My Starudst Melody, Chapter 15
It should have been a good day. Reid had come out of a six-hour surgery in which he removed a Grade III meningioma from the cerebral cavity of a nine-year-old boy. Reid had felt elated as he walked out of the operating room. Assuming the tumor didn't appear again, the child would live to a ripe old age, and it was Reid's skill that had saved him. That feeling was the reason he loved his job so much.
However, he had only taken a few steps into the doctors' lounge when he was accosted by a couple members of the Oakdale police. Jack Snyder (Reid didn't miss the surname this time) and his partner had a few questions for him. Suddenly, Reid's plans to go condo shopping that afternoon seemed less important than finding Luke Snyder and strangling him.
Reid was livid as he drove his wobbling rental car toward the Snyder farm. Nathan had tried to talk him out of going: "Let the authorities handle it," he'd said. Nathan pointed out that he had less than a week left in town, and that Reid wouldn't have another free afternoon to look for a condo for another few days. But Reid didn't care. Henry or Luke was messing with him again, and this time it wasn't amusing in the least. He needed to put a stop to it now.
The doctor pulled up to ramshackle farmhouse that he assumed belonged to some sort of caretaker. He fully expected that if he drove around enough, he find some big mansion on the far end of the estate. Or maybe Luke lived somewhere else entirely? Probably next to a lake with a Bentley parked on a tree-lined stone drive.
He, however, was looking for the stables, as that's where he was told he could find Henry or Luke at this time of day. Once he arrived, he put his car into park and clambered out. He slammed the door, mildly surprised the thing didn't just pop off. The jolt probably killed the hamster under the hood that made the car go. Piece of crap.
"The stables" looked like an ordinary red barn with white trim. He could see another such building not too far in the distance. Unimpressed, Reid headed for the door but was drawn up short by the sight of Luke who was maybe fifteen feet away.
The blond had his back turned to Reid and was busy lifting bales of hay into a neat stack. The sweet smell of the dried grass wafted to Reid's nose. Despite the cold, Luke had removed his shirt, and Reid watched as the muscles in the younger man's back stretched or contracted with each movement. Beads of sweat rolled down the narrow column of Luke's spine, disappearing into the blue jeans that stretched taut against Luke's perfect buttocks every time he leaned down. Reid tried hard to swallow but his mouth had run dry.
"Get enough of an eyeful?" Luke asked frostily without turning. He kept stacking the bales higher.
He must have heard Reid's breathing because Reid would have sworn Luke never turned enough to have seen him. Of course in this town, Reid couldn't rule out psychic powers either.
"Why are you here?" Luke asked when Reid didn't immediately respond. He turned around and leaned again the hay with his arms folded over his bare chest that rose and fell rapidly from exertion. Reid could see the light smattering of hair on Luke's chest and the thin line trailing from his navel down to below his waistband. Reid couldn't deny that the younger man was gorgeous. He could almost understand why wealthy men would pay good money to be with Luke.
The recollection of Luke's avaricious nature jolted Reid from his inappropriate thoughts. He felt sharply annoyed that for the second time in three days, he had been distracted by his ill-advised and completely ridiculous attraction. Reid collected himself and felt his blood pressure rise in response to the memory of the policemen's little visit. He grabbed onto that fury and let it fuel him--anger was a much safer emotion around the young blond than anything else he might be feeling. God knows he didn't need another hair-petting incident.
Now focused, Reid said, "Your cop friend, Jack Snyder, stopped by the hospital and more or less accused me of putting a syringe needle underneath your saddle the other day." He walked toward Luke until he was standing an arms-length away. At this closer distance, Reid could see Luke's breath puff from his full lips into the chilly air.
Luke paused, and then asked, "Well, did you?" He had the gall to look Reid in the eye when he posed that question.
"You can't be serious," Reid snapped.
Shrugging, Luke replied, "I don't know, Reid. After what Henry did to you last week, maybe you were out for revenge." Luke grabbed a dark towel that was hanging on a nail and wiped his face and neck.
"So I came out here and stuck a syringe needle under your saddle in the hopes that the horse would toss you off?"
"Maybe," Luke said, dropping the towel and folding his arms again.
"And then I bandaged you up for what? Kicks?" Reid asked heatedly.
