Into the Fire

TUESDAY

Hutch got to the kitchen early, bought a paper and a large cup of coffee. He introduced himself to Karen Brewster and asked her if any of the other shoers came into the kitchen early. She was forthcoming and helpful and offered to send them Hutch’s way when they came in. He took a small table by the window.
“You’re here early, Dick,” Karen said cheerfully.
“Yeah, honeymoon’s over I guess,” he laughed. “Got to start getting with it. Only a little over a month before the opener, you know.”
“It’ll be here before you know it. Quite a few new faces this year. Just met a new shoer from back east a minute ago.” She gestured with her eyes.
Dick glanced over at the table and saw the tall, sandy haired, moustached man seated at the table looking over the paper.
“Lots of new grooms, too. And a couple new gallop boys, and one new girl.”
“Wonder what this year’ll bring, huh?”
“After last year, who knows?”
“Yeah, that’s for sure. See ya later, Karen.”
“Have a great morning, Dick.”
“Hey, Dick,” Brian Meriwether greeted Dick as he left the kitchen.
“Brian, how’s it goin’?” Dick shook the calloused meaty hand of the stocky horseshoer.
“Got all I can handle, and that’s a good place for me.”
“That makes two of us,” Dick replied, smiling as he started across the gap to his office.
“Hey, Karen. How’s my pretty lil’ darlin’ this mornin’?” Brian teased as he filled a cup with coffee.
Karen giggled at his greeting. “Your usual, Brian?”
“The only thing that would make it better is if you were servin’ it to me in bed.” He winked and started to walk away.
“Oh, Brian, there’s a new shoer sittin’ over there who’d really like to get acquainted with the local guys. I told him I’d send you over. Is that okay?”
“Honey, I don’t believe you could ever do anything wrong.” Brian headed over to Hutch’s table and introduced himself.
“Grady Hutchinson. Call me ‘Hutch’.”
“So, you steppin’ onto our turf?” Brian smiled a crafty smile over his coffee as he took a sip of the steaming beverage.
Hutch smiled a little self-consciously. “Yeah, guess I am. Hope to be a gentleman about it, though.”
“You kiddin’? We don’t even know the meanin’ of the word!” and a robust laugh followed his declaration. “You drink?”
“Alcohol? Not anymore. Got myself in too many jams when I was drinkin’.”
“Oh? So you’re the serious type, huh? All work and no play?”
“Well, Brian, my play turned into too much work if you get my drift.”
Brian laughed again. “Sad thing is I do get your drift. I had to give it up, too, but not without a fight. I want you to know that.”
This time Hutch laughed. “Yeah, from the looks of you, I bet you never gave anything up without a fight, and I bet you never lost a one of them either.”
“Hey, I like you now. Imagine that. A likeable horseshoer.”
“Just tell me the barns you’re workin’ so I don’t go there, and if you could, I’d like to know where to buy supplies.”
Karen brought Brian’s ham and eggs personally. “Here you go, Brian.”
“Ain’t she just the prettiest, sweetest thing? Too bad she’s already married. If I’d a seen ya first, Karen,” he called after her.
Hutch and Brian conversed as Brian consumed his breakfast splattering catsup and Tabasco sauce on everything.
“So you got Brady’s barn? Good barn. I had to turn him down. I’ve got more than I can handle as it is. Hated to do it, too. Brady’s a good guy—good pay. He don’t ever get behind. Same with Mick. Watch out for Bob, though. He’s not gonna be happy to see you in the barn. He’ll try to run you off even though he can’t keep up with a 30 horse barn. He’s got a ton of work at home which is east of the mountains for him, and he commutes to do Mick’s. Then when Mick has an emergency, he has to hustle one of us to fix things for him, and then Bob gets all hacked off about it. Thing is he’s a greedy you know what. It’s not about professional pride or anything like that—it’s about the ol’ almighty dollar to him. Anyway, consider yourself warned. If I were you, I’d ask Nelson to schedule you on the days Bob’s gone.”
“Thanks for the heads up.”
“Truth is around here there’s plenty of work to go ‘round. It’s just that most of us are the greedy types. We got a few up and comers who like the fancy trucks and big expensive toys. Like to fool around with the broads and make ‘em think they’re rich or somethin’. Things are changin’. Doesn’t seem to be about shoein’ horses anymore. Seems to be about how many can I catch before lunch and then before the races so I can get on over to the front side and hustle me a broad for the night. Thing is the up and coming trainers are the same way—don’t know if a horse is shod right or wrong to begin with. Ahh well, such is life, I guess,” Brian concluded as he pushed his plate away.
“I appreciate you sittin’ down with me, Brian. You married?”
“Was once.”
“Yeah, me, too,” Hutch said dejectedly.
“Sounds like a fresh wound.”
“Yeah, pretty much. That’s why I came out here.”
“Hmm. Well, we’ll have to go out and have some dinner one of these nights, I guess. Can’t cry in our beers, but I’m sure we can find somethin’ to cry in,” Brian said standing.
Hutch stood and shook his hand. “Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it. See ya around.”

(For His Glory continued; sequel to Hope Of Glory)