Here to Stay: Day 11

Word Count: 66,018

Summary of Events:

James drove slowly past Mr. Baron's on his way to town to see how the stallions were faring, and was glad to see they were still separated, and seemed much calmer, even if they were still covered in bandages. Jake was doing a routine grooming of the horses out at the pasture when Keanu showed up and started arguing with Jake about quite a variety of things, including how Keanu believed that all the names of the Clearwater horses were just as ugly as their colours, while his stallion's name was a handsome one . . .

Excerpt of the Day:

“Well Blackberry, Mischief, Mayberry, Misty, Sugar, and Gingersnap aren’t exactly geldings,” Jake replied.

“But those aren’t beautiful names either,” Keanu replied.

“Why not?” Jake asked.

“They have no relation to the horses’ colours,” Keanu replied.

“Gingersnap is the gold horse,” Jake said.

“Gingersnaps aren’t gold,” Keanu replied.

“They can be nearly there,” Jake replied.

“Only lame gingersnaps,” Keanu replied.

“All gingersnaps outside of Grandma’s are lame,” Jake replied. “And I know you’ve never had Grandma’s, so you only know lame gingersnaps, but Grandma’s gingersnaps are almost the colour of Gingersnap.”

“Then obviously your grandma’s gingersnaps are lame,” Keanu retorted.

“My grandma’s gingersnaps, as I said, are the best,” Jake replied.

“Gingersnaps, as a whole, are lame,” Keanu replied.

“Why?” Jake demanded.

“Because they’re plain,” Keanu replied. “They don’t have icing or sprinkles.”

“The best cookies don’t,” Jake replied. “Unless you’re talking about Gramma’s maple pecan shortbread cookies. Those are the best cookies with icing.”

Keanu made a face. “Maple is gross.”

“You’re gross,” Jake replied.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Keanu demanded.

“Jacob, Jacob, over.”

Jake startled and went over to where the radio sat in the crate of grooming tools.

“Yes Grandma?” he radioed.

“Where are you?” Grandma asked. “You’re supposed to leave for your haircut in five minutes.”

“I’m on my way,” Jake replied.

“What kind of ancient tech is that?” Keanu demanded.

“It’s a multi-channel two-way radio,” Jake replied. “We use them to communicate around the yard because they’re faster to call out for help in an emergency with.”
“Faster than what?” Keanu demanded.

“A cellphone,” Jake replied, removing Bandit’s halter and tossing it into the crate.

“Where are you going?” Keanu asked.

“I have places I need to be,” Jake replied.

He climbed over the fence, drew the crate out underneath, and took off for the yard at a run, as he needed to change out of his work clothes yet.

“There you are,” Arden said as Jake careened around the corner of the barn.

“Put this away please,” Jake replied, shoving the crate in Arden’s hands before carrying on to the house.

He fought to get his boots off and bolted through the kitchen before leaping over the railing and hurrying up the stairs, untucking his shirt and pulling it open as he ran.

In his room he fairly leapt into his town clothes before racing down the stairs, only to trip and fall forward. He landed on his right wrist hard, which sent a piercing jolt of pain through his whole right arm.

“Jacob!” Grandma cried. “Sweetheart, are you alright?”

Jake clutched his wrist. He wanted to say he was fine, but he was certain he was going to start crying, and that was something he didn’t want to do.

He heard Grandma’s footsteps hurry away before her voice carried through the house faintly.

“James! James! Jacob has hurt himself!”

The pain was worse than it’d been when Mischief had pulled him off-balance, but Jake fought to sit up and blink the tears of pain from his eyes before Dad could arrive.