Chapter Four
Jericho
“You must be Jericho Hess. I’m Bethany Roberts.”
I stood at the fence where Fancy and Thunder were also staring at the woman that Saturday morning. The tall blonde stuck her hand through the fence slats and let Fancy sniff her before she scratched the mare’s forehead.
When the mare didn’t object, the woman, who wore a light-blue western shirt with pearl snaps, put both hands through the fence and gently moved her thumbs to the corners of Fancy’s mouth, getting the mare to open to check her teeth.
“She’s four? Is this her first baby?” Bethany wiped the horse slobber from her hands onto her jeans and adjusted the straw hat, not much unlike the one I wore every day when I worked outside.
“Yes. First foal. Is there something I can do for you?” I’d never seen the woman before, and I had no idea why she was checking Fancy’s age, but then it dawned on me that maybe Fancy’s owner had sent her to check on the prize mare.
“Oh, are you Mindy Spriggs’s trainer?”
“No, sorry. I was contacted by Lawrence Schatz. He found my website and reached out to me last night. He said you need a temporary hand and told me to come out to meet you. I just have a few questions.”
I guessed Schatz didn’t think I could find someone on my own, though I hadn’t even started to look. Maybe he was smarter than I gave him credit for, or he really wanted me to guard that Fitzpatrick guy.
“Sure. First, let me show you around.”
Bethany nodded, so I gave her the grand tour.
I introduced Bethany to all the horses, explaining which ones were Mom’s and mine and which were boarding horses.
I acquainted her with things in the feed room, explaining the schedule, and I showed her how to lock up everything after the horses were put to bed.
She was a good listener and seemed to take in everything I told her. When I believed I’d given her the rundown, I exhaled. “So, you said you had questions.”
“Yes. I live in Roanoke, Virginia. I wondered if there might be somewhere I can stay here on the ranch. It’s a four-hour drive one way, and I’m not one to like staying in a motel.”
I glanced toward the house, which was a three-bedroom, two-bathroom ranch style.
It probably wouldn’t be bad to have Bethany look after Mom too.
“Yeah, uh, there’s a motel just down the road, but I’m not a fan of staying in them either.
Come inside and let me introduce you to my mother, Gayle Hess. ”
We went up to the house where Mom was busy getting lunch ready. “Mom, this is Bethany Roberts. She’s gonna be here for a week or so to take care of the horses. I’ll let her sleep in my room while I’m gone.”
Of course I hadn’t told Mom anything about the possible job because I hadn’t been sure I could find anyone to take care of the place to my satisfaction. My gut told me Bethany could handle it and probably do a better job than I did.
“Where you goin’, Jer?”
“I’m doing a favor for a friend. Gimme a minute, Mom. I’ll be right back.” I hustled down the hall to my bedroom and closed the door. I picked up my phone on the nightstand to see that I had a few texts and a voicemail message. I played the message.
“Hi, Jericho. Lawry Schatz. We’ve moved Sean Fitzpatrick out of the hotel where he was staying, and we’ve got him in a friend’s condo in Bethesda.
I’m hoping the condo will be closer to you so you can get to your ranch in the event of an emergency.
Will you please call me when you get a minute?
I’ll text you the information regarding where Sean’s staying. ”
I listened to the message again before scrolling through the texts he’d sent and sending him a response.
Lawry: I don’t carry my phone when I’m working with the horses, so I just got your messages.
Bethany Roberts dropped by. I see you sent me a text about her, but I didn’t get it until just now.
I guess I’m taking the job at our agreed fee.
Can you let Mr. Fitzpatrick know I’ll be wherever he is tomorrow morning around eight? Thanks, man.
I went into the bathroom closer to my room, and after I finished my business, I washed my hands, face, and combed my hair. I stopped in my bedroom to change my shirt before going downstairs for lunch.
When I arrived in the kitchen, Mom and Bethany were talking like old pals. “Jeri, I’m going to get the guest room ready for Bethany. Your room is smaller, and you won’t be taking all your stuff with you, right?”
“No, Mom. I won’t be taking all my stuff. I’ll be back in a week.” I fucking hoped...
I got up at five on Sunday morning to do chores before Bethany arrived. Not surprisingly, she pulled up to the barn as the sun was coming up, just as I finished letting the horses out so I could clean the stalls.
