Post by sandymarek on Jun 15, 2008 21:03:47 GMT -4
Part 145
Going outside, Heath once again walks around and thinks of what he wants to do. Then noticing the stallion inside the paddock, he goes towards him, and watches him as he moves about.
Standing at the fence, holding onto the top slat, looking at the horse, “Hello, fella.” Talking softly to him, “How you doing?” Heath asks of him.
The horse stopping his running around back and forth just looks at Heath looking at him, moving his tail back and forth, just studying Heath, as Heath looks at him.
Taking out a cube of sugar from his pocket, “Here’s a cube of sugar, would you like it?” Heath asks of him.
Slowly the horse makes his way over to Heath, while Heath stands there patiently and waits. Once the horse feels Heath could be trusted, he takes the sugar from the palm of Heath’s hand that he has open before him.
“See, I’m not gonna hurt you.” Heath tells him, petting the front of his nose a bit. The horse continues to stand there, and watch as Heath pets and talks softly to him. “I just want us to be friends.”
Heath then asks of the horse, “Would you like to be friends?”
The horse makes motions with his head, bobbing it up and down a couple of times, and moves it’s right front hoof as to say he’d like that.
“How about if we work on something small, for now, so you get to know me, and know that I am a friend and won’t hurt you?” Heath asks of him, “Would you like that?”
The horse bobs his head up and down as to agree.
“Be right back.” Heath tells him.
Going inside the barn, “Hi Gal.” Heath says to Gal.
Then retrieving a halter he goes back out and going carefully over to the horse, he goes into the paddock. “See this? This is gonna help me and you become friends.” Heath says talking to the horse softly and very carefully.
“Now, let me put this on you, so you know that you could trust me, okay?” Heath says.
The horse watches and listens to Heath as he talks, then watches as Heath, moves to his left and fixes the halter on him, and waits patiently until the horse, responds by moving his nose to the left. “Now watch what I’m doing. So that you know I am a friend and won’t hurt you. Okay?”
When he does, Heath releases the pressure he is holding on him. “See, I’m not hurting you. How was that?” After he responds, Heath does it again and again, several times until he feels the horse trusts him. “Now, let me do the other side, so you get use to me being here.” Heath tells him.
Removing the halter, he moves to his right side, “Now let me do you on this side, so you could get use to me doing it both sides, okay?” And then repeats what he did with the left side, “See, I’m doing what I did with you on the other side, on this side.” Each time waiting patiently for the horse to respond. “See, how we did that?” After he responds and after repeating it several times, he removes it. Then, moving back to his left side, he once again, puts it on him.
Once it’s in place, he holds the horse’s leadrope directly under his chin. “Now I’m gonna move this in front of you, so you know that I am still here, and you know I still am a friend and won’t hurt you, okay?” He applies pressure forward on the lead rope, gently. “See? I’m not gonna hurt you.” Keeping the pressure on him, until he steps forward; waiting patiently, Heath releases the pressure, the moment he takes a step forward. “Now, let me run this the other way, so you get use to me doing it this way now.” Then he takes the leadrope, and holding it under his chin, he applies pressure backwards, just the way he did it forward, towards his chest. “How’s that? Is that too tight, or is it just right?” And he holds the pressure on him, until the horse responds. “There we go.” As soon as the horse shifts his weight backwards, he releases the pressure, “Now that wasn’t too bad, was it? How about if we try it again?” And then he waits a couple seconds before he does it again, each time remaining calm, as he proceeds.
Then after doing it a couple of times, Heath places his hand on top of the horse’s head, about an inch behind the poll, resting it gently, until the horse lowers his head. Once he does, Heath removes the pressure he has on him, and then waits a couple of seconds before he repeats it. Then Heath places the palm of his hand in the spot where his horse’s jugular is. Applying gentle pressure upwards, he waits until the horse raises his head. Once he does, he removes the pressure, and waits a couple of seconds before he does it again.
After putting it on him, going from his left to his right, then forward and back, and up and down, several times, he removes it, “See, how I did that?”
The horse once again responds as to understand. “Now how about if I go get the brush and groom you before we move onto the next step?” Heath says to him. “Would you like that? I’ll be right back.”
Heath then leaves the paddock and goes inside the barn. Grabbing the brush, he goes back to the paddock, and going inside, he carefully moves towards the horse, holding the brush out so he could see it.
“See this?” Heath says, “This is a brush, and this is how I will start grooming you, okay?”
The horse watches as Heath patiently begins grooming him. As Heath brushes the horse, carefully, he constantly talks softly to him, “See, I’m a friend. And I want to be your friend, and I want you to be mine. I would never hurt you; I never hurt anyone or anything unless there’s a good reason to do so.”
As the horse continues to listen to Heath talk and watch as Heath continues to groom him, Heath resumes talking to him, “Do you know I’ve been around horses a long time, some going back to when I was smaller, and I just know how to work with horses, and I like to break them in, by gentling. I don’t like to break you in, that is like breaking your spirit. I rather gentle you. And maybe after I finish gentling you in, then maybe you could be my horse, Nick said I could have you once you’re broken in. How do you like that?” Heath asks of the horse, “Would you like to be my horse?”
The horse somehow listening to Heath, bobs his head up and down as to say he does.
“Now I think you’ve been groomed enough, how about if I start saddling you up?” Heath says to him. “I’ll be right back.”
Walking away, he takes the brush back inside the barn, then he goes and grabs a blanket, and then the saddle, then returns to the paddock. Putting the saddle down on the ground nearest the fence, Heath takes the blanket and going up to the horse, very carefully, not to startle him in any way, lets him smell the blanket. After the horse seems to be content with it, Heath then takes the blanket, and gently rubs it all over his body until he is comfortable with it. Then after doing it a couple of times, he begins doing the same thing with the saddle, doing it on both sides, so that the horse could trust him.
Once the horse is completely saddled, he checks to make sure everything is attached and properly fitted. “There, I think you are now ready, for the next step. What do you think?” Heath asks of the horse.
The horse continues to observe Heath, and listen to him as he moves and talks. “How would you like to play a bit?” Heath asks of him.
“Let me go see what we could use, be right back.” Heath tells him.
Going back inside the barn, Heath looks for something he could use, finding a round piece of leather on a tack, he says, “This may do.” Taking it, he goes and fills it with sand, some hay, and some pieces of rags he sees hanging about. Fixing it so that the sand, hay, and the rags stays in, he goes back inside the paddock, and rolls it over to the horse.
Going back over to the horse, he fixes the stirrups, so that they don’t flop around and hit the sides of the horse.
He waits patiently until the horse picks up on what he wants him to do, then they start playing with the ball that he made, after a couple of minutes doing that, Heath starts working on playing tag with the horse. He runs a little and the horse runs with him. Then they start doing a little game of tag, Heath chasing the horse, and the horse chasing after Heath.
Coming in from the West Ridge, Nick is observing Heath playing with the horse.
Smiling, “Well, I’ll be.” Nick says.
From the doorway of the bunkhouse, Hank is also watching, seeing Nick approaching, he quietly goes over to him, “You’re brother is something else.”
“He sure is, Hank.” Nick replies.
They continue to watch Heath at play with the horse, Nick quietly dismounts.
“Want me to take him for you?” Hank offers.
“No, I got it, Hank, thanks.” Nick replies.
From the study looking out, and catching sight of Heath playing with the horse, “Mother,” Jarrod calls out, “Want to see something?”
Hearing Jarrod’s voice, and walking into the study, “Sure, what is it, Jarrod?” Victoria asks.
“Take a look at Heath.” Jarrod says.
Victoria joins Jarrod over at the window looking out at the paddock, where Heath is playing with the horse.
“He did say he knew something about horses?” Victoria notes.
“And I think he does.” Jarrod replies.
“Well, let him enjoy himself, and have some fun. It’ll do him some good.” Victoria notes.
“It will, indeed.” Jarrod replies, and then he goes back to his work on the desk, while Victoria walks out.
Paddock
As Heath and the horse are still playing a little of tag and chase with one another, Heath catches sight of Nick, who has now placed Coco inside the barn, and is now over on the outside of the paddock fence, watching him, with Hank next to him.
“Hi, Nick.” Heath says. “Hi, Hank.”
“Hi, Heath.” Nick and Hank reply.
“Enjoying yourself?” Nick asks.
“I am.” Heath says.
“That horse has really taken to you.” Hank notes.
“I’ve taken to him too.” Heath admits.
“You really know what you are doing.” Nick mentions.
“I do.” Heath replies. “You think it’ll be alright if I take him for a ride? I’m sure he could use the exercise.”
“Do you think he’s ready?” Nick asks.
“I think so.” Heath replies, “And I won’t go far.”
“Go ahead.” Nick tells him.
Heath then mounts up on the horse, and then he says to Nick, “Nick, would you open the gate, for us?”
“I could do that.” Nick replies. Going over to the gate, and opening it for him, Heath and the horse ride out of there.
Nick and Hank watch as they go off together, riding off in the direction of the East Ridge.
After riding around for about an hour or so, Heath returns to the paddock, and removes all the gear and says to the horse, “I think that should do it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow. I’ll bring you by a carrot, I’m sure you would like that, and maybe an apple.” After petting the horse a couple of times on the nose, and on the side, Heath then takes the gear inside the barn, and after putting everything where it has to go, goes back over to Gal.
Taking out a cube of sugar, “You want a cube of sugar, Gal?” Heath says, giving it to her, “Here you are.” After Gal takes it and eats it, Heath pets her, a couple of times, “I’ll see you later.”
He then leaves the barn, and goes inside the house.
As he enters the front door, “Did you have fun Heath?” Jarrod asks, coming out of the study.
“I did, Jarrod.” Heath replies.
“Want a drink?” Jarrod asks.
“Let me go upstairs, and wash my hands first, and I’ll be back.” Heath tells him, after hanging his hat up.
“Go ahead.” Jarrod replies.
Heath then goes upstairs and after using the bathroom, and washing his hands, he comes back down the stairs.
Study
As Heath walks into the study, Jarrod having his drink ready for him, hands it to him. “Thank you.” Heath replies.
As Heath takes a seat in there, “I saw you over with the stallion, Heath.” Jarrod tells him.
“Didn’t see you, Jarrod.” Heath replies.
“I was in here, working, and saw you from the window.” Jarrod tells him. “You really do know how to work with horses, huh?”
“I do.” Heath replies, “Been around them a long time.”
“It shows.” Jarrod tells him. “You really like being around them too?”
“Yes, Jarrod, I do.” Heath replies. “I understand them, and they understand me.”
“I’m sure you’re being alone a lot, and not being able to do much, or play with the kids, had something to do with that, huh?” Jarrod speculates.
“It did.” Heath states, “That is how I think it started. Then, it just happened. The more I would be with them, and around them, I just liked it more and more.”
“Well, you do seem to have a special knack, a special talent when it comes to them, I can’t wait to see more of what you could do, with the horse that’s out there, and any future horses we acquire.” Jarrod tells him.
“You could watch anytime, Jarrod, and maybe, by watching, you could get the hang of it too.”
