Discord

[Merry]

Riverside Gets A Barn Manager

Riverside had grown faster than Merry had intended. That was the polite way of putting it. Three months ago, there had been one working barn, a manageable number of horses, a handful of boarders, and enough empty stalls that Merry could walk through the aisle without mentally assigning each one to somebody.

Now there were three barns. All three were full. One held Merry's event horses,the horses belonging to her riders, and most of the show jumpers. Another had filled steadily both the driving horses and Marti's string of western horses. The third, which Merry had once thought might remain partly empty for at least a year, had somehow acquired boarders, including two ponies she could not remember personally agreeing to take, and a warmblood whose owner had apparently been told Riverside had "plenty of room."

Riverside did not have plenty of room.

Riverside had feed deliveries. Riverside had turnout charts. Riverside had board invoices, veterinary appointments, farrier schedules, hay orders, blanket changes, broken fence boards, lost shoes, lesson calendars, new-client tours, staff questions, and a recurring problem with one of the automatic waterers in Barn Two. Riverside also had Merry Vollmer attempting to keep all of those things in her own head.

By seven-thirty on Tuesday morning, she had already been asked six questions. By eight, it was eleven. At eight-ten, someone stopped her on the way to the arena to tell her that a boarder wanted to switch paddocks. At eight-fifteen, a delivery driver called because he could not find the correct entrance. At eight-twenty, one of the grooms wanted to know whether the new mare in Barn Three was supposed to have supplements. At eight-twenty-two, Merry realized she had left her coffee on the mounting block outside Barn One. At eight-twenty-six, she found it.

Cold. She drank it anyway.

Eddie watched this from across the yard. He had been at Riverside long enough now that nobody thought of him as the new driving coach. He was simply Eddie. His horses were there. His clients were there. Mike moved through the place as if he had always belonged to it, and Fritz appeared at Eddie's elbow often enough that people had stopped asking whether the boy was supposed to be there.

Eddie knew which door in Barn Two stuck after rain, which section of the covered arena roof rattled in a west wind, and exactly how Merry took her coffee. He also knew the precise look she got when she was exhausted enough to become unreasonable. He knew it because he had seen it from across his kitchen table, from the other side of her bed, and once at two in the morning when she had insisted she was perfectly awake while falling asleep against his shoulder.

She was wearing that look now.

Merry stood outside Pagan's stall with a phone pressed between her shoulder and her ear, a clipboard tucked under one arm, and a roll of vet wrap clenched in the other hand. Eddie leaned against the opposite stall and waited. Merry held up one finger. He waited.
"No," she said into the phone. "Thursday. Not Friday. Thursday morning."

A pause.

"Yes."

Another pause.

"No, because the farrier is here Friday."

Longer pause. Merry closed her eyes.

"The farrier is here Friday because he is shoeing twelve horses."

Pause. Eddie smiled hello to her.

"Yes. Fine. Thursday at eleven. Thank you."

"Would you like to get some lunch?" he asked gently.

"I don't have time."

"That's rather the problem."

"I have a lesson." Merry said.

"In twenty minutes."

"I have things to do first."

"You always have things to do first."

"That is generally how running a farm works."

"This isn't a farm anymore."

Merry stopped, and Eddie nearly walked into her. She turned.

"What exactly do you think it is?"

"A small nation with poor infrastructure."

Despite herself, Merry's mouth twitched.

"That is ridiculous."

"You've got three barns full of horses and half the county asking you where their fly masks are."

"That happened once."

"It happened twice yesterday."

"That was the same person."

"That does not make it better." he chided softly.

Merry started walking again. Eddie fell into step beside her.

"You need a barn manager."

Merry stopped again. This time her expression changed. Not defensive. Thinking.

"A barn manager."

"Aye."

She looked toward Barn Two. Then Barn Three. Then down at the clipboard under her arm. Eddie watched the idea settle into place. Merry blinked.

"Oh."

He smiled slightly. "That's all?"