Luke lifted one shoulder. "That makes about as much sense as anything else you do. God know you seem to hate me enough."
Reid grabbed Luke's arm and pushed him back into the wall. "Listen here. I don't think about you enough to hatch a plan like that. And even if I did want to kill you, I wouldn't be stupid enough to use a syringe needle." Why not just leave a note saying, "Hey there, cops. A medical professional was behind this"?
"Well, I don't see any other people who seem to hate me quite as much as you do." Luke used his free hand to shove Reid back off of him. Reid could feel the blond's fingers bite into his arm through his coat.
"That's pretty surprising given it's you."
Luke dropped his hand and shook his head. "I know you don't like me, but people around here? They've known me all my life and most of them are my friends."
Reid snorted. "And don't I know it. I've never gone anywhere and gotten so many cold shoulders from strangers."
"That's pretty surprising given it's you," Luke mimicked back to Reid.
Reid realized he was getting nowhere with this conversation. "You know what, Mr. Snyder? I've grown pretty tired of your attitude. You keep interfering with my job, and it needs to end. Am I clear?"
Pointing his finger at Reid, Luke replied, "Threatening me really isn't going to look good to the cops." Luke smirked and added, "Just a tip."
Reid groaned in exasperation. "I didn't do it. Please believe that I wouldn't jeopardize my career if nothing else."
Luke seemed to think for a moment. "Sadly, that I can believe. You may have no value for me, but your career?" He paused and then said, "That you legitimately seem to care for. It might be the only thing you legitimately care for." He looked at Reid with pitying eyes.
Reid shrugged off the impulse to roll his eyes at Luke's fake show of pity. Instead, he urged, "Then tell the police that. And if I find proof Henry is trying to set me up, he'll go to prison. You tell him I said that."
"Henry wouldn't do that," Luke immediately responded.
Yeah, right, Reid thought with derision. "Hah. Then he doesn't need to worry."
His eyes round and serious, Luke continued defending Henry. "He wouldn't risk hurting me to get at you."
"I notice you're not saying that he wouldn't try to frame me for attempted murder." Why is Luke dating a guy this insane? There have to be other wealthy gay guys around here.
Luke winced and admitted, "Well, he doesn't like you. And he does tend to take things to extremes…"
"And him not liking me would justify me going to jail?" Reid asked, outraged. He couldn't believe that Luke could stand there an act like Henry's behavior was no big deal.
Luke rolled his eyes, obviously not too concerned by Reid's indignation. "Oh, get over it. No one goes to jail for long around here. Besides, he didn't do this. I'm certain. He was even out of town that day."
Not entirely buying that Henry wasn't somehow involved, Reid said, "How convenient. If only he would make that a permanent move." He moved a step closer to Luke and ordered, "Just tell him to leave me alone. Or have one of your minions tell him, I don't care."
Luke jutted out his chin as he said, "I can't believe that I could have been killed, and you think Henry and I were involved."
"You know damn well why I'd think that." Reid started to turn away, but Luke stopped him by gripping his elbow.
"And if we weren't? If someone else set out to hurt me, what then? Would you even care for a moment or do you hate me that much?"
Reid looked away. "Of course I don't want that," he said begrudgingly.
Luke snorted. "Well, I guess that's something. Perhaps there's a human inside there after all."
"Gee, coming from you, that's quite a compliment," Reid said sarcastically.
"Your bedside manner must be legendary," Luke replied with narrowed eyes.
Reid's mood turned darker at the small reminder of his profession. "My job is none of your business." Luke cost him his job once, and Reid would not forget it.
Luke's expressive face turned impassive. "Don't worry, Reid. As soon as you walk out that door, I plan to go back to work and not give you another thought."
Reid looked around at the stalls. "What are you doing here, anyway? Shouldn't you be off with Henry and your father on some yacht? Maybe skiing the Alps?"
A flicker of deep anger, that was startling to Reid, passed through Luke's brown eyes. The blond paused for a moment to pick up a red plaid shirt and said in an unexpectedly quiet tone, "I haven't seen Damian in two years, so those scenarios are highly unlikely."
Damian gone? This was news. Good news as far as Reid was concerned. He remembered all too well how the man had offered him money in return for not running to the press about Luke cheating on Julian Raines. Reid sneered, "Well, what a loss that must be for you. No wonder you cling to Henry; you don't have anyone else's pockets to dig gold from."
