Love Refound
by: E Walk
(© 2008 by the Author)
 

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Chapter 19
Meet the Coach

After Dr. Butler and Mr. Robert Nixon the Second had departed, everyone looked at me as if to say this is all your fault.  Mrs. Mitchell spoke for the group.  “Doug, I am totally confused as to why Dad chose to involve you.”

I put up my hands and shrugged my shoulders.  “Mrs. Mitchell, I have no idea why your father wanted me to be involved.  I had hardly even talked to the man until I went to interview for the job at Harwood Community College.”

Trevor came to my aid, “Who knows the people here any better than Uncle Doug?  It was Derek and Austin who brought him here in the first place, and he just happens to be related to Mr. Willingham.  He is the only one of us who knew Jefferson Davis Longworth and introduced him to us.  Granddad was using him for a security blanket. He couldn’t very well involve Miss Autumn since she is such a nice lady and doesn’t need be hearing talk about homosexuality and AIDS.”

Mrs. Mitchell threw up her hands, “Doug, you have just been called a wet blanket, and Leonora and I were told we weren’t ladies.  I’m going to go get drunk.”

I started to laugh, “I’m going to leave.  Autumn and I have a lot of things we need to discuss and plan.  I’ll see you all later.”
 

When I got to Summerhill, hey, I like the sound of that, I saw Cole at the stable watching the horse in the paddock area.  I went into the house and Spring was working on school work.  She looked up, “We probably need to take Cole home.  He probably needs to help his grandparents get ready for dinner, since it’s Saturday night.”

We walked to where Cole was standing watching the horses.  When he saw us, he spoke, “I guess I need to get back to The Shack so I can help my grandparents with the evening meal.  I really want to thank you for the opportunity to earn some money over the summer.  You may need to give me a lot of instruction, since I’ve never been into horses very much.  See that beautiful horse over there. He seems so stately.  It’s as if he is the king horse or something.”

Autumn nodded, “He is a proud beast.  Maybe between you and Doug, you can get him to become a champion jumping horse.  He hasn’t responded to anything that Spring and I have done.”

I nodded, “Between the two of us and Jeff, we’ll have him whipped into shape in no time.  Cole, don’t be surprised if Jeff is your assistant this summer.  Now let’s get you home.”

On the way to The Shack, I suggested, “Cole, why don’t you ask your grandparents if you can go back to Atlanta with us tomorrow.   You can bring back the truck and use it to get back and forth to Summerhill.  That way you can help Miss Autumn and Miss Spring.”

Cole took a deep breath, “Mr. Doug, you mean you would trust me to drive the truck from Atlanta to here?”

“Why wouldn’t I trust you?  If you’re going to be working for us, we need to trust each other.  I’ll arrange for Trevor to go with us, so he can keep you company on your way back.  I have to tell you, the truck is getting a little old, and like I already told you, it’s older than you, but it still runs.  Check with your grandparents.  We will need to leave about five, since Jeff’s Dad is going to pick him up at seven.  Give us a call here at Summerhill.”

When we got back to Summerhill, Autumn and I sat down and made a list of what was going to need to happen in the next several months.  The list seemed endless.  The first thing that we needed to do was to set the date for the wedding.  When I told Autumn that my parents suggested the weekend of July 18, she called her parents and the date was set.   We eliminated one thing from the list, but added several more.

I won’t bore you with what was on the list because you will be hearing about the happenings as they occur.  We were interrupted by the phone and Autumn went to answer it.  I heard her say, “That’s great, Cole, I’ll tell Mr. Christiansen that you will be going to Atlanta with him tomorrow.  He’ll pick you up at 5:00.”

She had just hung up when the phone rang again.   Autumn motioned for me to get it, “This is Doug Christiansen.”

Trevor didn‘t wait for any idle chat, “Uncle Doug, we were wondering if you and Miss Autumn would like to come to dinner?”

“Trev, we have a bunch of things that we need to decide.  We're going to eat here tonight.  I’ll talk to you guys when I get back to Fairacres tonight.”

