Into the Fire

Ten o’clock finally rolled around, and Hutch walked into Mick Webster’s barn with his tools. Nelson had four head for him to shoe, and instead of having the grooms hold them, Nelson held every one of them.
“So, Nelson,” Hutch began as he shaped a foot, “you know a place a guy could rent? Don’t much like stayin’ in the motel plus it’s too expensive.”
“As a matter of fact, there’s a duplex right next to my place that has a vacancy. And if I’m not mistaken, an elderly man lives in the other half of it so you probably wouldn’t have to deal with a lot of noise and visitors. It’s not a new place by any means, but I’ve been inside the units, and they’ve got a decent floor plan. The landlord is the hands-on type, and when I looked at them they were really clean. I almost rented one of them, but I had a roommate at the time, so we went for the two bedroom house instead. For some reason, I couldn’t give up the space when she moved out of state. Must be because of all those years livin’ in tack rooms. I lease my house year round. It’s only a couple miles from here. Quiet neighborhood. There’re only five houses left in the area. Mostly tilt up warehouses goin’ up around there now or office buildings. I’ve got the guy’s number at home. If you want, drop by the house when you’re done and we’ll give him a call. I’d ask you to stay with me—and you certainly can till you find a place—but I’ve gotten kind of used to the solitude, no offense.”
“None taken. I’m afraid I’d be lousy company anyway. Besides I rented my motel room for a week, but I’ll set up a time with ya so I can take a look at the place. Man, that would take a load off, ya know?”
“Yeah, I do. Comin’ into a strange town trying to work and make a friend or two.
That’s why I stayed in tack rooms so much in the early years I think. Just didn’t want to deal with trying to find a place. Then once you live in a place like when you’re married, man, you just don’t want to go back to that tack room.”
“That’s a fact.”

For some reason conversation came easy for these two men. Nelson had a reputation of not saying much to anyone unless it pertained to specifics with the horses, so his grooms were a little surprised that he was holding their horses to be shod in the first place and then to hear him talking and sharing racetrack stories with this new horseshoer—nothing short of unusual to them.
Hutch wrapped it up at Mick’s barn, made his plans to meet Nelson later that afternoon after chores, and then went on to Brady York’s barn arriving about 20 minutes sooner than he thought he would. As he sat in his truck recording his billing information about the horses he’d just shod, Michael Lawrence walked up to his truck and introduced himself.
“Brian Meriwether said to look you up—I’m in the same boat as Brady. He and I used the same shoer. I don’t know what you said to Brian, but you certainly impressed him, and, believe me when I say Brian hasn’t had much good to say about any of his fellow shoers,” Michael explained with a smile and a little trace of bewilderment.
Hutch laughed. “Yeah, I guess we kinda hit it off a bit. Well, sure thing. Did you need me today? I’ve got six head I think here at Brady’s.”
“No, not today, but I sure could use you tomorrow at around 10:30 if that’s possible.”
“Yeah, I can do that. How many you got?”
“I’ll just have two tomorrow. My wife and I do most all of it ourselves. Just a small stable. If we could maybe catch two a day, that would be good for us.”
“Yeah. I’ll fit you in. Tomorrow at 10:30 then?” he confirmed as he wrote it in his book.
“Thanks. Really appreciate it.”
“Good, then.” Hutch got out of his truck and went to the back to get his tools. “Business as usual,” he said to himself with some satisfaction.

(For His Glory; sequel to Hope Of Glory)