Luke stopped buttoning his shirt to say angrily, "I love my father, a concept that I know is foreign to you. I have no idea where he is or what has happened to him, so you can shut the hell up."
"A great guy like Damian Grimaldi disappear? There's the shocker of the decade." Reid knew he had taken things too far but didn't care. Luke and Damian had caused him a lot of trouble two years ago, and now Luke and Henry seemed hell-bent on hurting Reid's career once again.
Luke pointed toward the entrance of the barn. "Get out, Reid. I didn't invite you here. And I certainly don' t need to hear your stupid opinions on things you know nothing about."
"Oh, did I strike the rich boy's nerve?"
Luke closed his eyes and took a breath. "It amazes me that I have ever thought, for even one second, that you might be a decent person."
Reid shrugged. "Yeah, a lot people make that mistake."
"Will you leave if I tell you that I'm going out of town tomorrow for a few days?"
"And where will Mr. Coleman be? Tampering with your brakes to set me up again?"
Luke seemed to be speaking to the rafters when he announced with exasperation, "I should have left him in jail." His eyes then fell on Reid, and he said, "Look, I heard you out, and I'll tell the cops that I doubt you had anything to do with Serendipity trying to throw me. Just leave." The last two words he nearly yelled.
"You heard him, Mister," said a voice from behind Reid.
At the interruption, Luke took the opportunity to storm past Reid and exit the barn. Turning, Reid saw an old man with a triangular-shaped face, a pointy beard on his chin, and deep creases around his eyes and on his forehead. The man was sporting a straw hat, paired with khaki slacks and a tan jacket that looked way too thin for cold weather. He seemed to be muttering something to a big red horse in a stall.
"Who are you?" Reid asked.
Silence was his answer. The man barely glanced his way.
"Fantastic…Can you speak at all? Or are the local yahoos around here forbidden by the golden Mr. Snyder?"
The strange man turned and speared him with his narrow brown eyes. In a gruff, country voice, the man said, "I'm thinking about whether I want to skewer you with the sharp end of my pitchfork, here." He indicated the tool that was leaning against the wall nearby.
Reid took a step back. "What did I do to you?"
"You that doctor fellow new in town?" the man asked.
"Yeah."
The guy spit, which made Reid shudder a little. He had always hated spitting. "Thought so. You had that pasty 'all brains, no smarts' look."
"When did the hayseeds decide to band against me?" Reid asked derisively. However, he started edging his way closer to the front of the barn just in case the threat with the pitchfork turned out not to be idle.
"When you started stirring up trouble for young Mr. Snyder."
Reid rolled his eyes. "Oh, don't spin me a yarn about the trials and tribulations of Mr. Snyder. Next you'll be singing the praises of his deranged boyfriend, Henry Coleman."
The thin man raised a grey eyebrow. "Mr. Snyder and Mr. Coleman? No one told me you were blind."
Reid really didn't want to know what the man was blathering about. "I'm really not interested in hearing the town gossip about me. If you happen to see Mr. Coleman, tell him that I don't appreciate the cops coming to my place of work and suggesting I stuck a syringe needle under Luke's saddle."
"Mr. Coleman hurt Mr. Snyder? That's just plain foolish." He folded his arms across his chest and looked at Reid as if he had just announced that Bambi had viciously attacked Thumper.
"Well, Mr. Coleman is certainly a fool."
The man spit again. "So are you, from the sound of it."
Reid moved near a large stall and was accosted by the wet tongue of a giant ink-black horse. "Yuck!"
"I'm Andy," the man suddenly announced as Reid was busily trying to wipe the horse's' germs off his cheek.
Agitated and confused, Reid asked, "What? You're telling me your name now?"
Andy hitched his thumb in the horse's direction. "Midnight there doesn't take a shine to many people. In fact, he only has done that to one other person I know of. I thought you might be worth giving my name to."
If Andy thought that explanation made the least bit of sense, he was mistaken. "What does this have to do with anything?" Reid inquired with reluctant curiosity.
"Horses have more sense than people, definitely more sense than you," the old man replied white scrutinizing Reid. "Maybe I should use my eyes a bit more, too. May have misjudged you."
