Chapter 13

It has become routine for Mr. Kuzyk’s buggy and bay mare to suddenly appear at Bayda’s, but this visit is different. And it’s not only because he’s left the bay at home. This time Mr. Kuzyk seems different.

“The mare must have been stuck in that bog all night and day,” he says to Andrei, who stands at the front of the team, gripping the bridle on one of the jittery two-year-olds. “I spent an hour rubbing her down, but she got a terrible chill. I think she’ll survive, but she’s not well. Getting her back to health will take time.”

He doesn’t peer over Andrei’s head to the garden, nor to the well. Doesn’t glance to the side as if expecting Marie to be standing in the doorway of the house. This time his attention’s glued to Andrei. He doesn’t cringe, doesn’t cover his mouth and cough. His head doesn’t scrunch down into the fleshy folds of his neck. His eyes don’t squint and waver. He sits tall in the buggy, taller than he really is, or at least taller than Andrei remembers.

“But all in all, she’ll be fine.”

“Does she have milk for the colt?” Andrei asks.

“That’s what I want to see you about. The colt has to be weaned. There’s no milk, and even if there was, feeding the colt would sap what strength she has. I told you that a colt with his bloodlines is worth a lot of money, and I hoped to keep him as a sire.”

Andrei has never given up hope, but he’s also been realistic. He’s realized that the colt would more than likely be fully grown before he’d even come close to owning it.

“If you want him weaned, won’t he have to be kept away from her?”

“That’s just it,” Mr. Kuzyk says, stepping down from the buggy. He stands face to face with Andrei. At this moment it appears they each have grown in stature. They are about to seal a transaction.

“I think you’ve come a long way in your quest to own the colt, my boy.”

Andrei nods his head. Mr. Kuzyk extends his hand to shake some kind of agreement.

“You can come stook for a week or two,” Mr. Kuzyk says. “I have the mare penned. The colt runs loose in the yard. He doesn’t go far. In the evenings you can work with the colt. Teach him to lead. Teach him to follow you home. I’ve decided that after a week or two, you can keep him here to train. Of course he still is mine. He’s worth a lot of money, and you know how tough it is to make a living on the farm. But I tell you what. I’ll let you take the honour to name him, and if you work enough hours for me by next year’s harvest, you just might save enough money to buy him outright.”

Andrei has been thinking all summer about a name, and wondering how he could bring up the subject. Now he has the opportunity.

“I know a name already,” Andrei says.

“Oh? Well then, why not give it to him right this minute?”

“He will run like the wind,” Andrei says. “That’s what I name him...Vityr!”

“An excellent name,” Mr. Kuzyk says. “And come to my farm tomorrow morning. I have lots for you to do.” He climbs into his buggy and starts out of the yard. At the last minute he stops, and turns his head to Andrei.

“Just one more thing. I know how hard you can work. But remember that to grow, you also need rest. So,” Mr. Kuzyk says, “on the best of days no more work than twelve hours. Understand? That’s enough stooking for any man.”

•••

Starting the next morning at Kuzyk’s, Andrei works from six o’clock in the morning till six o’clock in the evening. He still has at least three hours of sunlight to train the colt. He carries the halter in one hand and rubs the colt on the neck with the other. The colt steps out of reach and Andrei tries again.

“Good boy, Vityr,” he whispers. “Good boy.” Andrei moves again slowly, patting the neck, holding out a carrot. Vityr nibbles at it and the carrot falls to the ground. Andrei picks it up and tries again. This time Vityr’s lips and teeth hang on, the carrot bobbing, then disappearing into the animal’s mouth. Andrei pats again, only this time sliding the halter over Vityr’s ears. It hangs loose, but stays on. Andrei continues the rubbing. He rubs the neck on both sides, rubs the ears, and through all this buckles up the halter. “Good boy, Vityr,” Andrei says again. He reaches down to rub the belly and the colt runs off.

Every night after supper Andrei’s with the colt. By the end of the week he can rub, pat, and caress as much as he wants. Vityr follows him around for more. All Andrei has to do is hold a carrot in his hand and the colt runs to him from across the yard. On Saturday afternoon, Vityr follows Andrei all the way to the Bayda homestead. For the rest of the month, he works with Vityr at home.