The alarm woke Daniel from a fitful sleep. He reached over and hit the clock, trying again to remember where he was. Had he only been at Trinity Ranch for one day? It seemed like weeks. He looked at the clock and figured he’d just have time for a quick shower and a cup of coffee before heading out to the main road to catch the bus back to Honolulu. Kaiko had offered to escort him back to the bus, but he declined, not wanting to inconvenience her so early in the morning.
He sat up and looked out across the pasture. The early morning mist settled over the fields and gave way to the bright sunrise on the ocean’s horizon. How beautiful, Daniel thought. What it must have been like waking up to this every morning? He recalled the view from his Los Angeles apartment. Although the view of the city wasn’t bad, it wasn’t anything like this. He leaned against the headboard and sat silent for a moment, taking it in one last time before getting up and ready to go.
The knock on the door caused Daniel to jump. Was it another foal, he thought? Was it Michelle, telling him she didn’t want him to leave? Stop it, he thought. It’s not your will, it’s God’s. Remember that. If God wants me to go back to California and plan my wedding, then that’s what I’ll do. If he doesn’t ...
Knock, knock! The knocks were louder and followed by a voice this time. “Daniel? Are you awake, son?” George’s voice called through the door.
“Yes, come in, yes,” Daniel said without thinking. The door opened quickly and George walked through looking more refreshed than ever.
“Did you get some sleep?” he asked.
“Yes, sir, a little. You?” Daniel asked, certain he must have because he looked so alert and awake.
“Nope, not a wink!” George walked around Daniel to the balcony on the other side of the room. He opened the door and stepped outside. “But who needs sleep when you’ve got this?” George fanned his arm out across the open air, displaying the beauty of the ranch and mountains in the distance.
“So,” he said, turning back toward Daniel as he returned inside the room. “What’s the rush with heading back to California?”
“Well,” Daniel says, flustered by George’s question. “I have to get back to the airport early so I can wait for a standby seat on the next flight.”
“Why don’t you take another day off and enjoy your time here? There’s no rush to return to Los Angeles, it will still be there.” George laughed at his own joke. “Besides, when will you get the chance to enjoy the beauty of our island again?”
Daniel stood over his bag organizing his belongings. George was right. Los Angeles would still be there. And he might not be able to enjoy this type of opportunity again for a long time. But Kimberly was waiting for him. “I appreciate that, really,” Daniel said, stammering. “But my fiancée is waiting for me to return. We’re planning our wedding ...”
George didn’t let Daniel finish. “Let me show you something.” He walked over to him, closed his suitcase and looked him straight in the eye, not willing to take no for an answer. “Come with me.” George walked out of the room, knowing full well that Daniel would follow.
Daniel watched George leave the room and even though he knew he should get ready to go, he didn’t want to be rude. He figured he could shower quickly after and get coffee at the airport. He gave a quick glance at his bag and went to catch up with George, jogging downstairs to find the front door open. As he walked through it, he noticed George in the distance making his way to the stables on the far right. George turned and waved to Daniel, signaling him to follow.
Daniel stopped, knowing full well that he only had a few moments before he had to get ready to leave. He stopped and just as he was about to decline the invite, Kahili appeared next to him holding a steaming hot cup of coffee.
She looked up at Daniel, handed him the coffee and gently nudged him through the door with a smile that said, “Go.” With that, Daniel abandoned his luggage, his shower and any thoughts of making it to the airport on time. The coffee was warm against his fingers and Daniel stepped quickly onto the grass trying to catch George. He made his way to the barn, catching George as he was grabbing a saddle from the wall.
“Here,” George said, holding the saddle out for Daniel. “Put this one on the black stallion.” George tilted his head toward a black horse on the far side of the stables. Daniel grabbed the saddle with one hand and held his coffee in the other. He set the coffee cup down on the shelf on the wall and walked toward the horse with George in tow.
