"Hey, dad, I can skip the meal tonight if I have to, right?" I asked. "I wouldn't mind, but your aunt and uncle would." He said. "Yeah, and when I get married, my husband probably doesn't want to go over to their house to have dinner once a week," I told him.
"Go on and skip it. You need to." He said. I kissed his cheek and ran out to my truck. I got in and buckled up. Then drove to my barn to get my horse.
I hooked my trailer up and put the halter on him. He followed me until we got to the trailer. I opened the doors up and set the ramp out. Then he refused to load.
Yup, he hates trailers and people on his back. It's Friday night, so there's not much going on. Finally, he loaded, and I closed him in. He threw a fit, wanting out.
I hated having to trailer him. I ran back to the cab and got in. I've always guessed he was abused when he was younger because of the way he acts. I pulled up in front of the barn at Triple R, greeted by the one and only Zach.
"Sounds like he didn't want to go." He said. "No, he just has a huge hate for trailers and people on his back," I told him. "So he's broke." "I haven't been able to tell if he is or not," I told him as I opened the trailer up.
Jericho almost barreled out of it. I grabbed his lead rope and led him in a circle, calming him. He calmed perfectly. "I think the first thing I'm going to work on is the trailer," Zach told me.
"That would help a lot for me," I said. "Um, are you busy tonight?" He asked. "No," I told him. "Would you like to stay for supper?" He asked. "Are you wanting me over because you get lonely, or is it because you're scared of getting kicked out?" I asked.
"Um. It's more like I want to get my life straightened out, and I want to hang out with you." "So no more bar visits and alcoholic drinks?" I asked.
"Guess you could say that." He mumbled. "Then, how about next Friday you come over to my house for dinner," I said. "Sounds like a plan." He said as we began walking down the aisle towards the stall where Jericho would be living in.
"He'll be safe in here." He said as he closed the stall. Jericho automatically went to the back of the stall and lowered his head. "I wish he'd stop doing that," I said, watching my horse.
"Does he usually do that?" Zach asked. "Always like this," I told him. "Why don't you go in there and see if he'll come to you?" I went into the stall, and Jericho twitched his ear and remained calm.
I stroked his neck and he looked up at me. He moved closer and nudged my knee with his nose. I continued to stroke and let him. He finally brought his head up to my waist and sniffed my stomach.
He was calming down. As long as someone was in the stall with him, he loved attention. "Ok, now back away from him and let's see what he does." I backed away from him, and he got a little upset.
He followed me over to the door, wanting more love. "Doesn't want to be left alone," Zach said as Jericho put his head up to my shoulders.
He nudged me, not wanting me to leave him. "Could you come back tomorrow?" Zach asked. "I can come on my lunch break," I told him. He nodded. "He thinks you're going to leave him here."
"I can come back Sunday afternoon, too, if you want me to," I told him. "Monday, after you get off work. Then Thursday, after you get off. He'll get used to you being gone for long periods here, and the Fridays you're over here, he'll be happy to see you."
I nodded and stepped out of the stall. Jericho put his head through wanting to be petted and loved on. Zach stroked his head before reaching in and scratching his neck.
"He'll get used to me as I work with him," Zach said before we went over to his house. "It would mean a lot if you did stay past nine tonight." He said as we entered the house.
"Are you sure you wouldn't get into trouble?" I asked. "Nah, they know exactly how you are. Besides, I'm not going to do anything stupid that might get me into trouble." He said as he got a pan out.
"What would you like tonight?" He asked me. "How about you surprise me?" I asked, sitting at the bar. He lightly smirked and went over to the fridge. "Would you like a glass of tea?" He asked.
"Please." "Ice?" "Yes." He fixed us both a glass and set one in front of me. Then got some meat out and started cooking. I watched as he cooked.
"Do you know what I'm fixing?" He asked. "No." "Garlic brown sugar chicken." Sounded good. "Where did you find that?" I asked. "Hedli was browsing Pinterest the other day, so I thought it would be cool to get one just for food recipes and welding projects."
I find it interesting that he did that. "So you're a Pinterest fan too?" I asked, smiling. "I guess you could say that. I mean, when I do have a family, I want to be able to cook for my wife and children." He said as he stirred the side.
I had so much fun that night too. We watched a movie and didn't even drink any alcohol. He kept his word by not drinking at all.
I left at about ten and went home. I unhooked my trailer and went up to my house. Then fed Dillard and got a shower.