Reid wondered if Luke had whacked him with a stick on his way out and now he was hallucinating. "Are we speaking the same language because I swear I don't understand anything you say?"
"Look at that horse and tell me what you see."
Against his better judgment, Reid looked. "Black hair, black eyes, and some big yellow teeth?"
Andy's shoulders slumped in obvious disappointment. "Look again. What you see is an athlete at the top of his game, a natural-born competitor who sizes up everyone and everything he sees. He knows in his bones when another horse will give him a run-for-his-money when the bell sounds. He only looks to us humans for a little guidance, but he has to trust you. Some horses trust easy, others are tough here like Midnight. When he looks you in the eye and gets a good whiff of you, he's sizing you up and deciding if you're worthy. This horse is as good a judge of character as any man and better than most."
Reid blinked at that speech and replied, "You're saying you're reassessing your opinion of me because this horse thinks I taste good? That's a dumb basis if you ask me."
Andy shrugged as if Reid's belief mattered nothing to him, which annoyed the doctor. "Suit yourself. But I'm saying I'm still thinking you've got the wrong end of the stick about Mr. Snyder and Mr. Coleman. They're decent folks."
"I doubt that."
"Now that horse, there," Andy mused, pointing at a large red horse, "he runs because he's asked to. He runs because he loves it. He's trusting and likes just about everyone. So when he doesn't like someone, that's when I take notice." He seemed to be almost talking to himself.
Reid experienced mild agony when Andy had started his second sermon on the virtues of horses. He gritted his teeth and wondered if he had wandered into the lesser-known tenth circle of Hell, also known at Oakdale. Dante probably had been too terrified to write about it, which was why no one had been warned. Maybe Reid should do the world a favor and put a billboard saying "Go back! Hell town" right next to the "Welcome to Oakdale" sign on the outskirts of town.
As Andy finished speaking, Reid looked at the giant chestnut thoroughbred. "If you think I'm going to stand next to that beast, you're crazier than you look."
"No, it's just you've left me a riddle. Mr. Snyder doesn't like you, but Midnight does. Something isn't right," he said thoughtfully.
Having listened to this nonsense for too long, Reid said, "Look, I've had enough of the small town horse-whispering. I was just leaving."
Not intimidated by Reid's rudeness for a moment, Andy replied, "Don't come back unless Mr. Snyder invites you."
"Wasn't planning on it."
However, he had only taken a few steps into the doctors' lounge when he was accosted by a couple members of the Oakdale police. Jack Snyder (Reid didn't miss the surname this time) and his partner had a few questions for him. Suddenly, Reid's plans to go condo shopping that afternoon seemed less important than finding Luke Snyder and strangling him.
Reid was livid as he drove his wobbling rental car toward the Snyder farm. Nathan had tried to talk him out of going: "Let the authorities handle it," he'd said. Nathan pointed out that he had less than a week left in town, and that Reid wouldn't have another free afternoon to look for a condo for another few days. But Reid didn't care. Henry or Luke was messing with him again, and this time it wasn't amusing in the least. He needed to put a stop to it now.
The doctor pulled up to ramshackle farmhouse that he assumed belonged to some sort of caretaker. He fully expected that if he drove around enough, he find some big mansion on the far end of the estate. Or maybe Luke lived somewhere else entirely? Probably next to a lake with a Bentley parked on a tree-lined stone drive.
He, however, was looking for the stables, as that's where he was told he could find Henry or Luke at this time of day. Once he arrived, he put his car into park and clambered out. He slammed the door, mildly surprised the thing didn't just pop off. The jolt probably killed the hamster under the hood that made the car go. Piece of crap.
"The stables" looked like an ordinary red barn with white trim. He could see another such building not too far in the distance. Unimpressed, Reid headed for the door but was drawn up short by the sight of Luke who was maybe fifteen feet away.
The blond had his back turned to Reid and was busy lifting bales of hay into a neat stack. The sweet smell of the dried grass wafted to Reid's nose. Despite the cold, Luke had removed his shirt, and Reid watched as the muscles in the younger man's back stretched or contracted with each movement. Beads of sweat rolled down the narrow column of Luke's spine, disappearing into the blue jeans that stretched taut against Luke's perfect buttocks every time he leaned down. Reid tried hard to swallow but his mouth had run dry.