“Not as good as you, I’m afraid.” Jarrod replies, “And my talent is right here in these books, and these papers that I work on. Your talent is with the horses. But I will try to watch you as much as I can, whenever I am here at the house, and is possible.”
“I’d like that.” Heath tells him. “And if you like, you could watch what I could do with him tomorrow.”
“I just might, Heath.” Jarrod informs him.
“I will too, Heath.” Nick says, as he enters the room, and hearing the conversation between Jarrod and Heath.
“What you think, Nick?” Heath asks.
“What I thought of what you did out there?” Nick inquires.
“Yeah.” Heath says.
“I thought it was great, Heath. You really seemed to know what you were doing.” Nick notes.
“Doing about what?” Audra says, as she and Gene walk into the study.
“Heath was working with the stallion out there today.” Nick tells them.
“You did?” Gene asks.
“I did.” Heath replies.
“Yes, Heath, I thought you did very well with the stallion.” Victoria adds, walking in listening to the conversation.
“You saw it too, Mother?” Heath asks.
“I was watching with Jarrod.” Victoria notes, “You really seemed to be enjoying yourself out there.”
“I was.” Heath admits.
“Will you be working with him tomorrow?” Audra asks.
“I would like to.” Heath replies.
“If you do, could I watch?” Audra says.
“Me too?” Gene asks.
“Sure, don’t see why not.” Heath replies.
“Then, we’ll all observe you with the horse.” Nick says.
“I’d like that.” Heath tells them.
“How about if you all come into the dining room, dinner is ready?” Victoria says.
“Well, alright.” Audra replies.
“Sure, Mother.” Gene replies.
They then all get up and walk out of the study together, and head for the dining room.
Part 141-145 posted in Big Valley-Rustled on 11/12/06 at 5:50 pm
Part 146
Dining Room
After everyone is seated, and fixes what they want on their plates, and after Victoria says grace, they begin eating.
“I enjoyed us all going into town together, Mother.” Gene brings up.
“I did, too, Gene.” Victoria replies.
“So did I.” Heath says.
“What did you do after we went off to school?” Audra inquires.
“We had some things to take care of.” Jarrod mentions. “We helped Heath start up a bank account.”
“How was that?” Audra wanted to know.
“Went well.” Jarrod replies.
“Heath managed to open up his first bank account, and put some of his hard earned money in there.” Nick adds, “And he learned a little of how to deposit and withdraw it.”
“How did you like doing that, Heath?” Audra inquires.
“Not bad.” Heath admits, “I was more nervous when it began, but was relieved when it was over with.”
“And in between, while waiting for the bank to open, I managed to buy a few things we needed, while in town.” Victoria says.
“And you know your Mother.” Nick quips, “How she always has to buy just a few things.”
“We do.” Audra smiles, and answers as she is looking over at Victoria. “Mother, did you hear about the dance coming up next week?”
“I did, yes.” Victoria replies.
“Could we go?” Audra asks.
“Don’t see why not.” Victoria replies. “Heath, would you like to come with us when we go?”
“Not sure.” Heath answers, “Is the whole family going to it?”
“We usually do, Heath.” Jarrod tells him.
“Never been to one before.” Heath confides.
“Sometimes, I hate having to go to them, Heath.” Gene replies.
“Why?” Heath asks.
“Because, you get these girls that always want to dance with you, or they giggle, or do silly things.” Gene tells them.
“Heath, Gene is still at that awkward age.” Jarrod tells him, “But in a couple of years, he will like them more.”
“And brother, it’s time you started going to one.” Nick informs Heath, “You could meet some of those young ladies or girls there that Gene mentions.”
“I think I’d like that.” Heath admits, “But never danced before.”
“I could teach you how to dance.” Audra offers.
“Now that is a good idea.” Victoria replies, “We do have a week before it gets here, how about if we spend the next week, working on that, Heath.”
“I’d like that.” Heath admits.
“And while we’re at it, we’ll teach you, and show you all of what you need to do, when you go to one, and dance with a young lady.” Jarrod tells him.
“And by the time we’re through with you, you’ll be knowing all there is to do with the ladies of Stockton, that you’ll be like an old pro.” Nick adds.
“I don’t know about that, Nick, but I will give it a shot.” Heath tells him.
“Good.” Nick replies.
“Mother, do you want me to go and get that old music box you have upstairs in the attic?” Jarrod suggests, “So we have some real music to listen to.”
“That is a good idea, Jarrod.” Victoria replies, “Why don’t you do that?”
“And Heath, would you like to accompany me, and see what it looks like up there?” Jarrod offers.
“I would like to.” Heath answers.
“And while you two are upstairs working on that, how about the rest of you giving me a hand in the kitchen and cleaning up after dinner.” Victoria says to the other three.
“That’s Mother’s polite way of telling us that she would like help with cleaning up.” Nick says.
“You are very perceptive, Nick.” Victoria says.
“And you did make the dinner.” Nick notes. “We’ll give you a hand.” looking over at Audra and Gene as he says it.
“Yeah, we’ll help.” Gene and Audra both reply.
As they eat part of their dinner in silence, no one having anything to say, Audra then comes out, and says, “Heath, how is the horse you are working on?”
“Going good.” Heath admits.
“I sure wish you would’ve waited until I got home, before you started working with him.” Audra says, “I wanted to watch you do it.”
“You could watch me tomorrow.” Heath replies.
“I know.” Audra says.
After they finish eating dinner, and Victoria serves the dessert she made, and they each have their coffees or teas, the family gets up from the table. Heath goes with Jarrod up the stairs, while Gene, Audra and Nick help Victoria with cleaning up the table and the dining room, and then going into the kitchen, they help with doing the dishes. Victoria goes upstairs to take a bath, while they are doing that.
Kitchen
While Audra does the washing, Gene and Nick both dry, and put the dishes away in the cabinets.
Attic
Going upstairs to the attic, which they ascend from a stairwell, that is inside a doorway, between, Gene and Nick’s bedroom, Jarrod, carrying a lamp with him, and Heath go up there to look for the music box, they will be using.
“What do you think, Heath?” Jarrod asks, as they are standing there, and Heath is looking around, amazed at the size of it, and what it has in there.
“Big, Jarrod.” Heath replies.
“Has a lot of stuff in here, wouldn’t you say?” Jarrod inquires.
“I do.” Heath replies.
Looking at the size of the attic, and what is inside, Heath sees, dressers, chests filled with things, some on top of the dressers, lady country dresses and gowns, hanging up, old jackets, that use to belong to Victoria and to Tom, books, toys, blankets, quilts, just to name a few.
“We do that sometimes, when we don’t have any use for something, but still want to hold onto it, we put them up here, and they stay up here, until we decide what we want to do with them, sometimes, we keep them, sometimes, we give them away.” Jarrod mentions.
“Interesting, Jarrod.” Heath comments.
“Let’s look around.” Jarrod tells Heath.
Looking around for the music box, they come across a chest, that is closed up, “What’s in here?” Heath asks of Jarrod.
“Want to see?” Jarrod inquires.
“Sure.” Heath replies.
Opening it up, they see, uniforms in there, and other military items, such as medals, and other decorations, as well as a couple of swords. He also sees an old canteen, a bugle, a small tool kit, and different types of belts, just to name a few.
“Who these belong to?” Heath asks.
“Father.” Jarrod replies.
“He was in a war?” Heath asks.
“He was.” Jarrod replies, “The Mexican-American War, that ran from 1846-1848.”
“I didn’t know he was in a war.” Heath mentions.
“I think we all were in a war at one time or another.” Jarrod explains, “But when he served, Nick and I were both real small, we didn’t know anything about it, except that he was gone. Mother and Father told us about it many years later, when we were old enough to know, and ask questions.”
“I guess that is how we learn, when we are old enough to ask the questions.” Heath notes.
“I think so too.” Jarrod replies.
“Are yours and Nick’s uniforms up here?” Heath asks, “When you were in the war?”
“Someplace.” Jarrod answers. “We also have other things of ours, when we were small. Like Audra and Gene’s baby clothes, and toys that they had are probably still up here, and there might still be toys and clothes of Nick’s and mine up here.”
“Wow, I’d like to see that.” Heath answers, interestedly.
“There might be other things up here, that I even forgot about, or didn’t know about.” Jarrod mentions.
“It could be like going on a scavenger hunt, wondering what one could find up here.” Heath notes.
“It would indeed.” Jarrod smiling, replies, “How about we do that sometime, and come up here, and really see what is up here?”
“I’d like that.” Heath answers.
Going over to a chest, “Here’s a wooden dollhouse.” Jarrod shows Heath.
The dollhouse, is crafted of smooth wood, and has two levels. It has a family or living room, a kitchen, and two bedrooms on the second floor. Inside has small miniature type furniture for each of the rooms, and five small dolls, consisting of: Mother, Father, two children and a baby.
“Must be Audra’s.” Heath speculates, running his fingers over the smooth outside exterior, and admiring the inside.
“It is.” Jarrod replies, “But then again it must be obvious that it would be something she would be playing with.”
“Yeah, girls do like those kinds of things, huh?” Heath asks.
“They do.” Jarrod replies.
“You know, Jarrod,” Heath says, “I know boys don’t play with dollhouses, but if my mama, or if someone gave me one when I was small, or even now, I would be happy with it.”
“You would?” Jarrod inquires.
“I would.” Heath answers.
“Could I ask why?” Jarrod asks.
“You could.” Heath replies, “I guess when you grow up with not having anything at all, or not too much of anything, anything being given as a gift, or just given for any reason at all, would be special or wanted, even if it is just a dollhouse, that is meant for a girl, you know?”
“You have an interesting way of looking at things.” Jarrod notes. “And I do see what you mean. You would appreciate it all the more.”
“You would.” Heath states.
“Sometimes, I think we take things for granted, and not know what it’s like to be different or to be without.” Jarrod brings up, as they walk around the attic.
“You’re right on some of that.” Heath admits, “But you are just acting like any other average person. It’s normal for me, because I know what it’s like to grow up without, or differently, so I would cherish, adore anything I had or was given, you know?”
Showing a little smile, “I know.” Jarrod replies, “And you know, Heath, even though you are still new to us, we learn from each other. We’ve learned some things by observing, talking, and listening to you, and then you have learned by observing, talking and listening to us. So, I think we all benefit from the other, you know?”
Returning the little smile, “I know, and I agree.” Heath states.
“I have noticed that you haven’t been using the game of shadow Nick told you about.” Jarrod mentions.
“I still use it, just not as much as I did. I used it a little when I was down in San Diego. When Duke and I went into the store to shop, I would watch what he would be doing, and follow it. But, Nick was right, it has helped, and I am getting the hang of doing things myself.” Heath replies.
“We’ve noticed that.” Jarrod mentions, “And it’s been said, that Nick does have a good mind.”
“I believe it, and I see it.” Heath replies.
“You think a lot of him, huh?” Jarrod wanted to know.
Heath tries to look away, not wanting to answer him.
Noticing, Jarrod says to him, “It’s alright, Heath, you could think the way you do about him.”
