Chapter 236 – Uncle Jack
Lee had settled with his and Jack's laptops. First thing that Lee did was make sure that everyone was registered for the three shows after their show. He checked the registration for the Sugar Creek show. He printed off the list of competitors. He knew it printed off in the office, but he would grab it later. He wanted it more to check who was riding. Once those things were done, he started going over everything for the Coal Creek show. He knew that they pretty much had everything done, but he wanted to make sure that he hadn't missed something.
While Frank worked on the paperwork that Peter had given him, Elizabeth went over things for the wedding and what she wanted to talk to Jack about. She had her dress ordered. She had a couple of choices for the ladies dresses as well as a few for Opal. She also looked at some décor, but she wanted Jack's input. She knew that she could make all the decisions, but she wanted Jack to feel like it was their wedding and not her wedding that he was just showing up for. She also knew that they needed to pick out readings, but she knew that Jack would better know about that. She felt that once they had made some decisions, they could sit down and go over things with Father Mark. Elizabeth was also going to make sure that Jack was planning a honeymoon, even if it was a short one before school started.
Frank looked at the stack of paperwork that Peter gave him. He started reading it, and realized that Peter and John had thought of everything. There was the release so they could speak to the Veterans Administration on his behalf. As well as talk to the banks and help him get everything transferred. There was also some paperwork to complete the employment stuff that they needed to file. He saw what his salary was going to be and he had to stop.
"Frank, is everything okay?" Gran asked.
"Yeah." Frank said. "I need to talk to John. I think he made a mistake on the employment paperwork he gave me to fill out."
"John doesn't make mistakes like that." Lee said.
"This is way more money than Jack and I talked about." Frank said. "It has to be a mistake."
"No." Gran said. "I would agree with Lee. John doesn't make those kinds of mistakes. He obviously felt that the job was worth more."
"Wow." Frank said.
He sat back and looked at the paperwork.
"I can't accept this." Frank said. "It is too much."
"And from what I hear." Trish said. "It is a big job and sounds like it will also be pretty demanding. John and Jack pay their people well, especially those that are loyal to them. You have been a big help here this last week, so I am sure that John took that into consideration. I will give you a piece of advice, it would be an insult to not accept it. If you don't take it in the form of a salary, they will find another way to compensate you."
"Then I will sign this." Frank said. "But I still think it is too much."
"Well, then." Gran said. "Maybe take the difference and find a way to do some good with it. Didn't JP say that you mentored a few boys in the city."
"Yes." Frank said. "I mentored a few boys from church who didn't have a dad in the home."
"There you go." Gran said. "I am sure you will know what to do with the extra money."
Frank finished the paperwork. He sat back and was still amazed at the amount of money, but he did have an idea of what he could do. Finally, he picked up the paperwork.
"Elizabeth." Frank said. "I am going to run these to John and Peter. Then we can look at things online."
"Will you please pick up the list of competitors I printed?" Lee said.
"I can do that." Frank said.
"I will be ready when you get back." Elizabeth said.
Frank took the paperwork to the office. Lee went back to what he was doing on the laptop. Elizabeth finished reading the article that she was looking at. Gran and Trish each went back to what they were doing on their Ipads.
Jack got to the sand ring and saw they had the poles laid out in a fun pattern with a few one foot poles. They were doing a game like Nathan and Jack had done before, but with four riders. Jack stood and watched a moment before heading into the stable to change. The moment Jack stepped into the stable, he saw Tommy.
"Hey." Jack said, stopping near Tommy and Nicholas. "How are you doing?"
Tommy glared at Jack.
"Like you care." Tommy snapped.
"Hey, I wasn't the one who did this to you." Jack said. "I am just trying to be nice."
"You don't know how to be nice." Tommy huffed. "You just use people."
"Okay." Jack said. "I see you are still angry. But getting pissy with me is going to get you anywhere. I was the one person who was willing to give you a chance to change and show us you were different "
Before Tommy could say anything else, Opal rushed in.
"Uncle Jack!" Opal cried. "Uncle Jack."
Jack took a step away from Tommy and towards Opal. He knelt down to Opal's level.
"What are you so excited about?" Jack asked.
"Mama said she would talk to Mr James about me starting riding lessons next week." Opal said, bouncing up and down.