"I hadn't thought of it. A barn manager could handle turnout, feed orders, staff scheduling—"

"Vet appointments."

"Farrier lists."

"Boarder questions."

"Medication records."

Merry stared at him. "That is embarrassingly obvious. Why did nobody say this three weeks ago?"

"I'm saying it now."

"You live on this farm."

"Aye."

"You sleep in my bed."

"Frequently."

"And you waited until now?"

Eddie's eyebrows rose. "I've been suggesting that you're doing too much for weeks."

"You said I was working too hard."

"You were."

"That is not the same thing as saying, 'Merry, hire a barn manager.'"

"I thought you might arrive there on your own."

"Clearly that was optimistic." She looked around Riverside again. The three barns. The horses. The grooms moving across the yard. Someone wheeling a barrow toward the manure pile. A delivery van pulling in. And suddenly the answer seemed so obvious that Merry almost laughed.

"Well," she said. "That solves several things."

He grinned. Merry was already mentally rearranging the farm.

"They'd need to be experienced. Really experienced. Not someone who thinks barn manager means standing in the office with a radio."

"Aye."

"They'd need to be able to supervise staff without making everyone miserable."

"A rare skill."

"Handle boarders."

"Rarer."

"Know horses well enough that I don't have to explain every decision."

"Now you're getting demanding."

"And organized."

Eddie looked at the clipboard, the vet wrap, the missing glove, and the cold coffee, but said nothing. Merry followed his gaze.

"Where is my other glove?"

"No idea."

She frowned. "That is irritating."

"You see?" Eddie stepped closer.

"Hen." The teasing went out of his face. "You're worn out."

Merry exhaled. "I know."

That admission came more easily than it would have a month earlier. She looked back toward the barns.

"I didn't realize how much bigger it had gotten."

"You've been inside it while it was growing."

"That sounds vaguely philosophical." She leaned briefly into him, shoulder against his chest. Only for a second.

Then someone shouted, "Merry?"

Merry straightened. A groom stood halfway across the yard holding a halter.

"Do you know if Maus is supposed to go out before or after his hand-walk?"

Merry opened her mouth. Then looked at Eddie. He said nothing. He didn't need to.

"Before," she called.

"Okay!"

The groom disappeared. Merry nodded slowly.

"Barn manager."

"Aye."

"Where do you advertise for somebody like that?"

"Horseman Magazine."

Merry glanced at him. "Do people still read Horseman Magazine?"

"You do."

"That proves nothing."

"It proves your ideal candidate might."

Merry considered it. "All right." She started toward the office. Eddie followed.

"Where are you going?"

"To write the ad."

"You have a lesson." he reminded her.

Merry stopped. Checked her watch. Swore under her breath.

"Fine. I'll write it after."

"And eat lunch."

"I always eat lunch."

"Coffee isn't lunch."

"I know that." She caught the front of his jacket, kissed him quickly, and let him go.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For noticing."

Eddie touched her cheek with the back of his fingers.

"Aye."

Then Merry stepped away.

"Now stop being pleased with yourself."

"I'll try."

She smiled. Then she went to teach.

***

The advertisement appeared the following week.

BARN MANAGER — RIVERSIDE FARM, UPSTATE NEW YORK. Large and rapidly growing multi-discipline competition facility seeking experienced barn manager. Strong horse knowledge required. Must be organized, practical, capable of supervising staff, managing feed and turnout schedules, coordinating veterinary/farrier care, and dealing calmly with horse people.

Merry added the final line herself. A sense of humor would be useful. Eddie read it over her shoulder that evening at the dining room table.

"You could add 'must prevent owner from doing six jobs simultaneously.'"

"I am not putting that in a professional advertisement." Merry turned her head. He was close enough that she could feel his breath.

"You're enjoying this far too much."

"Aye."

"Why?"

"Because it might mean I occasionally get you alone before ten at night," he said with a crooked grin.

