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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • MAY 2017 Henderson is found at the end of his rope


When we left off last time, the biggest concern on Henderson’s radar was how to move a truckload of sawdust away from the barn door. Little did he know, life was about to get much more complicated.


Woodshed


Chronicles by BOB COLLINS


Ashley went straight to


Edna’s after school. They had arranged to exchange horse board for stall cleaning three days a week. There was no one at the house but there was a pickup she didn’t recognize at the barn. It had a Saskatchewan licence plate. She stepped inside. The lights were on. “Hello?” she called. “Hey. Down here,” came a


reply from the feed room. A young man stepped into


the alleyway . “Is Mrs. Fitzpatrick here?


asked Ashley. “She’s gone to town. You must be Ashley? Auntie Edna


said you’d be coming.” The young man lifted the Stetson from his head and reached for her hand. “I’m Clayton. Everyone calls


me Clay. Nice to meet you, Ashley.”


His handshake sent a tingle all the way up her arm. He felt one, too. Ashley felt her cheeks flush. “My aunt tells me


that you are now


the proud owner of the best horse in the barn.” “I think he’s the best horse


in the world.” Clay broke into wide grin and chuckled. “You’re on the right track


then. My dad says there’s no force in nature that will match a woman who thinks she has the best horse in the world.” The word woman made


Ashley blush again. The rain that had threatened all afternoon rode in on a sudden gust of wind and came drumming down on the barn’s tin roof. “I’ve already cleaned the


stalls. I’ll pack a bale out if you


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ABBOTSFORD DUNCAN


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TOO AWKWARD TWO PEOPLE


want to start feeding hay.” Ashley nodded.


She watched him walk back to the feed room. He was broad shouldered and tall – definitely over six feet. There were blond curls spilling out all around his hatband; he was wearing cowboy boots and Levis. His smile nearly took her breath away. And he was the first person who ever called her a woman. Clay watched Ashley stuff


flakes of hay into the manger of each stall. She certainly wasn’t the kid his aunt led him to expect. “Are you a cowboy?” “I guess. My family has a ranch south of Maple Creek.” “Where’s that?” “Maple Creek? In the south


part of Saskatchewan, near the Cypress Hills.” “How long are you visiting


for?” “It’s not really a visit,” said


Clay. “I’m going to college here and my aunt and uncle offered me a place to stay and a job relief milking. I expect I’ll be here for a couple of years at least. “Do you have brothers and


sisters? “Two brothers and one


sister.” “Are they older or younger


than you?” “Brothers are older; sister is


younger.” “How much younger is


your sister?”


“Two and a half years.” “How old is she?” “Sixteen and a half” Ashley did the math and


nodded. Clay smiled. “How old are you, Ashley?” “The same age as your


sister.”


Edna burst through the barn door in a bluster of wind and rain. “Lordy! It’s raining cats and dogs out there. Ah, I see you two have met.” “We have,” said Clay, “and


now I’m just waiting for that nice little neighbour girl you told me about to show up.” “Oh, Clayton. I didn’t say nice little neighbour girl. Did I?”


“You surely did, Auntie, and I suppose you were half right. She seems nice enough and she’s probably your neighbour alright, but you missed the part about the beautiful young woman.” Edna landed a half-hearted punch on her nephew’s arm. “You’ll have to forgive him,


Ashley. He’s a terrible tease.” “What do you mean?” said


Clay. “Are you saying she’s not beautiful?” “Don’t tell me we’re in for


two years of this,” said Edna. “Now you’re being hurtful,”


said Clay. “I give up,” said Edna in mock exasperation. “Don’t let him pull your leg,


Ashley. He’s an awful tease but he’s been raised to be a


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gentleman. Maybe if he hasn’t forgotten his upbringing, he’ll offer to drive you home.” Edna disappeared back into the rain. “Would you like a ride


home, Miss?” “Maybe. Are you asking me


out?” “Well, it sounds like a pretty lame date but we can call it that if you like.” “I don’t date strangers,” said


Ashley. “I don’t even know your last name.” “Garrison. What’s yours?” “Henderson.” “Well, Miss Henderson,


would you do me the honour of accepting a ride to wherever it is you live?” “Is it a date then?” “Definitely. It will be our first date.”


“Sounds lame,” said Ashley. Clay laughed out loud, then tucked her hand under his arm and led her to his truck.


They sat in the truck while the windshield defogged. “Were you just teasing in


there?” “Teasing about what?”


asked Clay. “About me being beautiful?


And a woman?” “Don’t tell me I’m the first person who ever told you you’re beautiful?” “Except for my mom and


grandma.” “If you doubt it, take a good look at yourself in the mirror when you get home.” “So, if this a date, you’re not going to try to kiss me, are you?” “As inviting as that sounds,


I don’t believe I will. This isn’t that kind of date. We just met 45 minutes ago. If you ask someone out on a kissing date, you pick her up at her house and introduce yourself to her parents.” “Seriously?” Clay nodded. “Tell you what. We can go out to a movie next Saturday if you want to.” Ashley nodded. “I’d like that.” “Now, let’s get you home.” Five minutes later, as they


neared the Henderson’s driveway, Clay told Ashley that he would pick her up at six on Saturday for dinner and a movie. He said he was looking forward to meeting her parents. “Maybe you can meet them


now,” said Ashley as they were greeted by the sight of her father on his knees in the driving rain clinging desperately to the end of a rope. The rope was wound around an alder stump five feet in front of him. Five feet beyond that, a bawling, wild- eyed Holstein calf with a lariat noose around its ribcage was straining backwards with all its might.


To be continued ...


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