Page 255 of The Texas Sterling Collection
“I do not expect you to know anything about ranching. I assume you lived in town your entire life, so you never had a reason to learn the things I mentioned. But Joey is an accomplished rancher, so don’t you worry. He is eager to teach you.”
“He is? How did he learn about me?”
“Mabel and I stopped in your father’s store yesterday. He mentioned wanting you to experience hard work. I considered hiring someone to help Joey this summer, and I suggested that Cornelius let you spend the summer with us. He said you graduated from high school this year, but didn’t mention your age. I assumed you were near the same age as Joey. When Mabel and I got back to the ranch yesterday afternoon, we told Joey you might be coming for the summer. He got excited about having someone help him with the chores.”
“Would those chores be the roping, branding, herding thing you mentioned?”
Grover chuckled. “Those you will learn, but branding and herding are not done daily. You two will also ride fences, which happens once a month. Daily, you will help Joey with the upkeep of the horses, including mucking out stables.”
“Our family owns two horses, and I take care of them. But I never rode a fence before. It sounds kind of painful.”
Grover barked a laugh. “Son, I’ll let Joey show you what to do. It’s not painful at all.”
Felix glanced at Grover. “Do you and Mrs. Sterling have other children?”
“Mabel and I have one other son, Jacob. He’s off at college.”
The knot of uncertainty tightened Felix’s stomach. He longed to attend college, but his father wouldn’t hear of it. Later in the summer, he hoped to find out more about what going to college involved. He wondered about asking Mr. Sterling if he would speak to his father.
“Will Joey go to college, too?”
“In another year, I will send him to the university in Austin. But first, he needs to finish school here. Your father said you did well in school, but didn’t have many friends. Joey’s a friendly guy. He makes friends easily, so I’m sure you two will get along.”
“I'm glad.” Felix tensed. What if Joey didn’t like him or teased him about wanting to read? What if he couldn’t do those things Mr. Sterling mentioned? “Does Joey realize he’s getting a bookworm for a helper?” The popular guys at school were not kind to Felix. What if Joey is a popular guy, too?
“Your father mentioned you have no ranching background, so Joey knows. He’s excited about your stay and has planned your training.”
Felix exhaled a breath. “I’m sure I’ll need lots of help.” He hoped Joey wouldn’t hate him. After a few days of frustration, Joey would complain to his father about worthless Felix. He'd better try extra hard to learn from Joey. Learning ranching would be more pleasant than risking his father's wrath again.
“You do much riding, Felix?”
“I do currying and saddling and general animal care. I’m comfortable on a horse, but never raced or roped. Father isn’t fond of competitive things.”
“Joey won the calf roping competition at the rodeo last summer, Felix. Competition keeps the mind sharp and the senses keen. I’m sure you will make a fine horseman.”
Felix enjoyed his books and spending time alone. His chest tightened at the news about Joey winning at the rodeo. He knew nothing about competition. His father never encouraged him to compete. As the dirt road stretched out ahead, Felix realized the extent of the isolation he faced. He enjoyed spending time alone in his room at home, amid familiar surroundings. This ranch was far from everything he knew.
To stem his uncertainty, Felix took in the vast open prairie with tall grasses waving in the breeze and early summer wildflowers dotting the landscape. In the distance, tall mesas jutted up like guardians of the plains. His primary introduction to anything outside Blackfield was through books. He read about mountains, prairies, and wildlife, but had never experienced them firsthand. His despair morphed into excitement as his eyes, ears, and nose absorbed all the new sights, sounds, and smells. Felix drew in a deep breath. How could he have missed experiencing the clean, fresh breeze scented with prairie flora? He found the open land remarkable. Surrounded by the beauties of nature, perhaps being on the ranch wouldn’t be so bad.
“The expression on your face tells me this is all new to you. Have you never been out of Blackfield?”
Felix shook his head as his eyes kept darting across the landscape. “No, sir. Father doesn’t like leaving the store, so our family never travels. I am amazed at the scenery.”
“Felix. Over there.” Grover pointed to his left. A small herd of antelope grazed a quarter of a mile away. The buck lifted his head high, displaying his antlers as a warning not to approach his harem. The herd seemed oblivious to the buggy, grazing on the tender grasses.
“Wow. I never saw live deer before.”
“Those are antelope, Felix. Notice how the buck protects his herd?”
“He’s magnificent.”
“On the ranch, you may see deer or antelope herds.”
“On the ranch?” Felix expected those animals to be much further away.
“Wildlife abounds out here, Felix. Years ago, plentiful buffalo herds roamed the area.”
Felix eyed Mr. Sterling. “Buffalo?”
