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“Yeah, it's relaxing. Just helps me really think and relax, you, see?”
“What are you working on?” He asked and she gestured him to follow her. He walked behind her as they entered the house and that was when he saw the board and the half drawn black stallion there. He narrowed his eyes, trying to see where he knew the horse from, and she laughed behind him.
“You don't remember him?” She asked and that was when recognition dawned on him.
“Oh, oh yeah, I do remember him. The horse Austin took in the beginning when we found you in the woods. Wow! This is one hell of a realistic drawing,” he said and reached out to touch it but had to pull his hand back at the last second.
“Oops, may have smudged it,” he said. She laughed and nodded.
“Yeah, you may have. I…” she stopped when they heard the engine of a car and she looked to see a truck driving towardsthem, and she looked at Hayden who walked out onto the porch and he turned to look at her.
“That's Austin. I'd know that ugly truck anywhere,” he said. The truck stopped and a man stepped out of it. He was huge and broad, a few inches shorter than Austin but nonetheless intimidating with his red beard and blue eyes.
He was wearing brown jeans and brown boots and when he took his hat off, he revealed woven hair. He stood there with a smile on his face while Austin stared at him, shocked for a while then he finally walked towards the man.
“Kenny?” He asked. Kenneth nodded.
“Little Hayden. You're not so little anymore. By God, what do they feed the lot of you? I saw Austin and I see you and…wow! Is that your Woman?” He asked, gesturing to Lenanee who walked to him. His hands engulfed hers though he held it very delicately.
“Kenneth. I grew up here.”
“Lenanee. I have heard a lot about you.”
“Good things, I hope. Though I do expect those would be hard to find. I was a very mischievous teenager. I must also say, you are a very fine woman. You have quite the taste, my brother,” Kenneth said to Hayden and clapped his shoulder.
“Thank you. Would you like to come in?” Hayden asked. He noticed that Kenneth hesitated a little then shrugged and began to walk with him.
“I didn't expect to see you. When you left I…ah thought it'd be…”
“Permanent? I thought so too. I didn't want any more of this. Was tired of the heat and the sweating and the general climate. Everything was horseshit to me. I immediately ran to a colder climate. Realized that was shit as well,” he said as he stepped into the house and lowered himself onto a chair then he looked around.
“It's all the same.”
“You think so? Everything has changed to me,” Hayden replied. Kenneth shook his head.
“It's not that. It's…the soul of the place. It is almost as though I never left. I mean, I've not seen the rest of it.”
“We could go for a ride out after this. There still time before darkness falls,” Hayden said. Kenneth shook his head.
“I'm afraid I'll be a little rusty. Haven't seen a horse in a long time, talk little of riding one.
“I don't think you'd be rusty. You and your brothers used to ride circles around me back then. Was like magic, the way you three did it.”
“My brothers and I? I didn't think…you were my brother, weren't you, Hayden?” He asked.
“I…uh, I don't think…”
“I heard about what happened between you and Austin. I know it must have been tough and I really do sympathize. My brother can get carried away by his emotions at times. There are things that shouldn't be done.”
“No, no. I think I deserved it in a way. I always thought…I don't know why but I always thought it could be brushed aside but I was in the wrong, my father was in the wrong. We let the wound fester and Austin did what he did. We have settled that matter now and I believe, with time, we can be brothers again,” Hayden said.
Kenneth had a smile on his face that seemed to have been fixed there. It grew neither wider nor narrower and his eyes just stared right at Hayden.
“Are you okay?” Lenanee asked. Kenneth nodded enthusiastically then leaned back in his chair.
“It has been quite the journey, hasn't it? All if it just to come back to this place. I wish this was a social call alone and I would like to stay here and wade through the memories and feelings of nostalgia but…I am afraid I am also here on business,” he said.
“What do you mean?” Hayden asked, starting to grow suspicious. If there was one thing he knew about Kenneth, it was that there was always something up his sleeve and he didn't seem to have changed even a little.