“Good morning. I don’t suppose you’ve got any coffee, do you?” She looked a little bleary-eyed, probably as much as I did.
“Yeah. I made a pot before I came down. Go to the house and get yourself a cup. You might as well take your suitcase with you. You’re in the first room on the left down the hallway by the kitchen.
I’ll clean up the bathroom after I shower, and then it’s all yours.
I’ll get on the road in about two hours.
All that’ll be left to do is get ’em up this evening to put ’em to bed. ”
Bethany tilted her head. “You don’t want me to ride any of ’em? My outfit in Roanoke is very much like yours. I love working with horses and never mind a nice ride.”
I hadn’t thought about exercising the horses. The previous night, I’d looked up her website to see she had some horses for sale, but I hadn’t thought much beyond finding someone to feed, water, and look after Mom.
“Who’s watching your place?”
She shifted her eyes to glance out the barn door toward her truck and exhaled. “My wife.”
I glanced in that direction, noticing a progress Pride flag sticker on the bumper next to lesbian Pride sticker, and I smiled, stepping forward and extending my hand to shake. “It’s nice to meet a member of the tribe.”
Bethany cracked up, and I laughed with her.
I could see her worry fade before my eyes.
It was a relief to me as well. Mom had a habit of talking about what a son of a bitch she believed the current president to be and how Congress wasn’t much better, taking away rights from women, minorities, and the LGBTQIA+ community without so much as a blink.
At least Bethany wouldn’t be offended or leave when Mom got on a roll.
I went on to show her the book where I kept track of the exercise schedule, then I drew her a map of where the property ended by the creek.
“Mom’s old saddle is in the tack room, which should work for you.
The only horse that’s stubborn with the reins is that dun gelding.
I use a full-cheek snaffle bit with him since I just started working with him about two weeks ago.
He’s really the most important one to exercise.
I just needed to train him to carry a rider.
He’ll be trained in the finer points of equestrian riding by another trainer. ”
Bethany nodded. “I board five jumpers, three dressage, and two dancers, so I’m familiar with the workouts. Any horses besides that little colt you want me to leave alone? A week won’t put them too far behind.”
I grinned. The woman knew her business. “Nope. Oh— Miss Trixie. I only use her to ride the fences once a week. She and I enjoy a nice ride in the evenings for old time’s sake.
“Mom broke her wrist when she fell off Trixie after my father passed. She just finished physical therapy, but maybe you can talk her into keeping up with her exercises? I’ve had no luck.”
Bethany chuckled. “I’m used to dealing with stubborn parents too. I’ll clean out the barn, Jeri. You go ahead and get yourself ready to go. I’ll be right back.”
She headed toward the house, and I started opening the stall doors to let the horses out to the pasture. If Bethany was going to clean the stalls, I wasn’t going to fight her. I went to the feed room and grabbed bags of bedding for Bethany to spread once the manure was removed.
I made a quick note on the whiteboard in the tack room about a few things I might have missed telling her, and then I wrote my cell phone number, with a call me anytime note at the bottom.
I prayed I wasn’t doing the wrong thing by leaving her in charge, but something in my gut told me I needed to do this.
Since I’d been medically discharged, I’d felt pretty useless.
Maybe this was a way I could restore my confidence in my ability to do something worthwhile that didn’t depend on how many feet I had, or what kind they were?
“I’m here to see...” I pulled out my phone again, unable to remember the name Lawry had given me to ask for at the concierge desk of Bethesda Towers, “Alan Wallis.” I assumed it was an alias because Lawry had said the man’s name was Sean Fitzpatrick.
The young lady behind the desk tapped something into her computer before glancing up. “And your name?”
As far as I knew, I didn’t need an alias. “Jericho Hess.” I pulled my wallet from my back pocket and handed her my driver’s license.
“Current address?” She pointed to my ID.
I chuckled. “Since the day I came home from the hospital.” I realized I was indoors and had left my cowboy hat on, which was rude. Gayle Hess would pop me on the back of the head if she were with me.
Reaching up, I took it off and held it against my thigh as I ran my other hand through my hair, which was about two months overdue for a trim. I could put it in a ponytail if I wanted, but Mom would have a fit. I oughta do it just to fuck with her.
The woman handed over my drivers’ license and stood from the desk with a set of keys, leading me to the elevator. “Go to the fourth floor. It’s unit four-oh-four.”