“Now,” George said, stepping next to Daniel. “This is our prize stallion, Midnight. And that,” he said pointing to the dappled horse on the other side of the stable, “is Penny.” George pulled open the gate and ushered Daniel inside Midnight’s stall. He helped Daniel throw the saddle on the horse and showed him how to secure it. “You’ve ridden before?” George asked, expecting a yes for an answer. He figured that as a stuntman, Daniel would certainly know how to ride. And he was right.
“Yes, sir, I’ve ridden many times.” Aside from being an expert on martial arts, Daniel had been trained to ride horses and even bulls early in his stunt career. The first few films he landed were western action movies. Even though they were low budget, Daniel got some great stunt experience, including riding.
George smiled at Daniel and patted Midnight. He handed Daniel the reins and walked over to Penny. “I’ll take her, she’s a little shy.” George smiled as he put the saddle on Penny, secured it and walked her to the front of the barn.
Daniel stepped out into the bright morning light with Midnight by his side. He waited for George and Penny to catch up and then the two men mounted their horses. “Heeya!” George let out a quick cue to Penny as he snapped the reins lightly, steering the horse in the direction of the mountains. Penny walked at a slow cantor with Midnight by her side. It was obvious to Daniel that the two horses had ridden together many times before. They knew each other’s rhythm and walked in step with each other. The early morning dew twinkled on the pasture as they made their way along a dirt trail. The horses kicked up wet earth as their feet hit the ground, making a soft slapping sound.
George and Penny were just a foot or two ahead of Daniel and Midnight and not a word was spoken. The sounds of the birds and wildlife were a delicate symphony playing softly in the background. Daniel heard the low moo of the cattle across the fields. It was so peaceful, so beautifully perfect. For a moment, he thought he heard Bella and her new colt, but looking back at the stable in the distance, realized it was impossible. Perhaps he was just hearing God, thought Daniel. In the past, God had a tendency to speak to Daniel through people and animals. Not literally, of course. But Daniel heard things, like messages, delivered in the strangest, most unique ways. He wondered if this beautiful peaceful moment on the island was one such message. Perhaps God was trying to show Daniel what true peace and contentment felt like.
George and Penny started to climb a gentle slope along the edge of the mountain base. The hill led them up and out of the valley. A few moments later, both men and their horses arrived at a crest atop a small berm. The flat land was just wide enough for the horses to stand comfortably without slanting forward or back. Another step in either direction and they would be heading back to the valley or down to the edges of the Kawailoa forest below.
When the horses settled, Daniel looked around. To his left was an endless span of berm. To his right, the berm went on for another 100 yards before it disappeared into the rocky base of the Koolau Mountain range. He glanced behind him as Midnight’s tail swatted the air. Trinity Ranch was laid out as far as Daniel could see. He could just barely make out the stables and outbuildings. In the center of the pastures, like a diamond in a perfect emerald setting, sat the farmhouse.
“Well,” George said, “what do you think?” George swept his arm across the vista as Daniel turned to face the forest below and saw the Pacific Ocean sparkling in the morning sun. The waves gently tickled the shoreline, and Daniel could make out surfers in the distance.
“Wow,” Daniel said. “It’s beautiful.”
“It’s not quite Los Angeles ...” George said with a smile.
Daniel shook his head. “No, it’s not quite LA, that’s for sure.”
George turned Penny to face George and Midnight. The speckled horse moved gracefully until she was nose to nose with her equine friend. “Have you heard how Trinity Ranch came to be, son?” asked George as he gazed over his family’s legacy.
Although Daniel had already heard some of the history from the concierge at the hotel and then from Larry, he didn’t want to be rude. Besides, he was so content and at peace just spending time in this moment, looking out onto God’s beauty. “A little, but I’m sure there is more,” he said, prompting George to continue.
“My family has been ranching for over a century. The first paniolos.” He smiled, remembering who he was talking to. “I’m sorry. The first Hawaiian cowboys were taught by Mexican-Spanish vaqueros. They showed us how to ranch, how to work with cattle and how to raise up horses.”
