David nodded his head and looked back toward the house. My mother was busy, working in her garden and getting it ready for spring planting.
I’d been trying to be strong for my mother, but today, I wanted to just run away from all of this.
The coach from Texas A&M had been over for a visit, and he’d talked to me about my decision not to attend college and play football. He had pulled me off to the side and said they would help find ranch hands to help my mother out. They would do whatever it took to get me to play.
The sounds of my mother’s nightly cries had filled my head. I’d shaken my head and said, I’m sorry, sir. I need to stay here and take care of my mother and our family ranch.
He’d nodded as he’d given me that same damn pathetic look everyone had been giving me. Son, let me ask you something. What would your father want? I think he’d want you to go to college and get your degree, so you could be better suited for running a cattle ranch like this.
I’d given him a weak smile and said, My father didn’t have a degree, and he built this cattle ranch with nothing but hard work and determination. I intend on making it even bigger and better. I’m staying here. Thank you though for driving all the way out here. I appreciate it very much.
After our conversation, he’d left, and David had told me it was time to get to business.
So, here we were, going over everything in the barn.
David cleared his throat. “One of the main things you always need to remember is to keep good records on everything from breeding, calving, culling, and weaning to your purchase and sales. Everything needs to be recorded, and you need to do it the day of. Don’t think that you’ll write it down the next day because I guarantee that you’ll forget.”
I nodded my head. “Yes, sir. My father showed me all of that about a year ago. I was in charge
of keeping records of all the feed, hay, and fencing supplies.”
David smiled and shook his head. “Damn. Your father was already getting you ready to take over the ranch, wasn’t he? He was one smart man.”
I smiled weakly. “Yes, sir, he was.”
“What do you think would be the next important thing you need to concentrate on?”
I didn’t have to think long on this one. “Fences. Broken fences mean lost cattle, and that means lost money.”
David’s smile spread across his face like he was the proudest man in the world.
Billy started laughing. “Now, you are talking like my dad here talks.”
We all laughed.
David slapped me on the back. “Next?”
“Machinery needs to be checked daily in order to make sure everything is running. If something isn’t running, then it means loss of work time, which equals loss of money.”
“Your father did a good job, Garrett. You’ll want to also manage your grazing and your feeding. With us being in this drought, I’m sure your daddy told you that you only feed during times of need. Most of the time, the cattle are fine with hay.”
I nodded my head. I glanced back at the house when I heard a car pulling up. Emma.
Dr. and Mrs. Birk had been by a few times to check on us, and each time, Emma had come. I’d seen her the first two times, and every time since then, I’d taken off on my horse and just vanished. I couldn’t bear the idea of seeing her and having to tell her that I wasn’t going to college, so I had no real future to offer her. She probably wanted to move to a big city, like Austin, and live in a big house with lots of babies. I couldn’t give her that. I’d never be able to give her that.
“Keep up to date with vaccinations. That’s real important for healthy cattle.”
I nodded my head as I stepped back just enough to where I could see Emma, but she couldn’t see me.
“Also, be sure to fully prepare for calving season. Now, your daddy already has the breeding season managed and down.”
I glanced over toward Billy, and he looked at me. He had just jumped all over me this morning. He’d said Emma was worried sick about me and kept asking him if he had spoken with me. I hadn’t gone back to school yet, but that was all about to change. Mother had said she would stop eating if I didn’t get myself to school, so Monday would be my first day back.
“Always take care of your horses and stock dogs,” David said, snapping me out of my thoughts yet again.
“Yes, sir. Take care of the horses and dogs,” I said halfheartedly.
David followed my eyes to where I was looking, and he let out a laugh. “Garrett, you can’t keep avoiding her.”