The rain had turned the grass green and filled the ponds and creeks. The cattle and horses were enjoying the fresh green grass and the mild weather. Bird songs filled the air along with the scent of new wildflowers. The mild weather brought Hagi outside most of the day and night. He found that it was nice to relax under a tree with a good book or ride through the ranch and help herd the cattle. The air seemed more peaceful and the multitudes of wildflowers in every imaginable shade served as a reminder of the end of the cold winter. Spring had arrived and with it came a new idea.
Dan never spoke much. He was a small man with brown hair streaked with grey. He was only in his late 30's, though. He had tough hands and he was surprisingly strong. Everyone knew he was really a farmer. He didn't do well with cattle or horses, but he loved to grow plants for the ranch.
He approached Marva with an idea. There was 10 acres of land that bordered the north end of the ranch. It had two rolling hills the creek ran between. The old man that had owned it had grown cotton on it two years ago, but had been too ill to plant on it for the past two years. Dan commented that the land really wasn't the best place for cotton, but it would make an excellent vineyard.
Marva scrunched her nose, "Grapes? Why would you want to grow a vineyard?" Marva was always adamant that this was a ranch- tough and rugged. They all had enough work without adding additional burdens to the already taxing load. Besides, the idea seemed out of place to her- too close to the idea of opening up some kind of fancy bed and breakfast.
"Well, M-ma'am," he stammered, "it is the p- perfect place for grapes. I come f-from a family of wine makers. I thought it would be in-interesting to see if I could try my hand at it."
After days of persistence, Marva eventually gave in. Dan was very set on the idea and it gave her an idea as well. Hagi always seemed out of place working with the cattle and horses, they seemed to be scared of him anyway, and he needed to learn a useful skill to earn his own way in the world. She intended to convince him to tell Saya the truth about how he felt. If he was to continue to live after the war, he'd have to make a living in some kind of way. Winemaking seemed like something that would suit the quiet, elegant man well.
She got a very good deal on the land since the old man was desperate to get rid of it. She told Dan to teach Hagi how to work the land and make wine. Hagi didn't really seem too close to the other ranch hands and she hoped he'd like Dan more, since they both were quiet and mysterious. Her plan was working.
Hagi found Dan to be a very patient teacher. They worked together, side by side. Dan explained that Hagi needed to learn some basic Spanish, since most of the seasonal workers that they'd need to hire during harvest time would be migrant workers that didn't speak much English. He was completely shocked when the quiet young man began speaking in fluent Spanish. He asked where Hagi learned to speak Spanish, but was never given an answer.
They cleared the land and planted the field with grapes that were a hybrid of native grapes and a black French grape. He explained that the native grapes were immune to the bugs and infections that are from the area, but the French grapes are what gave it the beautiful, sweet flavor.
The other hands came to help build the winery. Dan was meticulous with his plans for the layout of the building. It was situated about a third of a mile from the main ranch house, just before the vineyard. The work was hard and hot as summer creeped up on them. Even when all the others were too hot to work, Hagi continued to nail boards together, even as sweat stung his eyes and as it dripped from his brow.
It was early in July when they finished the building. When they did, they all gathered around a cooler full of ice cold beer Dan had bought to share in the celebration. Hagi took one, as did the others, and they drank to the success of the new business venture.
Jim commented, "You know, Pretty Boy, you really busted your ass building this place."
Clay added, "Yeah, just give the boy something to do and he puts everything into it."
Hagi wasn't sure what they were up to when Bubba gave Jim a nod and they each pulled a fresh beer out of the cooler. Clay and Ray laughed at the joke Hagi clearly didn't get as he raised an eyebrow when Ray grabbed one and Clay followed suit, even though the cans they had were still pretty full. It wasn't until he caught a glimpse of them shaking the cans that he caught on to what was happening. They had him backed to the wall as they popped the tabs and sprayed him with ice cold beer.
They all laughed together and were surprised when the quiet, expressionless young man did the same. He was drenched and laughing as Marva came walking up to the celebration. She laughed as she caught the strong smell of beer covering a very wet Hagi. "I see you're finally fitting in," she commented.
"It looks that way," he responded. "I think I will need to go for a swim before I go into the house."
She cupped his drenched shoulder and responded with a chuckle, "It sure looks that way.
"Hey, we'll all go," Dan suggested with a wink to Ray and Bubba, who were standing next to him. The three squeezed into the front of the Jeep as Clay, Jim, and Hagi arranged themselves in the back.
When they arrived at the south pasture, everyone piled out. Before Hagi could even get his shirt off, six arms grabbed him and lifted him off the ground. He couldn't help but laugh as he allowed them to dominate him and throw him into the pond. He figured he had to get the beer off somehow. He stripped down to his shorts and threw the soaked clothes at Jim, who was still standing at the Jeep.
