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“Listen Tylar, if you want to know what happened ask Trey; I don't like to talk out of turn."
That was the end of the conversation.
My cottage was stuffy from being closed up for so many days. I immediately opened the large front window to circulate the air. Ray had put my pay envelope on the breakfast bar, along with some mail that had arrived for me over the course of the last week. I had to make it last since there wouldn’t be a check coming Monday for this week.
I relaxed on the couch, reminiscing about our house in Kentucky and what it had been like growing up there. I'd always been given chores. By the time I turned seven years old my chores included doing the dishes, taking the trash out, cleaning my room, and folding my own laundry. By the time I reached 13 years old, I was responsible for cleaning the whole house on Saturdays, earning $20 a week.
I liked Saturdays because Mom would allow me to have my new best friend Laurie over on Friday night to spend the night with me. Laurie’s mom, Mona, and my mom were good friends. Mona was about the only female friend that I remembered Mom having. They lived five blocks from us. Laurie would come home from school with me on Fridays. After Mom got off work, she'd bring a pizza home for us and let us stay up until midnight.
On Saturday, Mona would come by and pick Laurie up at noon. That's when my chores began. I'd put clean sheets on the beds then start cleaning the rest of the house. Mom left right at 1 p.m. for her weekly appointment at the spa. She'd get a facial, pedicure, manicure, and her hair styled. She'd stop at the grocery to get stuff for dinner.
Saturday was Mom’s date night so that's when I would stay overnight at Laurie's. Mona would come by with Laurie around 5:30 to pick me up, just as Mom was starting dinner for her date, always a fancy candlelight meal. Laurie said her mom was the same way on her Friday date nights. I guess that’s why Laurie slept over at my house on her mom’s date nights. It was more romantic without kids around. Laurie said that she didn’t remember her dad either; he'd died before she was born. She said that except for her mom, she had no other family. We had a lot in common. My mom’s parents had died before I was born; my dad’s parents didn’t want anything to do with me she told me.
I was startled from my sleepy memories by the sound of my cell phone ringing. I jumped up to answer it. “Hello?”
“I trust you got home and settled okay.”
It was Trey’s “business” voice and my stomach did a flip-flop. I wanted his smooth and silky voice back.
“Yes,” I answered softly. “Everything went fine. I feel fine. I'm ready to go back to work and dig in.”
I was curious as to whether he was going to divulge my new assignment, or leave the dirty work to Ray when he came by later.
“Tylar, Ray was supposed to stop by this evening after his shift to discuss the schedule we worked out for you for the next couple of weeks. Unfortunately, when I just now called him, he has been delayed by an early delivery of a foal over at the Belle. He's staying there waiting for the vet. Since he hasn’t had the opportunity to discuss the specifics with you, I wanted to give you a call to let you know to just take it easy tomorrow until Ray can get with you about next week’s schedule.”
“I see,” I replied. My voice was sharp now. “Why don’t you go ahead and fill me in, Trey. I already know I’m scheduled to work over at the Belle. Are you punishing me for some reason?”
Tylar,” his voice was quiet yet stern, “I don't appreciate your tone with me. Not that I owe you an explanation but to answer your question, you're not being punished. I simply must make appropriate decisions in the best interest of the business and minimize any risk of re-injury to you.”
"I’m sorry I was snippy with you, Trey. You're right, I was out of line. Do you accept my apology?”
“I suppose,” he replied guardedly.
I smiled into the phone. “It’s just that I know that with the races starting this weekend and all, the rest of the group can probably use all of the help they can get prepping the horses. I can be of more assistance at the stables than anywhere else. I can make sure that I don’t over-do it, Trey.” My voice was soft and sweet. “Please, Trey?”
“I know what you're trying to do, Tylar,” he said, firmly. “It isn’t working. You'll start your assignment over at the Le Vie Belle on Monday. Ray will fill you in on the details sometime before then. This is non- negotiable, understood?"
I mentally flipped him off.
“I’m waiting,” he breathed into the phone, his voice stern and expectant.
“Yeah, yeah,” I replied rolling my eyes and not bothering to hide my irritation. “What about Derringer?”
“What about him?”
“Can I at least take care of him when I’m off the clock?”
“No,” he answered, “I want you to distance yourself from the horses until your follow-up appointment with the doctor.”
“Trey the discharge papers don’t say anything about my not being allowed around horses.” There was silence on the other end. I heard soft music in the background.
Where is he?
“Hello? Are you there?” I asked.
“Ah yes, I’m sorry. This really isn't a good time to discuss the details of your schedule. I’ve made myself clear from the company's standpoint, and I believe that you're clear on what's to take place on Monday, correct?”
Huh? Why's he talking like that to me?
