Chapter 43 – Getting Tommy Going

With things done in the kitchen, Elizabeth pulled on her boots and followed Jack and Nathan across the backyard and down toward the stable.

"Elizabeth." Jack said. "Any idea what set Gran off? I mean I know that Tommy pushed things, but she has never stepped in and disciplined him like that before."

"I don't really know." Elizabeth said. "She didn't say anything, but I knew something was bothering her on the drive back."

"And nothing happened?" Jack asked.

"Well." Elizabeth said. "I guess there was something at Walmart."

"What happened?" Nathan asked concerned. "I thought you had security with you."

"Oh nothing like that." Elizabeth said. "We had Adam and another guy. Gran made them push the carts while we went about getting the items that we needed. I guess I didn't think anything of it at the time, but there were these kids about the same age as Tommy running around and bothering people. I think that one may have bumped into Gran once or twice."

"That would do it." Jack said. "I assume that there were no parents in sight."

"Not that I saw." Elizabeth said. "I think Gran might have said something to a manager, but then I was paying closer attention to the list I had been given. I stuck close to Adam and tried not to draw attention to myself as I grabbed items that we needed. Also, I guess I am so use to it because of Julie and her friends that I didn't think about much. I am so use to ignoring Julie and her friends when we were out because of their behavior that I just slipped into that mode. Maybe that was why I thought Gran was upset on the ride home, maybe she was mad at me for not saying anything."

"I am positive that is what caused Gran to be in a mood." Jack said. "I love her to death, but she has little time for spoiled children. I think that the only reason she hadn't said anything before now, was she was probably hoping Ma would do something about Tommy. I know that Gran wouldn't want to overstep with any of us grandchildren, but she also shouldn't have to put up with Tommy's attitude. Elizabeth, Gran is not mad at you, but just mad in general."

"I am glad she said something." Nathan said. "Because if she wouldn't have, I was ready to say something myself. I can't believe your mother tolerated him being that disrespectful from the start. I am going to have a conversation with your father when he gets here."

"That is part of the problem." Jack said. "Tommy has always been her baby. She has never enforced limits or rules that she easily enforced with me. Dad has always been the one to discipline Tommy, but when Ma would let him get away with things, Dad's punishment didn't mean much."

"I can see how that would be unfair to you." Nathan said. "I think it explains a lot of why Tommy has such an entitled attitude. Hopefully he learns something this week."

No one else said anything and after a few steps, Elizabeth changed the subject.

"So what are you doing with Doug's horses?" Elizabeth asked.

"Marco has a wild idea." Jack said. "He wants Nathan, Doug and I to each get familiar with four horses as we get ready for the Sugar Creek show. We will have a jumping competition to see who rides what horse."

"Can you do that?" Elizabeth asked.

"It isn't easy." Nathan said. "But it can be done. It means working with each horse each day. Riding each horse over a course each day."

"But I thought you were going to ride Bandit." Elizabeth said.

"I will this weekend." Jack said. "I have never ridden Honey in a real competition and I have never been on one of Doug's horses. Granted, I have been around them, but trusting them to compete is completely different. It is going to be a long two weeks."

"I agree it is going to be a long two weeks." Nathan said. "But I understand why Marco is wanting to do it. It is going to make us all better riders. We will able to read different horses in different situations. Hopefully, it makes us better competitors."

"Yeah." Jack said. "I guess."

"What?" Elizabeth asked.

"I have never competed on another horse since I got Bandit." Jack said. "I rode him for show jumping and cross country. The only other horses I have ridden at any regular interval are my trail horses."

"And I have to learn four new horses." Nathan said. "Honestly, I think if we show that we are better with a certain horse, I don't think that Marco would really break that up. You said you trust him. This is the time to show him that you do."

"You are right." Jack said. "I just never thought I would be competing again, much less learning new horses while doing it."

"And you are a natural on a horse." Nathan said.

Elizabeth grabbed Jack's hand and stopped him. She stepped in front of him.

"I haven't known you long." Elizabeth said. "But what is really going on? It isn't different horses or workout schedules. Talk to me."

