The Stable Boy by Harmony Stalter

Jacobs to be placed on insulin along with monitoring his blood sugar. He said Mr. Jacobs was not happy. He asked how he was supposed to know if his food was good if he could not taste half of it. Doctor Russell suggested getting one of the other younger cooks or a waitress to taste it for him. He also commented that he doubted that Mr. Jacobs would listen as he was well into his 60s and set in his ways.
    I felt bad for the young Doctor Russell as most of his patients were older than his dad or in the same age bracket. They were just used to dealing with his dad and were not going to listen to the young one they watched grow up. Looking up from my computer screen, I could see Josh in the paddock working with the unruly colt. The colt seemed to take to him. He did whatever Josh asked him to. This made me smile. I watched for a couple of minutes before I picked up the next file. This one belonged to Cecily, who was my hairdresser.
    She went into the office because she had an upset stomach. After running the routine test, it was discovered that she is pregnant. ‘Good for her,’ I thought. ‘She had been trying for quite some time. It looks like she and her husband will finally get the child they had been hoping for.’ I was about to begin the next file when there was a knock on the office door.
    “Hey, Claire,” Josh said from behind me. “I am going to take a shower before dinner. This time I promise to close the door.”
    “Oh, I didn’t realize what time it was. I will get dinner started while you are in the shower.”
    “Okay.”
    I shut down my computer and followed him down the stairs. He turned down the hall to take his shower and I went to the kitchen. Following my usual routine, I turned on the radio and began making dinner. I seasoned some shrimp and skewered them. I was cooking on the grill again tonight. These fall nights were perfect for using the barbeque grill. I cranked up the radio as my favorite song started to play.
    “She said ‘I’m going out with my girlfriends for margaritas at the Holiday Inn.’ Oh have mercy! My only thought was tequila makes her clothes come off.” Joe Nichols sang.   I began dancing around the kitchen. I grabbed the lettuce from the refrigerator. Tonight, I was going to make skewered shrimp lettuce wraps with homemade cocktail sauce and grilled zucchini. I was slicing up the zucchini when my favorite part came on.
    “Them panty hose ain’t gonna last too long if the DJ puts Bon Jovi on. She might come home in a table cloth. Yeah, tequila makes her clothes come off.” Joe and I sang in unison.
    “So does it?” I heard from behind me.
    “So does what,” I said, slightly embarrassed.
    “Does tequila make your clothes come off?”
    “Um, no, but it will Alison’s,” I laughed, turning around. “Just how long have you been standing there?”
    “Long enough,” he said.
    “John used to do the same thing. He would never tell me he was there, just watch me make a fool of myself. He would watch from the stairs. He would come down to the fourth step and sit down. The fifth one squeaks, loudly.”
    “The more you talk about him, the more I like him. We see the same things in you.”
    “What may that be?”
    “You’re beauty, kindness, and mad dancing skills,” he said, laughing. I threw the pot holder at him.
    “What am I going to do with you, Josh?”
    “I can think of a few things.”
    “I can’t believe you just said that,” I said, hiding my face in a dish towel. It was as if he could read my mind. He laughed. He walked over and wrapped his arms around my shoulders.
    “What can I help you with?” he asked as he hugged me.
    “You can take the pitcher of tea outside with some glasses,” I said hugging him back. I did not want to let go.
    “Okay,” he said, slightly pulling away. He leaned in to kiss me. Backing me up against the counter, he kissed me hard. I let out a slight moan. This made him smile a little. He kissed me deeper and harder. He went