I had just hung up when the doorbell rang,  Autumn went to answer and President Harder was standing there with her husband.  “Hi Autumn, is the wantabe Doc here?  If so, we would like to invite you and him to a reception at our spread tomorrow afternoon.  It is rather a farewell reception/party for Dr. Nixon and several other staff members who are leaving. It could also serve as vehicle to have everyone meet the stud that you’re  going to marry.  I need to drug him before the next riding competition so he doesn’t beat me anymore.”

Autumn invited the Harders in. Mr. Harder turned out to be matching book end for his wife, “Son, don’t mind her.  She's just jealous because you’re so handsome and have corralled yourself lovely filly.  You do realize that you made these rebels look bad today.  Not only did you and them snotty little Nixon boys whip everyone’s butts today, but you brought along one them black boys to prove that them darkies are just as good as the rest of us poh people.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.  I was a little incensed.  Autumn obviously knew Mr. Harder rather well, “Doug, don’t listen to what Coach Harder is saying.  He’s razzing you, just like Doris.  Seymour happens to be the head football coach for our high school team.”

I started to laugh, “I’m beginning to think there is something in the air around here that causes everyone to act a little strange.  I guess I will need to bring to me an oxygen mask when I move here.”

President Harder responded, “It’s probably the fumes from all of the horse manure that is being manufactured in the county.  Now how’s about you joining us for dinner?  We’ll go to The Shack and meet your hew hire and Seymour’s star quarterback.  Maybe, we’ll get lucky and he’ll be our server.”

I threw up my hands, “Wait a minute.  How did you know that Cole was going to be working for us?”

Seymour looked at me with an evil grin, “Easy, my dear Doug, the victim called me and told me that he was going to be working for you all. He informed me that he was going with you to Atlanta to bring back a beat up truck so he could get back and forth to The Shack and to school.”

I was totally confused.  “Why would Cole call you and tell you all of that information?”

Seymour got very serious, “Doug, Cole has been thinking about dropping out of school, because he felt that no one respected him.  I don’t know what you and your friends did to him, but it’s as if he is all of a sudden feeling good about himself.  I honestly think that one of the things that helped to make the difference was that you took him to the equestrian event today.  However, I think the biggest thing was probably when you said you were going to trust him with your old beat up truck and offered him a job.”

“He was so excited that I needed to come meet you, since both Doris and Cole were raving about you.  Now let’s go eat.”

I started to protest, but President Harder intervened, “Listen, Doc, no one, and I mean no one, talks back to my husband.  Now get yourselves out to the car.  We’re dressed just fine for The Shack.”

The conversation was lively as we were going to the restaurant.  When we pulled into the parking lot, we had to look for a parking space.  We finally found one and as we walked in, Grandma Weaver immediately took us to a table at the side of the restaurant that had a view.

After we were seated, we heard a voice, “I might have known that my bosses would be here to check on me.  I suppose that you will all be wantin' catfish and hush puppies.  I’ll need to go catch the cats and fish and some puppies so they’re fresh.  Otherwise, the coach will make me play on the line so some big lineman can drive me into the ground.”

Cole set our glasses of water on the table and left, and a older gentleman came back with four wine glasses and a bottle of white wine, “Cole said you were to drink this while he was catching the catfish and the puppies.”

Cole arrived almost immediately and had a tray with four dishes of cole slaw and a basket of warm hushpuppies and a dish of some sort of dipping sauce which was wonderful.

He returned almost immediately with four sizzling platters that had catfish and some sort of potatoes that were browned but weren’t like French fries and a side of some kind of squash.

Everything was done to perfection.  Cole was obviously watching our table and as soon as the last person finished, he cleared the table and we each had a piece of warm peach pie with a dollop of whipped cream in front of us.  He offered us coffee or tea.

When were finished with the dessert that melted in our mouth, Cole approached us, “Is there anything else I can bring you people?

Mr. Harder nodded, “Qui, garcon, la cheque s’il vous plait.”

Cole looked at Coach Harder, “Does that mean you’re asking for la cuenta, Senor?”

Cole left and returned with a check and handed it to Mr. Harder, “Here you go, Coach Harder.”

Seymour handed Cole a card, “Add fifteen per cent to the bill for the lousy service, please.”

Cole left and returned with a check for Mr. Harder to sign, “I’m sorry sir, but your account said that you couldn’t afford fifteen percent or you would be overdrawn.  You just barely had enough to cover the cost of the meals.  You can pay me later.”