“I do,” Heath replies, “You could tell?”
“I could, yes,” Jarrod informs him.
“How?” Heath wanted to know.
“There is a tone in your voice, that reflects when you talk of him, it gives it a way, from that, I could tell.” Jarrod explains.
“I see.” Heath replies.
Heath admits, “You know, I didn’t think I would at the time that I first came, feel the way I do about him, but, I guess I do. I don’t know why, but I do. But that doesn’t mean I think less of you, or anybody else here.”
“I know, and sometimes, that happens, one stands out.” Jarrod tells him, “And for you, it’s him, and seeing you and he will be running the ranch, and I’m in San Francisco a lot of the time, you will be doing a lot together, it is normal, and I don’t mind, so don’t feel bad about it, I understand.”
“Thanks for understanding,” Heath replies, “I didn’t want there to be any bad feelings in any way.”
“It’s fine, Heath.” Jarrod tells him.
“I guess you’re perceptive yourself.” Heath brings up.
“Perhaps,” Jarrod mentions, “But some of it comes from being a lawyer.”
“You must be a pretty good one.” Heath hypothesizes.
“I’d like to think I am.” Jarrod tells him.
“Maybe I could see what you do sometime, I mean you see what I could do with the horses, I would like to see what you could do as a lawyer, and what a lawyer does.” Heath tells him.
“Well, when the opportunity should come up, I will let you be there, to watch, and see what I could do.” Jarrod tells him.
“I’d like that, Jarrod.” Heath informs him.
“So do I.” Jarrod replies, “I like knowing you show an interest in what I do.”
“The same here.” Heath says to him.
“But, you know Heath; I do want to thank you for choosing me as the one you were using.” Jarrod tells him, “At first, I thought it was a little funny, and didn’t know what to think, but then talking to Nick, and watching you as I did everything, made it interesting, you know?”
“I know.” Heath replies, “Do you want to know why I chose you?”
“If you want to tell me, I am all ears, tell me.” Jarrod tells him.
“Well, I did use a little of Nick, but I decided to choose you, for two reasons.” Heath mentions.
“Two reasons? What are the two reasons?” Jarrod curiously wanted to know.
“One, because when I was in your office, there was something about the way you were talking to me, that just got to me, and you were the first to figure out that I didn’t know how to read well. And the second reason is, because I liked how you went to the effort to make me that margarita, that first night, when we came back from town, before dinner. So I thought by watching and doing what you were doing, I figured you wouldn’t mind.” Heath explains.
“And you’re right, I didn’t mind. I was flattered more than anything else, and surprised at the same time.” Jarrod mentions.
“Well, Nick told me that who ever I chose, I didn’t have to say who it was I was using, to just do it. So I did.” Heath explains.
“But do you know in all fairness, I may have picked up on your reading skills, or lack there of, but it was Nick who picked up on your vocabulary, and how you didn’t understand a lot of big words. And I think he picked up on it that first night, he actually sat down with you, and started talking to you, finding out about you.” Jarrod mentions.
“I know.” Heath replies, “At that moment, I was too scared to know what he wanted to talk to me about, I didn’t know how I was to act, or what he was gonna do to me. But I did notice that he did start changing words around, when he said them, because you were right, I didn’t know a lot of what he was talking about.”
“I am glad that Nick finally came through for you.” Jarrod explains, “Even though he was being rough on you, he was also scaring all of us too. We didn’t know how to talk to him, anymore than we knew how to talk to you, you understand?”
“I do.” Heath replies, “And I understand more now than when I first arrived.”
“As we all said, you are very perceptive, Heath,” Jarrod mentions, “You are very bright.”
“Do you know that I used that game, even though I didn’t know it had a name, when I learned how to do things, before I came here?” Heath brings up.
“What? Do you mean like how you work with the horses? Knowing what to do with them?” Jarrod asks.
“Yeah.” Heath replies, “That’s how I learned some. I would watch how others did them, and then tried to follow it.”
“Well, it seems to have worked.” Jarrod tells him, “And if that is the way for you to learn how to do something, by all means, go with it, sometimes watching can be the best way to learn.”
“That’s what I think too.” Heath replies.
“Oh, incidentally,” Jarrod brings up, “Was it your idea to buy us all gifts from San Diego? Or were you watching something Duke was doing?”
“I thought it on my own.” Heath answers, “In one of the stores, looking around, I saw a vest that I thought Nick would like and wear, but then I thought I couldn’t just buy him something, so I decided to buy each of you something.”
“And that was very nice of you.” Jarrod tells him, “What made you think of the vest?”
“I just saw it sitting there, and knew Nick wears those kind, and figured you would like one, and Gene, but for Mother and Audra, I didn’t see them wearing one, so I thought they would like the shawl instead.” Heath explains.
“Which they did, I might add.” Jarrod replies, “You do have good taste in what you picked out.”
“Thank you.” Heath says
“You even bought Silas one.” Jarrod mentions.
“Well, he lives here too; I didn’t feel right about leaving him out.” Heath notes.
“That was very thoughtful of you, Heath, very generous.” Jarrod mentions.
“I understand Silas won’t be back until sometime Sunday.” Heath says.
“That’s right, he won’t.” Jarrod replies.
“I suppose he could use time away from here.” Heath says.
“Everyone could use time away from anywhere they are in for too long.” Jarrod replies.
“I know that feeling.” Heath says, “But I am just happy being here, at the moment.”
“So you don’t have any thoughts of going anyplace any time soon?” Jarrod asks.
“Not at the moment.” Heath replies, “I mean I just came back from San Diego, after being out on the road for awhile, and I just like being here.”
“Much better than Strawberry, or being out all alone all the time?” Jarrod mentions.
“Oh, much better, Jarrod, I can’t explain but it is much better. Much better having and knowing someone is here.” Heath starts to say.
“That care about you?” Jarrod finishes for him.
“Yeah.” Heath replies, “Not have much of that before.”
“Well, we do care about you, and we love you here, Heath, and we’ll do anything we need to do, or have to do, just to make sure you are healthy and happy. And you’re free now; you don’t ever have to worry about someone ever trying to control you again. And you don’t ever have to leave here to find it. This is your home now, permanently.” Jarrod mentions.
“I know.” Heath admits, “I’m starting to get use to that.”
“Hey, here’s a wooden wagon.” Jarrod shows him.
The wagon is wooden, with four wheels also made out of wood, and a string or a small rope that is able to pull it along.
“Whose is this?” Heath asks, running his hands all around the outside, and moving it back and forth by holding onto the string.
“Gene’s.” Jarrod answers. “Father made him this out of wood.”
“Father did a good job with it.” Heath remarks. “He was gifted or talented when it came to these. Did Father make the dollhouse too?”
“Yes, he did.” Jarrod replies, “Father pride himself in things he made for us.”
“I sure wish Father made me some of these things when I was small, or when he was around.” Heath blurts out.
“I wish he did too, Heath.” Jarrod replies. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright, Jarrod,” Heath says, “I am just saying things, and you can’t do much of what isn’t or what can’t be.”
“No, but you still have us.” Jarrod replies, “And we love you very much.”
Smiling, “I know.” Heath says, “And I love you all very much. You are all indeed something special, glad to have you as my family.”
“We’re happy to have you as part of our family.” Jarrod replies. “And Heath, you’re just as special yourself.” Squeezing his shoulder, “Come on.” Jarrod encourages.
They walk around some more, and catch sight of an old rocking horse.
“Hey, look, here’s that old rocker Mother mentioned.” Jarrod shows Heath, as they move around the attic.
“I remembered Mother talking about it at the church, when we went.” Heath answers, running his fingers over the craftsmanship.
“I guess we never got rid of it afterall.” Jarrod admiring it, says.
“I guess not.” Heath replies. “Jarrod, do you think I could have that wooden wagon?”
“I don’t see why not.” Jarrod says, “If you want it, take it, it’s yours.”
“Thank you.” Heath replies, picking it up, “I’ll take good care of it.”
“I’m sure you will.” Jarrod notes.
Reaching a dresser that has the music box on it, “Here’s the music box.” Jarrod announces.
Admiring it, “That’s beautiful Jarrod.” Heath says, running his fingers over the top.
The music box is a hand crafted wooden cabinet, made out of hardwood, that is about 4 feet high, and 7 feet wide, and 7 feet in diameter. Inside the music box has sixteen figurines, the five pair of dancers dance around a ballroom. The glass enclosed top allows you to view the disc player while the glass front protects the dancers revealing the theater, and in the back it has a handle that turns.
“It was Mother’s pride and joy when we were younger.” Jarrod replies, “Father got it for her.”
“He had good taste in things.” Heath comments.
“He did indeed,” Jarrod replies, “Let’s take it and bring it downstairs.”
“Yeah, okay.” Heath replies. “Do you need some help with that?”
“No, I got it.” Jarrod replies. “Will you grab the lamp?”
“Sure, Jarrod.” Heath replies.
While Jarrod retrieves the music box from off the dresser that it is sitting on, Heath grabs the lamp, and taking the wooden wagon, they go downstairs with
them.
After they reach the bottom step, Jarrod takes the music box to his room, while Heath closes the door, and puts the lamp back on the table in the corner of the hallway where it was sitting.
Jarrod’s Bedroom
Going inside the bedroom, Heath sits on the edge of the bed, watching as Jarrod polishes the music box off, so that all the dust is off of it.
“Jarrod, how come Mother had it up in the attic, and not downstairs?” Heath wonders.
“I guess she just got tired of looking at it, or something, I don’t know for sure.” Jarrod replies.
“Oh.” Heath says.
“Let’s go downstairs.” Jarrod tells Heath.
Getting up, Heath goes with Jarrod out the door, down the hall, and down the stairs to the study, carrying the wooden wagon with him.
If anyone wants to look at what the music box looks like, I don’t know how to download pictures, but I think if you go to
retroradiozone.com/crosley_white_christmas_music_box.html
you should be able to see it.
Part 146 posted on 1/17/06 in the SMDM board at 21:08 pm, in the Victoria Parlor at 9:04 pm, and in TAM at 8:03 pm
Part 146 posted in the Vault on 8/4/06 at 17:45 pm
Part 147
Downstairs
Study
Jarrod carries the music box down to the study, and as he walks in, “Oh good, Jarrod.” Victoria replies, “Put that on that table right there.” indicating the one in the corner.
“Careful, Jarrod.” Nick says to him.
As he places it on the table, “There.” Jarrod lets out, “Didn’t want to drop that.”
“Mother, that is very nice.” Heath tells her, as he walks in behind Jarrod.
“You like it, Heath?” Victoria asks.
“I do, yeah.” Heath replies, “A lot.”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen it.” Audra comments.
“Me too.” Gene adds, then noticing the wagon in Heath’s hands, “What do you have there, Heath?”
“An old wagon up in the attic.” Heath replies, “Jarrod said I could have it. Is it alright, Gene, he said it was yours.”
“You could have it, Heath.” Gene smiles, “It was mine, but I don’t need it or use it anymore.”
“Thank you.” Heath replies.
“You really like that old wagon, Heath?” Nick asks.
