Love Means Courage - Andrew Grey

looked around the barn, inhaling deeply. It did smell nice, all clean and fresh. Well, as fresh as a barn can be.
    “I’m caught up here. Do you guys need some help?” Fred spoke up. “God, do we. With the extra fields from the Henderson place, we’ve got a week to get everything planted, and we were talking yesterday, wondering if you’d be willing to help with the field preparation and planting. The tractor will be going from dawn to dusk unless it rains.”
    “If you’ll show me how to drive it, I’ll be glad to help.” Both Fred and Randy smiled with relief as Fred pulled out a sheet of paper. “This is the plan, and we need to get all this done in ten days.” Fred took some time to explain things to Len while Randy got the tractor out of the shed, filled the tank, started the engine, and took off on the drive. “He’s going to get started, and after lunch, we’ll show you what needs to be done and how to operate the tractor.” Fred folded up the plan and handed it to Len. “I figured you’d be the best one to keep track of our progress.” Fred walked toward his truck. “I’ll be out in the south pastures fixing fences if you need me.”
    Fred waved and climbed into the truck, and as he drove away, Len couldn’t help looking toward the house. The windows were 95 Love Means Courage
    open, and he could see movement and hear Geoff making “broom, broom” sounds as he played with his trucks. He took a step toward the back door and stopped himself. He couldn’t force Cliff to accept him, and he’d be damned if he’d try. Turning on his heel, he marched back into the barn and started feeding and watering the horses still in their stalls.
    LEN spent much of the next two days busy as hell. He worked in the barn in the mornings and spent most of the afternoon in the seat of the tractor, disking and planting. Acre after acre passed under his seat, and he didn’t get out until the sun was down. He kept track of every field planted or disked on the sheet of paper Fred had given him. The light was fading fast, and he turned around to check on the planter. Everything appeared fine as he made the final pass around the outside of the field. At the last second he turned off the planter and exited the field as a low rumble sounded in the distance. “Good timing,” he said to himself as he hightailed it back toward the farm.
    The field he’d been planting was one of the farthest from the farmhouse.
The rain was just starting as he pulled the tractor into the shed.
    With the planter on the back, it was too long to fit, but the guys were already back at the farm, so the four of them covered the planter with a huge tarp and tied it down with bungee cords. Fred and Randy ran for the house while Len walked into the barn and opened the pasture doors, guiding the horses into their stalls and shutting the doors. As he was bringing in the last horse, the sky opened up, and the raindrops beat hard on the barn roof. “It’s okay, guys. I’ve got fresh hay and treats.” A few of the horses were restless, but Len’s voice seemed to soothe them. He placed hay in all the mangers and gave each horse a carrot, patting noses and talking to them. Once 96
    Andrew Grey

    each one was fed, watered, and settled, he made sure all the doors were closed and turned out the lights. Standing in the doorway, he watched the lightning as it lit the eastern sky and the now gentle rain fell.

    “Hey, Len.”

    He looked in the direction of the house and saw Cliff standing in the doorway. Cliff waved Len over, and Len sighed, closed the barn door, and jogged toward the house.

    “Come inside before you get soaked.” Cliff held the door, and Len jogged up the steps and into the back mudroom, where he took off his wet shoes and hung up his dripping coat.

    He couldn’t look at Cliff and felt very self-conscious, that is, until he heard little feet running across the floor. “Wen!” Geoff’s little body bounded against him, little arms hugging his legs.

    “Hi, Geoffy.”

    Those big eyes looked up at him, and Geoff began talking really fast. Len couldn’t make out a single word, but the excitement came through just fine.
    “We’re in the living room.” Cliff walked through the kitchen, and Len picked Geoff up, getting a big hug as he carried him into the other room. “Have a seat, Len.” Cliff handed him a mug, and Len sat on the sofa, with Geoff jumping up next to him. “How’s the planting coming?” Cliff looked