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Owen
Walking around and talking with a new couple checking out our venue for their own wedding, I take advantage for a moment discussing our wedding here and how perfect the location is. The white flowers of the autumn cherry trees are in full bloom and the perimeter of the gazebo has orange mums and red and yellow pansies at the base, making a beautiful setting for a fall wedding.
While they walk around, checking out the facilities and what we offer with the venue, I take stock of what we’ve been accomplishing in the past six or so months. I’m pleased to say that I’m in charge of the venue side of things, running it with the help of a few of the ranch hands wives. If this couple signs a contract, they’ll make the seventh client since our own wedding.
I shake hands with the couple and walk them out from the venue, leading them to the front of our ranch. They say that they’ll be in touch as they leave the tree-lined drive, heading off the property. Waving goodbye, I smile, remembering what it’s like looking for places to have your wedding. Our nuptials made the deciding factor in renting the venue out.
Once they’re gone, I look over at the guys finishing work on a new sign as the posts are still in place from the last one. This one is wider and will display our name in huge white letters, with gold horse shoes on either side. And the best thing is it’s already paid for using the proceeds from the venue sales. Nodding and waving to the guys, I cross in front and head along the drive on the side of the ranch.
Our bedroom plans came out beautifully, but we’re still waiting for some final touches like the mirrors and hardware for the sinks and showers. Trent had them raise the half of the roof that had the original bedroom under it. The entire space upstairs is now the master bedroom.
Kelly had them add a small nook just outside of the bedroom overlooking the great room. With a pine wood railing stained to match the rest of the wood in the house, it’s a nice place for reading as it has a small table and a couple of antique chairs resting there.
The bathroom has a vanity with three sinks, plenty of storage drawers, a huge tiled shower with seats and glass doors, and an extra-large tub. All for playing and cleaning in. It’s a perfect getaway within our own ranch.
Also, we’ve made the three bedrooms on the main floor our offices. As I continue my walk around to the back, I see the new horse barn standing where the old one sat.
Now, there’s Trent’s pride and joy. He has it filled with state-of-the-art tools and machinery. New pits for horse manure and it’s bright inside, not dark like the old one. All of the horse stalls and the pig ring have new hay feeders that actually help with their eating to slow them down and not gulp so much air as they eat. Interesting stuff, I tell ya.
We sold off some of the older equipment in order to make room for the new ones. Trent and I had a stake in an auction in which the owners got in over their heads and owed a lot of money to the bank. Most of the pieces are practically new, and some of them appear to have been in use once or twice. That makes for one helluva bargain. Three new tractors, a backhoe, and a new seed drill ain’t nothing to sneeze at when it’s coming from your own pocket.
Thinking about the new barn and stables, reminds me of the old one that Elizabeth set on fire. She’s lucky that the police got to her before Trent or I did, even though we did catch her in the act. I’m quite certain she wouldn’t have made it through what Trent and I would give her. Her arraignment is happening tomorrow and she’s got a laundry list of charges waiting for her answers.
She best not say or even hint at a ‘not guilty’ plea. We’ll all be there to witness it.
It is still difficult to believe that she’s capable of any of it, but she is. The biggest slight of all is the use of agent orange on the crops. It not only hurt the crops, but the soil and a few of the ranch hands as well. A couple of them are still recovering from the boils and blemishes on their faces and hands. That’s something else, she has to pay for all of the medical costs because of her use of that herbicide. Who knows when we’ll see a penny of that?
The soil will be good by spring so that we can plant the crops again. Trent and I have the ranch hands spray it with water daily unless it rains to help diffuse it from the ground, washing it away. The little creek had some issues with the chemical residue, but is now getting back to its normal appearance.
Kelly. Well, she’s Kelly.
I walk up the steps into the main homestead, banging the screen door loudly behind me. That needs to be added to the list of things to fix around here. Don’t want to give anyone a heart attack just by walking in the place.
I grab a cup of coffee and look for Kelly. I find her in her office, sitting at her desk and studying some surveillance footage from another farm a few miles away. She’s really taking a liking to her new career and it still uses her schooling as a detective, so nothing’s lost there.
Walking by, I head up to the nook and remove my boots. Removing a copy ofa Tale of Two Cities. The opening line kind of reminds me of my life somewhat.
Looking over the railing into the great room, I smile and rest my head against the back of the chair.
This is where my heart is, my home.
