“You had a smile and a way about you,” said Austin. “You know how if you drive into a city along the parkway where it’s all green and lovely, then your impression of the city is that it’s green and lovely.”
“So I’m green and lovely now?” asked Clay, his palm splayed across his chest, pretending to be affronted, though that was instantly ruined when he laughed out loud.
“Golden and lovely,” said Austin and the words must have come without thought, for he flushed a rather delightful shade of red, and though he looked abashed, he did not take the words back.
“Aw, shucks,” said Clay, laughing it off, though his mind did a few backflips of joy because nobody had ever described him that way.
After they finished their breakfast and bussed their trays, as they were going out, Brody was coming in. He had his hat in one hand and a pair of leather driver’s gloves in the other.
“I’m looking for Leland,” said Brody. “Is he in there?”
“I didn’t see him,” said Clay, trying to keep his voice even. He knew Brody was going to be the one driving the chuckwagon this week, but it was hard not to be jealous about it.
“I’ll check at the barn,” said Brody, and then, at a trot, he was off, going down the wooden steps and up the road.
“What’s that all about?” asked Austin. When Clay didn’t answer right away, Austin pointed to Clay’s forehead. “You’ve got this little, almost invisible frown going on.”
“I do.” Clay didn’t even pretend he didn’t. “I love driving the chuckwagon—no, I mean I reallylovedriving the chuckwagon, but I can’t this week. Brody usually works with horses, so he’s great at it, only—Leland said no.”
“Does he know how much you enjoy it?” asked Austin.
“I’m sure he does,” said Clay, grabbing his hat from the peg on the wall before they walked out into the breezy morning.
“Maybe he doesn’t,” said Austin. “Your face lights up when you talk about it—”
“It does?” Nobody had ever talked about him the way Austin did, like Austin was taking notes, and had been the whole time.
“Yes, it does.” Austin nodded, perfectly serious. “You love your job, I can tell. And all the different parts of your job, well. Your face glows when you talk about it. Like driving the chuckwagon. Or giving lessons to guests. I think you should tell Leland, truly tell him, so he’ll know.”
“It won’t change anything.”
“It doesn’t need to. He’ll know for next time.” Austin reached out like he meant to pat Clay on the shoulder to give him courage, but at the last minute, he pulled back. To fix that, Clay took Austin’s hand and patted his own shoulder with it, as Austin had meant to do.
“I feel very encouraged right about now,” said Clay, with a low laugh.
“I’m glad to hear it,” said Austin, smiling, like he could hardly believe it was that easy to just be friends with someone. If Clay ever met Mona, he was going to give her a piece of his mind. “Well, I’m off to my meeting with Maddy. See you at lunch?”
“Sounds like a deal,” said Clay and, with a whistle in his heart, he headed up to the barn, taking his time.
When he reached it, the chuckwagon had indeed been pulled out of the service shed, with the tongue laid out, while Leland and Brody stretched the canvas over the round, iron wagon bows. Someone, another ranch hand, was inside the tack room oiling the four-horse harness, checking the reins, making sure of the buckles.
Feeling about as left out as ever he had, Clay took a breath and sauntered over to the chuckwagon.
“Anything I can help with?” he asked in his brightest voice.
Leland looked up, his eyes lighting up the way they did when he was glad to see you.
“There are four matched bays in box stalls in the barn that need brushing, need their hooves cleaned and oiled. Can you manage? We’re due to head out by ten o’clock. Quint’s already got horses just about ready to go in the arena.”
“Sure thing, boss,” said Clay, glad to even be this close to the proceedings.
The weeks that there was a cattle drive or even a little horse drive were always exciting. Guests paid extra for such events, so everything had to be perfect. Of course, Leland would trust Clay with grooming, just like he would anybody else who worked for him. If only he would let Clay drive the team.
While Clay groomed each bay, tended to their hooves, combed their manes and tails, he thought about what Austin had said, and what Austin had done in the past. He’d spoken to that highway patrolman like it was nothing, like the guy didn’t scare him at all.
Of course, Clay wasn’t afraid of the local law, not exactly, but he had a few speeding tickets under his belt, so it always made his heart rush when he encountered one. As for Leland, Austin had suggested Clay speak his mind and let his boss know how he felt, even if he thought Leland already knew. Austin had been rather handsome as he’d shared his wisdom, all green-eyed and solemn, strong shouldered and sure of himself.
When the horses were groomed, the image of Austin stayed with Clay as he helped put the harness on each one, and then led the team out to the chuckwagon to carefully put them in place before asking them to back up. Brody helped with that, and between the two of them, the team was harnessed and Brody was slipping on those thick leather gloves.