"Well that is exciting." Jack said. "Now where are you supposed to be? Remember what we said about not running off."
"Mama is in the office." Opal said. "She said I could be in the stable or watching out at the sand ring."
"Okay." Jack said. "I need to go change and then I am going to ride Bandit. You are welcome to come watch."
"I will get his saddle." Opal said. "He is already in the round pen."
"Thank you." Jack said. "I will be out in a minute. If you wait for me, I will let you give Bandit a treat."
"Okay." Opal said.
Opal took off toward the tack room. Jack stood up.
"Who was that?" Tommy asked.
"The daughter of a new employee." Jack said. "Sorry, I need to change."
Jack walked away before Tommy could start to interrogate him about why Opal was calling him 'Uncle'. He had tried to be nice to Tommy, but it appeared he had learned very little in the past week or so.
Gran looked up when Father Mark didn't leave with Jack.
"Was there something that you needed?" Gran asked.
"You were talking about the schedule." Father Mark said. "I am going to need some serious time with Jack this week. He is not dealing with emotions again. He is trying to push them away, but failing. I could use your support in dealing with him."
"How bad?" Gran asked.
"He ran ten miles on the treadmill last night." Father Mark said. "After crying on the floor for almost an hour."
"Oh boy." Gran said. "I will have a word with him later."
Father Mark and Gran had been talking quietly. Elizabeth looked over.
"Is everything alright?" Elizabeth asked.
Father Mark looked at Gran and shrugged his shoulders. She closed her eyes and thought for a moment.
"JP is struggling with everything that has happened." Gran said. "He is still not good about sharing things or dealing with his feelings so it is overwhelming. The best thing to do is carry on. Try talking to him, but don't push. If he refuses to talk about something. Make a note, but drop it for a bit."
"Oh okay." Elizabeth said.
"I will speak to him." Gran said. "Father Mark will also do what he can to help. The biggest thing will be trying not to add more to his plate. Talk about the wedding stuff together, but if he absolutely won't make a decision. Then choose what you want."
"Okay." Elizabeth said.
"It will be okay." Father Mark said. "Between yesterday and just now, I have a pretty good handle on what is going on and how to help. It is just going to take time."
"I will trust you." Elizabeth said. "Let me know if there is anything you want me to do."
"I will." Father Mark said.
Jack quickly changed and when he came out, Opal, wasn't there. He checked the tack room and looked outside, but didn't see her. He went to the office and found her sitting in the corner and there were tears in her eyes.
"What happened?" Jack asked. "Are you hurt?"
"She is fine." Katie M said. "She is just upset she can't be with the horses."
"Who told her that?" Jack asked.
"Some guy." Katie said. "He said it was his family's ranch and children weren't allowed to run around without a parent."
Jack let out a harsh breath.
"Katie." Jack said. "Please look at me. Opal, come here please."
Jack waited until Opal came over and Katie was looking at him. He took his hands and dried Opal's tears.
"I am only going to say this once, so please listen." Jack said. "This is my ranch and I make the rules around here. Opal as long as your mother knows where you are, you can watch us with the horses. You are free to help Carlos if that is what you want. I will deal with Tommy. Are we clear?"
"Yes." Katie said.
"Opal?" Jack asked.
"Yes, thank you." Opal said.
"Good." Jack said. "Now are you still wanting to help me with Bandit?"
"Yes, please." Opal said.
"Then let's go." Jack said.
Opal and Jack walked out of the office and toward the tack room. They got what they needed for Bandit. When they were heading outside, Jack saw Tommy. Opal hid behind Jack's leg.
"You take that out to the round pen and I will be out in a minute." Jack said.
Opal nodded and hurried out the door. Jack stocked over to Tommy, grabbed him by the front of his shirt and roughly pushed him against the wall.
"This is MYranch." Jack said. "You don't get to make the rules around here, I do! I find out you made Opal or any other child cry again and this last week will look like a vacation compared to what your life will be like."
Jack dropped Tommy to the floor and stocked off. When he got to the door, he took a moment and took a deep breath. He then went to help Opal. He let her give Bandit a mint while he was saddling him. He then lifted Opal up to the saddle and gave her a short ride over to the sand ring. Father Mark had joined them by this time. Father Mark could see the storm brewing in Jack's eyes. So when he lifted Opal down, Father Mark looked at Jack.