George turned toward Daniel and went on. “Trinity Ranch wasn’t always this big. After my father died, we continued to work the clinic and acquire land little by little. Eventually, the ranch grew into one of the biggest on the islands. Then when Michelle’s father took over, he grew it even more. We hoped that that tradition would continue.” George said wistfully, looking away from Daniel and toward the pastures below.
“Well, why won’t it?” Daniel asked, unsure of the family lineage and if Michelle or any other family members would take over the farm.
George sighed. “My grandson, LJ, or Larry Jr.,” George smiled again. He felt so comfortable around Daniel he forgot that Daniel was practically a stranger. “Larry’s son was groomed to take over the ranch. In fact, all the kids were groomed. Michelle was the oldest and actually knew more about farming than Lottie or LJ. But,” he looked down and stroked Penny’s mane. “But when she went to California, all the dreams of LJ taking over the farm went with her.”
“How?” Daniel was confused. Just because Michelle had taken off to pursue her dream and her heart didn’t mean LJ couldn’t continue in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps.
“You see,” George took a deep breath. “The future of Trinity Ranch is at risk. The last seven years, almost the whole time Michelle has been gone, there has been a terrible draught. I’m not suggesting that she caused it, of course ...” George smiled, shaking his head. “But the drought has left the pastures so dry that the cattle do not have enough to eat. We cannot feed the livestock properly and have had to send all of our herds to the mainland to have them fattened and finished before slaughter.”
“Oh,” Daniel said, still not getting why LJ couldn’t take over the ranch.
“The cost of doing that has gone up exponentially and the expense to run the ranch has quadrupled. Even though LJ showed interest before he went off to school, he has been weighing the risks and is not interested in taking on such a big financial obligation.”
“What is he studying?” Daniel asked, trying to find a route to hope of some sort.
“He’s in medical school in Texas. At first he planned on attending to become a vet so he could manage livestock and offer veterinary services to other ranchers. But now he is considering becoming a doctor.”
“Oh,” Daniel didn’t know what else to say.
“I have another grandson, Michelle’s cousin.” George shook his head in disgust. “But he’s got no intention of taking over, and we wouldn’t let him anyhow. Larry’s sister married a developer and they live in Maui. They have more money than they know what to do with, and Jojo is spoiled rotten.”
Daniel thought that perhaps Larry’s sister might offer to help save the ranch. Before he could figure out a polite way to broach the subject, George continued. “And there’s no way that Larry would ever ask his sister for money or any type of help. They haven’t spoken in years.” George began descending the berm and down the trail toward the ranch. “Pride is a sin, you know. And we all have sin.”
The horses moved steadily down the slope and gently plodded along the trail. “This ranch has given us all so many wonderful experiences,” George said. “I just pray that God will save this ranch and that the tradition will continue for many more generations of Clemens. We’re working with a new irrigation system that just might be the answer to that prayer.”
“An irrigation system?” Daniel asked, interested in the proactive steps the Clemens family was taking.
“Yep, it’s in the experimental phase now. But we hope that it will work well enough to keep all of the pastures green so that we can raise and feed our cattle here without having to ship them to the mainland.”
The two men rode quietly for a few more minutes and then Daniel spoke. “What about Michelle?” he asked. He knew that the Clemens family was a family of honor. But surely, they would be okay with a daughter taking over the family business.
“Ah, if only she were a boy,” said George, smashing Daniel’s hopes. “You see, although she is wonderful and would have been perfect to take over the ranch, it is Hawaiian tradition that a son run the farm.” George went on, “Besides, the way Michelle fled from the island tells me she isn’t that interested in running this ranch.”
The farmhouse was coming into clear view as they rode the trail toward the stables. “But enough about us. Tell me, did you say you have a fiancée waiting for you back in California?” asked George.
“Um, yes, yes, Kimberly.” Daniel was caught off guard and had to shake the images of Michelle out of his mind.
“Well, you seem like a very nice young man Daniel and I believe you will make Kimberly a great husband.” George smiled softly while looking at the trail ahead of him. “Are you excited about the wedding?”
“Yes,” Daniel responded, almost too quickly. He paused and then went on. “It’s just that, well ...”
