The Coach chuckles and says, “I know I can afford a new one. But this one isn’t dead yet and don’t call my tractor a piece of shit.”
Chuckling I say, “Sorry for that Dad.” I started calling him Dad a lot more often. He doesn’t seem to mind, and when I do, he knows I need or want to talk about something. Now that I have his attention I ask him, “I saw your reaction to what Kara said today. I was just wondering is it because you don’t trust Daniel, or is it something else?”
After taking a deep breath he says, “It was that obvious. Kara in some ways is a lot younger than Kathryn, not by the calendar of course. Even though Kathryn is my baby girl a long time ago I realized she’s more mature than her years. Of all my daughters Kathryn is the most mature, some would say an old soul. I am afraid that Kara is going to get hurt. I’ve known Daniel for a decade now, he still seems like the young man I first met. Of course he is older and his body is full-grown now but he still seems almost the same maturity level.
When he was younger he went through a lot of girls, usually treated them all the same. I overheard him and my son talking when he was only fourteen and give Michael Junior some advice on girls. He told Michael, never get too serious about a girl, she will break your heart if you do. When you can mark the girl do it, that way if any other guy sees the marks he knows she has a boyfriend. A lot of guys will mark the girl again in a different spot, that’s what I do it that way the guy knows she’s cheating.”
I ask, “So you think Daniel doesn’t my hurting her, because he doesn’t care that much about her?”
The Coach shakes his head yes before he says, “I know Kara had a crush on him before he went off to college. Her brothers would not let Daniel try anything, but I think he wanted to. It’s not the age difference that bothers me. It is the way he always treated girls that’s upsetting me.”
If I’d known this in the past I would not have been so happy that Kara was with Daniel. I know she was miserable having a crush on me, she knew I wouldn’t cheat on Kathryn in any fashion. I know she respected that because of all of Kathryn sisters Kara was the one who hardly ever teased me. I’m still hoping her and Daniel will be good together, Kara seems to be happy with him. Maybe if I can talk to Daniel and find out how he really feels about Kara. If he truly loves her, I can set Dad’s mind at ease and mine too.
The Coach goes back to work on the tractor and I like always I give him a hand helping where I can. The hay will need cut soon so will need the tractor running to do that. The coach’s hayfield was always a source of extra income for him, his high school coaching position barely kept food on the table for the ten of them. Now that he really doesn’t need to have that income I’m not sure why he’s going to cut the hay other than just to keep the farm in good condition.
When you abandon a hayfield, it tent to go wild in just a couple seasons. Saplings will start up on the edges of the field sometimes in a single season. Squirrels hiding the nuts in the tall grass of the abandoned hayfield are the most likely reason for the spread of trees into the field. Abandoned fields also are a fire hazard the hay being highly combustible if it’s still standing and dry, so there’s a number of reasons why to go ahead and cut it other than the extra income.
I do want to know why he needs to cut it. I ask, “You plan on cutting your hayfield soon?”
The Coach says, “Yes, I want a little hay up for Sam’s Christmas present I’m planning on getting her.”
Now my curiosity really is running wild and I think he can see so Dad continues, “I want to get Sam a pony for Christmas. She’s at the age where all my girls started to ask for one, but I never was able to. I’ll have to set down talk to each girl before I do buy the pony. Of all my daughters Kathryn was the easiest to explain to when she was four and a half years old.
That’s when I knew she was more mature than her sisters. You think living on a farm I could afford a pony for them, but I needed to sell the hay before. Oh by the way, thank you for helping out on every one of the cuttings since you moved in. It is things like that, that make you who you are. It also made me realize that you and Kathryn were meant for each other. She’s just like you in a lot of ways.”
I remember back to my first time helping with the hay, the hay bales only way seventy pounds each but there several thousand of them that need to be stacked first onto the truck then into the barn. It wasn’t a big deal to help out, especially once Kathryn started trading with me. It was only for a couple days usually only two possibly three times during the summer. It turned out to be a pretty good way to stay in shape along with the weights and running.
I chuckle and say, “If you give Sam a pony, I know what I am getting Kathryn for her next birthday.”
The Coach laughs and says, “That would be a saddle, because I am buying all the girls horses for Christmas.”
I chuckle and say, “In that case I am definitely helping you with the hay. I want to get the tackle if that isn’t already decided.”
