Love Means Courage - Andrew Grey

and went to his bedroom, climbing into bed. He was asleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow.
    THE alarm went off at the usual time, but this morning, Len felt incredibly energized. He’d slept well and had wonderful dreams; ones he hoped would come true soon. Pulling back the curtains, he peered out the window and saw that the sun was just about to peek over the cloudless horizon. Letting the curtain fall, he turned and got dressed.
    Twenty minutes, cleaned up, lunch packed, and a cup of coffee later, he was on his way to the farm, singing along with Culture Club on the radio. Pulling into the drive, he parked and headed right to the barn. The entire place was very unsettled. Horses were shifting and stomping around their stalls, and one of them was kicking the stall door. “That’s enough, Haven. Calm down.” Len approached him, talking the entire time, trying to calm him. The horse stopped kicking, and Len peered into the stall, seeing one of 106
    Andrew Grey
    the barn cats lying lifeless against the far wall. At least that explained the nervousness in the barn. “Shhh, it’s okay, boy. We’ll get you outside.” Len expertly slipped on Haven’s halter and slowly went to the back of the stall and opened the door. Carefully, he led the nervous horse toward the pasture door and outside.
    “What’s all the excitement?”
“Hey, Nicole.” He peered out of the stall. “Take a look for yourself.”
She peered in the stall and tsked. “Poor thing. Must have gotten kicked.”
    “Yeah, no wonder they’re upset.” Len got a shovel and picked up the dead cat along with any of the bloodstained bedding and carried it outside. He dug a hole in an out-of-the-way place and buried everything before returning. The barn had definitely quieted now that the scent of blood was no longer in the air.
    Nicole had already started to put some of the horses outside. “I have a group lesson in a couple of hours, so these can stay inside.” She indicated four of the horses. Len nodded and finished letting the other horses out.

    The other guys arrived, and they met out front in the sunshine with Fred wandering around the side of the barn and then returning. “We should be able to get in the fields this afternoon. The ground seems pretty firm yet. Just need to give it a few hours to dry off.” Before they could continue, the back door of the house opened; Len saw Cliff step out and help Geoff down the steps.

    Geoff took off at a run as soon as his feet hit the ground, arms and legs going as fast as they could. “Wen!” When he got close, he launched himself into Len’s arms, laughing to beat the band.
    “Hey, Geoffy.” Fred raised his hand and Geoff gave him five, 107
Love Means Courage
followed by Randy.
The smiles lasted until Cliff joined the group. “Randy, get the tractor started and those last fields planted. Fred, check on the cattle. Len,” Cliff paused as he looked around, “I’m sure there are stalls to clean.”
    Well, what the fuck? “Cliff, Fred was just saying that we should wait until this afternoon to make sure the fields are dry enough. Don’t need the tractor getting stuck.” The glare he got was unmistakable, but Len ignored it and continued. “Randy and Fred have plenty to do until then, and I have stalls to clean and work to do on the ring before Nicole’s class.” Len tried to keep his voice level and nonconfrontational, particularly since he was still holding Geoff.
    Cliff glared at Len, and Len returned it. “What have you got planned for today, Boss?” Fred asked, trying to break the tension, and Len turned his gaze to him, breaking the visual stalemate.

    “I’m gonna try and figure out how to keep paying the bills.” The “your salaries” part of those bills was definitely implied but not said. Fred coughed and turned away, and both he and Randy headed off to work.

    Len put Geoff down, and Cliff took his hand and led him back toward the house with the little guy peering over his shoulder, a look of confusion on his little face. When everyone was gone, Len took a deep breath and let it out before going to work.
    Over the next few hours, he raked the riding ring to level the surface and cleaned a few stalls, being sure to sanitize the one with the dead cat. Nicole stopped by as he was finishing up, and he asked her if she’d be willing to give him a few refresher riding lessons. “I learned to ride, but I haven’t in a few years, and I’d like to exercise the