“Of course, Mr. Miller,” Garrett said. “I bet Buckjoy will appreciate a little company once the thunder comes rolling through.”
I loved that Garrett got it. Right away, without hesitation, he knew that he horses would be scared. Garrett didn’t have a lot of experience, but he loved that horse and knew him well. Garrett had a big heart and that was just one of the things that I cherished about him.
“For God’s sake, kid, call me Sid,” my father grumbled under his breath as he went back into the living room.
“Sorry,” Garrett said with a strained face.
“He’s a bit of a drinker at night. I know you wouldn’t be able to tell it from how he acts during the day.”
“Oh, he’s fine. I hope that I have a wife and daughter that I can annoy with my drinking someday.”
We finished up in the kitchen and found some raincoats and boots in the hall closet before we headed out to the barn. I couldn’t imagine Garrett ever getting drunk. The few times that we had drank while at his cabin, Garrett always maintained total control and didn’t even seem tipsy.
One time we shared an entire bottle of red wine and I felt like I could hardly walk afterward, yet he was straight sober. It made me think that he had probably drank quite a bit in his history and a high tolerance for alcohol.
“We will be back in when the storm passes,” I told my parents.
“I’ll be sleeping,” my father said grumpily.
“We are both heading to bed shortly. Don’t stay out there too long, you two,” my mother said as she hugged us both and sent us on our way. “Stay safe. That wind looks pretty exciting.”
The wind was blowing hard as we pressed our way through it and out to the barn. All ten of the horses were anxious and making a lot of noise in their stalls. It was normal for them to be afraid when a big storm hit and whenever I was able to, I liked to come sit with them and try and calm them down. I was glad we had gotten out there early enough to try and keep them calm; it was much better than trying to get them calmed down when all heck had broken lose in the barn.
Garrett went straight over to Buckjoy and started petting his mane and talking to him and I took the time to turn on more lights and flipped the radio on. It was soothing to have the normal noises around them like we had going on during the day. Plus, I knew the radio station would give out warnings if there were need to take shelter. Not that it happened often, but you just never knew.
“Wow, they sure are worked up,” Garrett said as he took his raincoat off and started to go into the stall with Buckjoy.
“Don’t go in there,” I stopped him. “If a big thunder strike happens, you’re likely to get a pair of hooves to your chest. It’s better to stay outside the stall.”
I admired Garrett for wanting to calm his horse down, but he didn’t understand the dangers that a horse like that posed. Buckjoy wouldn’t purposely hurt Garrett, I knew this. But the horse could easily get so scared that he reacted in a way that put Garrett in danger.
“Can I give him some apples?”
“Sure, that would be good. I’m sure they will all enjoy a little snack. I know I love to eat when I’m scared.”
“I’ll remember that when I take you to a scary movie some time.”
It was the first-time Garrett had mentioned taking me anywhere. Usually we just talked about our day and a little about our dreams for the future, but he never talked about wanting to have me with him in those dreams. I had decided not to push things though. I was happy having him with me at the ranch and I felt prepared for the day that he told me he was ready to move on. Certainly, I would have a few weeks to prepare myself and maybe we would even try to keep in touch. I really didn’t know what it would look like, but I liked the idea of going to a movie with him someday.
“I look forward to going to a movie with you.”
We were both about to hand one of the horses an apple when a loud crack of lightning struck near the barn. I looked up as I heard a nearby tree branch snap and expected to see it falling through the roof of the building since it sounded like it was so close.
“Shit!” Garrett screamed as he dropped his apple and grabbed me.
He pulled me into the corner of the building and we both stayed there as we waited to see if anything was going to happen. It was a scary moment and I was happy I had Garrett there with his arms around me. His quick action would have certain of saved me if that branch had come flying through the roof of the barn, but luckily it didn’t break through.
“I bet that did some damage to the roof,” I laughed nervously.
“Yep. Hopefully not too bad.”
The horses were even more worked up than before and the storm seemed to be revving up to deliver quit a punch that night. It was going to be a long night of trying to calm them down. As much as I wanted to stay in that corner and play with Garrett a little bit, I knew the horses needed our attention more than we needed to be making out.
If the horses got too worked up they were liable to start kicking and causing damage to the barn. But more importantly, they could cause injury to themselves. I had seen a horse kick right through the side of a building when he was afraid. The wood cut a major artery in his leg and he ended up bleeding out before my father or I were able to stop the bleeding. Ever since then I always made a habit of staying with them until they calmed down and made it through the storm all right; well, at least I did when I was home. When I wasn’t home, my father and mother did their best to calm the animals but I knew they didn’t stay out in the barn with them through the storm.
A good hour passed before the storm started to settle down and so did the horses. It was still raining pretty hard outside, but at least the worst of the lightning and thunder seemed to have passed. I looked over at Garrett and we both breathed a sigh of relief. The horses were still alert and moving around more than normal for tha
t hour of the night, but I figured we were probably safe to make a run for our beds. Morning would be there before we knew it.