Irene Brand - Autumn's Awakening

Her eyes had brightened. “Nathan?” she cried delightedly.

He’d grinned and stepped to the ground beside her.

“I didn’t know you were working for Daddy.”

“After Christmas I came back to Ohio and asked your dad for a job. He hired me the first of the year to take care of his young stock. I live in that little apartment over the tack room.”

“Oh, I’m so glad. I remember you said you’d like to raise Belgians.”

His dark face flushed, and embarrassed, he’d said, “That’s only a dream. I don’t suppose I’ll ever reach it.”

“You’re at the right place to learn the trade. If anyone can teach you about draft horses, it’s Daddy. I’m pleased to see you, Nathan. I’ve thought about you often this winter. I was never so happy to see anyone as I was when you showed up in the barn last Christmas Eve.”

Surprised at her candor, Nathan had felt his face flushing. “I didn’t do anything. You were the expert.”

“But you were there! If you hadn’t encouraged me, I might not have saved the foal.”

They’d been standing on a high point providing an overview of the farm. Autumn had looked around in delight as she surveyed the four hundred acres of flat fields and slightly rolling hills bisected by Indian Creek and bounded with white board fences. She’d pulled off her sandals and run circles in the dark-green alfalfa hay while a slight breeze stirred her curly hair.

“Glad to be home, are you?” Nathan had said, grinning at her exuberance.

“Oh, yes! I’m going to the pasture to see Noel. How is she?”

“Looks like a fine filly to me. Bet you can’t pick her out of the other foals.”

“Of course I can! I’ve had her picture on my desk since Christmas. How much do you want to bet?”

“Just kidding!”

“No. I mean it. If I can pick Noel out of all the other foals, you buy me dinner. If I can’t, I’ll pay.”

He shook his head. “I’m not betting.”

“I’ve got to hurry. Mother insists that I be back in time for dinner. Can you go with me to the pasture?”

When he’d heard that Autumn was coming home for the summer, Nathan had made up his mind to avoid this girl who’d dominated his thoughts for months. Now that he’d seen her again, his good resolutions had dwindled. It was one thing to say he’d have nothing to do with Autumn when she was in Massachusetts. But seeing her in the flesh, her windblown red hair framing a smiling face, her luminous blue eyes smiling at him, all of his resolutions had disappeared as if he’d never made them.

Knowing it wasn’t wise, Nathan had unhitched the reins and tied the horses to the fence, so they wouldn’t stray while he was gone. “I only have another hour’s work, so I can spare a few minutes.”

“What else have you been doing since I saw you?” Autumn asked as they walked side by side.

“I’ve been taking night classes at OSU’s agricultural college, where I’ve learned you need a lot of head knowledge, as well as experience and money to become a farmer. Uncle Matthew is helping me.”

Nathan’s father, a half brother of Matthew Holland, had never been a good provider, and Nathan had grown up in poverty. His father resented Matthew’s affluence and distanced himself from his brother, but after the death of Nathan’s father, Matthew had helped his sister-in-law and her three boys.

“So, you still think you’d like to be a farmer? That episode at Christmas didn’t discourage you?”

Nathan had shaken his head, but didn’t answer. He couldn’t think dispassionately about anything that had happened at their first meeting.

When they’d reached the pasture, Autumn clapped her hands when she saw the ten red foals grazing. “Aren’t they beautiful?”

“I think so.” Nathan had unlatched the fence, and ten sorrel heads lifted expectantly. Nathan took a halter from a fence post, and they entered the pasture and walked slowly toward the young animals, whose legs seemed much too long in proportion to their graceful slender bodies. Their chestnut coats gleamed like burnished copper, and a breeze ruffled the white manes.

“They’re used to me,” Nathan had said, “so I can usually catch them. They’ve only been weaned for a few weeks, but I’ve been breaking them to the halter all winter. Pick out Noel, and I’ll put a halter on her.”

Autumn walked slowly among the foals and looked at all of them carefully before she stopped in front of one and ran her hand over the white strip on its face. “That’s Noel,” she said, and Nathan grinned, walked to the filly and put the halter around her neck.

“How did you know?”

“Instinct, maybe. Remember I’ve grown up with Belgian colts, but mostly, because I found that red star in the middle of her forehead. That’s the clue I looked for.”

Noel had tossed her head, but she’d quieted when Autumn’s hands caressed her neck and shoulders. “Oh, she’s wonderful. Do you think I have time to train her for showing at the state fair in August?”

“I don’t have a clue, but your dad will know.”

“But I’m not sure he’ll agree to let me show Noel. He might, if Mother doesn’t interfere.” Autumn had given the filly another hug when they left the pasture.

Before they parted in the hay field, Autumn had said, “Don’t forget, you lost the bet.”

Wanting desperately to have a date with her, he’d shaken his head. “I’m sorry, Autumn. I think your father is pleased with my work at Indian Creek Farm, but he wouldn’t approve if I took you out for dinner. A few months ago, one of the workers invited your sister to go to a church meeting, and Mr. Weaver fired him immediately.”

“I’m old enough to choose my own friends. I like you.”

Nathan’s heart had leaped at her words, but trying to control the tremor in his voice, he said patiently, “You don’t understand. Just because you and I met under unusual circumstances doesn’t mean we can be friends.”

“We will, if I have anything to say about it.”

“Give me a break, Autumn. I need this job. I want to work here, so don’t get me in trouble with the boss.”

When he stepped back on the mower, she’d said, “I can handle Daddy.”

Famous last words! Nathan thought as he remembered what had happened on the day Landon Weaver had fired him.

The clinic resembled most medical doctors’ offices. A small waiting room contained several chairs, and magazine racks were filled with periodicals for adults as well as magazines to interest children. A small wooden desk provided a place for Miss Olive to serve as Ray’s receptionist.

The office contained modern computer equipment with Ray’s accounts entered into the system. The records were up-to-date, and Trina and Autumn had little trouble understanding how he operated his clinic. Two surgery rooms, an X-ray room, a half-dozen cages and several runways provided good facilities.

The morning passed quickly as they pumped the stomach of a cat that had helped itself to a pizza laced with hot peppers, gave several dogs a series of shots, and treated a large brown rabbit for ear mites.

Dolly had been an interested bystander in the surgery rooms, but with her first question, Trina said sternly, “You may watch as long as you stay out of our way and keep quiet. Get up on that stool and stop talking.”

“And I thought going to vet school was hard,” Trina complained when they went into the kitchen for the hot lunch Olive had prepared.

“Welcome to the real world, Trina,” Autumn said as she sat down. “I followed Ray around long enough when I was a kid to know that a vet doesn’t have an easy job, but I can’t think of anything I’d rather be doing.”