Whispering

By Jerry Kuttler

Jeremy had to go to the funeral to honor his uncle Jim, who had taught him so much about horses and life in general. He knew somehow he had to share the knowledge with others, especially what Jim had taught him about horse whispering, a talent that only six other people had in the states at the time. Jeremy also wondered about what doors this talent would open and where it might lead him.

A man of influence was how Jeremy remembered Jim. Even in his death, Jim was bigger than life. The way he dealt with people and horses had been a gift sent from heaven above. Jeremy knew from all of Jims teachings that he could be one of the best horse whisperers ever. Jeremy only hoped that he could prove his talents when he tried out for the foreman position at the E&J Stud Farm owned by Esmira, a beautiful independent woman used to having things her way. Both Jeremy and Esmira were not prepared for what would happen if love was thrown into the mix.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 31, 2014
• ISBN: 9781503510142

Book preview

Copyright © 2014 by Jerry Kuttler.

Library of Congress Control Number:          2014919388

ISBN:          Hardcover          978-1-5035-1013-5

                    Softcover           978-1-5035-1015-9

                    eBook                 978-1-5035-1014-2

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 10/30/2014

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I t

was a damp early spring day mid-May. The year was 1865. The trees hadn’t yet budded. Esmira looked around. She couldn’t get her thoughts off of the burial of a great friend and foreman of her E & J Stud Farm that she had known for thirty years. Not only was he a great friend and companion but he was greatly respected for his craft. He was the last horse whisperer that she knew. He died in his mid-sixties and was at peace. Esmira was twenty years younger than Jim and he was her deceased husband’s best friend. After the loss of her husband seven years ago Jim became a friend that she could consult with, not only about the stud farm but about personal stuff as well. Whenever she was teary eyed and lonely his words would settle her down. She could always count on his friendship and he became her companion through the many trials since her husband’s death. That was one of the reasons she missed him so much, not only was he the best horse whisperer in the state, he was also her one and only true friend.

She looked outside the kitchen window and noticed the stallions all seventeen of them gathered up to the east fence. There the funeral procession was driving up to the place where they would bury Jim. Even the stallions looked teary eyed and sad, maybe this was their way of saying good bye to him as well.

She had to hurry and get out to the funeral area. The trail leading up to the small cemetery was beginning to fill up, with the people that admired Jim for his friendship and horse whispering talent. They knew Jim had a special quality that brought and kept people close to him, not only in life but in death as well. Jim was a type of person that would give his shirt off his own back if he thought it would help another human being. Esmira went over to the east fence and instructed the funeral people that she was ready for the service to begin. It seemed like everything was in a rush and moving way to fast. It was only nine o’clock am and soon Jim would be buried and the life that she had known would be gone forever. Soon she would be looking for a new foreman for the E&J Stud farm and the try outs for this position were to begin after Jim’s service today at 1:00 this afternoon. She knew what she was looking for a man that could handle himself as well as the horses. Esmira hoped the men who were trying out were better than the last bunch of cowboys that had shown up demonstrating their skills. The last lot looked like they had just been introduced to horses and what Esmira was looking for was a man that could read horses as well as people. Surely there was a man out there with better talent then what she had recently seen. Her mind was racing with everything she had to accomplish with Jim’s death and the future of her farm and her horses. She had to clear her head long enough to get through Jim’s service and burial procession. As they lowered Jim into the ground and everybody tossed either flowers or dirt in a friendly manner onto the casket, Esmira noticed the line was coming to an end and the last gentlemen carried a silver bucket with coarse dark dirt inside, he emptied the bucket and made the sign of the cross and said a heartfelt good bye. Esmira noticed that he was teary eyed. She noticed that he appeared to be feeling as distraught as she was and came over and introduced herself. She stated I don’t believe we met. He stated in a low masculine voice that his name was Jeremy. She asked him Are you from around these Wyoming hills and he said No, that he was from Colorado. Esmira thought to herself, there was something special about this gentleman.

Esmira had her curiosity peaked. It had been a long time since someone or something had peaked her interest. This gentleman held himself with poise and confidence. Time was just flying by! Before this man got away, she had to find out who he was! It was 12:45 and almost time to make her way over to the Gymkhana for the foreman try outs. She viewed the cowboys ready with their saddles. She noticed that most of the cowboys looked like they had their eyes wide open. She couldn’t tell if they were gawking at her or her stallions. Esmira was a well-built lady and very attractive and not more than a mere five foot one, her build was vivacious and curvy, her measurements caught everyone’s eye. But that wasn’t the kicker. She always wore blouses or dresses all the way up to the neckline. Esmira knew she was picturesque to look at and had to be careful around men she didn’t know especially now that Jim was gone. That was a blessing in disguise. No one ever thought of her as the rugged and determined woman she was.