"Get enough of an eyeful?" Luke asked frostily without turning. He kept stacking the bales higher.
He must have heard Reid's breathing because Reid would have sworn Luke never turned enough to have seen him. Of course in this town, Reid couldn't rule out psychic powers either.
"Why are you here?" Luke asked when Reid didn't immediately respond. He turned around and leaned again the hay with his arms folded over his bare chest that rose and fell rapidly from exertion. Reid could see the light smattering of hair on Luke's chest and the thin line trailing from his navel down to below his waistband. Reid couldn't deny that the younger man was gorgeous. He could almost understand why wealthy men would pay good money to be with Luke.
The recollection of Luke's avaricious nature jolted Reid from his inappropriate thoughts. He felt sharply annoyed that for the second time in three days, he had been distracted by his ill-advised and completely ridiculous attraction. Reid collected himself and felt his blood pressure rise in response to the memory of the policemen's little visit. He grabbed onto that fury and let it fuel him--anger was a much safer emotion around the young blond than anything else he might be feeling. God knows he didn't need another hair-petting incident.
Now focused, Reid said, "Your cop friend, Jack Snyder, stopped by the hospital and more or less accused me of putting a syringe needle underneath your saddle the other day." He walked toward Luke until he was standing an arms-length away. At this closer distance, Reid could see Luke's breath puff from his full lips into the chilly air.
Luke paused, and then asked, "Well, did you?" He had the gall to look Reid in the eye when he posed that question.
"You can't be serious," Reid snapped.
Shrugging, Luke replied, "I don't know, Reid. After what Henry did to you last week, maybe you were out for revenge." Luke grabbed a dark towel that was hanging on a nail and wiped his face and neck.
"So I came out here and stuck a syringe needle under your saddle in the hopes that the horse would toss you off?"
"Maybe," Luke said, dropping the towel and folding his arms again.
"And then I bandaged you up for what? Kicks?" Reid asked heatedly.
Luke lifted one shoulder. "That makes about as much sense as anything else you do. God know you seem to hate me enough."
Reid grabbed Luke's arm and pushed him back into the wall. "Listen here. I don't think about you enough to hatch a plan like that. And even if I did want to kill you, I wouldn't be stupid enough to use a syringe needle." Why not just leave a note saying, "Hey there, cops. A medical professional was behind this"?
"Well, I don't see any other people who seem to hate me quite as much as you do." Luke used his free hand to shove Reid back off of him. Reid could feel the blond's fingers bite into his arm through his coat.
"That's pretty surprising given it's you."
Luke dropped his hand and shook his head. "I know you don't like me, but people around here? They've known me all my life and most of them are my friends."
Reid snorted. "And don't I know it. I've never gone anywhere and gotten so many cold shoulders from strangers."
"That's pretty surprising given it's you," Luke mimicked back to Reid.
Reid realized he was getting nowhere with this conversation. "You know what, Mr. Snyder? I've grown pretty tired of your attitude. You keep interfering with my job, and it needs to end. Am I clear?"
Pointing his finger at Reid, Luke replied, "Threatening me really isn't going to look good to the cops." Luke smirked and added, "Just a tip."
Reid groaned in exasperation. "I didn't do it. Please believe that I wouldn't jeopardize my career if nothing else."
Luke seemed to think for a moment. "Sadly, that I can believe. You may have no value for me, but your career?" He paused and then said, "That you legitimately seem to care for. It might be the only thing you legitimately care for." He looked at Reid with pitying eyes.
Reid shrugged off the impulse to roll his eyes at Luke's fake show of pity. Instead, he urged, "Then tell the police that. And if I find proof Henry is trying to set me up, he'll go to prison. You tell him I said that."
"Henry wouldn't do that," Luke immediately responded.
Yeah, right, Reid thought with derision. "Hah. Then he doesn't need to worry."
His eyes round and serious, Luke continued defending Henry. "He wouldn't risk hurting me to get at you."
"I notice you're not saying that he wouldn't try to frame me for attempted murder." Why is Luke dating a guy this insane? There have to be other wealthy gay guys around here.
Luke winced and admitted, "Well, he doesn't like you. And he does tend to take things to extremes…"
"And him not liking me would justify me going to jail?" Reid asked, outraged. He couldn't believe that Luke could stand there an act like Henry's behavior was no big deal.
