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Scout saw the big sign for Living River Ranch and made the final turn up the long drive. He soaked in all the land on both sides of the road as horses, cows, and sheep dotted the landscape. There were fields with hay ready for reaping and other crops that looked as if they were just about ready for harvest. There were many buildings up ahead of him, and the sheer expanse of the place was amazing. He loved the fact that just beyond the trees on the top of the hill, you could see tiny specks of Lake Michigan poking through. He loved some good fishing and was looking forward to being stateside this winter for the first time.
He had spent most of his adult life from six weeks post- high school in the military, and the majority of that time deployed overseas. It had not been a bad way for a foster kid from Chicago to see the world when he aged out. He was grateful for his high school friend Jake remembering him when this job came up.
Scout loved working with his hands, and this job helping tear down and repair the main barn had been right up his alley. He was not sure yet if staying in one place was a change he wanted to make long-term, but Living River Ranch looked to be an excellent layover for now. He thought this as he parked the F250 he had recently bought, alongside some other cars by the main office building.
“Scout,” Jake shouted the second he alighted from the cab.
“Jake,” he said, with a genuine smile as he shook the hand offered and then pulled him in for a quick backslap.
“Man, you look great,” Jake said with a huge smile. “Those guns are pretty impressive,” he teased, glancing at Scout’s arms in the tight t-shirt. “Bet the women go wild for you, my friend.”
“I did alright, but you know how it is, they always wait for us on leave guys for all the wrong reasons. Never did find me one worth the time of day,” Scout said, with a bit of melancholy.
He knew it was not the manly way to be, but felt safe knowing Jake felt the same way. Loving and leaving was just too much work, and for someone who had been left his entire life as a foster kid, it was not something Scout wanted to do to someone. He had avoided entanglements as best he could over the years.
“I know the feeling, but wait until you meet my Belle,” Jake said with a big huge cheesy smile. “Glad you are going to be here for the wedding, at least.”
“I can’t wait,” he said, as Jake turned slightly.
“Let’s go meet the gang. You are going to find this group to be the absolute best,” Jake finished, strolling up the walk to the front door of the office.
As Scout walked in, a tall man with a baseball cap at once moved forward and extended his hand, “Noah Douglas, Ranch Manager,” he said, and Scout found himself smiling. The man was obviously born and raised on the land and should have had a cowboy hat and spurs on matching his cowboy persona.
“Scout Westbrook,” he said, with a firm shake of the hand.
“Jack Townsend, Ranch Lead Foreman,” A man that was sixty Scout estimated, craggy, and heavily reliant on crutches identified himself. This was his new boss.
“Scout Westbrook, sorry to hear about your accident,” he inclined, his eyes to the leg.
“Yeah, been tough learning to rely on others and these,” he made a small motion to the crutches, “to get around, but I’m glad you are here. Jake told us nothing but good things about you son.”
“Thanks. I am looking forward to being in one place and doing some honest work with my hands for a while,” Scout replied.
“Well, we can definitely keep you busy,” A lady who was younger than him, mid-twenties, he would guess walked forward and extended her hand in greeting. “Margaret Katzen. As you can tell, we run a large operation here, and this project came at a bad time as we head into winter, so I’m excited to have you here leading the charge to get the barns repaired before snow hits.”
Scout took her hand, “Nice to meet you. The ranch is beautiful from what I can tell, and you are right; it is a huge operation. I will do anything in my power to help get this project done for you.”
“Wonderful, let’s go talk,” Margaret turned, just as the front bell sounded.
“Oh, my goodness,” a motherly voice he would recognize anywhere sounded.
Scout found a tear well in his face as he turned to see Arnold and Mary Williams walking through the door. He had not seen them in a couple of years, but they had always welcomed him at their home with open arms. Never had he felt like anything but a kid when he visited Jake’s warm, loving house. They were the closest example of parents he had ever had.
“Arnold, Mary,” he said, holding out a hand to Arnold just as Mary enfolded her arms around his middle.
“The girls are going to go crazy for you,” Mary said, winking up at him.
He chuckled. “Are you here visiting?” He had only spoken with Jake about the job, and nothing about his parents having come up.
“We moved here a couple of months ago. Bought a little house in Little Bend and just loved it,” Mary gushed.
“Wow! I thought you would never leave the Chicago area,” Scout said with surprise.
“I know, but I have a feeling Jake is going to give us some grandkids here soon, and we wanted to be wherever he was settled,” Mary said, with a wry smile that immediately reminded Scout of the tragedy back in Chicago.
He turned to include Jake, “sorry about Danny.”
“Yeah, that was tough,” Jake said. “Thanks. It’s been a great fresh start here at the ranch, and mom and dad agree it’s turned out fabulous for us all.”
“Agreed,” Mary said and punched Arnold in the side when he did not say anything.
“Hey, I thought you were responding for both of us as usual,” he teased his wife.
“Umpphh,” Mary said. “Well, we are headed to the B&B to chat up Marissa for a bite of baked goods and tea. If you get a chance, let us catch up real soon.”
“Will do,” Scout said as they turned and scooted out the door.
“You are pretty lucky,” he said to Jake.
“I know. They have made friends quickly here and are underfoot all the time. Thank goodness Margaret, Jack, Noah, and everyone are so good-natured about it.”
“The more, the merrier,” Margaret chimed in with a big grin. “Let’s get down to brass tacks,” she said and turned toward her office.
As the group moved forward, Scout found himself genuinely smiling like a big doofus. He felt this draw of happiness steal over him for a moment, catching him unaware. He was usually one to stray away from the touchy-feely stuff, but he liked this relaxed and easy-going group. Just maybe, this might give his mind and body the rest it had been craving, along with some good old-fashioned demanding work.
