Chapter Five
As they neared the house, Felix took in the scene.
Two grand elm trees framed the front, their canopies extending over the yard.
The second-floor windows, almost hidden behind the trees, included blue shutters.
Three brick chimneys pointed skyward, one from each end and one from the back.
A tall red barn with a corral stood a distance away.
A windmill turned in the afternoon breeze, filling a cistern on a tower next to the windmill.
They pulled up to the house. “Welcome to our spread.” Grover climbed out of the carriage and tethered the horse to the hitching rail.
Felix climbed down and grabbed his bag from the back. “I like your place,” Felix said. Being in a strange place with strangers, his palm sweated against the strap of his bag as he walked around the carriage.
“Let’s go inside so you can meet the missus.” Grover opened the picket gate and motioned Felix through.
Felix walked up the stone sidewalk leading to the roomy front porch.
Fingers of tension wrapped around his chest. He never developed close friends and dreaded being thrust into a one-on-one relationship with a stranger.
Especially since the other guys at school never included him in activities.
Not that he wanted to play sports or talk about girls, but sometimes he felt like an outsider.
Joey sounded like an athletic man who was a rancher and a rodeo competition winner.
Felix was none of those things. “You mentioned Joey. Is he here, too?”
“He should be in the barn tending to the horses,” Grover said. “When he sees we’re home, he’ll come to put away the carriage and curry the horse.”
They stepped onto the porch, and Felix caught an enticing aroma wafting through the screen door, making his mouth water. “Mmmmm...something smells wonderful.”
“Mabel’s apple pie. She makes the best apple pie in the region.”
Felix sensed pride in Grover’s voice. His father never showed pride in anything, so the emotion surprised him.
He remembered Grover talking about Joey and his first place in the calf roping competition.
He sounded proud of his son. Felix’s father never showed pride in anything he did—only criticism.
Grover chuckled. “Watch out for her. She’s a hugger. She’ll treat you like a son.”
Opening the screen door, Grover motioned Felix inside and pointed at the bottom of the stairs.
“Set your bag there. Joey will show you your room upstairs in a bit. Let’s go meet the lady of the house.
” Felix dropped his bag on the floor and set his hat on top of it.
Walking behind Mr. Sterling down the long central hallway, Felix glanced into a sitting room on the left.
Pocket doors stayed open. The room appeared comfortable and inviting.
The wooden hallway floor creaked under their weight.
The kitchen was still warm from baking. The brown-crusted apple pie cooled in the window above the sink, the breeze filling the room with the delicious aroma of apple pie. He hoped it was for supper.
Grover extended his arm. “Mabel, this is Felix Bonner.”
Mabel Sterling wore a long apron over her gingham ankle-length dress, her graying hair pulled back into a bun to keep it out of her cherubic face, with a few strands hanging around her ears.
“Welcome to our ranch, honey.” She grabbed Felix into a firm hug.
“Grover mentioned you’ll be staying with us for the summer. ”
Felix tensed. His family didn’t hug. “Yes’m. My father wants me to learn ranching.”
“Well, you came to the right place.” Mabel released the hug. “You look about the same age as Joey. I’m guessing you and him will get along great.”
“I graduated from Blackfield School last month.”
“Joey has one more year.” Grover took a seat at the kitchen table. “Then he and I will talk about college.”
Felix thought of his own yearning for college. He did well in school and wanted to continue, but his father had other ideas. “My father says college is for sissies. He said I must work in the family store, marry, and start a family.”
Grover’s brow wrinkled. “I’m sorry to hear that, Felix. I want my sons educated. Ranching is tough, and tougher if the rancher has no schooling.”
“I hope to learn enough here to get by,” Felix said. “I’m looking forward to starting.” Perhaps this wouldn’t be so bad. A comfortable house. Tasty food, going by the aromas. And a welcoming family. Now, if only Joey didn’t have unrealistic expectations of Felix, he might survive the summer.
The kitchen screen door squeaked open, and in walked a tall young man, dark hair poking out beneath his cowboy hat.
Striking green eyes marked his warm, friendly face.
Those eyes, combined with the attractive lean muscular physique and the dark stubble on his face from several days without a shave, gave Felix an unfamiliar sensation in his stomach.