George never spoke, but let Daniel find the words and courage to continue. “It’s just that I have some reservations.” Now that it was out, Daniel decided to keep going. “Mr. Clemens, can I ask you ... how did you know your wife was the one?”
George slapped his thigh hard and threw his head back in a roar of laughter. “Oh, my goodness son.” He took a moment to get himself together. “It wasn’t me... SHE knew she was the one!” And he kept laughing. “But seriously, I will tell you.” George’s voice got quiet and soft as they neared the stable. “My dear Lorelai is a beautiful gem of a woman, she is my heart. But it wasn’t us,” George shook his head. “No, it was God, son. I met Lorelai at a surfing competition.”
Daniel’s eyebrows rose. Before he could speak, George went on. “I know, I know ... but yes, they had surfing when we were young too. And there she was, on the beach with her family. And there I was, on the beach with my friends. And it was truly love at first sight. I knew from the moment I laid eyes on her that she was the one. It wasn’t physical, it wasn’t emotional. It was God. He placed in my heart that beautiful woman I saw standing under the palm tree with the pink flower in her hair, that beautiful young woman was who God had chosen for me. And I was who He had chosen for her.”
“That’s amazing ...” Daniel’s voice trailed off. He didn’t need to speak for George to know that his encounter with Kimberly was far from love at first sight.
“Daniel,” George said as they rounded the pasture’s edge and neared the barn entrance. “God will show you, too. Just wait upon the Lord and trust your heart. God will show you the perfect woman, the woman He has picked out for you.”
With that, George jumped off Penny and patted her gently on the nose. Daniel sat watching, amazed at how spry and vital this man was. He had to be in his 70s or 80s and yet he spoke and acted like someone much younger. Must be all the fresh air and hard work, thought Daniel.
George led Penny into the barn, and Daniel dismounted and followed behind with Midnight. As they were unsaddling the horses, George spoke. “So why don’t you stay another day? The Festival of the Legends, the Aloha Festival, starts, and it is something you don’t want to miss.”
“So I’ve heard,” Daniel said, remembering Kaiko and her invitation to take him.
“Well, it truly is a once in a lifetime event. The celebration begins tomorrow and lasts for weeks. In fact, Larry and Elizabeth will be in it.”
Daniel wasn’t sure what that meant but knew he had pressed his luck with Larry already. He didn’t want to make things worse, but didn’t want to go back to California right now either. It was as if he was just looking for an excuse to stay. “I don’t know ...”
George hung the saddle on the hook and closed Penny’s stall. He turned to Daniel and looked him in the eye. “You’ll never know how beautiful an event it is if you don’t stay just a few more days. Just a few days won’t matter. You can finish planning your wedding when you return.” George patted him on the arm, like a father would a son. “Besides, it would be our honor to show you the festival as a compensation for your inconvenience coming out here because of the ticket mix up.” George held Daniel’s gaze and Daniel knew he couldn’t refuse.
“Okay, I guess a few more days couldn’t hurt.” Daniel rolled his eyes mockingly as George’s face burst into an ear to ear grin.
“Perfect!” said George. “Now let’s get some breakfast!”
They walked back to the house and into the kitchen. Kahili smiled without saying a word, and Michelle got up to greet her grandfather. She turned, thinking the other set of footsteps was from Ano and was surprised to see Daniel. Her heart skipped a beat when she realized he was not hurried and had no luggage in hand.
“What happened? Did you miss your bus?” She hoped the answer was no. She was wishing that he had chosen to stay because he wanted to spend more time with her. That’s what Michelle really wanted to hear.
“Your grandfather convinced me to stay for the festival. I’ve been told it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity!” Daniel said, smiling.
Michelle looked up at him, glad he was still here and unsure where this might go. “Oh, well, that’s great news!” She was so happy that Daniel decided to stay. She knew she was just coming out of a relationship. She knew her emotions were all over the place with Lilo, the pregnancy and the tension with her father. But something about having Daniel around just felt right. She wanted him here, and she wanted him to want to be here. And so far, for the first time in a long time, Michelle was getting what she wanted.