"Well, let’s go said Esmira, as one after another of the copious rugged looking cowboys tried their skills with her black and Roan stallions. Many were thrown off within seconds of putting their saddle on the horse’s back. The next cowboy, number fourteen got up and chose an appaloosa to demonstrate his horse sense so to speak. This appaloosa was Esmira’s one and only and was known to be high strung and rough to ride. To Esmira’s shock and surprise this cowboy made it past the eight seconds required for a successful ride. Esmira thought to herself, there must be a better way to make a living, fourteen cowboys and only one successful ride, where have all the good cowboys gone? Number fifteen got up and made it six seconds and was thrown into the fence. There was only one more rider. As the last cowboy got up to show off his skills there was something about him that caught Esmira’s eye she looked at him again. She noticed his chiseled firm body and his muscular build. He didn’t look over five foot ten but his chest muscles were huge and defined as well as his biceps that made him appear strong enough to handle the horses as well as other things that she had not thought about in a very long time. Esmira noticed this man taking his time and wondered what he was doing when he should have been getting the horse ready to ride. What are you waiting for" Esmira shouted out? Jeremy grabbed the Palomino, put his saddle on his back and lead him around the gymkhana. He then put a gunny sack over his head and led him around some more. For what seemed like eternity he was saying something to the horse. This was very similar to what Jim used to do. Esmira watched Jeremy slowly take the gunny sack off the horse’s head as he was stroking his neck. Jeremy got on the horse. The horse bucked twice but then settled down.

Esmira was shocked! No handler had ever paraded around the arena like that before and especially with the palomino. Hey she yelled, in excitement, you’ve got the job. As her emerald green eyes looked into his sky blue eyes, she continued to say Be able to start tomorrow and put Blondie up in the barn. As the other cowboys went grumbling away, Jeremy introduced himself to Esmira and she recognized him for the funeral procession earlier in the day. Jeremy finally made his way to the stall and found a curry brush and started to curry the stallion down. Esmira came around the corner and asked what are you doing? Jeremy replied The most important part about riding an animal is taking care of it afterwards. When you show respect to the animal, you will always know that the animal will take care of you. Jeremy tried hard not to stare at Esmira’s beauty as she patted and firmly stroked the animal. It surprised him that he noticed this. It had been awhile since a women had caught his interest. Esmira said I like your style and thought to herself I must be dreaming, I wonder if he can handle the bedroom like he handles the horses, then blushed at her own thoughts. Jeremy humbly said Thank you. Esmira said I’ll see you at six o’clock sharp. Don’t keep me waiting" as she looks at his behind and thinks what a nice butt!

The next morning Jeremy arrived at five-thirty and greeted all seventeen of the stallions by six o’clock. One could say that he was in the right place because the stallions were not stirring at all. Esmira walked thru the barn door wearing an orange and green dress with her riding boots on. Only she knows that what she’s wearing underneath the dress and there is nothing… She selects the cloth saddle and saddles a roan. Jeremy takes out Blondie again and follows Esmira as she says let’s ride.

They head up to the apple orchard, where Esmira has a spot picked out amongst the trees. Since Esmira is but five one she can’t reach the apples she asks Jeremy if he wouldn’t mind picking the apple. Within seconds Jeremy puts his hand under her bottom and lifts her to the apple. Esmira is shocked. She had no idea of this kind of strength, as she is literally in the palm of his hand, if he only knew how excited and emotional she was feeling. Jeremy innocently asks can I help you referring to the picnic, as he sets her down his arm accidently brushes across her full breast and he says Oh, I’m sorry and Esmira reply’s in a breathless gasp don’t worry about it.

So Esmira asks where did you learn your gift? Referring to his magnificent build, however Jeremy thinks she is talking about his whispering to horses so he replies from Jim. No Esmira says the gift of body building. Oh Jeremy says that comes naturally by just working out on the farm. It must be in the genes. Esmira states as she looks at his physique and the powerful play of his muscles as they ripple under the snug fit of his jeans and chambray shirt it must be she thinks to herself. Her mind wanders with thoughts of Jeremy’s magnificent body and she thinks to herself I know it has been seven years since my husband has died, and that long since I’ve been in a man’s arms, but this man appears too good to be true!

Jeremy has always had an immense respect for the large horses, so his way of saying thank-you was to groom them. While Jeremy was in his own world grooming Blondie he didn’t notice Esmira come into the stable? Nor did he notice Esmira reach under the belly of Blondie to accidently brush his waist and then shyly reply Oh, I’m sorry. Jeremy was surprised at Esmira’s playfulness and responded in a low sensual voice I’m surprised and pleased by the feel of your hands on my body. As Jeremy lifts Esmira on Blondie his rough hands slides down to her luscious breasts and touches them so very lightly before his hands drift down below her skirts and Jeremy says wait, let’s do this right. Jeremy asks Esmira what do you really want from this partnership? As her soft and supple feet roam to his waist she