"This was your idea," he accused the older man.
Jim just chuckled as he caught the clothing and tossed it in the back of the Jeep. He watched as Marva came up with a set of dry clothes for her son. He smiled and commented lowly, "You sure do look after him like he really is your own flesh and blood."
She looked at Hagi, who was now being gang splashed by Dan, Ray, and Clay. She laughed as Bubba came to his aid and they went underwater and overturned all but Clay, who was taking long strokes to the other side of the pond. She commented, "Flesh and blood is not what makes a family, Jim. It's love that binds us together. Jeff and I were there for him and he was there for us when we needed him. It doesn't matter to me that he's not my blood- heck, he doesn't even look like me or Jeff, but he's still our son."
A few of the plants had actually put on some grapes, but Dan explained that the first year grapes wouldn't be very good since they were planted late. He thought about letting the grapes just rot, but Hagi suggested harvesting a few, so they could test a recipe. They could give it a practice run.
Hagi slipped out of the house early. It was mid August and there was an excitement in the air. He decided to visit an old friend. It was only 7 am, but it was already getting hot. He felt beads of sweat forming on his forehead under his hat as he headed for the stables.
As he came in, he heard the soft nicker of a certain red horse. A red head appeared over the stall door and gave a low greeting. "Hello, old friend," Hagi spoke softly as he scratched the side of the horse's neck. The horse pressed his nose to Hagi's shirt pocket, knowing the treat was there.
Hagi pulled out a fresh carrot with a smile. He had noticed the horse was particularly fond of them. The horse made short work of the carrot as Hagi began brushing his fiery coat. He had watched Bubba do this with the other horses and decided it might be nice to do that for this horse, since no one else seemed to be able to get near him. He combed out the mane and tail. It was nearly 9 am when he finished and noticed the horse seemed to glow like fire. He stepped out, closed the stall door, and began putting the supplies back when the stable door opened.
Bubba had fed and watered the horses at 6 am, as usual, but he knew the day would be hotter, so he decided to make sure they had plenty of water. He figured he'd let them graze in the south pasture today. It had more trees for them to keep cool. He was filling the water bucket when he noticed Hagi putting the brush on the shelf. "Hey, Pretty Boy," he called out, "what are you doing?"
Hagi turned and began to walk toward the door as he responded, "I was just looking around."
The fiery stallion poked his head over the stall door and let out soft nicker.
Bubba noticed the red stallion was glowing from the thorough cleaning and attention he'd received. "Well, I'll be damned," Bubba said as he wiped the sweat from his forehead, "you're the one that's been caring for that horse."
Hagi continued his hasty exit when he felt Bubba grab his arm, holding him back from the exit.
"Do you know it's been almost a year, and I still can't get that horse tamed? I can't even get a saddle on him!" Bubba informed him.
Hagi looked at the ground. "Maybe he is just lonely," Hagi suggested.
Bubba had watched Hagi from a distance and recognized the lonely heartache in the young man's eyes. He often thought about how he might be able to get the boy to open up. "I guess you have more in common with that horse than I do. Tell you what- why don't you come up here about 7 or so in the morning and I'll teach you how to break him. Do you know how to ride?"
"I used to a long time ago," Hagi answered. He remembered learning to ride at the Zoo. He enjoyed riding, especially when Joel sent him into nearby towns for various items. He enjoyed the freedom of seeing the world from the back of a horse. Saya never rode, though. The horses were afraid of her. He had found that when he received her blood, they were afraid of him, too. Secretly, he had always felt sad at the idea of never riding a horse again.
"Well," he commented, "it's not something you forget. You just need to be reminded. You busy today?"
"No, Dan and I have finished arranging the winery and the grapes will not be ready for a month," Hagi explained.
"I'll put the horses to pasture and we'll see just how close you two are," he commented as he prepared to let the horses out.
When Hagi returned, Bubba had let the horse into the practice arena. The stallion was prancing around nervously and snorting. Hagi stepped onto the bottom fence rail and threw his leg over. He sat on the fence and called to the horse with a sharp whistle and a gentle, "Hey." The horse perked his ears and turned to him.
Bubba caught his breath as he came out of the stable. He thought he was about to witness a terrible event. The green kid was about to get himself kicked or worse. Bubba was already searching for a way to explain to Marva how her boy was injured when the horse stood still before Pretty Boy expectantly.
The horse recognized the scent of his friend and walked up to him and softly nickered as Hagi scratched the horse's neck. The horse pressed his nose to Hagi's shirt pocket, knowing his friend never came empty handed- err, pocket.
Bubba chuckled, "Now I'll never hear the end of this! Looks like Ray was right."
He watched as Hagi produced a carrot from his shirt pocket. "But who'd of ever thought that the rider was Pretty Boy."
