Chapter 48 – Katie and Opal

Everyone found a seat. After a quick prayer, they helped themselves. Jack and Nathan split the leftover pizza. Charlotte, Elizabeth and Tommy each had some of the noodle casserole with the fresh garlic bread that Gran had made. James took the left over pot roast. Gran had some left over hamburger as well as pulled pork. Everyone has some of the veggies and fruit that had been set on the table.

"So Nathan." James said. "Where did you learn so much about horses?"

"Our neighbor's son had horses." Nathan said. "My sister and I spent a lot of time out at their ranch. I worked out there to help earn extra money. I picked up a lot of things by being around the ranch so much. Other things I read because I was curious. I have always been an avid reader and wanted to know the how and why of things."

As they finished their meals, Nathan sat back and was looking around the table. He was glad to have been welcomed and included. He knew that he still had a job to do, but there was a part of him that hoped that he would still be able to come up here after this particular job was done. He was really missing the family time. He may not have had the greatest experiences growing up, but there were always people around and times around the table were always enjoyable. The years that Nathan had been on his own he didn't realize how much he missed the family dinner table.

"James." Nathan said.

"Yes." James said.

"I want to let you know that I ordered a couple of books for you." Nathan said. "They will help you get going on natural remedies for the horses."

"You didn't have to do that." James said. "I could have ordered the books if you would have given me the titles."

"It is okay." Nathan said. "They are coming from Amazon. I had them shipped here. They should be here in a few days."

"Thank you." James said. "At least let me pay you back for them."

"That is not necessary." Nathan said.

"Nathan." James said.

"Sir." Nathan said.

They stared at each other, neither backing down.

"Dad." Charlotte said. "It is fine."

James looked at her and nodded. Nathan didn't miss the exchange, but felt that he had lost and was over ruled some how.

"Sir." Nathan said. "If you are finished, I would like to talk to you about something in private."

"Let's have a drink in the library and talk." James said.

Jack looked at Nathan, who just gave him a slight nod in return. Jack nodded his head, but didn't say anything. They all watched Nathan and James head off to the library.

"Let's finish up here." Gran said. "Tommy, please start clearing the table. Dishes in the dishwasher. What doesn't fit you can start washing."

Tommy didn't say anything, but glared at Jack.

"JP." Gran said. "There is laundry downstairs that needs to be brought up. Please see to that."

"Yes, ma'am." Jack said getting up.

"Elizabeth, dear." Gran said. "Can you help me get a couple of casseroles ready to put in the fridge for breakfast."

"Of course." Elizabeth said.

"Charlotte." Gran said. "Please try to get hold of your husband and see when he is coming. Then you are more then welcome to join us in the kitchen."

Charlotte nodded before headed up to her room to change for the evening. Gran and Elizabeth worked on putting food way, before starting on the casseroles for breakfast.

James and Nathan walked to the library where Nathan poured them each some brandy. James indicated for Nathan to sit down. James took a seat across from him.

"So what is on you mind son?" James asked.

"If you are serious about moving to a more natural way." Nathan said. "I think I might know someone that could help you."

"I assume that there is a catch since you wanted to talk in private." James said.

"Yes, Sir." Nathan said. "Understand, I haven't talked to her. But I know that she would be more then willing to move and start over somewhere."

"What is the catch?" James asked.

"She would need somewhere to live for herself and five year old daughter." Nathan said.

"Tell me about her." James said.

"She grew up in Appalachian mountains." Nathan said. "She left home at sixteen because of circumstances …."

Nathan closed his eyes and rubbed his brow fighting the memories and how much to share. Nathan continued to rub his brow as he took a couple of deep breaths.

"So she left home." James said. "I take something bad happened."

"Yes." Nathan said. "She was able to get a job after she left. The people she worked for realized she had an amazing knowledge of plants and their uses. They helped her finish high school and get into Penn State. She earned a botany degree from there. She graduated last year. Due to her past and the circumstances … she has had trouble finding steady work. The people that had previously helped her have turned on her."

"Do mind sharing what happened?" James asked.

"I don't know how much I can tell you." Nathan said. "It is not that I don't want to tell you, but I also don't want to betray a confidence."

"So can you tell me why the people turned on her?" James asked.

"They learned that she had a child out of wedlock." Nathan said. "It was a deeply religious family who had helped her. When they took her in, they didn't know that she had left a child in the care of others while she tried to make a better life. They felt that she wasn't the type of person that they wanted around their children and that she had lied to them."

