“Yeah, it’s a hard day’s work out here,” Mike said. He didn’t seem to be in a hurry now that they’d finally gotten everything done. Austin longed for a shower and some food, but he mimicked Mike’s stance and leaned on the rail. If the guy wanted to talk a minute, he guessed he could do likewise.
“Thanks for arranging the meals. I’ll do better next time.”
“Nah, it’s my job to arrange all that. As we grow, I’ll start lookin’ for a regular cook, but until then, the place in town caters the meals. Mrs. Kelly likes to do it, too. I gave her some money,” Mike explained.
“Good. Is it still called the Horseshoe Café?” Austin asked.
“Yeah, they did this meal for us today,” Mike said.
“Everybody still go there on Friday night for supper?” Austin asked, searching for conversation now. He wasn’t completely sure why Mike still stood there so he straightened, working his aching muscle out.
“Yeah, but it’s got a pool hall and dance joint added on to it. The Baptist church doesn’t like it at all, but it gives everyone a place to gather and somethin’ for the church folk to talk about,” Mike said grinning.
If Mike planned to continue the conversation, it would have to be while heading out the door. Austin was done for the day. “Maybe someday I’ll check that out.”
“You need to. The local girls’ll go crazy.” Mike followed him out.
“Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of. I’m digging this quiet thing. Your buddies didn’t treat me any different,” Austin said, pushing open the barn door. The bright sun hit him, and he squinted under its glare.
“Nah, they’re salt of the earth kind of people. Work too hard to get lost in the glitz. Listen, I’ve got plans in town tonight. Your hands are gonna be on the watch for the cattle, but it should all be fine. We’ll stay like this for a few days, make sure the herds healthy, give the State time to come out if they want.”
“You handle that part,” Austin said, and again stretched his body out. “Have fun tonight. I’m going in.”
“Will do. Good job, again,” Mike said.
“You too. Thanks Mike,” Austin tossed the words kind of over his shoulder never fully looking back. He feared that if he didn’t concentrate on moving each sore leg in front of the other, he might not make it all the way to his house. How embarrassing would it be to collapse in the middle of the yard in front of Mike and have to have him carry him inside?
Once he made it up to his back porch, Austin felt like congratulating himself. If anyone knew how sore he really was, he’d die. The back porch entry led him straight into his living room and kitchen area. The big windows spread all along the back part of the house were outfitted with remote controlled planter blinds. Just a touch of a button closed them all quickly, but since they had been installed, Austin kept them pulled up, leaving the windows completely open. It gave him such a sense of peace and normalcy to be able to look out and see nothing but wide open flat lands.
Austin couldn’t wait to get out of the sweaty, dirty clothes he’d worn all day. He tracked a small trail of dirt across his marble floor as he made his way to his bathroom. He peeled off his jeans and dropped his underwear, kicking both aside once he hit his bedroom door. The t-shirt made it close to the hamper in the bathroom.
Austin had let the decorators come in and finish the house over the last two days. He’d stayed discreetly hidden, tucked away in the barn. He’d also scheduled the local grocery store to deliver once a week. They left his order at Mike’s trailer every Friday. His Spanish, non-English speaking, senior citizen housekeeper apparently had one of his hands bring it down to the house. Mike hired the housekeeper before Austin ever arrived, swearing she had no clue as to his identity and would absolutely keep things quiet. She turned out to be one of Mike’s aunts and did a fantastic job. She even cooked for him a little. Spicy hot, jalapeno filled foods, but extremely delicious nonetheless, He was grateful for it.
Austin padded across the floor of his bathroom in nothing more than an exhausted smile. He didn’t touch anything, knowing a fine layer of dirt coated his skin. The shower was hot and he let the pounding of the water spray down across shoulders and back. He rolled his thick muscles under the spray trying to loosen them. By tomorrow, the aches would be at an all-time high. He ran his hand over his stomach, feeling each defined abdominal muscle and could tell he’d already slimmed up. For years, he’d worked out daily to maintain the bulk and sixpack stomach. Closer to his retirement, he’d let the strict workout regime go a bit and had put on a few pounds. But, the real work he now performed would slim him right back up quick, trim him out, and it looked to already be happening.
Austin stepped out of the shower and took a minute to shave, brush his teeth and pluck a stray hair or two. As he stood there looking in the mirror, combing his sandy blond hair in place, he again thought about Kitt. Austin had watched the sway of his ass as he came by the barn today to check his cattle for infection. Kitt never came inside the barn, staying outside the whole time, but it was a perfect angle for Austin to watch him out of a window. Kitt bent over checking the animals, as if inviting Austin to take a good long look at his ass. And, he did. Kitt so had that perfect cowboy swagger thing going on. He wore it well and pulled it off so naturally it was like he invented it himself.
Even when Kitt had worn those casual khaki cargo shorts, a loose fitting t-shirt and flip flops, he couldn’t hide that cowboy strut. He carried his long, lean body with confidence and ease. Austin had witnessed his temper first hand, but he also knew it wasn’t who Kitt was as a man. As a man, he was smart, articulate when necessary, and other times he was quiet. He never forced himself on anyone. He was a natural born leader. Austin wasn’t sure Kitt knew that about himself based on the blush that rose on his face when Austin had mentioned it in the kitchen.