“I do, Nick.” Heath replies.
“What are you gonna do with it?” Audra joins in.
“Not sure.” Heath replies. “I guess when I come up with what I want to do with it, I will know, and then will let you know.”
“That’s fine, Heath.” Audra tells him.
“And you could do whatever you want with it.” Gene adds.
“Yes, Heath, whatever you want to do with that, is up to you.” Victoria joins in.
“We also seen an old dollhouse of yours Audra’s, and that old rocking horse, you mentioned, Mother.” Heath mentions.
“We still have it?” Victoria says, “I thought we gave it away.”
“But you didn’t, Mother.” Jarrod replies, “It’s upstairs, just collecting dust, just like many other things up there. I told Heath, one day; we will go up there and really take a look at what’s up there.”
“That would make an interesting thing to do, when we have nothing better to do.” Nick suggests.
“It would.” Jarrod replies.
“Like a rainy day.” Gene notes.
“Let’s discuss the attic later, and start on the dancing lessons.” Victoria says.
“How do you want us to do it?” Audra asks.
“Well, for now, how about if Heath sits down, and watches, and Audra and Mother seeing you are the only women in the room, will be the girls that us men and boys, will be dancing with.” Nick says.
“So, who will dance with whom?” Gene asks.
While Heath takes a seat, Nick says, “How about if Jarrod danced with Mother, and Gene, you dance with Audra?”
“Well, alright.” Gene replies.
“And seeing we are doing the dancing, you Brother Nick, get to start the music.” Jarrod says, “Do you know how to play it?”
“Of course, Jarrod.” Nick replies, “And while you are dancing, I made us some punch, I will bring in.”
“Want me to go get it?” Heath offers.
“No, you sit there, and watch how they dance.” Nick tells him, “I’ll go get the punch.” Turning to the dance partners, “Ready?” Nick asks.
As Jarrod takes hold of Victoria, and Gene takes hold of Audra, Nick goes over to the music box, and turning the handle completely until it can’t go any further, and the music begins, Nick tells them, “Alright, begin.” Then he walks out of the room.
Listening to the first song that comes on, which happens to be Skaters Waltz, Jarrod taking Victoria, and Gene taking Audra, dance around the room, going from one side of the room to the other, with Heath sitting and watching as they dance.
While they continue to dance, “Mother, enjoying yourself?” Jarrod asks.
“I am.” Victoria replies, “Been quite some time, since I’ve danced, but it feels good to do. And the music coming from the box, is still as beautiful as ever as it was when I first heard it.”
“Yes, it is.” Jarrod notes, “Mother, how come you have it upstairs in the attic, and not down here?”
“I don’t know, Jarrod, I thought I was finished with it, but I do miss it.” Victoria replies, “Maybe we should keep it down here, again, and play it sometimes.”
“I think we should too.” Jarrod states, “And Heath really seems to like it.”
“I noticed that.” Victoria replies.
“Gene, how do you like dancing?” Audra asks of Gene.
“Alright, I guess.” Gene replies, “I do feel better dancing with you, I am more relaxed around you.”
“You should relax with the girls you dance with too.” Audra tells him, “They’re not gonna bite you, you know.”
“Sometimes, I wonder about that.” Gene quips.
“Oh, Gene.” Audra says, as they continue moving about the floor.
Nick comes in with a punch bowl, and places it on another empty table. He then retrieves a few glasses, and a spoon, and returns.
“Is that the punch?” Heath asks.
“It is.” Nick replies.
“You watching there, Heath?” Nick asks.
“I am.” Heath replies.
“Do you think you could do some of that?” Nick wanted to know.
“Not sure.” Heath admits, “But it doesn’t look too hard to do.”
“No, it’s rather easy.” Nick replies, “As the man, they call you the lead, you take the lady, and when you dance, you do the leading.”
“Why?” Heath wanted to know.
“I don’t know, it’s just the way it is, Heath. Men take the women and lead them out on the dance floor.” Nick replies, “Sometimes you ask why, and I don’t always have a good answer to the why.”
“That’s okay, Nick.” Heath replies.
“Do you like the music being played?” Nick wanted to know.
“Very much so.” Heath states.
“You must really like it.” Nick notes.
“I do.” Heath answers.
After the song is finished, “Heath, want to give it a try?” Jarrod asks of him.
The next song that is playing is The Band Played On.
“I guess.” Heath replies, getting up.
“That song.” Heath says, perking his ears up.
“What about it?” Victoria inquires.
“What’s it called?” Heath asks listening to it.
“The Band Played On.” Victoria tells him.
“My Mama use to sing that song to me, when I was small.” Heath mentions, “Remember you asking up at the cabin a song Mama would sing to me?”
“I remember Heath.” Nick replies.
“That was one of them.” Heath tells them.
“How interesting.” Nick replies.
“Yes.” Jarrod adds. “Your Mama has good taste in music.”
“She did.” Heath notes.
Going up to Heath, and taking his arm into hers, “Brings back memories, huh, Heath?” Victoria asks.
“It does.” Heath states, “Makes me think of Mama, and me outside listening to her, and looking up at the stars.”
“I’m sure you loved doing that.” Victoria speculates.
“Very much so.” Heath admits.
“Here, you dance with Mother.” Jarrod tells him.
“Come on, Heath.” Victoria adds her voice to Jarrod’s. “You okay?”
“I’m okay.” Heath replies, smiling, “Let’s dance.”
“And Gene, I will dance with Audra.” Nick says.
“Go ahead.” Gene replies, as he walks away and sits on the couch.
As they switch places, Heath takes Victoria, and Nick takes Audra.
“What was the name of that first song that was just playing?” Heath asks of Victoria.
“It was called Skater’s Waltz.” Victoria replies.
“It was very nice, didn’t know music came out of something like that.” Heath notes.
“They are the latest things.” Victoria replies. “And it plays 31 songs, Heath, some of which are Christmas songs.”
“Will we be listening to them all tonight?” Heath asks.
“Oh, no, Heath.” Victoria replies, “We’ll play just a couple, and then turn it off, and resume it tomorrow.”
“Heath, aren’t you gonna dance?” Nick asks watching as he and Audra dance to the next song.
“Sure.” Heath replies, “Mother.”
“Come on.” Victoria says.
Taking his hands, and observing how Nick is holding Audra, follows what he’s doing, and placing one of them around her shoulder, very carefully, and the other
holding her hand, “Heath, Mother isn’t frail, and she doesn’t bite.” Nick watching tells him.
“I know that, Nick.” Heath replies.
“Nick, it’s alright.” Victoria says, “Let him take his time.”
Just then they begin moving across the floor, and before you know it, Heath finds himself dancing with her.
The next song that is playing out of the music box, is Beautiful Dreamer.
As Heath is watching how Nick glides across the floor with Audra, he follows his lead, and does the same with Victoria. “You’re getting the idea, Heath.” Audra comments, in between dancing with Nick, and watching Heath dancing with Victoria.
“Much better Heath, now you’re moving.” Nick replies.
Jarrod sitting next to Gene, watching them dance, “You getting the hang of it, Heath?” asks.
“Think so.” Heath admits.
“Just keep doing what I’m doing, and you will get the hang of it.” Nick encourages.
“I am.” Heath replies.
“Heath, you are doing just fine.” Victoria says, “You are a natural.”
“Thank you, Mother.” Heath replies.
As they move about the floor, Victoria hears Heath starting to softly hum, that song. Listening to him, she just smiles, and quietly dances with him.
Talking softly to him, Victoria says, “Did your mama hum to you like you are doing?”
“Uh-huh.” Heath answers, softly, “She did.”
Getting up, Gene goes and helps himself to a glass of punch, while watching them dance.
“That was beautiful Heath.” Victoria informs him.
“Do you want to switch?” Nick offers, “I take Mother and you take Audra?”
“We could.” Heath replies, “Is that what you do?”
“Sometimes.” Nick admits, “Here.” passing Audra off to Heath.
Switching places, Heath takes Audra, and Nick dances with Victoria.
Gene returns to his spot on the couch, next to Jarrod, sipping his glass of punch.
After that song finishes, the next one that comes on is For Me and My Gal.
“Didn’t we tell you that by the time we’re through with you, you’ll be old pro at this?” Nick joins in.
“You did.” Heath replies.
After the song finishes, “Jarrod, why don’t you turn that off for now, I think we had enough for one night.” Victoria says.
“Sure, Mother.” Jarrod replies, and goes to turn it off.
“We could do some more tomorrow.” Victoria mentions. “Is that alright, Heath?”
“That’s fine, Mother.” Heath replies.
“Do you want some punch anybody?” Nick asks, going over to the punch bowl.
“I would.” Audra replies.
“I already helped myself to some.” Gene announces.
“Anybody else?” Nick asks, the rest of the family.
“I suppose I’ll have some.” Heath replies.
“Well, come over here, and have some.” Nick tells him.
“Come on, Heath.” Jarrod urges him along, as they go over to the punch bowl.
“Why did you bring this punch in here, Nick?” Heath asks, as they go over to the bowl and they each help themselves.
“This is what they drink at the dances. And when you are at one, and dancing with a girl, you take the girl, when you finished dancing, and is thirsty, and bring her over to the table, and then you pour her a glass of punch, and then, Heath, you pour one for yourself.” Nick tells him, “Like I’m doing for Audra.” demonstrating.
“Thank you.” Audra replies.
Nick then pours one for Victoria, “Mother,” and handing it to her.
“Thank you.” Victoria replies, as she takes it from him, and goes to sit down on one of the chairs in there, Audra goes with her.
“Then what?” Heath asks.
“Then you stand next to the bowl like we’re doing now, and talk to her, and she will talk to you.” Nick tells him.
“What do we talk about?” Heath asks.
“Anything that comes to mind.” Nick replies, “You could start off by saying hello, or ask her how she is enjoying herself, and then you will know when you are together and something comes up.”
“But Heath,” Jarrod cuts in, “Sometimes, men gather around the punch bowl, and talk amongst themselves.”
“Or the silly girls.” Gene adds, “They stand there, and laugh, and talk about what they see.”
“And, if you come in with a young lady, then you may not start off with hello, seeing you already did that before you came into the building.” Jarrod adds. “And you might also, just have a drink, before or without doing any dancing, and just watch others dancing, or talking or whatever else is happening in the room, that you see or hear.”
“Think of this as all practice, a type of rehearsal, for when we go to it, you’ll know what to do.” Nick tells him.
“I’m sure you will know what to do, when it happens Heath.” Jarrod informs him.
“I’ll find out, when I go.” Heath replies.
“We’ll be with you; we’ll help you out as much as needed.” Jarrod says.
“That I like.” Heath answers.
“Why don’t we take our punch, and go sit down, and play some checkers?” Jarrod suggests.
“I like that.” Heath replies, and goes with Jarrod over to two empty chairs, and they get out the checker board, and start fixing the checkers.
“Do you want to play some gin with us, Nick? Gene?” Audra asks.
“Okay.” Gene replies.
“Sure, why not.” Nick replies’, taking his glass over to the table, and occupies an empty seat on the couch, Gene sits alongside of him.
