T.R.'s Tale - 5. Chapter 5

The next morning I awoke to my alarm. I hit the bathroom, got dressed for a run, put the coffee on and headed out.

I was almost surprised that I had to pay attention to my route. In a couple of days I had already come to think of this place as home. I began to consider all that had happened since I first arrived. This had been the most eventful few days since my first week of college life. I had made friends with what appeared to be really good people. I eagerly looked forward to going to work and now I had Bill to look forward to after work. Life was good.

I ran past four houses on my run. Three were on the same side of the road as Doc's and only one, the last one was on the opposite side of the road. The first three were very similar to Doc's. They each had outbuildings that were either barns or stables or both. Each seemed to sit on fairly large acreage. The last house was much larger than the other three. It sat back off the road almost a quarter of a mile. The pebbled drive was bordered on either side by three staggered rows of massive pecan trees. The house itself looked like something out of Gone with the Wind. Greek revival, two and a half stories tall. Probably some type of inn. I noticed a black horse with exceptionally long mane and tail (more common to European horses) being lead to the front steps of the house. I ran on.

I had skipped my run the last couple of days so today would be a long one. I chose to run down a gravel road that seemed to go on for miles. At some point I heard hoof beats at a gallop. I turned to see that same black horse horse coming toward me at full gallop. I chose to turn around and run toward them. I wasn't comfortable with the horse and rider moving that quickly toward me while my back was turned. As we passed I saw the rider was a large man. He glanced at me and nodded but continued on his way never easing the gallop. I ran on and soon forgot about the horse and rider. I was mentally deciding on a menu for dinner with Bill and Doc. It would be my first chance to prove my culinary skills and I wanted to make an impression. Lost in thought and with a steady pace I was surprised by the snorting breath of the horse coming up once again behind me. This time I could see he was at a trot. Once alongside the rider gave me plenty of room so neither the horse nor myself felt uncomfortable. Sideways glances told me this rider was an exceptional horseman. I rode competition in high school, this guy posted with the horses trot like a well trained equestrian. The mount was a beautiful black stallion, probably Andalusian. A breed known for their beauty, intelligence and docility. A glance can tell you a lot about a horse, if you know horses. His head and confirmation.I gauged the horses breathing and realized that the gallop had been to impress me. It obviously had been held no longer than to catch and pass me. Perhaps it was part of their normal ride. Without being too obvious I could see the rider was a little older than I.

I wasn't sure why he choose to ride alongside of me. I was actually more impressed that the horse had no problem in matching my pace. The rider looked as if he were sitting in a recliner. I figured one of us should say something, “Well, do I pass inspection?”

He responded with a chuckle, “I don't know yet, ain't seen enough of you.” Considering that I was wearing only running shorts and trainers, there wasn't much left to see. Not only that but my dick flopped from side to side so even that left little unknown. “Are you the new gay vet, staying with Doc?"

I stopped. The horse's momentum carried him ahead. The rider took the horse a little farther ahead and the two masterfully executed a half pirouette. Then again approached and the rider dismounted. The beauty and grace of that simple movement was not lost on me. That was some horse and he was an true equestrian. Dismounted, he led his horse so that as I began to walk he met me and extended his hand. “Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. I'm sometimes too abrupt. My name is Jedidiah Compton, Jesse, for short. I hate my given name.”

Again, I it occured to me I would not likely ever have any secrets in this town.

I was right, this guy was big. Six, six and about two fifty. He appeared to be in his mid-forties. His dark hair had streaks of gray. His grip was too strong and too quick to be considered friendly. How the hell such a big guy could appear so graceful on horseback was beyond me. I gave most of the credit to the stallion.

“Tell me Jedidiah, what else do you know about me?”

Jedidiah smirked at my refusal to call him Jesse. “Look here, Travis Reed Boudreaux...” He stopped himself before completing that statement. “I'll tell you what, T. R. you take a look at Bach here and tell me what you can about my mount, and we'll trade information.

