, but I brought my lunch today. I wasn't sure..."
"Oh, good...well, go get it and we can go out back and eat."
He wasn't sure how to get out of spending his lunch break with Brian. He didn't want to insult him and start out on the wrong foot. He hoped that after they ate, he could break away and call Jack before getting started again.
"Well, all right. I'll go get my stuff out of my truck."
He debated calling Jack before heading out from the truck, but that would be too rushed, so he decided to wait. He grabbed the brown paper sack out of his ice chest, his Coke, and the bag of potato chips, and headed for the barn again. Before he got to the door, he heard Brian's voice call out from the side of the building.
"Ennis! Ennis, over here. Come on this way."
He trudged along after Brian, wondering where he was taking him. He'd sure rather eat in his truck and listen to Jack on the other end of the phone. When he got to the end of the barn and turned the corner, he saw the peaceful setting where they evidently ate and took breaks. Two picnic tables looked very inviting sitting in the shade of tall pine trees, and in the distance horses grazed...the perfect place to relax during break-time. If he could relax alone it would be even better, but here was Brian sitting down across from him, and coming toward them was Teri. She didn't ask if she could join them, just sat herself down with her food. Well, at least they were friendly he told himself.
"What have you got to eat?" Brian asked, staring when Ennis reached into his bag.
He wondered if Brian would ever run out of questions. "Uh, I made a ham and cheese sandwich. Guess I'll get my food in the kitchen from now on."
He felt self-conscious about bringing his own lunch and wondered why Mr. Knapp hadn't mentioned this detail to him. He looked on as Brian and Teri pulled their lunches out of their bags. It looked a lot more filling than his. He tried not to stare at the cold chicken, Cole Slaw and cornbread, but it sure looked good.
Brian looked over at Ennis' sandwich. "What kinda cheese you got on it?"
He tried not to roll his eyes. "Swiss."
"I like American best myself. Is Swiss your favorite?"
"Oh, I don't know. I like all kinds really," Ennis mumbled, wondering if he was going to get a chance to eat his lunch.
Brian unfolded a paper napkin and arranged it across his chest, just so. He tucked the top into his collar. "Well, let's dig in," he said.
About the only time Brian was quiet was when he was chewing, and luckily it appeared that he liked to eat. Teri wasn't too talkative but was pleasant. She didn't seem interested in talking just to hear her voice. The few things she said during lunch were interesting and useful. In just a few minutes of conversation, he learned a lot about the daily procedure and had a better idea of what he should do to be the most helpful and efficient. He'd enjoyed talking to her and was surprised that Brian let them talk without butting in.
It appeared that Brian had finished his food, but then he reached into his sack again. Teri did the same. "Shoot, Teri, ya think it'll be rude if we eat our dessert in front of Ennis? Ennis, did you bring any dessert?"
He realized that he hadn't brought anything. He could have easily taken a few Oreos from the new bag he'd bought when he and Jack had shopped, but he'd forgotten about dessert.
"No, not today."
Brian held up a small cellophane package with something that looked chocolate inside. "Look what we have, Little Debbie Swiss Rolls. I'll bet you'd like these, Ennis, Swiss and all...darn. I could break mine in two if ya want." Brian had his unwrapped and started to break off a piece.
"Oh, no...no, don't do that. You eat it and enjoy," Ennis said.
Teri had looked amused during the Little Debbie conversation and didn't seem able to hide it any longer. She giggled. "Would you like mine, Ennis?" she asked.
"No...really, it's nice of both of you to offer, but I'll just skip dessert today."
Brian stuffed half the roll into his mouth, cream filling oozing onto his lips. "The other half's yours if ya want it," Brian said...at least that's sort of what it sounded like. Ennis held up his hand as an answer. Brian smiled and popped the other half in his mouth.
By the time they'd finished their meal, there wasn't much time left before Ennis needed to begin his chores, but he really wanted to call Jack. He figured that a quick call was better than none.
"I'll just head over to throw my stuff away and use the bathroom. See you inside, Brian. See you later, Teri."
He noticed Brian stand up fast and start to say something, but he strode off and didn't look back. So what if Brian thought he had a weak bladder and needed to hurry, he had to do something to shake the guy.
He dodged into an overhang area in front of the facilities and leaned up against the wall. He took his phone out and hit number one. It rang twice before he heard his man's welcome voice.
"Hey, glad you called. Been wondering about you."
"Yeah, hey...I only have a minute. I'm just off lunch break and I gotta get right back, but I wanted to let you know that everything's fine...it's going fine so far." He peered around the wall to see if there was any sign of Brian, and thankfully there wasn't. "I'll tell you all about it when I get home. Wish I could talk longer now, but..."
"That's okay, I understand."
"Your day been going okay?"
"Yeah, I have some things to tell you about too."
"Okay, well, we'll have a lot to talk about tonight then."
