The Coffee Shop Pt. 05

A few minutes of quiet followed as Andy slowly lead Blizzard, followed by Rusty, around the open field. It was the longest few minutes of my life. It wasn't easy for me to not say anything. I kept Rusty on a clear path following Blizzard as best I could, but I did not say anything. I desperately wanted to fill the stony silence, and to talk with Andy. But if I wanted to share this part of his life, this most private part of his world, I had to understand and obey the rules. The problem was, I didn't know what the rules were. I was guessing here, and making a damn poor showing at that. Slowly in the deafening silence of those eternal minutes I came to understand what it was that Andy was trying to teach me. If I wanted to be a cowboy, as he was, I had to learn the first and most important rule: Shut up and do as you're told. For a man used to being in control all the time, it was a difficult adjustment to comprehend. I had to be submissive and subordinate to Andy, and do as he said. It was almost as if our roles had been reversed. He was the hypnotist and I was the subject. The thought chilled me. I won't lie. The thought scared me clear down to my toes. As these thoughts kept running through my head I kept my gaze down on Rusty's head, all the better to unravel this enigma. That's when I was forced to look down deep inside myself, at who I was, and what I was.

Soul searching on the back of a horse plodding along at a slowly steady clop, is easier than you might think. There is something about the steady rhythm of the clopping of the horse's hooves, and the gentle rolling in the saddle that helps clear and focus the mind. Slowly a smile touched my lips and my head rose up, as the truth became as clear and bright to me as a diamond sitting in the afternoon sun. I looked over at Andy, who to my surprise was looking back at me. Slowly I nodded my head up and down slightly in a 'yes'. To my eminent relief, Andy smiled back at me and nodded his head, sealing the agreement. Can't you guess? Don't you know by now? Ah, well, I guess you had to have been there to truly understand the wordless contract that we wrote with only a short glance into each other's eyes. Andy would teach me to ride and to be a cowboy, and in this he was the master, and I the humble and obedient apprentice. I wasn't the student, but an apprentice, which is somewhat lower on the scale.


The minutes continued to drag on, interminably. Finally, he started instructing me on how to guide my horse. I paid strict attention to everything he said. We trotted onwards heading out into the field, stopping several times to be sure that I knew how to pull up on the reins to signal to Rusty that it was time to stop. Rusty stayed right by Blizzard's side (or was it the other way around?) as we slowly made our way around the practice area for the first time riders. Rusty was the perfect lady the entire time that Andy and I rode together. Not once did she show the slightest interest in any of the young foals that were frolicking about with the other mares, in the nearby pastures. She was content to just trot about with Blizzard and exchange casual neighs of horse 'hellos' with the other horses and their young riders that we encountered.

There were some cowboys sitting on one of the fences that surrounded the practice area, watching us as we worked our way around the practice area. They didn't say anything to us. They just looked at us. I figured that they were taking a short break from whatever it was that they were doing. I didn't pay the cowboys much mind, as I was more interested in Andy's riding lessons. There seemed so much to learn, and I had barely started. After a while, I noticed that the number of cowboys sitting on the fence had increased and they were starting to talk amongst themselves, and one or two of them would point at me. Either it was at me or it was at Rusty. I didn't understand what all the fuss was about, but I did find it a bit distracting. I felt like I was the main attraction at some kind of side show.

Andy noticed the break in my concentration. He told me to wait there, and he would look into the matter. Andy rode over to the group of cowboys. He talked to them. They talked back. This went on for several minutes. Rusty didn't make any sounds or move about at all. She stood there content to wait for Blizzard to return. I was too far away to hear any of what was said between Andy and the cowboys. I had a pretty good idea that the topic under discussion had something to do with Rusty, and the fact that I was riding her. The cowboys nodded their heads at Andy. Andy nodded his head back at them. Some type of agreement was made. Andy rode back to me. "Just ignore them," he told me. "They won't make any sounds or do anything further to distract you. Let's get back to your lessons, greenhorn,"

"Yes, boss," I replied firmly. Part of me was burning to ask Andy what was going on, but I knew better than to do that. Andy called the shots. If he didn't wish to talk about it, then I'd best keep my mouth shut and my ears open. The lessons continued.