Luke rolled his eyes, obviously not too concerned by Reid's indignation. "Oh, get over it. No one goes to jail for long around here. Besides, he didn't do this. I'm certain. He was even out of town that day."
Not entirely buying that Henry wasn't somehow involved, Reid said, "How convenient. If only he would make that a permanent move." He moved a step closer to Luke and ordered, "Just tell him to leave me alone. Or have one of your minions tell him, I don't care."
Luke jutted out his chin as he said, "I can't believe that I could have been killed, and you think Henry and I were involved."
"You know damn well why I'd think that." Reid started to turn away, but Luke stopped him by gripping his elbow.
"And if we weren't? If someone else set out to hurt me, what then? Would you even care for a moment or do you hate me that much?"
Reid looked away. "Of course I don't want that," he said begrudgingly.
Luke snorted. "Well, I guess that's something. Perhaps there's a human inside there after all."
"Gee, coming from you, that's quite a compliment," Reid said sarcastically.
"Your bedside manner must be legendary," Luke replied with narrowed eyes.
Reid's mood turned darker at the small reminder of his profession. "My job is none of your business." Luke cost him his job once, and Reid would not forget it.
Luke's expressive face turned impassive. "Don't worry, Reid. As soon as you walk out that door, I plan to go back to work and not give you another thought."
Reid looked around at the stalls. "What are you doing here, anyway? Shouldn't you be off with Henry and your father on some yacht? Maybe skiing the Alps?"
A flicker of deep anger, that was startling to Reid, passed through Luke's brown eyes. The blond paused for a moment to pick up a red plaid shirt and said in an unexpectedly quiet tone, "I haven't seen Damian in two years, so those scenarios are highly unlikely."
Damian gone? This was news. Good news as far as Reid was concerned. He remembered all too well how the man had offered him money in return for not running to the press about Luke cheating on Julian Raines. Reid sneered, "Well, what a loss that must be for you. No wonder you cling to Henry; you don't have anyone else's pockets to dig gold from."
Luke stopped buttoning his shirt to say angrily, "I love my father, a concept that I know is foreign to you. I have no idea where he is or what has happened to him, so you can shut the hell up."
"A great guy like Damian Grimaldi disappear? There's the shocker of the decade." Reid knew he had taken things too far but didn't care. Luke and Damian had caused him a lot of trouble two years ago, and now Luke and Henry seemed hell-bent on hurting Reid's career once again.
Luke pointed toward the entrance of the barn. "Get out, Reid. I didn't invite you here. And I certainly don' t need to hear your stupid opinions on things you know nothing about."
"Oh, did I strike the rich boy's nerve?"
Luke closed his eyes and took a breath. "It amazes me that I have ever thought, for even one second, that you might be a decent person."
Reid shrugged. "Yeah, a lot people make that mistake."
"Will you leave if I tell you that I'm going out of town tomorrow for a few days?"
"And where will Mr. Coleman be? Tampering with your brakes to set me up again?"
Luke seemed to be speaking to the rafters when he announced with exasperation, "I should have left him in jail." His eyes then fell on Reid, and he said, "Look, I heard you out, and I'll tell the cops that I doubt you had anything to do with Serendipity trying to throw me. Just leave." The last two words he nearly yelled.
"You heard him, Mister," said a voice from behind Reid.
At the interruption, Luke took the opportunity to storm past Reid and exit the barn. Turning, Reid saw an old man with a triangular-shaped face, a pointy beard on his chin, and deep creases around his eyes and on his forehead. The man was sporting a straw hat, paired with khaki slacks and a tan jacket that looked way too thin for cold weather. He seemed to be muttering something to a big red horse in a stall.
"Who are you?" Reid asked.
Silence was his answer. The man barely glanced his way.
"Fantastic…Can you speak at all? Or are the local yahoos around here forbidden by the golden Mr. Snyder?"
The strange man turned and speared him with his narrow brown eyes. In a gruff, country voice, the man said, "I'm thinking about whether I want to skewer you with the sharp end of my pitchfork, here." He indicated the tool that was leaning against the wall nearby.
Reid took a step back. "What did I do to you?"
"You that doctor fellow new in town?" the man asked.
"Yeah."
