Love Means Courage - Andrew Grey

the barn quit.” Fred smiled a huge smile that wasn’t completely pleasant. “He 42 Andrew Grey
    didn’t quit; we run him off, the lazy, good-for-nothing loafer.” Len wondered if he needed to be worried. “You got more work done in here in a day that he did in a week.” Now the smile changed and became much more genuine.

    “Well, I’m almost done here. The tack’s nearly organized, and the stalls are cleaned. I just got to get some hay down from the loft and make sure the horses are set for the night, and I’ll be ready to call it a day.”

    “I’ll help you get the hay down. We need to make sure the oldest is used first.”

    Len nodded and smiled before turning around and finishing up the tack room. When he was done, the room was swept, organized, and clean. Closing the door behind him, he saw Fred watering the horses.
    “Thought I’d help. You ready to get the hay?” Fred led him upstairs, and Len whistled as he saw the nearly full loft. “We used to have a lot more horses, but when Cliff’s dad died and with that ass Holder running the barn, most of the boarders left.” He shook his head and led Len around to the back of the barn where the back quarter of the loft was empty. “This is the oldest, not that it’s that old, but we need to use it first.” He raised a trap door in the loft, and they started throwing down bales.
    “What’s going on here? I haven’t seen Cliff all day.” Fred shook his head and shrugged before grabbing another bale and dropping it through the hole. “Wish I knew. None of us does. We’re all doing the best we can.”
    “What time does everyone get here in the morning?”
“Most of us are here at seven, but we need to be quiet because of Geoff.”
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Love Means Courage
    Somehow Len doubted that was really the reason. He’d noticed all the beer cans in the kitchen trash, and he knew the circles under Cliff’s eyes weren’t only from lack of sleep, but he didn’t say anything to Fred.
    “Sundays are a quick day, feed the horses, and take care of anything pressing. We try to leave at noon.”
“Hey, Fred!” A new voice called from outside the barn.
“In here, Randy!”
    A huge, barrel-shaped man lumbered into the barn. “Hey.” He stopped when he saw Len, but it was the clean barn smell that really got him. “You the guy replacing Holder?” Len nodded and actually heard Randy inhale.
    “Damn, I love the smell of a clean barn.” The big man held out his hand, “Randy Marsh.”
“Len Parker.” They shook hands, Randy’s paw dwarfing Len’s as he gripped it.
“You do all this today?” Len smiled and nodded, liking that he’d made a good impression. “You’ll do just fine.”
“Does anyone else work here, or is it just the two… I mean three of us?”
“It’s just us.” Randy squinted like he was trying to remember something. “I’ve seen you around here before.”
“I knew Ruby. She and I were….” He swallowed. “…close friends, had been since high school.” As a group they all nodded slowly. Randy tilted his head in the direction of the house. “He ain’t 44
Andrew Grey
been the same since she passed.”
    “I knew Cliff in school, and he’s nothing like he was then.” Len almost said more but stopped himself. They didn’t need to be gossiping about their boss, even if they all seemed to feel for him.
    “So how do things work around here?”
They two men looked at each other before Fred answered.
    “When Carter was alive, we’d meet every morning and discuss what needed to be done. He’d hand out assignments, and we’d get to work, but lately we’ve been on our own, so we just get to work.”

    “Do you mind if we get together tomorrow morning?” Len looked around the barn. “Taking care of things in here isn’t a full-time job, and I can help with other things if you’re willing to work with me.”
    Both men looked at each other and eventually nodded. “We won’t say no to the help,” Randy said as he turned and left the barn with Fred right behind him. “We’ll see you at seven tomorrow.” Len got back to work, filling the mangers with fresh hay and greeting each horse with a stroke on the nose as their heads appeared. “Would you guys like some treats?” Majestic heads bobbed as though they understood what he was saying. “I’ll bring you some carrots tomorrow.” After a final check of the barn, he closed the door and walked across the hayfield that passed for a yard.
    Approaching the house,