Jack looked down and kicked at the grass.

"Jack." Elizabeth said. "I am not letting this go. Tell me what is bothering you. You were the one that said we could talk about anything."

"Fine." Jack said without looking up. "I am afraid I am going disappoint Grandpa and my parents."

"Seriously." Elizabeth said. "They love you."

"You didn't hear what the hands were saying yesterday." Jack said. "Then Nathan beating my time. I don't want to embarrass anyone, especially myself."

"Jack." Nathan said. "I beat you by half a second. I got lucky. You had better runs today. I am sorry you heard what the hands were saying. They should know better and should have kept their mouths shut. Is that why you were in your head before?"

"I guess." Jack said.

"It doesn't matter what they said." Elizabeth said. "Tune them out or take what they said and use it as motivation to do better."

"It is not that easy." Jack said.

"I know." Elizabeth said. "I have been told since I was thirteen years old that the only thing I would ever be good at was being a wife to a rich husband and that there was no real need for women to go to school since they were just going to marry money. My family has been pushing sons of rich business associates or friends since I was twelve or thirteen. My father even said one time that he would be successful if he was able to marry off all of his daughters to young men he could leave his business to since he was unlucky enough to never have a son."

Both Jack and Nathan looked at Elizabeth.

"Every time that my family told me that." Elizabeth said. "I used it as motivation to do more. To study harder and get a better grade. I could have let that destroy me. Instead, I used it to graduate top of my class and get into my first choice for school. That is why I am determined to go to school and do well. I want to show my family that I am better then what they said about me."

Jack stepped forward and wrapped Elizabeth in his arms.

"I am sorry you family treated you that way." Jack said. "I guess I should be thankful that my family loves me no matter what."

"Yes you should." Elizabeth said. "Now, enough of this. Let's go see some pretty horses."

Nathan chuckled. Elizabeth turned and walked between the two of them the rest of the way to the stable. As they walked to the stable, Jack thought about what Elizabeth has said. He realized that he was very lucky when it came to his family. Granted they pushed him to do things and wanted certain things, but he also knew that they would love him no matter what happened or he hoped that they would. Jack realized that they had never told him that he couldn't do anything, but gave him every opportunity to do what he wanted with in reason. Jack also realized that what he had just learned was another reason that Elizabeth wanted to take it slow. She wanted to prove herself to her family and not just marry money. Jack felt bad for Elizabeth for the way that her family treated her.

In that moment, he made up his mind that he would do whatever he could to help her no matter what their relationship would be. Jack also liked the feeling of hugging Elizabeth and he only stepped back because his body had started to react. Even as they walked, he had a hard time keeping his body calm because occasionally his hand would brush Elizabeth's hand. What Jack didn't realize that was Elizabeth was also struggling with feelings when their fingers would brush. Elizabeth wanted nothing more then to take Jack's hand, stop him and kiss until they were breathless. She didn't even care that Nathan was right there.

James, Charlotte and Tommy headed to the arena. James decided that they could walk over to the arena and not take a side by side. He knew it would take a little more time, but he wasn't going to make things easy for Tommy. When they got to the arena, Charlotte headed to the office and James took Tommy over to one of the tack rooms. Along the way, James grabbed one of the older hands who basically ran things around the stables.

"Ed." James said. "This is Tommy. I want you to show him how to clean the tack. He is do all the saddles, bridles, halters and harnesses. Please make sure he has what he needs."

"Yes, Sir." Ed said. "Is he just doing the large tack room?"

"No." James said. "He will do all three. If anyone else has some free time, they are to help him. I also want someone checking his work. Make sure he understands exactly what needs to be done with each piece."

"I was going to get Carlo going on tack this afternoon." Ed said. "They can do it together. There is a lot to do here. Marco wanted him to learn about cleaning the tack since Carlo's father does some of the leather work."

"Don't forget any tack that is down at the other stable." James said. "I knew that about Carlo's father and am hoping to convince him to move back here. I mean I know that he likes the Ithaca area, but we miss him here."

"I won't." Ed said. "Good luck with that. I know that Marco would like his sister and brother-in-law closer."

