Two of the grooms at Rolling Meadows Stables quit to return to Mexico, so Matthew found himself tending to mundane chores besides training prestigious show horses. Not that he minded, but by Friday afternoon he was bone tired and eager to get home to his wife and children. He said a prayer of gratitude when no owners arrived late at the stable, demanding his time and attention. He and Pete Taylor left at five o’clock on the button. Along the way he closed his eyes pretending to nap, but he wasn’t sleepy. He wanted to concentrate on how to approach Martha when he got home. Last weekend had been strained, to say the least. She had accused him of being overly fond of money. And he couldn’t deny that finances occupied far more thinking time in New York than they had back home. Farms were more expensive here, although the price of land was rising across the country. He decided not to mention the amount of tips he’d received during the week. He would leave the envelope of cash along with his paycheck on the counter for her to deposit in the bank.