“I’m Joey.” He removed his hat and extended his hand, sporting a broad smile.
Felix grasped Joey’s strong, calloused hand.
An odd tingle traveled up his arm as they shook.
The kitchen's warmth must be getting to him as heat flashed through his body. “I’m Felix.” He put on his boldest smile for Joey, acting a part he didn’t feel.
He didn’t want Joey to think he was afraid of ranching. “I’ll be working with you this summer.”
“Welcome, Felix. I’m sure glad you’re here. Since Jacob left, it’s been mighty lonely.”
Joey’s handshake was firm and assertive but not intimidating. At least not in an aggressive way. A twinkle appeared in his eye as the corners crinkled, making Joey’s entire presence fascinating for some reason. Earlier fears of not getting along with Joey faded.
“You have quite a job ahead of you, Joey.” Felix shoved his hands into his pockets.
He eyed a crumb on the floor and toed it with his boot.
“I know nothing about ranching, although I care for our horses back in Blackfield.” He glanced up to find Joey gazing at him.
But Joey’s gaze wasn’t like the other boys in his school, who always wondered why Felix was different.
Joey’s gaze was more curious than judgmental.
Joey grinned. “C’mon, let’s get you settled in, and I’ll show you the barn and the stables.” Joey led the way out of the kitchen and down the hall to the stairs.
Felix grabbed his bag and hat. Their footsteps echoed on the wooden stairs as they climbed to the second floor.
The knob rattled as Joey opened a door and walked in.
“This is your room for the summer.” He pointed across the hall.
“My room is over there. These front rooms are small, but the best breeze flows through the upstairs windows.”
Felix glanced around the room. When his father announced his departure for Sterling Ranch, he was unsure what awaited regarding sleeping arrangements. The bed looked comfortable, and the room was private. “Does the house have a bathroom on this floor?”
Joey laughed. The deep, throaty sound made Felix smile. He hoped to hear Joey's laugh a lot more. Maybe Joey would be his first real friend.
“You’re in the country now, Felix. A double outhouse about twenty-five yards out the back door suits us fine.
We keep a pot under your bed for emergencies.
” He lifted the bedspread for Felix to see the ceramic pot.
“You have a washbowl and pitcher on the washstand there.” He pointed.
“You can fill the pitcher in the kitchen.”
Felix never thought about not having a bathroom. His family home had one. This new wrinkle would take a lot of adapting.
“This room is fine, Joey.” Felix set his bag on the bed and hung his hat on a hook near the door. “And your room is across the hall?”
“Yes, over there.” Joey nodded his head in the general direction of his room. “I’ll give you a few minutes to settle in. Come downstairs when you finish, and we’ll check out the barn.”
At Joey’s broad smile, butterflies took flight in Felix’s stomach.
After the hot flash in the kitchen and the weird feeling just now, he wondered if the sandwiches and the long ride made him sick.
He never experienced strange sensations around anyone at school.
He took a calming breath. “Thanks, Joey.”
Felix listened to Joey’s boot steps on the stairs.
Joey was nothing like he expected. His enthusiasm affected Felix in a way he didn’t understand.
Not only had Felix not made friends in school, but the other boys tended to avoid or pick on him.
Joey smiled and rushed around like he was happy Felix was there.
He unpacked and put away his meager belongings before grabbing his hat and hurrying back down the stairs.
Joey was much different than what he expected.
He looked forward to learning about ranching and spending more time with the friendly cowboy.
He would survive without a bathroom in the house.
Going to an outhouse seemed like a manly thing.
Grover greeted him in the kitchen. “I understand Joey plans to show you around the place.”
“Yes, sir. Your ranch is quite different from what I am used to in town, but it suits me fine so far.” Felix yearned to bond with his temporary family.
They seemed so different from his own. No judgment.
There was no expectation that he would act a certain way.
How did he not know families were like this?
Mabel chimed in. “I knew you would like it here. You and Joey will get along well.”
Joey stood by the open kitchen door, grinning at the conversation. “I’m standing right here, ma.” He nodded toward the open back door. “Let’s go exploring.” He grabbed his cowboy hat and pushed open the screen door. “After you.”
Felix put on his hat and walked past Joey out the door, brushing against the smiling young man. The same odd sensation rushed through him as he clomped down the back steps.