Page 314 of The Texas Sterling Collection
“I sure do love you, too.” Joey kissed Felix.
Their lips parted. “We'd better get back to the house. Ma will have lunch ready soon,” Felix said. They entered the spring and washed each other before getting dressed.
“Tomorrow, I’ll take you up to one of my favorite spots on our ranch,” Joey said as they rode along.
“Where is that?” Felix asked, curious as to why he had not yet been there.
“It’s the same area where you found me, only I didn’t show you the place I’m talking about,” Joey said. “I went there to think when Ma told me I couldn’t love another man, and you were not speaking to me. Before Pa brought you to the ranch, I used to go there for the wonderful view and to think about things. Since you came along, all I think about is you.”
“I want to see your thinking place. I bet it’s wonderful,” Felix paused long enough to tease Joey, then said, “and I think about you all the time, too.”
Joey laughed and gigged Lightning to gallop ahead. Felix gigged Sparkle and caught up, and the two cowboys flew across the prairie to the barn.
* * *
After lunch, they spent the afternoon cleaning the stables, starting with Sparkle’s stall.
“I should get my own horse.” Felix used a broom to sweep as Joey shoveled the old hay out of the stall.
“Why?” Joey stopped shoveling. “You have a horse. Sparkle.”
“No…I mean a horse that's mine.” Felix eyed Joey.” Not a Sterling horse I borrow for the summer.”
“Sparkleisyour horse, Felix.” Joey held out a hand in a giving gesture, emphasizing his point.
“No.” Felix put his left hand on his hip, holding the broom handle with his right. “Sparkle is a Sterling horse. I need a Bonner horse.”
“Listen to me,” Joey said as he leaned on the shovel handle. “Sparkle wouldn’t let anybody ride him before you came along. That’s why Pa was so surprised when I gave you Sparkle when you first came. Pa was ready to sell Sparkle.”
“You gave me a wild horse?” Felix’s eyes widened at what seemed like a joke on the new kid.
“Felix,” Joey smiled. “I gave you a horse I knew you could handle. Sparkle never responded to anyone like he responds to you. Sparkleisyour horse andonlyyour horse.”
Felix pondered Joey's words. “So Sparkle picked me.” He realized what Joey meant.
“Yes. Sparkle likes you, respects you, and won the calf roping contest for you. Of course, you led him, and he responded to your every command. But he knew what to do and made sure you were where you needed to be to rope the calf.”
“I never thought of it that way, Joey. But you’re right, Sparkle responds to me.”
“Sparkle responds only to you. So, do you still want to get your own horse?” Joey picked up the shovel again, ready to resume the cleaning chore.
“Nope…I have a horse.” Felix resumed his sweeping.
“You have a fine horse. One of the best.” Joey's shovel began scraping the stall floor.
They finished cleaning the stables and putting fresh hay in the mangers. The afternoon vanished, and the evening approached as they walked to the house.
“What did you two do this afternoon?” Mabel asked as they washed up for supper.
“We did our stable-cleaning chores, Ma.” Felix nudged Joey away from the sink. Joey pushed back, and soon they were in a pushing contest, laughing at each other.
“You two behave.” Mabel laughed with them. She turned the chicken pieces frying in the cast-iron skillet, then stirred the potatoes she was about to mash.
Grover walked into the kitchen and went to the sink to wash up. His two sons were seated at the table.
“Felix, are you still doing okay?”
“Yes, Pa. Joey and I cleaned the stables this afternoon. I mentioned I needed my own horse, and he told me Sparkle was my horse.”