The Coach informed me, “Sorry, Helen already has that picked out, a different one for each of the girls. The only one she’s not buying is Kathryn’s saddle she said she didn’t want to tempt Kathryn into riding until after the baby. She said she gave her an IOU for the saddle.”
With a laugh I say, “I guess I will end up building a new stable, yours is just a little small for the eight to twenty horses we will end up with.”
Getting a slightly confused look the Coach asks, “Twenty?”
With a chuckle I say, “You do know how many kids will be around here soon. Marshall and Misty are expecting. Kathryn and I plan a large family. Joan had four bedrooms added to her home for her kids. MC is still young enough to want children. Plus I want a horse. I don’t want Kathryn and Sam to ride alone. I’m sure Marshall would want one too. Even if we shared a few horses that still going to be more than you have the room for now.”
Chuckling the coach says, “Why do you think I haven’t gotten one yet. With horses you just don’t have one not with as many kids as I have.”
After their nap Kathryn and Sam find me still helping with the tractor, although we were just about done. Sam watches as I help her grandfather, Kathryn begins telling Sam about the first day we met, and how she keeps my secret about how much money I make. Kathryn almost laughed hysterically telling Sam about how I got her brothers to stop teasing her about her name. Sam looks at me before she says, “Daddy you really didn’t hurt my uncles did you?”
The Coach answers before I could say anything, “Only their pride Sam, and it was something they needed.”
Sam giggles at that, and Kathryn continues the story. When Kathryn gets to the point where she’s talking about our first kiss she looks at me before she says, “Sam the first time I kissed your Daddy I knew he was going to be my husband and we were going to be together for all our lives.” Her finger goes to her necklace and gently runs across it.
Looking into Sam’s eyes I say, “I knew that too Sam. That I was going to marry your Mommy and be very happy.”
The coach chuckles and asks, “That talk you had with me, when you ask if you could date Kathryn you already knew you were going to marry my daughter?”
Looking him straight in the eye’s I say, “Yes Dad I knew then, but I didn’t want to sound like I was crazy.”
The coach chuckles and says, “Somehow part of me knew what you were really asking.”
Kathryn continues, “Sam that was the day your Daddy gave me my necklace just before my tenth Birthday. Even though Sam we knew would spend the rest of our life together we waited a long time to make love, even though we knew it would be all right because we will be together forever. JJ waited until I was ready.”
The Coach chuckles, “More importantly he waited until I was ready to deal with it. He already asked Kathryn to marry him, and I gotten accustomed to the idea of them being together forever.”
Smiling the Coach asks, “Sam you remember the story about the bear?” With a big grin Sam shakes her head yes. The Coach continues, “I knew right then after I got the phone call from your Aunt Michelle that JJ, your Daddy would always be part of this family. Michelle was in tears as she told me how JJ risked his life. That he was likely hurt or killed to have saved her and her sisters.
When she said they were fine and were there. I never thought I have driven so fast in my life to get to my Mom’s house. When I got there JJ had already left. Michelle and Kathryn told me the story about the bear. Kathryn told me how he stood between his family and the bear. I knew right then they would be married, I can see the love and pride in Kathryn as she told me about JJ.”
Kathryn pointed out to her father, “Well JJ had already asked for me to marry him.”
The Coach chuckles as he remembers. Addressing Kathryn and I he says, “Until that point I thought the two of you would have a fight and break up like most young couples do. After that I realized how deeply JJ truly felt about you Kathryn, and how you truly felt about him. That’s when I and your mother truly accepted your engagement and marriage. That’s also when we started planning your wedding.”
Kathryn gives me a hug that Sam joins in on. Giggling Sam says, “My Daddy is a real hero.”
A warm laugh draws our attention to the doorway where Ron and Reese stand with Uncle George and Alyssa and Joan. Crossing the floor Ron says as he stands in front of me, “When I first learned a little about you, and heard the stories Sam and Kathryn told I was a little more than skeptical. I realize something now, those stories were true and you really are a hero in your own right. Nancy’s daughter is in good hands.”
Reese smiling steps up alongside him and she reaches out her hand to me, she shakes my hand and says, “I do agree, and I see how much you love Sam and how much she loves you in return. I owe Nancy my life and I’ll always do whatever it takes to protect Sam. I know now that you would do that out of love for her.”
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