While we rode, Andy and I talked about horses and what beautiful animals and companions they can be. Well mostly Andy talked, and I listened. I asked a few dumb questions about horses, and Andy chuckled as he corrected some of my 'city boy' misconceptions about them. Slowly I began to get a glimmering of how much Andy enjoyed his time here at the ranch, and what spending time with these beautiful animals really meant to him. My heart soared with silent joy, when Andy threw a few approving smiles my way. Smiles that showed he knew how hard I was trying to understand and learn about this part of his world. I nodded my head slightly in acknowledgment as I successfully fought back the tears that tried to fill my eyes. Cowboys don't get sentimental and mushy in public.

Suddenly Andy broke off his instruction to me and looked me square in the eye, while continuing to ride beside me. "You're doing well, for a greenhorn," he said quietly. He looked at me as if expecting a response. I wasn't sure but I thought I could detect a note of pride in his voice.

"Thank you, boss," I said respectfully. "I have a good teacher."

"You do indeed, greenhorn," he replied and flashed me a small grin.


I smile back and kept my mouth shut. I figured he had to have the last word in any conversation. Inside though, I was thrilled. I had passed my first test. Andy had me stop Rusty to let him and Blizzard walk ahead, just to be sure that Rusty would not try to take off on her own, after I'd signalled her to stop. She stayed just as she was supposed to, as Andy and Blizzard cantered on ahead of us. She only nickered softly, and tossed her head once, as we waited for Andy and Blizzard to return. Andy and Blizzard continued on for a bit longer, and then they slowed down and finally stopped. As I sat there upon Rusty, I was treated to the wonderful sight of Andy astride Blizzard, the two of them silhouetted against the sun. (We had been riding for hours, though it didn't seem like it to me. Clearly we had, though, since the sun was now low in the sky.)

I stared in utter amazement; unable and unwilling to move or make any sound for fear that the moment would be shattered before I could engrave every precious detail into my memory. They stood there tranquil, a cowboy astride his noble steed, powerful and regal in a completely natural and unpretentious pose. I felt a lump suddenly come to my throat, and I sighed quietly, with suppressed delight, while I gazed at the two of them. The emotion of the sight before me was overpowering. Still I fought down the urge to openly express my joy and delight in looking at Andy sitting there astride Blizzard. (I could always claim I had dust in my eyes if anyone asked me why I was blinking my eyes so much.) Slowly it dawned on me. Andy and my long time fantasy of a cowboy hero, were one in the same. I drank in every precious second as I sat there astride Rusty, and feasted my eyes upon the man of my dreams. I didn't want that moment to ever end. I felt humbled, blessed and beholden to the man upstairs. It had taken a long time, but he had finally answered my prayers.

The magic moment was shattered though, when I felt a sudden but gentle slap on my left arm. Surprised to say the least, I turned my head to the left and gazed upon the unexpected sight of Chuck Chatterly astride a large black stallion, standing right next to me. Somehow he and this monster of a horse had walked up next to me and I had not even noticed. Apparently neither had Rusty since she hadn't uttered a sound. I was just a bit nervous since Rusty was still not completely comfortable around other horses. Chuck was my friend, as well as Andy's troop-mate. I welcomed his presence as surprising as it was. Chuck had something large and powerful between his legs, which he appeared to be a master at controlling, and he was enjoying himself while he did it. (I'm talking about the horse he was riding, dear reader. What did you think I was talking about? Now get your mind out of the gutter, you slut puppy.)

Chuck looked at me as I wiped away the tear from my eye with my right hand, while I kept a firm grip on the reins with my left hand. (I had learned never to let go of the reins. Hey, I might have been a greenhorn, but I wasn't stupid.) He didn't ask, and I didn't offer any explanation. He just looked at me thoughtfully as if he were trying to decide something about me. Chuck looked at me with a studied and penetrating gaze like some type of a scientist examining an alien form of life. (For the second time that day I felt like a bug under a microscope. It was not pleasant.) After a few moments Chuck seemed to come to some type of a decision. "You really do love him don't you?" he asked me quietly, as he jerked his head in Andy's direction while still keeping his eyes locked on mine. His words were soft but they thundered with meaning.

