Chapter 3

Year 1, Spring 4, Friday

I forgot to get the alarm clock yesterday. Damn, damn, damn. I woke up pretty late and pulled on my clothes and hat and munched down some more rice balls. I rummaged through my pockets for some of the seeds I bought yesterday, grabbed a hoe and a watering can from the box and set outside. Then came back inside, put the hoe and watering can away, took out a hammer and an axe and went outside again.

I realized just how bad the condition of the field was. Rocks, weeds, even tree stumps everywhere. Grandpa must have neglected the field in the time before his death. This would take a while. I worked for hours, wiping my sweat with a handkerchief and carrying wood away to be stored. At noontime I stopped, put my tools away and surveyed the field. Better… but still terrible. It would take at least 2 or 3 more days to clear it completely. Exhausted, I grabbed my hoe and watering can anyway, and tilled a neat square near the house, spreading the seeds out and watering them.

I guess that's what the next few days on the farm will be like, but I'll seriously need to socialize if I want to keep my sanity. There were still a few people I hadn't met, namely the ranch and the vineyard. I decided to go check out the vineyard first. I walked up the hill and through the fenced area to a small gateway, but I stopped. I heard shouting up ahead. One sounded like an older man, and was deep and rough. The other sounded like a girl, and both voices were furious. A moment later, a beautiful girl came storming out of the house beyond the gateway. She wore a sleeveless white shirt and a purple vest, with denim shorts, and brown hiking shoes. She had brown hair that was a beautiful golden blonde at the front, and dazzling green eyes. She was crying, and shouting as furiously as the other man, who had followed her outside. I guess the man was Gotz, who the mayor had talked about yesterday, and I guessed the girl was Karen. Gotz, if that was his name, could be summed up in two words; big and hairy. He had a scraggy beard and wild hair that covered most of his face, and wore a white shirt and jeans with boots. He looked none too clean and none too healthy, with thick arms and a protruding belly. Karen was screaming as she strode away from her father, and towards me.

"Gosh! What a terrible father!" Her voice was bitter and angry, though I could detect a hint of sorrow in it. "You should let me have my way!" She ran off, out of the vineyard, ignoring me.

The fat man followed after her, but stopped at the gate, screaming at the top of his lungs after her.

"What? Don't be so selfish Karen! What an undutiful daughter!"

The man also ignored me, and turned back towards the house, slamming the door on his way in.

Yeah, maybe it wasn't a good time for me to go sightseeing.

I checked out the ranch, instead. It wasn't quiet, and that's the way I like it; it's one of the few things I liked about the city. I like noise, but this was a different kind of noise. A cow mooing here, a bird chirping there… I'd like some animals on my farm, someday, too. Maybe someday.

I couldn't see anyone, and got the feeling I was trespassing a little bit, but I walked in anyway. There was a field of grass off to the right, and I walked over to where a couple of the animals were. One in particular stood out; a dark brown stallion, with a coat the color of walnuts. It was a nice horse… Though I know next to nothing about horses. I mean, it looked nice. I rubbed its neck and patted it on the head.

"Cliff is hard to please. Do you like horses?"

I turned and saw what had to be the most attractive girl in the village, hands down. She had bright orange hair (I love red hair) that was tied back in a ribbon and braided in small, white ribbons. She wore a yellow t-shirt and slightly muddy, blue denim overall. She was about 5 foot 9, an inch or two shorter than me. The girl's voice was like water trickling over rocks. Her head was cocked to the side and she had a bright grin on her face. But most important of all were her eyes. Those cerulean eyes like sapphires that glistened with intelligence. Plus, she was a redhead. Did I mention that I love red hair? It took me a moment to conjure up an answer.

"Y-yeah."

Smooooth.

She giggled a bit.

"Oh, you do? You seem like a nice guy. I'm guessing you're the guy who's on the farm now, right?"

She came over and looked me over a bit. I felt awkward. She put her hands on her knees and examined for a second, then stood up straight with her hands on her hips.

"Say, I need to ask you something… Are you listening?" She laughed. I liked the sound. "Wait here a moment." She walked over to the barn and came out with another guy; he wore typical rancher's clothes, a dirty tan shirt and pants with a lot of pockets, and a blue Yuma cap. He had orange hair just like the girl, so I guessed he was her brother.

He looked at me for a few seconds.

"No."

Ouch. The girl turned around, a little annoyed.

"Hey! Brother!" (Well, that confirmed it.) She turned back to me. "I'm sorry. My brother's a social disaster. Truth is, we want you to enter in the Local Horse race… We'll give you Cliff's brother." I guessed Cliff was the horse I was petting. The girl called for her dad and talked to him for a minute. The father wore a nice buttoned shirt and a brown vest; he had red hair, just like everyone else in his family, and a mustache. He looked refined, but a little gruff, and he scowled a bit. The father turned to me.

"Do you think you can do it? If you can be responsible and giving, you can take the pony."

Decision time. I knew next to nothing about horses. I didn't know what exactly I'd feed him. I didn't know how to ride horses, and I wasn't even sure I wanted to. I felt awkward just taking a horse form someone I had just met. I looked at the girl.

"Yes."

The father smiled a little bit and told me he'd take the pony over to my farm. Can I call it a ranch now? Sounds cooler. Anyway, the girl turned back to me and beamed.

"Thanks!" she said. "Do your best and win the next race. Oh, yes, and give him a name too."

I thought for a moment and look at those two eyes thoughtfully.

"Sapphire?" Apparently, she liked it.

"Sapphire, huh? That's a good name." Her face mellowed a bit, and she had a caring, but still friendly look. "…Please take good care of him. If you treat him with love, he'll grow up to be strong. Do your best. I'll drop by sometimes."

I decided it was time to talk a bit.

"I'd like that." I grinned. "My name's Jack, and it's great to meet you."

"Mine's Ann. My family runs the ranch here. If you have any questions about animal raising, ask my Dad, he knows all about them."

I grinned. It'd be great to have some animals, and I'll probably talk to Ann's dad about that… But I'll probably be talking to Ann more.

Oh, I got an alarm clock today, too. So I'll finally be able to wake up on time.