Page 10 of Bales and Brawn

“I’m glad to see he has some sense,” Arlene says, and I carefully make sure I don’t look at Zane for his reaction to that. She pours the tea while I pass the donuts around.

“There’s one for Clive as well.” I place the bag with the last donut in it on the tray.

“Thank you, Devin. That’s very thoughtful of you.” She gives me a kind smile.

“What would you have done with the donuts if I hadn’t hired you?” Zane asks before taking a bite.

“Eaten them all myself in misery I guess.” I shrug and the corners of his mouth twitch ever so slightly. I’m determined to get a full smile from him before my six weeks are up. By then my DUI program will have finished and I can get my license back. Hopefully I can then find a trucking job and be back out on the highway. But before then, now I know I’m going to stay in Foggy Basin, I have more pressing needs.

“Arlene, you wouldn’t happen to know of any place where I can stay, or anyone who could rent me a room, would you? I’m at the Foggy Inn but I’d like something a little more fixed and less expensive.”

“Let me think,” Arlene replies, and purses her lips in thought.

“What about the barn?” Nova pipes up.

“What is that? Do they rent rooms?”

“No, silly. Our barn.” He waves his hand towards the wooden barn that houses the horses.

“I don’t want a stable,” I say, confused.

“Not a stable, in the room above.” Nova looks pleased like he’s had the idea of the century.

“It’s true,” Zane adds. “Dad had it made years ago. We used to breed a few horses back then and it was so he could be close when they were foaling. But it’s basic. It has electricity but no running water.”

“Could I see it?” It’s worth that at least.

Zane gives me a look that says he clearly thinks I’m crazy, but he leads the way across the yard and we all trail after him. In the corner of the barn is a staircase leading to an upper floor. Zane opens the door and I follow him in. It’s a large room, but he wasn’t joking when he said it was basic. There are a couple of chests, a set of shelves, a table, and two chairs. In one corner is a large bed, which looks solid but the covers look moth-eaten. Over everything is a thick layer of dust. It looks like no one’s been up here for years, except maybe some mice.

“Like I said, it’s not much. The lights work and there’s a faucet in the barn downstairs,” Zane says. It’s not ideal, barely even practical, but it is possible, and would save me the walk up from Foggy Basin every day.

“I’ve stayed in plenty of worse places,” I say brightly, trying to sound optimistic. “Could I stay here?”

“Are you sure?” Zane’s brow furrows deeper than normal.

“Yes. How much?”

He looks around the room as if assessing it.

“You clean it up and keep it tidy and you can stay for nothing.”

“Really? Are you sure?”

“It’s not like anyone’s using it.”

“Thank you, Zane. I’ll come tomorrow and start cleaning it up.” It’s going to save me a lot of money, and for the first time since I lost my trucking job, I feel happier.

My happiness and excitement dim slightly on Sunday morning when I see the room again with fresh eyes. No wonder Zane thought I was crazy. But I’ve already checked out of the Foggy Inn and hauled my sports bag and backpack a mile up the road. I’m not taking them back again.

“It’s not that bad,” I mutter to myself as I open the window that looks out onto the yard and farmhouse beyond. A breeze swirls in and disturbs the dust, which makes me cough, so I shut it again quickly. I manage to locate a broom and get to work sweeping the floor. Nova comes by and says he wants to help, but mostly perches on a chair and admires his nails until Sandy arrives and they drive off towards town.

My next visitor is Arlene, who brings me some fresh bedding.

“That’s not necessary,” I say, but I am grateful for it. I was going to buy some myself, but it’s better if I don’t have to.

“I’ll bring you some more bits later, when I get back from town,” she says after nodding approvingly at the progress I’ve made so far.

I carry on with my cleaning, working on clearing the shelves. I uncover a few plates, and a few knives and forks, and set them aside for cleaning later. As I dust and sweep, I sing my way through my favorite country songs. Especially a few from Dolly. I even add a little dance routine to “Nine to Five” as I mop the floor.