TBC
Going outside, Heath once again walks around and thinks of what he wants to do. Then noticing the stallion inside the paddock, he goes towards him, and watches him as he moves about.
Standing at the fence, holding onto the top slat, looking at the horse, “Hello, fella.” Talking softly to him, “How you doing?” Heath asks of him.
The horse stopping his running around back and forth just looks at Heath looking at him, moving his tail back and forth, just studying Heath, as Heath looks at him.
Taking out a cube of sugar from his pocket, “Here’s a cube of sugar, would you like it?” Heath asks of him.
Slowly the horse makes his way over to Heath, while Heath stands there patiently and waits. Once the horse feels Heath could be trusted, he takes the sugar from the palm of Heath’s hand that he has open before him.
“See, I’m not gonna hurt you.” Heath tells him, petting the front of his nose a bit. The horse continues to stand there, and watch as Heath pets and talks softly to him. “I just want us to be friends.”
Heath then asks of the horse, “Would you like to be friends?”
The horse makes motions with his head, bobbing it up and down a couple of times, and moves it’s right front hoof as to say he’d like that.
“How about if we work on something small, for now, so you get to know me, and know that I am a friend and won’t hurt you?” Heath asks of him, “Would you like that?”
The horse bobs his head up and down as to agree.
“Be right back.” Heath tells him.
Going inside the barn, “Hi Gal.” Heath says to Gal.
Then retrieving a halter he goes back out and going carefully over to the horse, he goes into the paddock. “See this? This is gonna help me and you become friends.” Heath says talking to the horse softly and very carefully.
“Now, let me put this on you, so you know that you could trust me, okay?” Heath says.
The horse watches and listens to Heath as he talks, then watches as Heath, moves to his left and fixes the halter on him, and waits patiently until the horse, responds by moving his nose to the left. “Now watch what I’m doing. So that you know I am a friend and won’t hurt you. Okay?”
When he does, Heath releases the pressure he is holding on him. “See, I’m not hurting you. How was that?” After he responds, Heath does it again and again, several times until he feels the horse trusts him. “Now, let me do the other side, so you get use to me being here.” Heath tells him.
Removing the halter, he moves to his right side, “Now let me do you on this side, so you could get use to me doing it both sides, okay?” And then repeats what he did with the left side, “See, I’m doing what I did with you on the other side, on this side.” Each time waiting patiently for the horse to respond. “See, how we did that?” After he responds and after repeating it several times, he removes it. Then, moving back to his left side, he once again, puts it on him.
Once it’s in place, he holds the horse’s leadrope directly under his chin. “Now I’m gonna move this in front of you, so you know that I am still here, and you know I still am a friend and won’t hurt you, okay?” He applies pressure forward on the lead rope, gently. “See? I’m not gonna hurt you.” Keeping the pressure on him, until he steps forward; waiting patiently, Heath releases the pressure, the moment he takes a step forward. “Now, let me run this the other way, so you get use to me doing it this way now.” Then he takes the leadrope, and holding it under his chin, he applies pressure backwards, just the way he did it forward, towards his chest. “How’s that? Is that too tight, or is it just right?” And he holds the pressure on him, until the horse responds. “There we go.” As soon as the horse shifts his weight backwards, he releases the pressure, “Now that wasn’t too bad, was it? How about if we try it again?” And then he waits a couple seconds before he does it again, each time remaining calm, as he proceeds.
Then after doing it a couple of times, Heath places his hand on top of the horse’s head, about an inch behind the poll, resting it gently, until the horse lowers his head. Once he does, Heath removes the pressure he has on him, and then waits a couple of seconds before he repeats it. Then Heath places the palm of his hand in the spot where his horse’s jugular is. Applying gentle pressure upwards, he waits until the horse raises his head. Once he does, he removes the pressure, and waits a couple of seconds before he does it again.
After putting it on him, going from his left to his right, then forward and back, and up and down, several times, he removes it, “See, how I did that?”
The horse once again responds as to understand. “Now how about if I go get the brush and groom you before we move onto the next step?” Heath says to him. “Would you like that? I’ll be right back.”
Heath then leaves the paddock and goes inside the barn. Grabbing the brush, he goes back to the paddock, and going inside, he carefully moves towards the horse, holding the brush out so he could see it.
“See this?” Heath says, “This is a brush, and this is how I will start grooming you, okay?”
The horse watches as Heath patiently begins grooming him. As Heath brushes the horse, carefully, he constantly talks softly to him, “See, I’m a friend. And I want to be your friend, and I want you to be mine. I would never hurt you; I never hurt anyone or anything unless there’s a good reason to do so.”
As the horse continues to listen to Heath talk and watch as Heath continues to groom him, Heath resumes talking to him, “Do you know I’ve been around horses a long time, some going back to when I was smaller, and I just know how to work with horses, and I like to break them in, by gentling. I don’t like to break you in, that is like breaking your spirit. I rather gentle you. And maybe after I finish gentling you in, then maybe you could be my horse, Nick said I could have you once you’re broken in. How do you like that?” Heath asks of the horse, “Would you like to be my horse?”
The horse somehow listening to Heath, bobs his head up and down as to say he does.
“Now I think you’ve been groomed enough, how about if I start saddling you up?” Heath says to him. “I’ll be right back.”
Walking away, he takes the brush back inside the barn, then he goes and grabs a blanket, and then the saddle, then returns to the paddock. Putting the saddle down on the ground nearest the fence, Heath takes the blanket and going up to the horse, very carefully, not to startle him in any way, lets him smell the blanket. After the horse seems to be content with it, Heath then takes the blanket, and gently rubs it all over his body until he is comfortable with it. Then after doing it a couple of times, he begins doing the same thing with the saddle, doing it on both sides, so that the horse could trust him.
Once the horse is completely saddled, he checks to make sure everything is attached and properly fitted. “There, I think you are now ready, for the next step. What do you think?” Heath asks of the horse.
The horse continues to observe Heath, and listen to him as he moves and talks. “How would you like to play a bit?” Heath asks of him.
“Let me go see what we could use, be right back.” Heath tells him.
Going back inside the barn, Heath looks for something he could use, finding a round piece of leather on a tack, he says, “This may do.” Taking it, he goes and fills it with sand, some hay, and some pieces of rags he sees hanging about. Fixing it so that the sand, hay, and the rags stays in, he goes back inside the paddock, and rolls it over to the horse.
Going back over to the horse, he fixes the stirrups, so that they don’t flop around and hit the sides of the horse.
He waits patiently until the horse picks up on what he wants him to do, then they start playing with the ball that he made, after a couple of minutes doing that, Heath starts working on playing tag with the horse. He runs a little and the horse runs with him. Then they start doing a little game of tag, Heath chasing the horse, and the horse chasing after Heath.
Coming in from the West Ridge, Nick is observing Heath playing with the horse.
Smiling, “Well, I’ll be.” Nick says.
From the doorway of the bunkhouse, Hank is also watching, seeing Nick approaching, he quietly goes over to him, “You’re brother is something else.”
“He sure is, Hank.” Nick replies.
They continue to watch Heath at play with the horse, Nick quietly dismounts.
“Want me to take him for you?” Hank offers.
“No, I got it, Hank, thanks.” Nick replies.
From the study looking out, and catching sight of Heath playing with the horse, “Mother,” Jarrod calls out, “Want to see something?”
Hearing Jarrod’s voice, and walking into the study, “Sure, what is it, Jarrod?” Victoria asks.
“Take a look at Heath.” Jarrod says.
Victoria joins Jarrod over at the window looking out at the paddock, where Heath is playing with the horse.
“He did say he knew something about horses?” Victoria notes.
“And I think he does.” Jarrod replies.
“Well, let him enjoy himself, and have some fun. It’ll do him some good.” Victoria notes.
“It will, indeed.” Jarrod replies, and then he goes back to his work on the desk, while Victoria walks out.
Paddock
As Heath and the horse are still playing a little of tag and chase with one another, Heath catches sight of Nick, who has now placed Coco inside the barn, and is now over on the outside of the paddock fence, watching him, with Hank next to him.
“Hi, Nick.” Heath says. “Hi, Hank.”
“Hi, Heath.” Nick and Hank reply.
“Enjoying yourself?” Nick asks.
“I am.” Heath says.
“That horse has really taken to you.” Hank notes.
“I’ve taken to him too.” Heath admits.
“You really know what you are doing.” Nick mentions.
“I do.” Heath replies. “You think it’ll be alright if I take him for a ride? I’m sure he could use the exercise.”
“Do you think he’s ready?” Nick asks.
“I think so.” Heath replies, “And I won’t go far.”
“Go ahead.” Nick tells him.
Heath then mounts up on the horse, and then he says to Nick, “Nick, would you open the gate, for us?”
“I could do that.” Nick replies. Going over to the gate, and opening it for him, Heath and the horse ride out of there.
Nick and Hank watch as they go off together, riding off in the direction of the East Ridge.
After riding around for about an hour or so, Heath returns to the paddock, and removes all the gear and says to the horse, “I think that should do it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow. I’ll bring you by a carrot, I’m sure you would like that, and maybe an apple.” After petting the horse a couple of times on the nose, and on the side, Heath then takes the gear inside the barn, and after putting everything where it has to go, goes back over to Gal.
Taking out a cube of sugar, “You want a cube of sugar, Gal?” Heath says, giving it to her, “Here you are.” After Gal takes it and eats it, Heath pets her, a couple of times, “I’ll see you later.”
He then leaves the barn, and goes inside the house.
As he enters the front door, “Did you have fun Heath?” Jarrod asks, coming out of the study.
“I did, Jarrod.” Heath replies.
“Want a drink?” Jarrod asks.
“Let me go upstairs, and wash my hands first, and I’ll be back.” Heath tells him, after hanging his hat up.
“Go ahead.” Jarrod replies.
Heath then goes upstairs and after using the bathroom, and washing his hands, he comes back down the stairs.
Study
As Heath walks into the study, Jarrod having his drink ready for him, hands it to him. “Thank you.” Heath replies.
As Heath takes a seat in there, “I saw you over with the stallion, Heath.” Jarrod tells him.
“Didn’t see you, Jarrod.” Heath replies.
“I was in here, working, and saw you from the window.” Jarrod tells him. “You really do know how to work with horses, huh?”
“I do.” Heath replies, “Been around them a long time.”
“It shows.” Jarrod tells him. “You really like being around them too?”
“Yes, Jarrod, I do.” Heath replies. “I understand them, and they understand me.”
“I’m sure you’re being alone a lot, and not being able to do much, or play with the kids, had something to do with that, huh?” Jarrod speculates.
“It did.” Heath states, “That is how I think it started. Then, it just happened. The more I would be with them, and around them, I just liked it more and more.”
“Well, you do seem to have a special knack, a special talent when it comes to them, I can’t wait to see more of what you could do, with the horse that’s out there, and any future horses we acquire.” Jarrod tells him.
“You could watch anytime, Jarrod, and maybe, by watching, you could get the hang of it too.”