***

Nora Keegan arrived on a gray Thursday morning wearing faded jeans, paddock boots, and a navy jacket that had seen enough barns to lose whatever logo had once been embroidered on it. She was in her early forties, with dark auburn hair twisted into a loose knot and gray-green eyes that seemed to take inventory of Riverside before she had even reached the office.

Merry met her outside Barn One. "Nora Keegan?"

"Merry Vollmer?"

"Yes."

Nora looked around. Three barns. Horses in turnout beyond the tall white fencing. Staff moving between buildings. A delivery truck backing toward the hay barn. Someone leading two horses toward the covered arena. Nora looked back at Merry.

"You weren't exaggerating in the ad."

"I considered that a point in my favor."

"I considered it suspicious."

Merry blinked. Nora's expression remained perfectly straight. Then Merry smiled.

"Come on."

They made it ten yards. A young groom hurried toward them.

"Merry, sorry, but Rommie pulled a shoe."

"Front or hind?"

"Right front."

"When?"

"Turnout."

"Find the shoe?"

"No."

Nora said, "What paddock?"

The groom looked at her. "Seven."

"Deep mud?"

"Near the gate."

"Check within six feet of the entrance before you waste time walking the whole field. They usually twist them off turning there."

"Oh."

The groom left. Merry looked at Nora. Nora shrugged.

"Horses are predictable when they're being inconvenient."

Merry's mouth twitched. They continued walking. Inside Barn One, Nora slowed automatically at each stall. She did not gush over the horses. Merry liked that. She looked. Really looked. Feed tubs. Water. Bedding. Legs. Expressions.

At Pagan's stall she paused. The old campaigner watched her calmly over the door.

"That's him?"

Merry nodded.

"Three Olympics," Nora said.

"Yes."

Nora studied him for another second. "Nice horse."

Merry liked that even more. No squealing. No worshipful speech. No request for a photograph. Just nice horse.

By the time they reached Barn Two, Nora had asked about turnout groups, night staffing, emergency protocols, feed suppliers, quarantine procedure, and who currently handled medication records. Merry answered the last question with slightly less confidence than the others.

"I do."

Nora stopped. "You do the medication records?"

"Yes."

"The board billing?"

"Yes."

"Staff scheduling?"

"Yes."

"Vet appointments?"

"Yes."

"Farrier?"

"Yes."

"Feed ordering?"

"Yes."

Nora stared at her. Merry folded her arms.

"What?"

"Do you also sleep?"

"Occasionally."

"Recreationally?"

Merry laughed. It escaped before she could stop it. Nora's face remained perfectly straight.

"That's not a joke."

"That makes it worse."

They resumed walking. At the far end of Barn B, they nearly collided with Eddie. He had Valerie on a lead rope and a mug of coffee in his other hand.

Merry said, "Eddie Munro, Nora Keegan."

Nora nodded. "I know who he is. Four-in-hand at Aachen."

"A while ago."

"And Worlds."

"Aye."

Nora looked at Valerie. The mare stood quietly beside him, one ear angled toward Eddie.

"Pretty mare."

"Thanks. She knows it, too."

Merry said, "Apparently that is everyone's response to attractive horses today."

Nora glanced at her.

"What would you prefer? A sonnet?"

Eddie lowered his coffee. His mouth twitched. Merry noticed.

"Don't encourage her," Merry said.

"I haven't done anything." Eddie protested.

Nora's gaze moved between them. Not slowly. Not obviously. But Merry saw it. Nora had noticed something. Of course she had. She was clearly the sort of woman who noticed everything.

Eddie said, "How's the interview going?"

Nora said, "I'm mostly trying to establish why she hasn't collapsed."

Eddie took a drink of coffee. "I've been asking myself that for weeks."

Merry gave him a look. Nora looked at Eddie. Then at Merry. Then back at Eddie.

"Ah."

"Ah what?" Merry asked.

"Nothing."

"That was not a nothing sort of ah."

Nora's expression was bland. "I was merely gathering information."

"You are here to gather information about the barn."

"Apparently the barn comes with context."

Eddie coughed into his coffee.