"How did she get the child back?" James asked. "I am not being nosy, I am just trying to get a better grasp on the situation."

"Okay." Nathan said. "When she left her home area, she was six months pregnant. Her immediate family had kicked her out because she was pregnant and wouldn't listen to her when she tired to explain what happened. She went to stay with some other relatives who were a little more understanding. She had the baby and left her in the care of the family she had been staying. As she was looking for work, she was introduced to this family. They took her in to be nanny for their children. The entire time, she was in contact with her family who had her daughter. The family she was staying with thought the child was a cousin or something. Long story short, she was able to finish high school and got into Penn State. She finished the botany degree in three years. With her degree, she was hoping to get a job. She went back to her relatives and took her daughter back. When the family found out about her daughter, they refused to help her any more. They even went as far as bad mouthing her, so she has had a hard time finding any work."

"So how did you come to meet this young woman?" James asked.

"Through a mutual friend." Nathan said. "Her and her daughter are currently down near Lancaster, Pennsylvania."

"How did she end up there?" James asked.

"My friend and I found her a job." Nathan said. "She is just not happy there. She is sort of using her degree and she can have her daughter with her, but she would rather be somewhere where she doesn't draw looks."

"What about the child's father?" James asked.

Nathan eyes darkened slightly and a cloud passed over his face. Nathan quickly shook it off, but not before James noticed.

"He is not a problem." Nathan said.

"Okay." James said. "So what is she currently doing?"

"She is working for an Amish family." Nathan said. "Part of the reason that she would be willing to start over. To them she is a widow with a child, but still draws looks. Normally in their culture, a widow with children would be married off to an appropriate husband after an acceptable mourning period of no more then one year."

"Why do they think that she is a widow of that is not the case?" James asked.

"My friend knows the Amish culture." Nathan said. "He knew telling the full truth would make her an outcast. Given that the baby's father is most likely dead, he went with the widow story."

"I see." James said. "I am not even going to ask about the last part of that statement because I think the less you say the better."

Nathan gave him a look of understanding.

"Thank you." Nathan said. "Normally, I don't condone lying, but my friend and I were both trying to protect this girl and her daughter. We are not happy with her family or his family and the way that they have reacted. His family blames her and wants the child. The courts have found no reason to remove the child from her mother so long as she is working and has a place to live. Since the biological father has yet to come forward to stake a claim on the child, it was another strike against his family."

"So are you going to tell me her name?" James asked.

"Her name is Katherine." Nathan said. "She goes by Katie. Her daughter is named Opal and she is the sweetest little thing that there is. Katie knows how to ride and loves horses. I am sure that Opal would love to be around the horses and learn to ride."

"So what do you think she could do around here?" James asked.

"Well." Nathan said. "Most of the plants and herbs that you could use, could be grown here. Katie could do that. I saw the foundations for a few greenhouses. She could also set up the herbs to be given to the horses. If you did it right, she could also consult with other farms on nutritional needs for their animals. You need to understand Katie has knowledge that has been passed down in the mountains for generations. She has a better understanding of plants and their uses then most of the professors she had at Penn State. Up where she grew up, they had been using natural remedies for years, generations since there was no real medical care for human or animal. She has taught me a lot and she had so much more to teach me."

"So you really think that we could do this?" James asked.

"It might not be easy." Nathan said. "But I have seen that in the long run horses are better when they aren't filled with unnecessary drugs. There is a place for drugs and vaccines, in the care of horses. But horses have survived for hundreds of years in the wild without drugs. The mares would lead the herd to graze in places where they would be able to get the plants that they needed."

"I need to think about things." James said. "I have read of places that have tired what you are talking about, but is sounds expensive."

"It can be, especially the initial investment to get everything set up." Nathan said. "It usually takes a few years to see the return on the investment. Kind of like breeding race horses. I promise you that if you do try, it will be worth it. There are schools of thought that this might be the way of the future with a lot of high performance horses. It hasn't been done on a large scale as of yet, because many of the owners and trainers … forgive me, are older. They would rather go with what works and is fastest so they can get the horses back on the track or in competition as soon as possible. Sometimes the natural way takes a little longer, but it is also better for the horses."

"You are not wrong there." James said.

Nathan finished his drink and stood up.

"One last thing." Nathan said. "If you are not convinced, check out a Cree horse whisper up in Alberta, Canada. He has had a lot of success working with horses and the balance of body, mind and spirit. Including many natural treatments."

"I will." James said. "I think I am going to sit here for a bit."

Nathan nodded and took his empty glass with him.