As we were leaving, Cole’s grandparents came to us and hugged us.  Mrs. Weaver shook her head, “I think Cole is going to be okay now.  Thank you Miss Autumn and Mr. Doug.  Miss Harder, Cole insists that he will make sure that your party goes smoothly tomorrow.  He wants to make sure that it is perfect.  He’ll have the food at the your ranch by 1:30 since your party starts at 2:00.”

As I was saying goodbye to Cole. I slipped a twenty dollar bill in his  front jeans pocket.  “Have fun after work.”

He whispered, “Mr. Doug, it’s not nice to check people out that way.  You could have made the front of my jeans become too tight.  Wait until I have a chance to get even.  I’ll see you tomorrow.”

The Harders dropped us at Summerhill.  Autumn started to laugh as we were going in the door, “I can hardly wait to tell Spring that she has been living at Summerhill all this time, and she didn’t know it.  She’ll probably jack up the price now that the spread has a name.”

We were sitting at the table making plans and I decided to see what Autumn really thought about us being married on horses, so I asked.

I was surprised by her answer.  “Doug, I think it would be unique.  But I would rather it not be in the arena.  We could set up a big tent here at Summerhill and rent some chairs and tables so that people will have places to sit during the ceremony, and then be able to be comfortable during the reception.”

She wasn’t finished, “I think we should be married in western gear and riding western saddles.  I don’t want to get married in a riding habit and I don’t want to be wearing all white since it makes me look washed out.”

I looked at the clock, “Autumn, we still have some time to make the plans for the fine details.  I need to get back to Fairacres so I don’t wake everyone.  What time would you like to go to church?”

After we decided to go to church at 11:00, I hugged and kissed her and made my way to the door.  She yelled after me, “Doug, I still think you’re a prude for not staying here.”

When I arrived at Fairacres, it appeared as if everyone who was there was in bed.  I realized that Trent’s truck wasn’t there so I just made my way to the room where I was sleeping.

I was just crawling into bed when I heard Trent coming up the stairs. He must have seen that my light was still on because he knocked and I went to answer.  “Mr. Doug, do you have a minute to talk?”

“Trent, of course.  Come on in.  I hope seeing me in my briefs doesn’t bother you.”

Trent giggled, “Mr. Doug, why would that bother me?  I will say this though, you surely do fill them nicely.  I have some questions that I would like to ask you.”

I decided to let his comment about my briefs pass. “What’s on your mind, Trent?”

“I’m confused by what Granddad said this afternoon about my getting the itch to have affairs outside of marriage.  Is that always the case?”

I almost choked.  I hugged Trent, “Trent, he was just generalizing.  I would guess that there are a number of people who might be that way, but there is probably an equal number who are completely monogamous.  I would like to make a comment, but this is just me.  I think it would be better to wait until you are absolutely sure that you have met the right person before you commit yourself.”

Trent smirked, “Well, it sure didn’t take you long to decide that Miss Autumn was for you.”

He continued, “Mr. Doug, Cyndi and I have been meeting some friends at this restaurant which caters to teens on Saturday nights.  They have a juke box and a dance floor so we can dance, eat and drink the night away.  Tonight, for the first, Cole arrived with a cute young woman.  In fact, Cole sat down and talked to some of us for the first time, in a social environment.  He told me that you stuck your hand in his pocket and caused him to get excited.  He said that you put a twenty dollar bill in his pocket and told him to go have a good time.”

“He also told me that he had been planning to quit school until he met you, and you treated him as if he were an equal.  He has a wicked sense of humor.  I know that you will have a friend for life in him.  You seem to be collecting a huge following, and you can count me among them.”

I stood and hugged Trent, “What a kind thing for you to say.  I suggest that we get some sleep, since I want to go help Miss Autumn with the horses in the morning.  We’re going to go to the late service.”

“Cool, so are Cyndi and me.  See you in the morning.”

To be continued...

Editor's Notes: This chapter certainly had some interesting information in it.  Cole is quite a fine young man. I think he is going to go far.  He is very bright and a well behaved person as well.  He will certainly give his all in anything that he decides to do with his life. 

It looks as if the wedding plans are coming along quite nicely. 

I hope the next chapter will be along soon, I am very much ready to find out what will happen.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 04/24/09