I nodded my head, and finally managed to speak in a calm steady self assured voice that carried with it a ring of simple truth. "Yes, with all my heart, and soul, I do love him."


Chuck gave me a sidelong look, as if he were carefully measuring his words before he spoke. "You'll do. You'll do, just fine," he declared with quiet authority in that commanding voice of his. Chuck leaned over and slapped me gently on the left shoulder. His lips were still unsmiling, but I thought I saw a flicker of warmth in his pale blue eyes. Without another word he pulled up on the reins and turned his stallion about into a canter. He left me sitting there dumbfounded staring after him.

It didn't take me very long to figure out that Chuck was simply being cautious. He could not openly acknowledge the relationship that Andy and I shared. That flash of warmth in his pale blue eyes had spoken volumes, though. Chuck was behind us all the way. He was in our corner, and approved, finally. If someone as headstrong as Chuck could change their opinion of me and Andy, then maybe there was a bigger and brighter future to this relationship than I had thought. I turned my attention back to Andy and Blizzard. To my everlasting delight they were slowly walking towards Rusty and I.

Andy rode up to me, and told me that we were going to try a few more things for the next half hour or so, and then the lessons for the day would be complete. Andy did not ask me what Chuck and I had talked about, even though he had seen us together. I took this as a sign that Andy trusted me, as much as he trusted Chuck. I decided not to broach the subject. Instead I concentrated fully on Andy's lessons. He was a good teacher. Calm, controlled and patient. Of course, I'm not exactly objective when it comes to Andy, so I guess you have to take my opinion with a grain of salt.

Eventually the ride came to an end, and I learned what was involved in helping a horse to cool off and to brush out its coat. First though I had to get off of the horse. With my sprained ankle Andy had to help me dismount, but he didn't make a big deal about it. He merely mentioned to me that this was the first and last time that he expected to ever have to help me dismount. At first I thought brushing off a horse was going to be a lot of hard work, but after the first few strokes it actually became a soothing and wonderful experience. With a few simple strokes Andy showed me the proper way to brush down my horse. I paid close attention to his example and after a few strokes had some idea of what I was doing. Fortunately, by this time Rusty was much more like her old self. She accepted Andy's presence in her stall calmly and without so much as a twitch of her ear. When we were about half done brushing her down, Andy left the stall. He returned a short time later with Cody in tow.

Cody looked at Rusty, and gulped once or twice. Andy handed the culling brush he had been using on Rusty, to Cody and asked Cody to help me with Rusty, since Andy still had Blizzard to brush. Andy knew that with my sprained ankle I'd have a hard time brushing Rusty myself. Cody approached Rusty warily, even though she made no motion that she objected to his presence. Hesitantly at first and then with slowly growing confidence Cody started to brush down Rusty.

I took a moment to look up and around, as I had the feeling that I was being watched. I turned away from Rusty and looked in the direction of the barn door. As I had half expected, there was a group of about a dozen cowboys standing in the barn doorway, staring in the general direction of me, Cody and Rusty. I looked at the group of cowboys for a few seconds longer, shrugged my shoulders, and turned my attention back to culling Rusty. If they were going to stare, they were going to stare, and there wasn't anything I could do about it. Besides I had a job to finish, and that was more important than what those cowboys thought about me.

Cody and I did not speak much to each other, as we culled Rusty. Small wonder as he wasn't exactly comfortable in my presence, considering what our last encounter was like. I'm sure he thought that since we were alone in the stall, that I was going to control him again and do something nasty with him. He should have known me well enough by now, to know that I wouldn't treat him in such a manner, especially with an audience present. I had to ask Cody's advice a few times on how to brush some problem areas, and in this he was efficient and polite. Still when the task was completed, Cody was relieved to be away from me. I give him credit, though, he concealed it well.


About an hour later, with the horses' needs taken care of, Andy met me at the main office of the riding ranch. Andy reported to Mister Carson that I had made a good start in learning how to ride, and that future riding lessons would not be a waste of time. Andy was very spare in his praise. Mister Carson and I worked out the details of my riding lessons, such as the payment schedule. Mister Carson reminded me to arrive early next week so that I could help him with that special project he'd mentioned to me earlier.

