Voices From Within (Book 2)

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Five

New Opportunities

The stable doors were opened, and four horses stood in the alleyway with saddles. He left his team tied to the outside hitching post. He gathered his belongings and walked through the large doors.

"Mrs. Thanturnam and Reggie told me I could find a bunk in here to stay for a few days."

Oscar was wearing his groomsmen clothes, and the men welcomed him. They showed him to a bunk. He set his satchel and packages on the bed. Then he joined the men at the table for a cup of coffee.

He gathered from the conversations that the men had just arrived home from herding cattle through the snow. They were drinking coffee to warm up from the journey and standing next to the stove. Oscar saw Jenkins walk into the main room where the men were sitting and poured himself a cup of coffee.

"Oscar, what are you doing here?" asked Jenkins, happy to see the old man.

"I could ask you the same thing."

Jenkins looked at Scotty and Clarence.

"I'm working for Mr. Thanturnam. And if I pass muster with these two, Reggie offered me wages plus room and board."

"Did you feed and water those horses?" asked Scotty.

"Yes sir," said Jenkins.

"Well, they're not going to groom themselves."

Jenkins drained his coffee and said to Oscar, "I'll talk to you later." He turned and went back to the barn.

"Say Mister, I didn't catch your name?" asked Scotty directly.

"My name is Oscar Watkins, and I am Miss Randolph's groomsmen."

All the men reacted to the mention of Charlotte. They told Oscar about the fabulous meal she made for them and how it was the best potato soup they had ever tasted. Clarence showed Oscar around the barn, checking his knowledge of horses.

Oscar jumped in and groomed Miss Randolph's horse first, and the rest of the men finished their chores. When he finished grooming the two horses from his team, he hung up the tack and laid the saddle blankets over the half wall of the horse stall. Then he walked over, and he admired the large work horses.

When the men heard Rupert pull into the yard with his load of pigs, they filled the doorway and welcomed him and the men home. Rupert pulled the second load down into the hog shed area.

"Jenkins. Put on your coat and see if Rupert needs any help to unload those pigs," shouted Scotty.

"I still have one horse left to groom," replied Jenkins.

Scotty gave him a look and said, "Move."

Jenkins laid down his brush and buttoned his coat. He took off running through the yard, following the wagon trail. Oscar walked over to the bench and picked up the brush.

"I'll take care of that last horse."

Clarence sat and watched Oscar care for the animal. While Oscar worked, Clarence asked about Jenkins. Oscar explained the Senator hired him to carry out his errands.

"I've tried to help the boy, but he has been a tough nut to crack. The boy grew up on the streets of Harrisburg, and he doesn't understand that there are honest jobs."

Then Clarence filled Oscar in on the last couple of days, along with the role Jenkins played.

"Reggie scared the shit out of the kid and threaten to cut him to ribbons and then hand him over to the Sheriff with the charge of cattle rustling."