At the mention of his name the stallion raised and twisted his head as if expecting further instructions. I decided to play his game. I really wanted to see this beauty up close. He definitely was Andalusian. I wasn't out to impress this jerk who happened to own a rare and beautiful piece of horseflesh. I were halting in my efforts, belying a lifetime spent with horses, cattle and swine. I worked hard to fool the rider and at the same time relax the stallion. When I rubbed his head and felt protrusions. I got a little excited. I continued with my exploration. I lifted each hoof, Bach never indicated anything but complete compliance. I kept letting him know where I was as I moved around this magnificent animal. As I approached his rump my hand surreptitiously lifted his tail a bit. The warts I saw confirmed what the bosses on his head had indicated. This was a “Carthusian, PRE”. I made no reaction, just continued my inspection. As I lifted the right front hoof for inspection, Jedidiah began to whistle “Shubert's unfinished symphony. After the first bar, Bach released a stream of piss that splattered across my shins and shoes. Competition horses are commonly trained to urinate on command. It doesn't win any points if a judge inspecting an animal gets pissed on during the process. Jedediah had been holding the reins and stepped up and began to rubbed Bach's neck and face. He knew what his horse liked and without words was telling him he did a good thing by pissing on command. I never let on that I knew.

Once I finished I dusted my hands together and turned to Jedidiah. He was smiling like the cat that had just swallowed the canary. “Well, what do you think of Bach?” His pride and enthusiasm were obvious in his voice and in his stance.

I got a worried look on my face and asked, “How long have you owned Bach?”

Jedidiah's face fell. He sensed some bad news. I could see his brain trying to adjust to the possibility that Back might be less than perfect. In reality, he was trying to decide if he could trust me. “Six months, almost.”

“How old did they say he was? What, three, four years old?” Jedidiah didn't respond to this he just nodded. “And I suppose they told you he was Carthusian as well? Again he nodded. His face looked like that of a little boy who had just dropped his ice cream into mud hole.

When he nodded this time, I shook my head as if in sympathy. “Well, Mr. Compton, these days it's all too easy to file down the secondary and tertiary incisors and cap them so they look like baby teeth. As for the bosses on his head they could be duplicated in any number of ways. Now, what I found intriguing was the warts. Now, those I figure you would have to balloon the skin and then stitch it together and be very careful... but it could be done. I suppose you have plans to offer him as stud? Again he nodded his look shifted to an almost nauseated state. “Well, it may be a wrinkle but... then again it could be a vasectomy scare.”

The look on Jedidiah's face was incredulous he didn't believe and yet he did. He scrunched his face up and said, “So you're telling me that Bach is...”

I cut him off. “Jed, I'm telling you that you shouldn't fuck with your local vet. Having your horse piss on me was probably not the best way to go if you were asking for my honest opinion. Bach is a very fine piece of three to four year old horseflesh. He is the only Carthusian I have ever seen.” Jed's face had gone from chagrin to serious to relief, all in the short span of my comments.

“Now Jed, what exactly is this all about? Or does everyone who ventures to run down this road have to experience your piss test?”

Jed smiled at me and for the first time since he first passed me I felt comfortable. He slapped me on the back and said, “Tim, we just might get to like each other in spite of...” His voice trailed off and he mumbled something about the difference in our age and mounted up, asked, “You run every day about this time?”

“I intend too. If I don't get run down by some crazy, smart assed equestrian.”

He smiled that warm smile and simply said, “Be seeing you, Tim.” I watched as he and Bach headed back to the big house. I stood mesmerized by the various gaits they shifted through as they picked up speed. They were like a one act horse show. I would have paid for the privilege of examining Bach and now to watch as he moved off in such a classy fashion was... well it left me with a smile I figured I would wear all day.

I don't like stopping for any length of time and then start running again. I like to get in a good solid run. I was not really pleased with the run. By the time I got back to the house Doc had scrambled eggs bacon and toast almost ready. I had time for a shower and when I came out it all was done. It occurred to me to ask how he had conjured up bacon and eggs, when yesterday he didn't even have bread. I dismissed the thought as Bach came to mind.

