Woke up with a hangover or a very bad cold ! I didn't want to get out of bed, but duty calls. For the first time in ages I had to be responsible as animals no matter how big or small relied on me....besides Life had pulled the duvet off the bed and was dragging it all around the bedroom. I groaned. It was coming back to me now, like a thick mist, lifting, gradually. Chuck, Bill, Joe and I had met up in town at 'The Maverick' for a drink ....or two. Jim McCloud and his wife Maggie had come in later and we had all been discussing the pro's and con's of....well it must of been important at the time.
Sabrina had come in at some time too and had shrieked with laughter at some of my antics. I remember saying to her, "You'd be amazed by the list of my talents". I don't know how I got home. I must of passed out and someone took pity on me. Serves you right I hear you say. A long cold shower was what I needed now. Brrr ! That was, um refreshing. Life came into the house barking and turning round. I think she wanted me to follow her. I laughed at her, she reminded me of the other canine, Lassie !
"Okay Life, show me then" I signaled with my hands.
Outside the back door, I sensed we were not alone ! My eyes were drawn to the barn on my left where the horses were stabled. Who's that over there ? Life growled low and followed close behind me as I went to confront this stranger.
"Oh hi mister McCormack I really appreciate you giving me this job yer know."
"Sorry, I uh....can you remind me when I gave you the job ?" I frowned trying to recall events and focus my mind on the night before.
"Don't say you cant remember, but you were a bit worse for....um....drink."
I scratched my head. "You'll have to refresh my memory."
"Okay mister McCormack"....And he reeled off different events.
Seemed that he, Johnny Denver, had been asking around after work. When I offered him a job of a hired hand he gratefully accepted, and he clearly understood that he was to start to work the very next day, although it being a Sunday. He was a bit long in the tooth another five years or so till retirement age. As I knew that I would be needing help we sat down on the bench and worked out how many hours I would be needing him for. At the moment I offered him three days between eight a.m. and three p.m. with an half an hour for lunch break. He gave me the impression of being able to do all that I had asked of him. I watched him brushing Flint.
"I've lived round these parts all my life mister McCormack." he said between eating his sandwiches he had brought with him, casually tossing a few crusts to Life. She....wolfed 'em up....of course."Really ! Perhaps you can help me with a small trail ride I plan to include only I would be glad of your input." I described the valley just down the road to the east.
"That will be Dead Wood Valley," nodded Johnny, "You have to watch out for red diamond-backed rattlesnakes at certain times of the year."
"That's the sort of information I need. How far could I get there and back in say, um, one hour on horse back, or one hour and a half ?"
"Well I have a map I could bring and show you later on after work sir."
"That would be great, but what would you say if we were to meet up in town and i'll buy you a meal and a coffee, nothing fancy, and we can talk it over ? My treat as I would welcome your local knowledge."
"Fine mister McCormack. Let's meet at seven thirty p.m. at the Stroppy Mare Diner, that would be fine for me unless..."
"No, no, that's fine by me too."
Johnny Denver carried on with his list of jobs. I had wrote them down at his insistence, so as he knew what was expected of him that day. And that was how we would carry on. I wrote down a list and he would tick them off with a pencil. ' Better that way '....he would say, 'I know where I'm at then '. Made sense.
Johnny finished work at three p.m. and left in his battered truck.
I would be seeing him later....
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