Trail Ride

 Three days later and still Kate hadn't phoned me. Playing hard to get I presume. Well two can play at that game. I'll just give her a little more time. Today, Tuesday, I had a new horse coming, a Palomino name of Drifter. It's former owner, Dale Winters couldn't do a thing with it and was glad to unload it on to me for just $300. Seems cheap I know, but I am sure I could sort the gelding out without too much trouble. You just have to be patient....and I was a patient guy....think I may have mentioned that to you. Dale and I had made the deal on the day of my opening day. He turned up to look the place over. Much better than going for dog meat he had remarked. That reminds me....where was Life ? 

 Johnny was forking out some hay to replenish the hay racks in the stables and Life was lying down plum tuckered out. "She's been playing with a stray dog." Johnny said when he saw I was a little concerned.

 "Well as long as she don't invite the critter to stay, I have enough mouths to feed." I Joked.

 "Oh don't forget to get the horses ready for me Johnny, I have three customers coming at half ten. They want an hour trail ride so i've arranged to loan one of Joe's horses for the day. I'll take them round that route we did a dummy run on and in case of problems...i'll take my cellphone with me." Besides I was thinking that Kate might phone.

 "Right you are mister McCormack, I'll see to it straight away." Johnny got the horses ready for me.

 Joe came riding one of his horses while leading the other one, a sorrel with an almost white face and white stockings. Strange looking beast. From a distance you could mistake him for a cow, hey, who was I to be too picky.  "Make sure you keep him away from snakes," grinned Joe, "His names Prince and won't give you any trouble."

Joe's horse, Prince

 Other than snakes I said under my breath, let's hope we don't come across any. Hope he was joking all the same, "Thanks Joe."

 My three clients were on time. "Hi, Paul,

Paul, Barry and Malcolm

Barry and Malcolm. "We shook hands and I explained a few simple rules for them to follow on our ride. They were here on a short break with their wives, but they refused to join in and would rather go shopping. I gave Prince to the more experienced guy to ride, while I rode Lady. We headed out down the drive and followed a dirt trail to the west, that's left of here, before we hit the road. Bill and Hillarys place could be seen just about across that road, so we didn't have to pass it. Heading into Deadwood Valley, hope we don't meet any snakes, we jumped over a few of the fallen dead trees, except for Barry who was on Flint. He just went round them. We passed by a trail on the left that led down to the river that flowed further up from my place. We turned right crossed a dirt trail and turned left and galloped up the hill, passed trees, bushes, ferns and tall dried grass. Another one hundred metres ahead was a clearing, what them with cars and vans used when out fishing or just taking the dogs a walk. But we went through a gap in the hedge to the right and galloped across a sloping piece of grassland for a few minutes. Suddenly a dog came dashing out chasing a rabbit. Barry wobbled a bit but managed to stay on. I can't repeat the words he used....something like 'Oh stupid dog'....but stronger language. On a large pond with ducks a swimming, were a bunch of guys a fishing.

We passed them. "Single file across this wooden bridge and slow as we don't want the horses to slip." I led the way. Once all across, we loped down a small valley, we could of just easily run up the middle. Instead we circled around to the right and up and round the hill heading left, then back down towards the pond and down the middle back across the bridge.

 Paul looked over to me,"Wonder if they've caught any fish ?" And nodding to his two pals added,"Will have to try it out next see if the women will come ?" 

 We retraced our route and got back safely. The cellphone didn't go off in my saddle bag.

 "Can you fit a beach ride in for us, early evening ?"

 "Sure....and if you can ride bareback, we'll take the horses for a swim as it's a hot day."Barry looked nervous, "Don't worry, you needn't go too far into the water if you don't want to."

 "Great," said Paul "so we'll come back at six p.m. then." The friends nodded and payed upfront.

  "Any messages for me Johnny ?"

 "Yup, just one." 

 My eyes lit up. I bet Kate had rung the farm's number up enquiring after me. I looked at the notation Johnny Denver had made. No....it was somebody named Sofia Martin, and something I couldn't decipher. Was she after English Riding lessons or did she want to give me one ?

 Guess i'll give Kate a little more time....just waiting for Drifter to arrive....wont be long now.