“Not as good as you, I’m afraid.” Jarrod replies, “And my talent is right here in these books, and these papers that I work on. Your talent is with the horses. But I will try to watch you as much as I can, whenever I am here at the house, and is possible.”
“I’d like that.” Heath tells him. “And if you like, you could watch what I could do with him tomorrow.”
“I just might, Heath.” Jarrod informs him.
“I will too, Heath.” Nick says, as he enters the room, and hearing the conversation between Jarrod and Heath.
“What you think, Nick?” Heath asks.
“What I thought of what you did out there?” Nick inquires.
“Yeah.” Heath says.
“I thought it was great, Heath. You really seemed to know what you were doing.” Nick notes.
“Doing about what?” Audra says, as she and Gene walk into the study.
“Heath was working with the stallion out there today.” Nick tells them.
“You did?” Gene asks.
“I did.” Heath replies.
“Yes, Heath, I thought you did very well with the stallion.” Victoria adds, walking in listening to the conversation.
“You saw it too, Mother?” Heath asks.
“I was watching with Jarrod.” Victoria notes, “You really seemed to be enjoying yourself out there.”
“I was.” Heath admits.
“Will you be working with him tomorrow?” Audra asks.
“I would like to.” Heath replies.
“If you do, could I watch?” Audra says.
“Me too?” Gene asks.
“Sure, don’t see why not.” Heath replies.
“Then, we’ll all observe you with the horse.” Nick says.
“I’d like that.” Heath tells them.
“How about if you all come into the dining room, dinner is ready?” Victoria says.
“Well, alright.” Audra replies.
“Sure, Mother.” Gene replies.
They then all get up and walk out of the study together, and head for the dining room.
Part 141-145 posted in Big Valley-Rustled on 11/12/06 at 5:50 pm
Part 146
Dining Room
After everyone is seated, and fixes what they want on their plates, and after Victoria says grace, they begin eating.
“I enjoyed us all going into town together, Mother.” Gene brings up.
“I did, too, Gene.” Victoria replies.
“So did I.” Heath says.
“What did you do after we went off to school?” Audra inquires.
“We had some things to take care of.” Jarrod mentions. “We helped Heath start up a bank account.”
“How was that?” Audra wanted to know.
“Went well.” Jarrod replies.
“Heath managed to open up his first bank account, and put some of his hard earned money in there.” Nick adds, “And he learned a little of how to deposit and withdraw it.”
“How did you like doing that, Heath?” Audra inquires.
“Not bad.” Heath admits, “I was more nervous when it began, but was relieved when it was over with.”
“And in between, while waiting for the bank to open, I managed to buy a few things we needed, while in town.” Victoria says.
“And you know your Mother.” Nick quips, “How she always has to buy just a few things.”
“We do.” Audra smiles, and answers as she is looking over at Victoria. “Mother, did you hear about the dance coming up next week?”
“I did, yes.” Victoria replies.
“Could we go?” Audra asks.
“Don’t see why not.” Victoria replies. “Heath, would you like to come with us when we go?”
“Not sure.” Heath answers, “Is the whole family going to it?”
“We usually do, Heath.” Jarrod tells him.
“Never been to one before.” Heath confides.
“Sometimes, I hate having to go to them, Heath.” Gene replies.
“Why?” Heath asks.
“Because, you get these girls that always want to dance with you, or they giggle, or do silly things.” Gene tells them.
“Heath, Gene is still at that awkward age.” Jarrod tells him, “But in a couple of years, he will like them more.”
“And brother, it’s time you started going to one.” Nick informs Heath, “You could meet some of those young ladies or girls there that Gene mentions.”
“I think I’d like that.” Heath admits, “But never danced before.”
“I could teach you how to dance.” Audra offers.
“Now that is a good idea.” Victoria replies, “We do have a week before it gets here, how about if we spend the next week, working on that, Heath.”
“I’d like that.” Heath admits.
“And while we’re at it, we’ll teach you, and show you all of what you need to do, when you go to one, and dance with a young lady.” Jarrod tells him.
“And by the time we’re through with you, you’ll be knowing all there is to do with the ladies of Stockton, that you’ll be like an old pro.” Nick adds.
“I don’t know about that, Nick, but I will give it a shot.” Heath tells him.
“Good.” Nick replies.
“Mother, do you want me to go and get that old music box you have upstairs in the attic?” Jarrod suggests, “So we have some real music to listen to.”
“That is a good idea, Jarrod.” Victoria replies, “Why don’t you do that?”
“And Heath, would you like to accompany me, and see what it looks like up there?” Jarrod offers.
“I would like to.” Heath answers.
“And while you two are upstairs working on that, how about the rest of you giving me a hand in the kitchen and cleaning up after dinner.” Victoria says to the other three.
“That’s Mother’s polite way of telling us that she would like help with cleaning up.” Nick says.
“You are very perceptive, Nick.” Victoria says.
“And you did make the dinner.” Nick notes. “We’ll give you a hand.” looking over at Audra and Gene as he says it.
“Yeah, we’ll help.” Gene and Audra both reply.
As they eat part of their dinner in silence, no one having anything to say, Audra then comes out, and says, “Heath, how is the horse you are working on?”
“Going good.” Heath admits.
“I sure wish you would’ve waited until I got home, before you started working with him.” Audra says, “I wanted to watch you do it.”
“You could watch me tomorrow.” Heath replies.
“I know.” Audra says.
After they finish eating dinner, and Victoria serves the dessert she made, and they each have their coffees or teas, the family gets up from the table. Heath goes with Jarrod up the stairs, while Gene, Audra and Nick help Victoria with cleaning up the table and the dining room, and then going into the kitchen, they help with doing the dishes. Victoria goes upstairs to take a bath, while they are doing that.
Kitchen
While Audra does the washing, Gene and Nick both dry, and put the dishes away in the cabinets.
Attic
Going upstairs to the attic, which they ascend from a stairwell, that is inside a doorway, between, Gene and Nick’s bedroom, Jarrod, carrying a lamp with him, and Heath go up there to look for the music box, they will be using.
“What do you think, Heath?” Jarrod asks, as they are standing there, and Heath is looking around, amazed at the size of it, and what it has in there.
“Big, Jarrod.” Heath replies.
“Has a lot of stuff in here, wouldn’t you say?” Jarrod inquires.
“I do.” Heath replies.
Looking at the size of the attic, and what is inside, Heath sees, dressers, chests filled with things, some on top of the dressers, lady country dresses and gowns, hanging up, old jackets, that use to belong to Victoria and to Tom, books, toys, blankets, quilts, just to name a few.
“We do that sometimes, when we don’t have any use for something, but still want to hold onto it, we put them up here, and they stay up here, until we decide what we want to do with them, sometimes, we keep them, sometimes, we give them away.” Jarrod mentions.
“Interesting, Jarrod.” Heath comments.
“Let’s look around.” Jarrod tells Heath.
Looking around for the music box, they come across a chest, that is closed up, “What’s in here?” Heath asks of Jarrod.
“Want to see?” Jarrod inquires.
“Sure.” Heath replies.
Opening it up, they see, uniforms in there, and other military items, such as medals, and other decorations, as well as a couple of swords. He also sees an old canteen, a bugle, a small tool kit, and different types of belts, just to name a few.
“Who these belong to?” Heath asks.
“Father.” Jarrod replies.
“He was in a war?” Heath asks.
“He was.” Jarrod replies, “The Mexican-American War, that ran from 1846-1848.”
“I didn’t know he was in a war.” Heath mentions.
“I think we all were in a war at one time or another.” Jarrod explains, “But when he served, Nick and I were both real small, we didn’t know anything about it, except that he was gone. Mother and Father told us about it many years later, when we were old enough to know, and ask questions.”
“I guess that is how we learn, when we are old enough to ask the questions.” Heath notes.
“I think so too.” Jarrod replies.
“Are yours and Nick’s uniforms up here?” Heath asks, “When you were in the war?”
“Someplace.” Jarrod answers. “We also have other things of ours, when we were small. Like Audra and Gene’s baby clothes, and toys that they had are probably still up here, and there might still be toys and clothes of Nick’s and mine up here.”
“Wow, I’d like to see that.” Heath answers, interestedly.
“There might be other things up here, that I even forgot about, or didn’t know about.” Jarrod mentions.
“It could be like going on a scavenger hunt, wondering what one could find up here.” Heath notes.
“It would indeed.” Jarrod smiling, replies, “How about we do that sometime, and come up here, and really see what is up here?”
“I’d like that.” Heath answers.
Going over to a chest, “Here’s a wooden dollhouse.” Jarrod shows Heath.
The dollhouse, is crafted of smooth wood, and has two levels. It has a family or living room, a kitchen, and two bedrooms on the second floor. Inside has small miniature type furniture for each of the rooms, and five small dolls, consisting of: Mother, Father, two children and a baby.
“Must be Audra’s.” Heath speculates, running his fingers over the smooth outside exterior, and admiring the inside.
“It is.” Jarrod replies, “But then again it must be obvious that it would be something she would be playing with.”
“Yeah, girls do like those kinds of things, huh?” Heath asks.
“They do.” Jarrod replies.
“You know, Jarrod,” Heath says, “I know boys don’t play with dollhouses, but if my mama, or if someone gave me one when I was small, or even now, I would be happy with it.”
“You would?” Jarrod inquires.
“I would.” Heath answers.
“Could I ask why?” Jarrod asks.
“You could.” Heath replies, “I guess when you grow up with not having anything at all, or not too much of anything, anything being given as a gift, or just given for any reason at all, would be special or wanted, even if it is just a dollhouse, that is meant for a girl, you know?”
“You have an interesting way of looking at things.” Jarrod notes. “And I do see what you mean. You would appreciate it all the more.”
“You would.” Heath states.
“Sometimes, I think we take things for granted, and not know what it’s like to be different or to be without.” Jarrod brings up, as they walk around the attic.
“You’re right on some of that.” Heath admits, “But you are just acting like any other average person. It’s normal for me, because I know what it’s like to grow up without, or differently, so I would cherish, adore anything I had or was given, you know?”
Showing a little smile, “I know.” Jarrod replies, “And you know, Heath, even though you are still new to us, we learn from each other. We’ve learned some things by observing, talking, and listening to you, and then you have learned by observing, talking and listening to us. So, I think we all benefit from the other, you know?”
Returning the little smile, “I know, and I agree.” Heath states.
“I have noticed that you haven’t been using the game of shadow Nick told you about.” Jarrod mentions.
“I still use it, just not as much as I did. I used it a little when I was down in San Diego. When Duke and I went into the store to shop, I would watch what he would be doing, and follow it. But, Nick was right, it has helped, and I am getting the hang of doing things myself.” Heath replies.
“We’ve noticed that.” Jarrod mentions, “And it’s been said, that Nick does have a good mind.”
“I believe it, and I see it.” Heath replies.
“You think a lot of him, huh?” Jarrod wanted to know.
Heath tries to look away, not wanting to answer him.
Noticing, Jarrod says to him, “It’s alright, Heath, you could think the way you do about him.”
“I do,” Heath replies, “You could tell?”