“Doc, I met one of your neighbors this morning, Jedidiah Compton. He has a Carthusian stallion. God that animal is gorgeous.” At the mention of Jed's name Doc's head jerked up. A sneer washed his face for just a moment then the placid look of a true professional returned.

“And what did Jesse have to say? Was he obnoxious or rude? He seems to favor those two attitudes above any others.”

“Started out as both.”. I related the whole story to Doc. Doc wore a look that said he was trying to put the pieces to a puzzle together. One of those ten thousand piece jigsaw puzzles and was having a hard time getting started.

Once I finished the story Doc chuckled. “Son, you ought to be proud of yourself. Not many men can say they set Jesse Compton back on his heels.”

Chuckles faded to a smile and the smile melted into a sigh. He stared out the through the kitchen window, which happened to look out in the direction of Jed's place. “Jesse grew up here just like me. We were best friends as kids and roommates in college. He went east to Harvard law school and each time he came home he would try to get me to move back east and start a practice. He got a job right out of law school with some big law firm in New York. He lived in London for a few years and I visited him in both cities. A small town vet and a big time lawyer don't have as much in common as two college kids. Anyway we drifted apart and lost touch. Seems a few years ago Jesse had a mild heart attack and his doctors told him it was stress related. He came back here and fixed up the old Evans home place.”

“Gordon and my wife were both gone by then. It wasn't long before Jesse and I picked up where we left off. We did things together and pretty much all my free time was spent in his company. Jesse was always good company. Then something happened between us and I found out Jesse was not the man I had thought he was. It sort of reminded me why we drifted apart in the first place. I don't hold any hard feelings toward him... I just rather not be in his company, if I can help it.”

“I heard that horse was a magnificent animal. He's going to want you to take care of him. I don't mind that, just make sure that you understand I am not comfortable in Jesse's company. I won't be making any visits to his place. So get with David and ya'll work something out. Jesse will most likely hit you up tomorrow, if he waits that long. He don't much care for Margaret and her crew.” I had learned that Margaret Long was the lead Vet in the other clinic.

“He calls every now and then trying to get me to take on his animals. I know there is no love lost between her and Jesse. Margaret has called me herself.” Doc chuckled then continued, “Every time she calls she is, uh, very angry.” There was a long pause, I almost thought to say something but chose to wait.

“Tim, I'm going to ask you not to encourage either Jesse or me to renew our friendship. I don't mind that you're going to be his Vet, just leave things as they are between the two of us.”

I couldn't really think of anything to say except, “Sure Doc.” He knew and I knew that to care for that animal would be more a privilege than a chore. Bach was a descendent of the horses that went on the crusades. His ancestors carried Knights into battle and were favorites among European Royalty. We both knew I would suck dick to be Bach's care provider. Ignore the pun this was serious shit. There are about three thousand Andalusian horses in the USA. There maybe fewer than one hundred Carthusians.

I cleaned up while Doc got his shower and dressed. I realized that both he and Jed had called me Tim. Jed did it to irritate me and Doc did it to show intimacy. I didn't mind Doc calling me Tim. When Jed did, it made me want to punch him in the nose. Suddenly I didn't like the fancy horseman nor his fancy mount. I didn't care if he did call, I wouldn't take him on as a client. I wondered if he would call today or wait until tomorrow?

At work David was very friendly. He insisted on buying me lunch... yes, of course at Julie's. I had hoped she would not be there, but she was. All smiles, she showed us to a booth told us what to order. David offered no resistance, guess he liked baked chicken and with grilled asparagus and twice baked potatoes. Me, I was in the mood for uh... Ok, I ordered it too. And it was good.

Near the end of our meal Julie came to our table with sweet potato pie for me and apple pie for David. How did she know? I have to call Mom and ask her if she had a weird woman called and ask about my likes and dislikes. I didn't even want to think about what she might know about my sex life. Julie came back with a sundae cup filled with vanilla ice cream for David and one filled with whipped cream for me. She looked at me like I had stabbed her with my fork, “Well, I never. Tar, you know I would never pry into your sex life. Well not in front of David, he might get too exited.” However offended she was or wasn't she still shooed David over and took a seat with us. I glanced at David and he had blushed. Damn, he was cute when he blushed. Turning to the still blushing David, “I'm glad to see you two made up. I was worried what with both of you being so stubborn. I figured Tar would go running back home and you'd let him go.”