"Deep breaths." Father Mark said. "Or you are not riding. I see the emotions swirling in your eyes."
Jack immediately looked down. He went to mount, but Father Mark grabbed his arm.
"I mean it." Father Mark said. "Don't make me involve Marco or Grandpa."
Jack let out a harsh breath, but walked away for a moment. Father Mark went back to sitting on the rail with Opal.
"Is he okay?" Opal asked.
"Yes." Father Mark said. "He just needs to center himself. If you are too excited or angry and you try to ride, the horse will pick up on it and you could get hurt. So when you are riding, you need to stay calm. Do you understand?"
"I think so." Opal said. "If I fidget and can't sit still like in the car then that will affect the horse."
"That is exactly what I mean." Father Mark said. "So you just had your first lesson about horses and riding. Stay calm. The other part of that is not yelling or being loud."
"Got it." Opal said. "Still and inside voices."
"Very good." Father Mark said. "Now let's watch."
Father Mark and Opal sat and watched while Jack joined Nathan, Doug and the twins in going through the pattern and over the low poles. When Jack looked over and saw Marco, he motioned to Doug.
"Marco is here early." Doug said. "I have an idea. Maddie, Missy follow me."
They followed Doug over to the railings. Jack and Nathan followed slightly behind them.
"How are you doing girls?" Marco asked.
"Not bad." Maddie said. "We already have a great bond with Rocky and Rainbow. I mean I get why we are riding, but …."
"What if I said we are doing something different." Marco interrupted.
Maddie and Missy looked at each other then at Doug and finally back at Jack.
"Unsaddle Rocky and Rainbow." Marco said. "Then get a drink and we should be ready for you."
"Okay." Missy said with a hint of hesitation.
They did what they were told. They unsaddled their horses and went to get a drink. While they were doing that Nathan and Jack brought over Bubbles and Squeak. They put one in each round pen. Doug had gone to get the other saddles for the other two as well as lunge lines. When the girls came out and saw Bubbles and Squeak in the round pens, they stopped and just stared.
"Is there a problem?" Jack asked.
"You mean …." Maddie started.
"Yes." Jack said. "If you connect with these two horses, you will be riding them from now on. If you feel ready, you will be riding them next week at our show. Otherwise you will ride Rocky and Rainbow and then ride these two in Schenectady. Sounds like a plan."
"Yes." Missy said.
Both girls rushed forward and hugged Jack.
"Okay." Jack said. "There is work to do. I want you to join up with the horses. Eventually, you will both be riding both, but let's see if either has a preference who they like right now. I want to see you join up, but I have to go over to the track."
"I will tape it." Doug said.
"Thank you." Jack said.
The girls both went and stood between the round pens. They both called to Bubbles, but he went to Missy. Maddie turned around and called Squeak and he immediately came over to her. They went into their respective round pens and began working the horses on lunge lines. They were going to drive the horses around the inside edge of the pen until the horse showed signs of giving in. Their inner ear will turn toward you. They will chew on their lips, slow down and hang their head. When the girls saw those signs, they would stop and turn away from the horse. If successful, the horse would come to you. You would then reward the horse with pets, praise and probably a treat.
As much as Jack wanted to stay and watch the girls join up, he knew that he needed to go deal with Midnight's Run. It was his horse and he wasn't going to ask someone else to do something he wouldn't. He knew that some people weren't happy that he was willing to risk injury to ride a horse but he honestly felt that Midnight wasn't going to hurt him.
"Girls." Jack said. "I will see you at lunch. Have fun. The saddle guy will be out later today, so if you have a preference in stitching color, please leave a note on the office door."
"Thank you, Uncle Jack." The girls said together.
"You are welcome." Jack said. "I will be back later."
"I will be going with Jack." Father Mark said. "But I will watch the video later."
"Can I come with?" Opal asked.
"Not this time." Jack said. "How about you sit here and watch Maddie and Missy."
"Okay." Opal said.
"I got her." Nathan said.
Jack gave Opal a high five and then headed back to the stable. He needed his helmet and flak jacket. Once he had those, he and Father Mark took one of the side by sides over toward the track.