The Kid’s Are Surprised – July 30 2008 by Dani

Tags -- Blog Update

So we could tell the weather was moving in – we had missed the rain and bad storms all day.

Red told the girls that Pops’ friend dick had convinced their stepfather to pay his debt – he had given them some money.

He was also going to pay her a monthly fee called alimony. They really didn’t care – they were happy their mother was happy.

Anything else they asked – they had not even thought to think about what money would do for them.

Red got a little pissed but Cap told them to ‘think’. Their attitude changed very quickly and they started asking questions and acting TOO grown-up for me.

Within five minutes they realized that they would not hear “NO, we can not afford that" too much.

They asked if it was possible to ever move to a better neighborhood. Red said she would work on that. Then she asked which two ponies they really liked – they decided on the same two they picked originally and Red told them they belonged to them.

The girls did not get it at first – but when they did, Red got knocked down from their rush.

Henry handed them bridles and explained both ponies had a little training but it would be up to them to finish it. He and his daughter would help them.

Red asked for help getting on her new horse – the girls looked at me – HER new horse? They could not believe it.

But the biggest surprise came when Captain cleared his throat and told them they had helped him so much and he was so proud of the women they were going to be.

The fact that their mother was able to raise such good fine children was a testament to their inner souls.

To show his appreciation and to make sure they did not wear the new ponies out from constant riding and care, he wanted them to have the other two ponies as his gift.

They were still hugging and crying when we left for a short ride. The girls asked if I had ever rode bareback.

Henry told the girls to watch. I got Mom’s horse by the mane and in one hop was on her back. Then I guided her towards the gate with no hands.

Henry told the girls I was talking to her silently. He was right. I taught her using my legs. A left press turned is left – a right press right.

Gentle squeeze with both meant go if we were stopped and stop if we were moving. The hardest part was getting her to speed up or slow down.

She finally learned a squeeze and voice meant slower if we were moving. A squeeze with no voice meant speed up.

A hard squeeze with or just a yelled stop meant just that. Sometimes I did nothing and she knew she was in charge. I could ride all day then tell her "Home" and I could go to sleep but she would take us home.

So off we went hoping the weather held. I rode across Henry’s back ten as he called it onto Red’s front 15.

When we reached the paddock I swung the gate open and we all dismounted. The horses checked the stalls then got water. One of the ponies lay down in a corner for a nap.

Henry rode up on Pops horse towing the other two ponies. Henry looked the barn over and told Red it did not need much – he would get hay and feed delivered and get somebody to mow the pasture – too much clover he said. I reminded him that Stubby use to mow pastures.

He told me Stubby was in the hospital and would not be able to do much for months – first time I had heard that,

A short while later Cap rode up on his four-wheeler and he asked the girls to help unload. He had drop cloths, a couple of gallons of white paint, brushes, rollers, and jump suits for the girls and one for Red.

I recognized the jump suits from when the ABCs and Moms painted all the sheds and garages several years ago.

Red asked if they were ready to paint the living room. The girls said OK – but how were they going to get there – the ponies could not make it.

Mom wriggled her finger at them and they followed her into their new house.

Cap and I stood outside until we heard the yells and screams. When we got in Red was crying a little.

When the girls found out it would be a month before they could move in they had many other things to do first before painting.

Grandpa and they had stuff to do on the boat and Pops had asked them to scrub the pool deck before it rained if possible.

We rode back to Henry’s – the new horseflesh will stay there for a little while. Free if Henry can use her pasture whenever he needs it. Absolutely, if he helped her keep it mowed and the fence repaired.

Cap hauled the girls back in the wagon he used to haul the supplies over. Red and I rode back using the road this time following Cap and the girls.

The skies opened and we had one hell of a storm – Red’s blouse was see-through when it got wet. I did not have a hat or glasses – Red finally held her hands above my eyes to keep the rain out.

Pops was waiting for us; he had opened the garage door when he saw us come down the road. We pulled in to a lightning show. We saw three trees get hit in about a minute. We got in just in time.

Soaked through to the skin, the girls could not wait to tell Pops about the house and ponies.

They apologized they had not got the pool deck cleaned before it rained. He told them he had just been teasing anyway.

He gave Red a beach towel and told her she looked good in wet. Cap and the girls went to the boat to make sure she was closed up and to start their project.

Red and I took a shower and changed to sweats pants and shirts – we were cold and the weather did not look like it was going to warm up much.

We decided to surprise the girls at work – it was almost quitting time anyway.