Page 68 of True North

Lost at sea.

Sure, I sunk myself into work and building up the family business to buy a ranch. I’ve never had much focus after that milestone. As if the goal was compensating for what I lost ten years ago. A consolation prize.

And now I have the ranch, I realize how big and lonely this life will be if I have to do this alone. The truck lurches over a pothole in the road. Ma gasps, hands white-knuckling the wheel.

“Next left, turn in and send her right ’round. We’ll head home.”

She smiles and lifts one hand to her forehead in a sloppy salute. I chuckle. Never before have a mother and son been so close. I swear, the only silver lining—and there is always one of those, I believe that—to come from the horrendous life we led in the old man’s house was that it brought us together in such a profound way. Nothing will ever match the devotion Ma carries for me.

And I for her.

The second the thought rings through my mind, I’m a liar.

Because there is one woman I can’t live without.

And she ain’t in this truck.

* * *

Wednesday is here, and Lou is back. I meet her in the driveway, her with an armful of groceries for Ma to turn into some mouthwatering morsel and the prettiest smile I’ve ever laid eyes on. I, however, can’t stick around. I have the sale in Great Falls at noon. If this ranch stands any chance of making it through the next twelve months, we are going to need breeders.

A couple semi loads of them, at least.

I wave Ma goodbye through the front window as I shove on my hat.

“You’re not stayin’?” Louisa asks, disappointment claiming her face.

“Need to be at the store sale over in Great Falls. I’ll see you later.”

“Oh, sure.” She offers me a small smile.

Drivin’ the hour and a half to Great Falls, I mull over Ma’s words from the driving lesson last week. For the first time in my life, I let myself dream big. Like bigger than growing a profitable ranch. Maybe other investments. Other income avenues. Others have done it. If I can make the first ten years good ones, then I’ll have equity.

Today I spend the last of the capital from the allotment sales. A little I had leftover as a nest egg, just in case.

I ponder a fifty-fifty split. Half stock, half investment down payment.

The thought sparks something that fires off by itself. The hope and excitement it brings fills my heart. It lights me up.

Damn.

Lewistown is no big fare, to be sure. Most small businesses turn over a profit in town. At least the owners claim they do. The drive flies past, and I find Ned leanin’ on the gate to the sale yards, waitin’ on me. I park and walk to where he is rolling a smoke.

“You oughta give that up, bud,” I say in lieu of hello.

He blows a cloud of smoke to the side, with a grin. “Was hopin’ you’d make it, Harry.”

“Can’t have you buying up all the quality stock.”

He turns and heads through the gate and I follow. I haven’t been here before, having only used Lewistown’s smaller market for the allotments.

“Nah, I only transport ’em, buddy. I like the work, don’t like the stress of ownin’ a ranch.”

“That so.”

“Hell, you’ve got your work cut out for you on the old ranch. Holler if you ever need a hand, hey?”

“I’ll keep you in mind. Maybe roundup time.”

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