"Nora," Merry said.

"Yes?"

"Barn C."

"Lead on."

They had taken perhaps four steps when Nora said casually, "How many driving horses?"

Eddie answered behind them.

"How many staff dedicated to them?"

He answered that too. Merry glanced sideways. Nora was smiling very slightly. Merry decided she was almost certainly going to hire her.

***

The official interview lasted another twenty-two minutes. Most of it took place standing in the aisle because Merry had given up pretending they were going back to the office. Nora asked practical questions. Merry gave practical answers.

Then Nora asked, "What exactly do you want me to take off your plate?"

Merry answered immediately.

"Daily barn operations."

Nora waited.

Merry began counting them off.

"Staff scheduling. Feed orders. Turnout changes. Farrier and vet coordination. Medication records. Boarder questions that do not actually require me. Keeping track of supplies before we run out of them."

Nora nodded.

"You've thought about this."

"For approximately six days."

"That long?"

"It was suggested to me."

"By him?"

Merry glanced toward the aisle where Eddie had disappeared. "Yes."

"Smart man."

"Do not tell him that."

"I imagine he already knows."

"Unfortunately."

Nora's mouth twitched. Then she leaned one shoulder against the stall front.

"I don't need to train your horses. I don't need to coach your riders. I don't need to make decisions that belong to you. But I can make sure the farm keeps moving without everyone having to find you personally every fifteen minutes."

"That," Merry said, "is exactly what I want."

"And if I think something needs your attention?"

"Tell me."

"If I think you're doing something inefficiently?"

"Tell me."

"If I think one of your staff is an idiot?"

"Tell me privately."

Nora nodded.

"If I think you're being an idiot?"

Merry looked at her. Nora looked back. There was a beat.

Then Merry said, "Preferably privately."

Nora smiled. That did it.

"When can you start?" Merry asked.

Nora blinked. "Are we done?"

"Yes."

"You haven't called my references."

"I will."

"You haven't discussed salary."

"We'll discuss it."

"You haven't asked whether I want the job."

Merry considered that."Do you?"

Nora looked down the long aisle. A chestnut stuck his head over a stall door. Somewhere outside, a tractor started. From the arena came the distant sound of Jim's voice telling someone to keep their leg on. Then Nora looked back at Merry.

"Yes."

"Good."

Nora held out her hand. Merry shook it.

"When?"

"Next Monday."

"Fine."

Eddie appeared at the end of the aisle as though he had been waiting for precisely this moment. Merry pointed at him.

"Not one word."

He came closer. "I wasn't going to say anything."

Nora glanced at Merry. "He's lying."

"Oh yeah."

"Aye," Eddie said. "But I'm still right."

Merry sighed.Nora looked between them.

"Is he always like this?"

"Yes."

"Aye."

Nora nodded thoughtfully."I'll factor that into salary negotiations."

Merry laughed. Not the quick, polite laugh she gave clients. A real one. Eddie came to stand beside her and rested his hand briefly at the small of her back. It was such an easy gesture that he clearly did not think about it. Nora noticed. Her eyes dropped to his hand and back up again. Merry caught the look.
"Don't."

Nora's face remained innocent.

"I didn't say anything."

Eddie smiled. "That's usually her line to me." Merry elbowed him.

Nora nodded slowly."I see this job is going to have layers."

"You have no idea," Merry said.

Eddie bent and kissed Merry lightly at the temple.

"We are conducting business."

"Aye, boss."

"Go away."

He smiled at Nora. "You see what I live with."

Merry looked at him. "You live with it voluntarily."

"Aye." There was no hesitation in the answer.

Something in Merry's expression softened. Nora saw that too. Then Eddie wandered off down the aisle with Valerie. Nora watched him go.

After a moment, she said, "So."

Merry closed her eyes. "No."

"I wasn't going to ask."

"You were."

"I was going to say he seems nice."

Merry looked at her. Nora's mouth twitched. Merry laughed again. And just like that, Riverside had a barn manager.

(2753 words)