He heard someone approaching and leaned out to check again, and this time he saw Brian coming.
"See ya tonight." He flipped his phone closed and pushed it into his pocket. He hated ending the conversation so abruptly, but he sure didn't want Brain to see him on the phone because he was too nosy for his own good. He didn't think that he meant any harm, but Brian didn't seem to have any common sense about how to interact with people, especially people you just met.
He hurried as fast as he could and had just finished drying his hands when Brian entered the bathroom. "See ya back in the barn," Ennis said, pushing past him.
He was out the door and hurrying away when Brian yelled, "Be there in a second!"
By quitting time, he felt tuckered out. Not so much from the work...he had enjoyed every minute with a passion and didn't think it was just the newness of it. This was where he belonged, around horses and ranch life. None of what he'd done that day was burdensome because it was for the good of the animals.
Meeting so many new people was what had stressed him out and made him tired. He'd met Mrs. Knapp, who seemed like a nice, laid back sort of person. He didn't expect he'd be working around her much, but he aimed to show respect when he was in her presence.
David Knapp finally showed up late in the day. Brian had said that he was usually the first to arrive and the last to leave, and that he liked everything to run smoothly. Ennis had the impression that he tried to oversee just about everything that went on. He was cordial, although rushed. Brian had said that he was in his late thirties, but Ennis wondered if that was right because his hair was almost all gray. He thought about him and Jack in ten years and couldn't picture either of them with that much gray in their hair.
He'd met the other riding instructors, Debbie and Clint, and they were as friendly as Teri, and when he had the chance to watch them, they seemed good at what they did, and were very professional. Watching the other folks ride made him want to get up on a horse.
Brian said he'd introduce him to the cook in the morning, and Pete, the other stable hand. To hear Brian talk, Pete was nearly over-the-hill at forty-five. Seemed he had a lot of afflictions that often prevented him from performing certain tasks. Brian had rolled his eyes as he relayed the stories about Pete while they sponged the horse's eyes and nose after they'd come in off a trail ride.
He had started to get the idea that perhaps that was a reason that Brian had taken to him so fast and furious because he was more Brian's age, and able and willing to put in a hard day's work. Brian had the gift of gab, but he did his share of the work from what he could tell. He thought back to when he'd had his interview in April and remembered seeing a man matching Pete's description standing around in the barn.
He missed Don, not only having him around as a friend, but as his boss. He tapped on his new boss's office door, and when he heard Mr. Knapp say to come in, he opened the door and stepped inside, waiting to sit down until Mr. Knapp looked up from his work and motioned for him to take a seat. He was a husky man, with the look of authority, and unlike his nephew, who was clean-shaven, wore a horseshoe mustache. Also unlike David, his hair showed very little gray.
"How was your first day?" Mr. Knapp asked.
"It was good. Nothing to complain about."
"Did you and Brian get along okay?"
"Oh, yeah. He was good to work with."
"A mite talkative, wouldn't ya say?" Mr. Knapp laughed under his breath.
"Yeah...that too." It was Ennis' turn to chuckle.
"Well, he's a good worker and friendly to everybody. I hope you'll be able to get used to the chitchatting."
"No problem...it didn't bother me." He didn't want to admit that the jabbering was annoying. Actually, it wasn't exactly the talking, but being afraid that the more they got to know each other, that Brian would start asking personal questions.
"Any questions or concerns you have, just let me know," Mr. Knapp said.
"Will do."
"Well, get on outta here then. Have a good night."
"Thanks, Mr. Knapp. See you tomorrow."
The barn looked quiet and deserted when he stepped out of the office. He thought he was home free when he reached his truck without encountering anyone. He had it unlocked and was getting in when he heard Brian's voice.
"Nice truck you have, Ennis."
"Thanks. What are you driving?"
"My pick-up's got a flat tire. Gotta change it when I get home. My step-mom drove me and is pickin' me up."
"Oh, sorry to hear that. About the tire I mean."
Brian looked like he wanted to say something else, but Ennis was more than ready to get on his way, so he turned his key in the ignition, put it in gear, and backed out.
He had really lucked out to get this job only twenty miles from Yosemite West. It would be convenient for him to pick up a few grocery items in Wawona at the Pine Tree Market on his way home, and if they needed anything other than the bare necessities, Oakhurst wasn't far out of his way. If Jack could get lucky and get the job he was interviewing for the next day, they'd be set up real good.
Yeah, things were going real well. He wondered what Jack had to tell him. He wished he'd have gotten to talk to him on the phone longer. He hoped that Brian wasn't going to stick like glue every damn day, and that he'd get a little bit of privacy. It was probably just because he was new and Brian wanted to make him feel welcome. He hoped that was it. Maybe when Pete was there it wouldn't be so bad.
Time would tell.
To Be Continued...