Bubba showed Hagi how to saddle the horse. He had to calm the horse several times before he actually allowed the saddle on his back, buckling it down was another matter! The horse nipped at Hagi's hands and tried pushing him away. After hours of trying, they were frustrated and sweaty.
Bubba sighed, "Well, you've done more in a few hours than I've been able to do with this horse in a whole year. Let's let him go to the south pasture with the others to cool off."
Hagi wiped his forehead with his bandaged hand, "That sounds like a good idea." He wondered if this heat would ever let up.
"Hey, you lead him there and I'll get the guys- they're out branding the one year old cows," Bubba suggested
"For what?" Hagi asked. He wondered what they were going to all do at the south pasture in this heat.
"The big pond, Pretty Boy," he smiled. "We could all use some r and r."
Hagi lead the horse to the south pasture and released the lead rope. He watched the horse head to the edge of the large pond that was shaded by a stand of small trees that offered a small amount of shade.
The big pond was a beautiful place. It was nearly the size of a small lake. The waters were usually so calm that it looked like a giant mirror in the laid down in the middle of a rolling green pasture. The pond had a few stands of trees surrounding it that thrived on its cool, clear water. He liked to watch Bubba and Jim catch catfish there.
Hagi relaxed under a tree, wiping the sweat from his forehead again and then the back of his neck. The shade offered some relief from the heat, but it still was so hot. He drank from the bottle of water he had gotten from the cooler in the back of the jeep before Bubba took off in it. As a chevalier, he didn't need to eat or drink, but the cold water felt good going down his throat. He capped the bottle and pressed it against the back of his neck as he debated pouring the icy liquid in his hair just to find some relief in this miserable heat.
The jeep pulled up and Jim, Ray, Clay, and Dan jumped out yanking off their sweaty shirts and kicking off their shoes. Hagi watched the men stripping down, realizing they were about to go for a swim. He now debated whether he should do the same.
"You coming, Pretty Boy?" Bubba asked. "Just strip down to your shorts and jump in." He took his shirt off as well. When the dark haired man made no move to do the same, he reassured, "Don't be shy, we're all guys here."
Hagi would have normally passed on the idea, but the heat was just too much. He got up and began removing his clothes and boots. He thought of folding them, but it was just too hot. He laid them over the back of the jeep, keeping them in their own stack so they wouldn't get mixed up and jumped into the pond. The water was almost clear since it hadn't rained in a while.
He stayed under the water's surface for a short time, enjoying the way the cool water encompassed his entire body. When he surfaced, the men were splashing each other and joking. Clay pushed Ray under the water and was suddenly thrown over when Ray decided to push back.
Hagi didn't want to hassle. He wanted to enjoy the cool water, so he swam to the middle of the pond and dove down. He loved how the water cooled and relaxed him. He swam underwater to the other side of the pond. Catfish darted away from him as he swam. He surfaced and felt a gentle breeze brush his face. He could almost hear Saya's voice calling him, "Hagi." He could see her red-brown eyes staring into his as her hand brushed a stray lock of hair from his face. He whispered, "I love you," as she closed her eyes in sleep. Tears came from the corners of his eyes. He had been so close to telling her that time.
"Pretty Boy, you okay?" Bubba asked. He had swum up to him and noticed the he was crying.
Hagi wiped his eyes and answered, "I am fine."
Bubba sighed, "Us guys always say we're fine when our hearts are being busted to pieces. You don't need to tell me about it. I know the pain all too well." They watched the guys splashing around on the other side of the pond. "I know you don't want to talk about it. You don't have to say anything."
Hagi watched the sun touch the horizon and thought it was time he visited Saya again.
"C'mon guys," Jim shouted, "supper time!"
Hagi pushed forward with clean even strokes as he made his way to the other side of the pond. Bubba shook his head as he headed for the other side of the pond as well.
Marva sat on the back porch after dinner was over. Hagi placed the last dish in the dishwasher and headed to the porch to join her. She turned to him as he dried his hands.
"I hear you had an eventful day," she stated. "Bubba told me about the horse."
"He is teaching me how to tame the stallion," Hagi replied.
"The stallion that couldn't be tamed," she sighed. "You truly are remarkable."
"No, I am not," Hagi commented as he looked at the stars. "The horse is just lonely and I was giving him apples and carrots."
She laughed, "So that's where my produce went."
Hagi laughed, too.
"It's good to see you laugh, Hagi."
"I have not felt like laughing in a while. To tell the truth, I am thinking more and more about the promise."
She knew what he meant, but felt it best to just let him talk.
"I cannot wait for her to wake up, but a part of me dreads it. The closer she gets to killing Diva and ending this war, the closer she gets to her ultimate goal." Tears glazed his eyes, but none fell. "I want to go see her again."
"I'll get you a plane ticket," she said.
"Thank you, Marva," he said. "Thank you for everything."
"There's no need to thank me," she responded.