Rode Hard

"What do you mean?"

"Football stud, single, available, and returning after fifteen years away. Did it not cross your mind that you’d be the centre of attention?"

Luke sighed as we placed our purchases on the conveyor belt for the young girl to scan.

"Not so sure about stud, I haven't played football since I left here to go to Uni. I am single, but definitely not available to any of them."

Luke gazed into my eyes and the look he gave me had a shiver sliding down my spine. Was he trying to tell me something? Nah, get real, he's back here for a particular girl.

***

Luke's mare, Sally had been left at a property about ten minutes from town in the opposite direction to my station. It belonged to old man Parker as we had always called him. He'd been a fixture around these parts for what seemed like forever, and had been old even when I'd been a youngster. No one knew exactly how old he was although late nineties, maybe even one hundred, were bandied about. He was remarkably active for his age.

Luke skirted the side of the house to where a horse trailer was parked, and backed the truck in so we could hitch up before we climbed out.

"Go and let Mr Parker know we're here and I'll get you hooked up."

Luke didn’t argue. I suspected he was in more pain than he let on. He disappeared around the side of the house and I set to work connecting the trailer and truck. I'd only just finished checking the connection when both men approached.

"Kyle, how ya doin', son?" Mr Parker held out his gnarled hand to shake. His palm was calloused, fingers twisted from years of hard work.

Parker was a kindly old man who seemed to have an uncanny ability for knowing what was going on around, not only this town, but those adjoining Clearlea. The puzzling part about this was, he never seemed to leave his farm.

"I'm good, Mr Parker. You?"

"Usual aches and pains, son. No use complaining, no-one ever listens. It's nothin' this old body can't deal with, nothin' that stops me from doin’ my chores. Few years left in this old dog yet."

Luke and I burst into laughter when the old man performed an impromptu jig. When I glanced over, I noted how Luke was holding his side. He seemed to be getting worse with each minute that passed.

"Luke, do you need to see Doc?"

"No, let's get Sally."

"Where is she?" I scanned the area.

"Down the back paddock." Mr Parker whistled and I turned to watch the most beautiful piece of horseflesh I'd ever laid eyes on, trotting toward us. I stood mesmerized. Luke’s mare was so light on her feet, she appeared to prance in the air.

She made a bee-line for Luke who stood by the gate, an apple clenched in his fist. As she neared, the full majesty of her beauty became clear. She was tall, around sixteen hands. Her chestnut coat glistened in the mid-morning sun and was punctuated by four white feet, and a white blaze divided her pretty face in half.

I moved next to where Luke fed her the apple and stroked her soft nose. When the apple was finished, she nudged my hand, obviously wanting another.

I laughed at her determination. Every time I raised my hand to pet her, she pushed her nose under it, looking for something to eat. "Sorry, beauty, I don't have anything. I'm sure I can find something when we get home."

She came to the realisation, I had nothing for her and allowed me to continue scratching her behind the ear. I turned to face Luke. "She's magnificent, has she foaled?"

"Not yet, I've been hoping to find a good stallion for her."

Hmmm, the cogs were turning. I had a seventeen-hand stallion, chestnut with a large white blaze. He'd be perfect for this beautiful girl. I'd have to discuss it with Wendy and Luke in the next few days. I wasn't normally interested in horse breeding but this lady was too good to pass on.

Luke startled me when he spoke, I'd been deep in thought. "C'mon, Sal, let's get you to your new home and settled." He opened the gate and I joined Parker in watching as the mare followed her owner like a dog would. One click of Luke's tongue and Sally walked straight onto the trailer. Most of my horses would have been up on the main road if I'd tried that.

"Well, fuck me, she's one very special horse."

"That's one special man, Kyle, and he needs a friend at the moment. I doubt he'll tell you what happened, but when he does, stand by him, son. He'll need a good friend."

I looked down at the old man and wondered what the fuck he was talking about.

"I'm happy to be his friend, Mr Parker. Is he okay? He's changed. I don't see the fun and laughter in him anymore. I mean I know people mellow as they get older, but it's as if someone flicked a switch and turned him off."