“I could, yes,” Jarrod informs him.
“How?” Heath wanted to know.
“There is a tone in your voice, that reflects when you talk of him, it gives it a way, from that, I could tell.” Jarrod explains.
“I see.” Heath replies.
Heath admits, “You know, I didn’t think I would at the time that I first came, feel the way I do about him, but, I guess I do. I don’t know why, but I do. But that doesn’t mean I think less of you, or anybody else here.”
“I know, and sometimes, that happens, one stands out.” Jarrod tells him, “And for you, it’s him, and seeing you and he will be running the ranch, and I’m in San Francisco a lot of the time, you will be doing a lot together, it is normal, and I don’t mind, so don’t feel bad about it, I understand.”
“Thanks for understanding,” Heath replies, “I didn’t want there to be any bad feelings in any way.”
“It’s fine, Heath.” Jarrod tells him.
“I guess you’re perceptive yourself.” Heath brings up.
“Perhaps,” Jarrod mentions, “But some of it comes from being a lawyer.”
“You must be a pretty good one.” Heath hypothesizes.
“I’d like to think I am.” Jarrod tells him.
“Maybe I could see what you do sometime, I mean you see what I could do with the horses, I would like to see what you could do as a lawyer, and what a lawyer does.” Heath tells him.
“Well, when the opportunity should come up, I will let you be there, to watch, and see what I could do.” Jarrod tells him.
“I’d like that, Jarrod.” Heath informs him.
“So do I.” Jarrod replies, “I like knowing you show an interest in what I do.”
“The same here.” Heath says to him.
“But, you know Heath; I do want to thank you for choosing me as the one you were using.” Jarrod tells him, “At first, I thought it was a little funny, and didn’t know what to think, but then talking to Nick, and watching you as I did everything, made it interesting, you know?”
“I know.” Heath replies, “Do you want to know why I chose you?”
“If you want to tell me, I am all ears, tell me.” Jarrod tells him.
“Well, I did use a little of Nick, but I decided to choose you, for two reasons.” Heath mentions.
“Two reasons? What are the two reasons?” Jarrod curiously wanted to know.
“One, because when I was in your office, there was something about the way you were talking to me, that just got to me, and you were the first to figure out that I didn’t know how to read well. And the second reason is, because I liked how you went to the effort to make me that margarita, that first night, when we came back from town, before dinner. So I thought by watching and doing what you were doing, I figured you wouldn’t mind.” Heath explains.
“And you’re right, I didn’t mind. I was flattered more than anything else, and surprised at the same time.” Jarrod mentions.
“Well, Nick told me that who ever I chose, I didn’t have to say who it was I was using, to just do it. So I did.” Heath explains.
“But do you know in all fairness, I may have picked up on your reading skills, or lack there of, but it was Nick who picked up on your vocabulary, and how you didn’t understand a lot of big words. And I think he picked up on it that first night, he actually sat down with you, and started talking to you, finding out about you.” Jarrod mentions.
“I know.” Heath replies, “At that moment, I was too scared to know what he wanted to talk to me about, I didn’t know how I was to act, or what he was gonna do to me. But I did notice that he did start changing words around, when he said them, because you were right, I didn’t know a lot of what he was talking about.”
“I am glad that Nick finally came through for you.” Jarrod explains, “Even though he was being rough on you, he was also scaring all of us too. We didn’t know how to talk to him, anymore than we knew how to talk to you, you understand?”
“I do.” Heath replies, “And I understand more now than when I first arrived.”
“As we all said, you are very perceptive, Heath,” Jarrod mentions, “You are very bright.”
“Do you know that I used that game, even though I didn’t know it had a name, when I learned how to do things, before I came here?” Heath brings up.
“What? Do you mean like how you work with the horses? Knowing what to do with them?” Jarrod asks.
“Yeah.” Heath replies, “That’s how I learned some. I would watch how others did them, and then tried to follow it.”
“Well, it seems to have worked.” Jarrod tells him, “And if that is the way for you to learn how to do something, by all means, go with it, sometimes watching can be the best way to learn.”
“That’s what I think too.” Heath replies.
“Oh, incidentally,” Jarrod brings up, “Was it your idea to buy us all gifts from San Diego? Or were you watching something Duke was doing?”
“I thought it on my own.” Heath answers, “In one of the stores, looking around, I saw a vest that I thought Nick would like and wear, but then I thought I couldn’t just buy him something, so I decided to buy each of you something.”
“And that was very nice of you.” Jarrod tells him, “What made you think of the vest?”
“I just saw it sitting there, and knew Nick wears those kind, and figured you would like one, and Gene, but for Mother and Audra, I didn’t see them wearing one, so I thought they would like the shawl instead.” Heath explains.
“Which they did, I might add.” Jarrod replies, “You do have good taste in what you picked out.”
“Thank you.” Heath says
“You even bought Silas one.” Jarrod mentions.
“Well, he lives here too; I didn’t feel right about leaving him out.” Heath notes.
“That was very thoughtful of you, Heath, very generous.” Jarrod mentions.
“I understand Silas won’t be back until sometime Sunday.” Heath says.
“That’s right, he won’t.” Jarrod replies.
“I suppose he could use time away from here.” Heath says.
“Everyone could use time away from anywhere they are in for too long.” Jarrod replies.
“I know that feeling.” Heath says, “But I am just happy being here, at the moment.”
“So you don’t have any thoughts of going anyplace any time soon?” Jarrod asks.
“Not at the moment.” Heath replies, “I mean I just came back from San Diego, after being out on the road for awhile, and I just like being here.”
“Much better than Strawberry, or being out all alone all the time?” Jarrod mentions.
“Oh, much better, Jarrod, I can’t explain but it is much better. Much better having and knowing someone is here.” Heath starts to say.
“That care about you?” Jarrod finishes for him.
“Yeah.” Heath replies, “Not have much of that before.”
“Well, we do care about you, and we love you here, Heath, and we’ll do anything we need to do, or have to do, just to make sure you are healthy and happy. And you’re free now; you don’t ever have to worry about someone ever trying to control you again. And you don’t ever have to leave here to find it. This is your home now, permanently.” Jarrod mentions.
“I know.” Heath admits, “I’m starting to get use to that.”
“Hey, here’s a wooden wagon.” Jarrod shows him.
The wagon is wooden, with four wheels also made out of wood, and a string or a small rope that is able to pull it along.
“Whose is this?” Heath asks, running his hands all around the outside, and moving it back and forth by holding onto the string.
“Gene’s.” Jarrod answers. “Father made him this out of wood.”
“Father did a good job with it.” Heath remarks. “He was gifted or talented when it came to these. Did Father make the dollhouse too?”
“Yes, he did.” Jarrod replies, “Father pride himself in things he made for us.”
“I sure wish Father made me some of these things when I was small, or when he was around.” Heath blurts out.
“I wish he did too, Heath.” Jarrod replies. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright, Jarrod,” Heath says, “I am just saying things, and you can’t do much of what isn’t or what can’t be.”
“No, but you still have us.” Jarrod replies, “And we love you very much.”
Smiling, “I know.” Heath says, “And I love you all very much. You are all indeed something special, glad to have you as my family.”
“We’re happy to have you as part of our family.” Jarrod replies. “And Heath, you’re just as special yourself.” Squeezing his shoulder, “Come on.” Jarrod encourages.
They walk around some more, and catch sight of an old rocking horse.
“Hey, look, here’s that old rocker Mother mentioned.” Jarrod shows Heath, as they move around the attic.
“I remembered Mother talking about it at the church, when we went.” Heath answers, running his fingers over the craftsmanship.
“I guess we never got rid of it afterall.” Jarrod admiring it, says.
“I guess not.” Heath replies. “Jarrod, do you think I could have that wooden wagon?”
“I don’t see why not.” Jarrod says, “If you want it, take it, it’s yours.”
“Thank you.” Heath replies, picking it up, “I’ll take good care of it.”
“I’m sure you will.” Jarrod notes.
Reaching a dresser that has the music box on it, “Here’s the music box.” Jarrod announces.
Admiring it, “That’s beautiful Jarrod.” Heath says, running his fingers over the top.
The music box is a hand crafted wooden cabinet, made out of hardwood, that is about 4 feet high, and 7 feet wide, and 7 feet in diameter. Inside the music box has sixteen figurines, the five pair of dancers dance around a ballroom. The glass enclosed top allows you to view the disc player while the glass front protects the dancers revealing the theater, and in the back it has a handle that turns.
“It was Mother’s pride and joy when we were younger.” Jarrod replies, “Father got it for her.”
“He had good taste in things.” Heath comments.
“He did indeed,” Jarrod replies, “Let’s take it and bring it downstairs.”
“Yeah, okay.” Heath replies. “Do you need some help with that?”
“No, I got it.” Jarrod replies. “Will you grab the lamp?”
“Sure, Jarrod.” Heath replies.
While Jarrod retrieves the music box from off the dresser that it is sitting on, Heath grabs the lamp, and taking the wooden wagon, they go downstairs with
them.
After they reach the bottom step, Jarrod takes the music box to his room, while Heath closes the door, and puts the lamp back on the table in the corner of the hallway where it was sitting.
Jarrod’s Bedroom
Going inside the bedroom, Heath sits on the edge of the bed, watching as Jarrod polishes the music box off, so that all the dust is off of it.
“Jarrod, how come Mother had it up in the attic, and not downstairs?” Heath wonders.
“I guess she just got tired of looking at it, or something, I don’t know for sure.” Jarrod replies.
“Oh.” Heath says.
“Let’s go downstairs.” Jarrod tells Heath.
Getting up, Heath goes with Jarrod out the door, down the hall, and down the stairs to the study, carrying the wooden wagon with him.
If anyone wants to look at what the music box looks like, I don’t know how to download pictures, but I think if you go to
retroradiozone.com/crosley_white_christmas_music_box.html
you should be able to see it.
Part 146 posted on 1/17/06 in the SMDM board at 21:08 pm, in the Victoria Parlor at 9:04 pm, and in TAM at 8:03 pm
Part 146 posted in the Vault on 8/4/06 at 17:45 pm
Part 147
Downstairs
Study
Jarrod carries the music box down to the study, and as he walks in, “Oh good, Jarrod.” Victoria replies, “Put that on that table right there.” indicating the one in the corner.
“Careful, Jarrod.” Nick says to him.
As he places it on the table, “There.” Jarrod lets out, “Didn’t want to drop that.”
“Mother, that is very nice.” Heath tells her, as he walks in behind Jarrod.
“You like it, Heath?” Victoria asks.
“I do, yeah.” Heath replies, “A lot.”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen it.” Audra comments.
“Me too.” Gene adds, then noticing the wagon in Heath’s hands, “What do you have there, Heath?”
“An old wagon up in the attic.” Heath replies, “Jarrod said I could have it. Is it alright, Gene, he said it was yours.”
“You could have it, Heath.” Gene smiles, “It was mine, but I don’t need it or use it anymore.”
“Thank you.” Heath replies.
“You really like that old wagon, Heath?” Nick asks.
“I do, Nick.” Heath replies.
