Here to Stay: Day 15

 Word Count: 90,018

Summary of Events:

Jake was approached by his grandma as he raided the raspberries and assured that he was cared for by his whole family — not that Jake believed his dad cared for him. James called the veterinarian with his question and learned that the test results were supposed to have been mailed to him, with the veterinarian assuring him that they would be found and sent with much apology. Jake went to apologise to Mr. Hilmarsson for what he'd done the night before and was offered the chance to shoot some pigeons by Mr. Hilmarsson before they settled down to have lemony iced tea on the veranda and Jake gave his apology, which Mr. Hilmarsson appreciated, before they settled into chatting . . .

Excerpt of the Day:

“So?” Mr. Hilmarsson asked. “How about the Barons?”

“Right,” Jake replied, remembering that Mr. Hilmarsson had requested information before talking about iced tea and cookies. “They only showed up at the end of June, Mr. Baron came from Calgary, but I think he lived in Toronto or the States before, because that’s where his kids came from to join him.”

“Hm,” Mr. Hilmarsson said.

“Regardless, none of them know anything about horses or cattle, even though they’ve all had about five years of riding education each,” Jake added. “But as I understand it those were only weekly lessons, and yet Mr. Baron figured that he and Keanu should get stallions to ride.”

“That is downright dumb,” Mr. Hilmarsson said.

“I tried to tell Keanu he knew nothing, but Keanu’s so dumb a horse that isn’t a stallion could kill him,” Jake said. “And Mr. Baron wouldn’t listen to Dad or anyone else — which was everyone — who told him buying stallions for himself and Keanu was dumb either.”

“That’s a downhill story,” Mr. Hilmarsson said.

“Mr. Baron wanted Dad to look at the horses once they arrived and Dad had to use Mr. Baron’s foreman’s gelding to separate them because the stallions were in a fight over the mare, whom they’d been put with, and was in heat,” Jake continued.

“I’ll bet James had a few words to say to him about that,” Mr. Hilmarsson said.

“It was the most I’ve ever heard Dad talk in that chunk of time,” Jake replied. “He didn’t even let Mr. Baron get any words in edgewise as it went on.”

“Better his words than his fists,” Mr. Hilmarsson said. “I would’ve pummelled that idiot to a pulp myself, or thrown him in with his stallions to see if he could survive.”

“Apparently he presumed nobody except Dad knew anything about stallions because nobody else owned one,” Jake said. “Dad lit it into him for that too.”

“I figured that had to be why James kept that mustang colt on this side of the river,” Mr. Hilmarsson replied. “Does he have a name?”

“I think Dad’s given him one,” Jake replied. “But I don’t know what it is. Everyone just calls him the Colt.”

“Not much of a colt any more,” Mr. Hilmarsson said.

Jake nodded.

“Am I correct to guess there is no Mrs. Baron?” Mr. Hilmarsson asked.

“Not to my knowledge, no,” Jake replied. “There’s just Mr. Baron, Keanu, and his twin sister Keana.”

“Keana?” Mr. Hilmarsson asked.

“It’s like Keanu, just you trade the U for an A,” Jake replied.

“Talk about creative,” Mr. Hilmarsson said, having the same sort of dry sarcasm to his comment as Dad would use.

“Yeah,” Jake agreed.