Dayo arrived at the stables shortly before six the following morning, still feeling the effects of the previous day's work. His arms were sore from carrying feed bags, his back ached whenever he bent too quickly, and the palms of his hands had developed a roughness he was not used to. He had slept well enough, but he could tell that another full morning of ranch work would not be easy.
Richard was already there, speaking with Peter beside the stable entrance. He wore riding trousers, a plain shirt, and boots that had clearly seen years of use. When he noticed Dayo approaching, he finished his conversation before turning to him.
"You're early," Richard said, looking at the time on his watch.
"You told me six," Dayo replied. "I thought it was better to arrive before six than give you a reason to complain."
Peter smiled at that, but Richard remained serious. He picked up a pair of gloves from a nearby shelf and handed them to Dayo.