"Good." James said.

James turned to Tommy.

"You are to listen to Ed and do what he tells you." James said. "I don't want any attitude from you or I will know about it. Also don't think about cutting corners. I will know. If you can't be trusted to do what is expected, I can find many other things for you to do. Don't think I wouldn't have you mucking out a couple hundred stalls. Am I clear?"

"Yes, Sir." Tommy mumbled.

"Ed." James said. "He is all yours. He will be here until all the tack is done. Marco and/or Andy will be inspecting pieces. I expect them to pass."

"Thank you." Ed said. "I will make sure things are done right."

With that James left Tommy and headed to the office.

"Let's go kid." Ed said. "Lots to do, no time to stand around."

Tommy followed Ed over to a corner of the tack room. Ed showed him where the cleaning supplies were and gave him the list of instructions on cleaning. He showed him how to pull a few pieces apart.

"Start with the halters and bridles." Ed said. "Make sure you don't get that saddle soap on the bits or metal, we will clean the metal separately once the leather is done. When you are done with each piece, you can place them in this box. I would suggest you don't get things tangled or I will have you undoing your mess. I will be back in an hour. Carlo will be around before that."

"Yes, Sir." Tommy mumbled.

Tommy sat down and looked over what he was suppose to do and let out a harsh breath. He still didn't think that it was fair that he was having to do a stable hand's job. Ed walked out of the tack room shaking his head. He knew that it was going to be a long week. He wondered how much complaining that Tommy was going to do. Cleaning tack was a long, tiring job and they had a lot of it that needed to get done. Not only was there the leather that needed to be cleaning, but the metal buckles and snaps also needed to be cleaned. Each piece needed to be inspected for wear and tear and repaired where possible or set aside to be used as spare pieces to repair other pieces. Ed was glad that the tack was getting going to get done, but he also wondered just how much of it was going to have to be redone. He was glad that James was having the boy help, but Ed wondered if it was really going to work. He kept his thoughts and opinions to himself. He would do what his boss wanted and if it wasn't working out, then he would say something.

Twenty minutes after Tommy started, Carlo came bounding into the room. Tommy took one look at him and glared. Carlo shook it off because he knew it was his boss' grandson, but he also knew that he was going to say something to his uncle later.

"So how far have you gotten?" Carlo asked.

"I finished those." Tommy said pointing to the two harnesses that he had finished.

"Okay." Carlo said. "I will start on the some other pieces."

Tommy shook his head and continued to work on the harness he had in his hand. Carlo grabbed a saddle and started with a stiff brush. He made sure it was cleaned and then he went about rubbing in the saddle soap. Carlo finished the entire saddle by the time that Tommy finished just two more harnesses.

"You know if you actually worked a little faster." Carlo said. "We will get done with this sometime this week."

"I don't care." Tommy huffed. "I don't want to do this, I don't want to be here so just leave me alone and do your job."

"Sorry." Carlo said.

The two continued to work, but Carlo wasn't going to give up on trying to get Tommy out of his bad mood. After an hour, Ed came back to check on the boys. He was impressed with the amount that Carlo had gotten done.

"Good job, Carlo." Ed said. "Go take your break."

Tommy threw down his rag and stood up.

"I didn't say that you could go." Ed said.

"But." Tommy said. "Why does he get a break?"

"Because he has done over twice the work that you have." Ed said. "Now I suggest that you pick up the pace or you will be here all summer cleaning tack. There are over one hundred harnesses left and twice that many bridles and halters."

Tommy huffed, but sat back down. He glared at Ed as he left the room again. Ed decided that he would go talk to James about Tommy's attitude. But before he did that, Ed went and checked with Carlo. Carlo let him know that Tommy was acting like a brat the entire time.

"After your break." Ed said. "I want you to go down to the other stable and check out the tack there. I know that some of it has been cleaned. Make a list of what needs to be done and then load up all the tack that needs to be cleaned, so it can be brought up here. Please leave any tack that JP and his friends are using or will be needing. That will be cleaned later."

"I will." Carlo said.

Ed left Carlo to have his break and go have a word with his boss.