Just then one of the kitchen staff approached to let her know she had a phone call. “Now don't you boys run off we got a lot to talk about, what with fancy pants and his fancy horse and all.” When she turned to head for the kitchen I mouthed to David, 'hurry'. To his credit he understood and wanted to comply but apparently Julie's apple pie is the next best thing to sex and before he was half finished she was back with coffee for all. Julie spent a couple of minutes chatting with some guy who stopped by to compliment her on some stupid sauce and if I could have I would have snuck out.

I was so desperate to escape I thought about how neat it would be to train LBJ to come when I whistled. The man walked away and as he did he was whistling the theme from the “The High and the Mighty”. Julie turned to me and said, “Whistling is something people just don't do anymore. I mean they use it to call dogs and work with animals. Too bad it can't be used to call cars, maybe it would still be popular.

Jesus Fucking Christ! Is this woman a real mind reader?

Mamma would kick my ass if she ever heard me say that! This woman is gonna drive me nuts. I swear, I don't believe in psychics and she just pisses me off. Julie must have sensed my discomfort, she reached across the table and took my hand. “Tar, no matter what else, know this, you're a fine young man and I like you. If some things I say bother you it's just to let you know that I understand. You have some important decisions to make concerning your personal life and right now a lot is happening. If I can help, I will.”

When she said decisions David's head jerked up. There was fear in his eyes and his mouth was hanging open, displaying his last bite of masticated pie. Not Pretty!

Without looking Julie said, “Close your mouth Davy, It's grossing Tar out. His decision is not about leaving, so relax.” David complied with a blush. He studied the crumbs on his plate.

“Now boys take it easy, this afternoon is slow so ya'll can take your time. That was Juanita on the phone. She told me David's next appointment was canceled and you Tar have the afternoon free to go shopping.”

“David, how are things in Nebraska? Is the divorce finalized yet?” I stared at Julie wondering how she could take someone's private life and discuss it so openly. After I stared daggers at her, which she returned with a smile. I noticed that David had not reacted to her question, rather he looked to see how I reacted. I didn't feel like David had lied about his marriage, it really was none of my business. Somehow that made me feel superior to Julie, suddenly she wasn't so intimidating. I smiled.

“David, how about this weekend you have a cookout for the staff and the friends Tar has made since he got here. I can bring Harry to do the grilling and bring some deserts. You supply the booze and the staff can bring side dishes. If you want I can send him out on Friday and we can bar-b- que a pig.”

David got that deer in the headlights look and gulped some coffee. I marveled at the differences I had seen in his personality. In the office he was strong, confident, a well trained professional. Now, when Julie's mumbo jumbo was aimed at him, he almost cowered like a teenager caught jerking off.

He sat his cup down and looked at me. “I was about to invite you and Doc over for a swim and a cookout Saturday. I figured with three of us watching, the steaks wouldn't get burned.” He shrugged and turned to Julie, “I guess it would be a good idea to invite the staff. Let them get to know Tar.” He glanced at me to see how I reacted to the “new” name. These folks had no way of knowing I was used to family, friends even coaches and teachers all calling me Tar. The only thing that bothered me was that somehow when Bill did it, it seemed special. I wondered if Julie had grilled him about me... NO! I am certain Julie grilled him about me. I can't blame Bill for cracking. I suspect the CIA could learn a thing or two from sweet Miss Julie. I wonder is she tortures Bruno when no one is around.

By the time the coffee was only dregs it was decided that Harry would pick up a pig and come to David's “boat house” Friday and get things started. David would invite the staff. Julie would invite some folks she thought might be a compliment to the crowd. I felt almost left out of the plans. I wasn't so sure that I was to be the guest of honor or just an excuse to throw a party.

Shit! Tomorrow is Friday…. If this were a video tape, I’d want to hit pause… to much has happened in too little time.