We walked back to Andy's car and prepared to drive back to the city. I made sure to pick up my right boot from the doctor's office. We left the riding ranch as Andy drove us back in to the city. I leaned back in the seat carefully, trying to make myself as comfortable as possible.

"You okay, Texas?" Andy asked.

"Other than my sprained ankle and my sore ass, yes, dear heart," I said with a chuckle. "You could have warned me about that, you know."

"And spoil the surprise for you? That would have been mean, don't you think? "Andy chuckled. "You'll be okay in a day or so."

"Yeah, I guess so. Are we heading to my place?" I asked.

"Yes. That would be best, I think," Andy said. "If I may ask, what was that special project Mister Carson was referring to?"

I turned my head and looked at Andy quizzically for a moment before I answered. It wasn't like Andy to ask me about a potential hypnosis session. "Mister Carson wants me to talk with one of his ranch hands, and convince him to let me hypnotize him. Mister Carson hopes that with hypnosis I can help the man with a problem that he's having on the job."

"I see," Andy said thoughtfully. "Well, if you're half as effective with him as you have been with me, that guy won't' know what hit him. You're going to use your powers on him, aren't you?"

"Yes, I had planned to do that, since it will be easier for me to hypnotize him if I do that," I admitted. "Do you have concerns about this, Andy?" I asked.

"I'm not concerned about you, or about the cowboy, either. I was just curious about what Mister Carson was talking about. He made it sound so mysterious," Andy said with a smile.

I smiled back at him, but didn't say anything more. What more was there to say? Andy knew as much about this situation as I did. We'd both have wait and see how things worked out with this cowboy. The rest of the drive to my apartment was spent chatting idly about things in general.

When we arrived at my apartment, Andy was kind enough to give me a back rub and help me around the apartment. He didn't wait on me hand and foot, though. He only helped when I asked him for help. He knew that I had my pride as well. We sat and talked for awhile. All too soon the evening was over, even though it was only 8:30 P.M.

"I have to go, Texas," Andy said as he stood by the door holding me in his arms. "You know I have to work tomorrow."


"Yes, I know that, dear heart," I said to him. "But you promise me, you'll be careful out there."

"On my honour as an RCMP constable," Andy vowed to me. It was an old vow, but one I made him repeat every time he left me to go to work. It was silly. It was superstitious. It was the one of the many ways I kept from worrying about him.

"You know, you did well at the ranch today," Andy said to me and then smiled at me.

"Thanks, boss," I replied acknowledging the sincere complement from my teacher.

"You should be proud, too," Andy continued after acknowledging my comment with a slight nod of his head. "You may have been born and raised a city boy, but you have the heart and soul of a cowboy."

I smiled at him. "If you say so, boss," I replied cautiously. I wasn't sure exactly what to make of his complement. I'd never thought of myself as having a call to nature or to the ranch life.

"I don't. Rusty does. She'd never have let you near her, much less ride her, if you weren't a cowboy at heart," Andy said looking me straight in the eye. "She's never let anyone but a ranch hand or trained horsemen ride her before. She's very skittish around greenhorns."

Andy turned away from me, opened the door and walked out. I was left standing there dumbfounded and speechless, as he closed the door on my bemused face. It took me a few minutes to recover from the shock of Andy's statement. I knew that he believed what he had said. I also knew that he believed that some horses were good judges of character. But this conclusion of his was a bit much to swallow. I decided to sleep on it, and see how things looked in a day or so. Unquestionably, though, I had enjoyed my day at the riding ranch. Finally I understood why the cowboys at the ranch had been so surprised at my being able to ride Rusty. In their eyes, I was just another 'city boy'. I shouldn't have been able to get anywhere near Rusty. My successful riding of Rusty, as simple and basic as it had been, put them off balance. They didn't know what to make of me anymore. They weren't alone, either. I was unsure what to make of myself. I had my suspicions, though. It seemed to me that my powers were involved. That possibility was both exciting and frightening.