Love Means Courage - Andrew Grey

he saw the back door open. A tiny foot lowered itself onto the step, and then a small body slipped around the door. He called the toddler’s name, not wanting him to fall. “Geoff.”
“Wen….” Geoff pointed to the barn. “Hos, hos.” He turned around and then lowered himself down the next step and onto the 45 Love Means Courage
    ground before running through the tall grass toward the barn as fast as his legs would carry him. “Hos, hos.” Len scooped the youngster into his arms. “You want to go see the horses?” Geoff’s little head nodded violently. Len looked back at the quiet house and wondered again what was going on but decided it couldn’t hurt to let Geoff see the horses. “Who dressed you, little man?” Geoff was still wearing his pajama bottoms, but he’d pulled off the top and was just wearing his undershirt and a pair of blue socks with no shoes.
    “Me.” He seemed so proud of himself.

    “Okay, let’s go see the horses.” He bounced the little boy in his arms, giggles, squeals, and laughs accompanying them as they walked to the barn. Len opened the barn door, and large heads appeared, looking at their visitors.

    “Hos, hos.” Geoff’s little hand pointed at the nearest head.

    “Let’s go see Misty; she’s really nice.” She’d appeared to be the most docile when he’d moved her to clean her stall. Len lifted Geoff, holding him where Misty could see him. His little hand stroked her nose.
    “Nice hos, nice hos,” Geoff chanted in his small voice, as he stroked Misty’s long nose.
“Geoff!” He heard Cliff’s voice carry into the barn, sounding a little panicked. “Geoff, where are you?”
“We’re in here, Cliff. He’s fine.” Heavy footsteps came up behind them as he held Geoff so he could stroke the horse.
“Hos, daddy, hos.” The delight in Geoff’s voice rang through the barn. “Hos, hos, hos.”
Len looked over at Cliff and saw the worry and panic begin to 46
Andrew Grey
fade. Cliff stepped close, and Len handed Geoff over to his father. “I found him climbing out the back door heading toward the barn.”
    “Thank you.” Len nodded slightly and watched as Geoff leaned toward Misty, trying to reach her again. “We should go back inside and get you ready for dinner.”
    Cliff began to walk out of the barn. “Hos, daddy, hoooosssss.”
“I know; you can see them again tomorrow.” A glint of happiness crossed Cliff’s face as he talked to Geoff.
“Pwomise?” Cliff’s response died away as they left the barn.
    Len patted Misty on the nose and left the barn as well, closing the door behind him and heading to his car. He opened the door and collapsed into the seat. “Fuck, I’m tired.” He started the car and pulled out of the drive, heading for home. The drive home was almost automatic, and he pulled into the yard and half stumbled into the house.
    “I take it you got the job?”

    “Yeah, I got it all right.” He collapsed into one of the kitchen chairs, resting his head on the table. “Barn looked like it hadn’t been touched in weeks. The entire place looks sort of neglected.”

    “Doesn’t he have enough help?” Len’s mom stood at the stove, making dinner.

    “Don’t know, Mom. But I didn’t see him all day. Just stayed in his house.” Len didn’t mention the things he suspected. “I met the guys. They seem nice enough, and they’re concerned about him too.” He let his voice trail off.

    “Do you want to help him?” She began dishing up plates, and he pushed himself up and got the silverware and glasses, forcing his cramping legs to move.
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Love Means Courage
“I don’t know what I can do.”
“Do a good job, and be a friend when he needs one, even if he doesn’t realize he needs it.”
“How’d you get to be so smart?” She put his plate in front of him, and he looked up at her. “Can we really afford steak?”
    “It was on sale, and besides, you’re going to need your strength.” That was a definite. He cut into his meat and raised the fork to his mouth. As soon as that first bite hit his tongue, his ravenous hunger took over, and he wolfed down his meal.

    “Thanks, Mom. That was delicious.” He put his plate in the sink and sat back down to keep her company while she finished eating. “Go get cleaned up and rest. Do you work tomorrow?” He made a quick mental note to call Janelle and let her know he got the job. “Only till noon or so.” He lifted himself off the chair and dragged himself into the