Train Me Daddy

Olivia frowned. “It’s hard to tell. I don’t see much difference in him that last few months then when I first arrived. The thing is…I keep thinking his doctors might have overlooked something.”

“What do you mean?”

Because he hasn’t even told me what’s wrong with him. “Olivia maybe he’s told you what’s wrong with him. He tried but I shut him up, I couldn’t bear hearing about his illness. It was selfish of me, and I need to seek to help him. Especially if he only has a few weeks to live.”

She shakes her head, “I have no idea. I just know that I wouldn’t leave any stone unturned if I were in his shoes. We need to find out what’s wrong with him. So, that we can help him, Isaac. He’s like a father to me, Isaac.”

“I know, I know.” What else is there to say? I can’t stop him from dying if he’s terminal. Nobody can.”

I’m holding her in my arms trying to comfort her, but she’s sobbing and getting emotional. I decide that we need to get to the bottom of this illness and then try and figure out how to help him.

“Look, I’ll leave Autumn Crooker to her cookies and then when I get back we’ll figure what to do with Granddad. I’ll insist that we all go to see his doctor’s together or something? I’ll think of something. Okay?” I quickly give Olivia a peck on the cheek.

She winks at me and then says, “And then after that, I want a real kiss.”

“Frankenstein’s created a monster,” I say as I give Olivia a pat on her butt before running for the door.

“You better run, Cowboy, before I swat you with a cookie-dough spoon!”

I laugh as I walk across the lawn. If someone had told me a few weeks ago that I was going to be this happy, I would have spit on their face. Damn how fast the world turns!

As I enter the tack room, I remember the first time I tried to polish a saddle. I must have been five. I put saddle soap all over my pony’s and then ran and got Granddad to look at it, but he just laughed so much that he started to cry. I remember looking for Grandma, knowing that she’ll make me feel better.

I shake my head thinking about all the memories. I was in a good mood and didn’t want to spoil it by drudging up things I didn’t want to think about. There’s no way that I’m going to let Granddad die, not if I can help it. I’ll work with the doctor’s and he’s going to be alright. I’m sure about it. As Olivia said, he hasn’t been sick, not since I’ve been here and she hasn’t noticed the change. Not like Grandma, she didn’t even have to tell her that she was dying. It was written all over her face.

Before I start on Buckskin’s saddle, I take a quick peek at the one that belongs to Autumn. It was spotless and as shiny as if it had just come out of the store. I’m putting the final polish on the silver trimming when I see movement and glance toward the door.

“There you are, Isaac,” Granddad says as he enters the tack room.

“You found me. There no hiding from you,” I say and smile.

“I just wanted to tell you how proud I am about what you’re doing. You’ve pitched in and done everything asked of you. And thanks to you and Olivia the ranch’s running smooth as silk again.”

“You don’t need to thank me. I should be thanking you for insisting that I come and spend three months on the ranch.”

“Well, what’s the verdict?”

I smile. “You mean you have to ask after seeing how we enjoy each other’s company,” I sound like a lovesick teenager and I don’t care for the first time in three years I feel alive again.

“She makes me feel alive as if I’ve been dead for the last two years. Shit, she’s everything that a man can want and more. But we’re still getting to know each other. You know it’s not as if I’m going to put a ring on her finger tomorrow or anything, but there’s a potentiality that I’ll do that in time.”

I want to put him in place, let him know that I’m happy to be with her, but I’m not going to run down the aisle with her because he says I need to do it now.

“Well, I’m going to keep my part of the bargain. If you marry Olivia, I’ll leave everything to you.” He pauses. “And I don’t have very long left. My health is declining rapidly. I don’t want to rush things between the two of you, but when do you think you ask her to marry you?”

“Never!”

Olivia blurts out as she’s standing in the door of the tack room. I glance in horror at granddad. His face is as pale as a full moon.

“I heard every word about your deal! How could you, Neil!” she cries out looking directly at Granddad. “I trusted you. Loved you like a father. And here you are trying to marry me off to Isaac as though I didn’t have a say in the matter. I feel so . . . so used.”

“Olivia, calm down. It’s not as bad as it sounds,” I say but when I see her flashing green eyes, I know my words are rolling off her like water off a duck’s back. “I fell in love with you. That’s all that matters.”

“Oh no, Isaac, it’s much more than that. It’s about trust. It about not being a pawn in some rich man’s chess game of life,” she says shaking her head “I feel violated! You two used me.”

She glances at Granddad. “Neil tell me one thing. Just how long have you been planning on forcing Isaac and I together? How long?”

“I knew you could make him snap out of the downward spiral he was in at the time,” Granddad says weakly, and then I realize what’s upsetting Olivia the most.