“What are you gonna do with it?” Audra joins in.
“Not sure.” Heath replies. “I guess when I come up with what I want to do with it, I will know, and then will let you know.”
“That’s fine, Heath.” Audra tells him.
“And you could do whatever you want with it.” Gene adds.
“Yes, Heath, whatever you want to do with that, is up to you.” Victoria joins in.
“We also seen an old dollhouse of yours Audra’s, and that old rocking horse, you mentioned, Mother.” Heath mentions.
“We still have it?” Victoria says, “I thought we gave it away.”
“But you didn’t, Mother.” Jarrod replies, “It’s upstairs, just collecting dust, just like many other things up there. I told Heath, one day; we will go up there and really take a look at what’s up there.”
“That would make an interesting thing to do, when we have nothing better to do.” Nick suggests.
“It would.” Jarrod replies.
“Like a rainy day.” Gene notes.
“Let’s discuss the attic later, and start on the dancing lessons.” Victoria says.
“How do you want us to do it?” Audra asks.
“Well, for now, how about if Heath sits down, and watches, and Audra and Mother seeing you are the only women in the room, will be the girls that us men and boys, will be dancing with.” Nick says.
“So, who will dance with whom?” Gene asks.
While Heath takes a seat, Nick says, “How about if Jarrod danced with Mother, and Gene, you dance with Audra?”
“Well, alright.” Gene replies.
“And seeing we are doing the dancing, you Brother Nick, get to start the music.” Jarrod says, “Do you know how to play it?”
“Of course, Jarrod.” Nick replies, “And while you are dancing, I made us some punch, I will bring in.”
“Want me to go get it?” Heath offers.
“No, you sit there, and watch how they dance.” Nick tells him, “I’ll go get the punch.” Turning to the dance partners, “Ready?” Nick asks.
As Jarrod takes hold of Victoria, and Gene takes hold of Audra, Nick goes over to the music box, and turning the handle completely until it can’t go any further, and the music begins, Nick tells them, “Alright, begin.” Then he walks out of the room.
Listening to the first song that comes on, which happens to be Skaters Waltz, Jarrod taking Victoria, and Gene taking Audra, dance around the room, going from one side of the room to the other, with Heath sitting and watching as they dance.
While they continue to dance, “Mother, enjoying yourself?” Jarrod asks.
“I am.” Victoria replies, “Been quite some time, since I’ve danced, but it feels good to do. And the music coming from the box, is still as beautiful as ever as it was when I first heard it.”
“Yes, it is.” Jarrod notes, “Mother, how come you have it upstairs in the attic, and not down here?”
“I don’t know, Jarrod, I thought I was finished with it, but I do miss it.” Victoria replies, “Maybe we should keep it down here, again, and play it sometimes.”
“I think we should too.” Jarrod states, “And Heath really seems to like it.”
“I noticed that.” Victoria replies.
“Gene, how do you like dancing?” Audra asks of Gene.
“Alright, I guess.” Gene replies, “I do feel better dancing with you, I am more relaxed around you.”
“You should relax with the girls you dance with too.” Audra tells him, “They’re not gonna bite you, you know.”
“Sometimes, I wonder about that.” Gene quips.
“Oh, Gene.” Audra says, as they continue moving about the floor.
Nick comes in with a punch bowl, and places it on another empty table. He then retrieves a few glasses, and a spoon, and returns.
“Is that the punch?” Heath asks.
“It is.” Nick replies.
“You watching there, Heath?” Nick asks.
“I am.” Heath replies.
“Do you think you could do some of that?” Nick wanted to know.
“Not sure.” Heath admits, “But it doesn’t look too hard to do.”
“No, it’s rather easy.” Nick replies, “As the man, they call you the lead, you take the lady, and when you dance, you do the leading.”
“Why?” Heath wanted to know.
“I don’t know, it’s just the way it is, Heath. Men take the women and lead them out on the dance floor.” Nick replies, “Sometimes you ask why, and I don’t always have a good answer to the why.”
“That’s okay, Nick.” Heath replies.
“Do you like the music being played?” Nick wanted to know.
“Very much so.” Heath states.
“You must really like it.” Nick notes.
“I do.” Heath answers.
After the song is finished, “Heath, want to give it a try?” Jarrod asks of him.
The next song that is playing is The Band Played On.
“I guess.” Heath replies, getting up.
“That song.” Heath says, perking his ears up.
“What about it?” Victoria inquires.
“What’s it called?” Heath asks listening to it.
“The Band Played On.” Victoria tells him.
“My Mama use to sing that song to me, when I was small.” Heath mentions, “Remember you asking up at the cabin a song Mama would sing to me?”
“I remember Heath.” Nick replies.
“That was one of them.” Heath tells them.
“How interesting.” Nick replies.
“Yes.” Jarrod adds. “Your Mama has good taste in music.”
“She did.” Heath notes.
Going up to Heath, and taking his arm into hers, “Brings back memories, huh, Heath?” Victoria asks.
“It does.” Heath states, “Makes me think of Mama, and me outside listening to her, and looking up at the stars.”
“I’m sure you loved doing that.” Victoria speculates.
“Very much so.” Heath admits.
“Here, you dance with Mother.” Jarrod tells him.
“Come on, Heath.” Victoria adds her voice to Jarrod’s. “You okay?”
“I’m okay.” Heath replies, smiling, “Let’s dance.”
“And Gene, I will dance with Audra.” Nick says.
“Go ahead.” Gene replies, as he walks away and sits on the couch.
As they switch places, Heath takes Victoria, and Nick takes Audra.
“What was the name of that first song that was just playing?” Heath asks of Victoria.
“It was called Skater’s Waltz.” Victoria replies.
“It was very nice, didn’t know music came out of something like that.” Heath notes.
“They are the latest things.” Victoria replies. “And it plays 31 songs, Heath, some of which are Christmas songs.”
“Will we be listening to them all tonight?” Heath asks.
“Oh, no, Heath.” Victoria replies, “We’ll play just a couple, and then turn it off, and resume it tomorrow.”
“Heath, aren’t you gonna dance?” Nick asks watching as he and Audra dance to the next song.
“Sure.” Heath replies, “Mother.”
“Come on.” Victoria says.
Taking his hands, and observing how Nick is holding Audra, follows what he’s doing, and placing one of them around her shoulder, very carefully, and the other
holding her hand, “Heath, Mother isn’t frail, and she doesn’t bite.” Nick watching tells him.
“I know that, Nick.” Heath replies.
“Nick, it’s alright.” Victoria says, “Let him take his time.”
Just then they begin moving across the floor, and before you know it, Heath finds himself dancing with her.
The next song that is playing out of the music box, is Beautiful Dreamer.
As Heath is watching how Nick glides across the floor with Audra, he follows his lead, and does the same with Victoria. “You’re getting the idea, Heath.” Audra comments, in between dancing with Nick, and watching Heath dancing with Victoria.
“Much better Heath, now you’re moving.” Nick replies.
Jarrod sitting next to Gene, watching them dance, “You getting the hang of it, Heath?” asks.
“Think so.” Heath admits.
“Just keep doing what I’m doing, and you will get the hang of it.” Nick encourages.
“I am.” Heath replies.
“Heath, you are doing just fine.” Victoria says, “You are a natural.”
“Thank you, Mother.” Heath replies.
As they move about the floor, Victoria hears Heath starting to softly hum, that song. Listening to him, she just smiles, and quietly dances with him.
Talking softly to him, Victoria says, “Did your mama hum to you like you are doing?”
“Uh-huh.” Heath answers, softly, “She did.”
Getting up, Gene goes and helps himself to a glass of punch, while watching them dance.
“That was beautiful Heath.” Victoria informs him.
“Do you want to switch?” Nick offers, “I take Mother and you take Audra?”
“We could.” Heath replies, “Is that what you do?”
“Sometimes.” Nick admits, “Here.” passing Audra off to Heath.
Switching places, Heath takes Audra, and Nick dances with Victoria.
Gene returns to his spot on the couch, next to Jarrod, sipping his glass of punch.
After that song finishes, the next one that comes on is For Me and My Gal.
“Didn’t we tell you that by the time we’re through with you, you’ll be old pro at this?” Nick joins in.
“You did.” Heath replies.
After the song finishes, “Jarrod, why don’t you turn that off for now, I think we had enough for one night.” Victoria says.
“Sure, Mother.” Jarrod replies, and goes to turn it off.
“We could do some more tomorrow.” Victoria mentions. “Is that alright, Heath?”
“That’s fine, Mother.” Heath replies.
“Do you want some punch anybody?” Nick asks, going over to the punch bowl.
“I would.” Audra replies.
“I already helped myself to some.” Gene announces.
“Anybody else?” Nick asks, the rest of the family.
“I suppose I’ll have some.” Heath replies.
“Well, come over here, and have some.” Nick tells him.
“Come on, Heath.” Jarrod urges him along, as they go over to the punch bowl.
“Why did you bring this punch in here, Nick?” Heath asks, as they go over to the bowl and they each help themselves.
“This is what they drink at the dances. And when you are at one, and dancing with a girl, you take the girl, when you finished dancing, and is thirsty, and bring her over to the table, and then you pour her a glass of punch, and then, Heath, you pour one for yourself.” Nick tells him, “Like I’m doing for Audra.” demonstrating.
“Thank you.” Audra replies.
Nick then pours one for Victoria, “Mother,” and handing it to her.
“Thank you.” Victoria replies, as she takes it from him, and goes to sit down on one of the chairs in there, Audra goes with her.
“Then what?” Heath asks.
“Then you stand next to the bowl like we’re doing now, and talk to her, and she will talk to you.” Nick tells him.
“What do we talk about?” Heath asks.
“Anything that comes to mind.” Nick replies, “You could start off by saying hello, or ask her how she is enjoying herself, and then you will know when you are together and something comes up.”
“But Heath,” Jarrod cuts in, “Sometimes, men gather around the punch bowl, and talk amongst themselves.”
“Or the silly girls.” Gene adds, “They stand there, and laugh, and talk about what they see.”
“And, if you come in with a young lady, then you may not start off with hello, seeing you already did that before you came into the building.” Jarrod adds. “And you might also, just have a drink, before or without doing any dancing, and just watch others dancing, or talking or whatever else is happening in the room, that you see or hear.”
“Think of this as all practice, a type of rehearsal, for when we go to it, you’ll know what to do.” Nick tells him.
“I’m sure you will know what to do, when it happens Heath.” Jarrod informs him.
“I’ll find out, when I go.” Heath replies.
“We’ll be with you; we’ll help you out as much as needed.” Jarrod says.
“That I like.” Heath answers.
“Why don’t we take our punch, and go sit down, and play some checkers?” Jarrod suggests.
“I like that.” Heath replies, and goes with Jarrod over to two empty chairs, and they get out the checker board, and start fixing the checkers.
“Do you want to play some gin with us, Nick? Gene?” Audra asks.
“Okay.” Gene replies.
“Sure, why not.” Nick replies’, taking his glass over to the table, and occupies an empty seat on the couch, Gene sits alongside of him.
TBC