The guy spit, which made Reid shudder a little. He had always hated spitting. "Thought so. You had that pasty 'all brains, no smarts' look."
"When did the hayseeds decide to band against me?" Reid asked derisively. However, he started edging his way closer to the front of the barn just in case the threat with the pitchfork turned out not to be idle.
"When you started stirring up trouble for young Mr. Snyder."
Reid rolled his eyes. "Oh, don't spin me a yarn about the trials and tribulations of Mr. Snyder. Next you'll be singing the praises of his deranged boyfriend, Henry Coleman."
The thin man raised a grey eyebrow. "Mr. Snyder and Mr. Coleman? No one told me you were blind."
Reid really didn't want to know what the man was blathering about. "I'm really not interested in hearing the town gossip about me. If you happen to see Mr. Coleman, tell him that I don't appreciate the cops coming to my place of work and suggesting I stuck a syringe needle under Luke's saddle."
"Mr. Coleman hurt Mr. Snyder? That's just plain foolish." He folded his arms across his chest and looked at Reid as if he had just announced that Bambi had viciously attacked Thumper.
"Well, Mr. Coleman is certainly a fool."
The man spit again. "So are you, from the sound of it."
Reid moved near a large stall and was accosted by the wet tongue of a giant ink-black horse. "Yuck!"
"I'm Andy," the man suddenly announced as Reid was busily trying to wipe the horse's' germs off his cheek.
Agitated and confused, Reid asked, "What? You're telling me your name now?"
Andy hitched his thumb in the horse's direction. "Midnight there doesn't take a shine to many people. In fact, he only has done that to one other person I know of. I thought you might be worth giving my name to."
If Andy thought that explanation made the least bit of sense, he was mistaken. "What does this have to do with anything?" Reid inquired with reluctant curiosity.
"Horses have more sense than people, definitely more sense than you," the old man replied white scrutinizing Reid. "Maybe I should use my eyes a bit more, too. May have misjudged you."
Reid wondered if Luke had whacked him with a stick on his way out and now he was hallucinating. "Are we speaking the same language because I swear I don't understand anything you say?"
"Look at that horse and tell me what you see."
Against his better judgment, Reid looked. "Black hair, black eyes, and some big yellow teeth?"
Andy's shoulders slumped in obvious disappointment. "Look again. What you see is an athlete at the top of his game, a natural-born competitor who sizes up everyone and everything he sees. He knows in his bones when another horse will give him a run-for-his-money when the bell sounds. He only looks to us humans for a little guidance, but he has to trust you. Some horses trust easy, others are tough here like Midnight. When he looks you in the eye and gets a good whiff of you, he's sizing you up and deciding if you're worthy. This horse is as good a judge of character as any man and better than most."
Reid blinked at that speech and replied, "You're saying you're reassessing your opinion of me because this horse thinks I taste good? That's a dumb basis if you ask me."
Andy shrugged as if Reid's belief mattered nothing to him, which annoyed the doctor. "Suit yourself. But I'm saying I'm still thinking you've got the wrong end of the stick about Mr. Snyder and Mr. Coleman. They're decent folks."
"I doubt that."
"Now that horse, there," Andy mused, pointing at a large red horse, "he runs because he's asked to. He runs because he loves it. He's trusting and likes just about everyone. So when he doesn't like someone, that's when I take notice." He seemed to be almost talking to himself.
Reid experienced mild agony when Andy had started his second sermon on the virtues of horses. He gritted his teeth and wondered if he had wandered into the lesser-known tenth circle of Hell, also known at Oakdale. Dante probably had been too terrified to write about it, which was why no one had been warned. Maybe Reid should do the world a favor and put a billboard saying "Go back! Hell town" right next to the "Welcome to Oakdale" sign on the outskirts of town.
As Andy finished speaking, Reid looked at the giant chestnut thoroughbred. "If you think I'm going to stand next to that beast, you're crazier than you look."
"No, it's just you've left me a riddle. Mr. Snyder doesn't like you, but Midnight does. Something isn't right," he said thoughtfully.
Having listened to this nonsense for too long, Reid said, "Look, I've had enough of the small town horse-whispering. I was just leaving."
Not intimidated by Reid's rudeness for a moment, Andy replied, "Don't come back unless Mr. Snyder invites you."
"Wasn't planning on it."