Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 112850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
“I get it. I feel the same way,” I said, and added the sunglasses hanging off a button on my shirt. “Texas might not be the rebel state I learned in my history classes, but my anarchist heart belongs right here.”
I did a full turn as I spoke, staring out at the carefully crafted ranch land. More horses were outside, spending the morning in the sun before the heat became too much, forcing them in for the day. If I ever came back as a horse, I wanted to live right here on this land.
“How many quarter horses do you have?” I asked. They were also my preferred breed.
“In one way or another, we’ve had around two hundred fifty horses since we started.” A saddled Whiskey came around the barn led by the second ranch hand. He wasn’t as large as Hooch, but nearly so. “Currently, we’re somewhere about seventy-five.”
“Wow,” I murmured. “You’re livin’ my dream. What’s his story?” I asked, nodding to Whiskey as he came forward.
“He’s got his own personality. He enjoys farm work but not racin’. He’s picky with his riders. He’ll only respond if he likes you. I think he’ll like you,” Kitt said as he mounted Hooch. “Horseback’s still the best way to get around the property. You know, they’re smart animals. They stay calm when you need it the most. Austin prefers ridin’ in the UTVs, but he sure is something special when he’s on a horse’s back.”
I followed suit, rubbing a palm over the horse and murmured the soothing words that always calmed Wildflower before carefully mounting his back. He showed no resistance, no micro-tensions in his body, indicating he had no problem with me being atop him.
Kitt had ranch science down. He knew what he was doing. I now had my mentor for the dream of opening a sanctuary. I’d do my best to retain anything he taught me. He led us away from the barn and I followed his direction. As we crested another rolling hill, a large house came into view in the distance, which I assumed to be Kitt’s home. Between us and that house sat a metal building that appeared to be Kitt’s destination.
He rode straight up to the building. Several vehicles were parked in the parking lot in the rear, but we continued on to the front where several hitching posts were placed.
All right, this was cool. I wanted this on my ranch.
“This is my main office. Austin has an office here too, but he also has one in our house and down at the studio. He’s rarely here anymore.” Kitt tied Hooch to the post then gathered Whiskey’s reins to do the same as I dismounted.
“Wow,” I said, awed when we walked into the only door I saw. When I stepped fully inside, I did a full circle, taking it all in. We were met with large graphs, whiteboards, and massive computers and printing machines. The magic of the ranch clearly came from the science happening before me. This honestly blew my mind, and I glanced at Kitt who took his hat off again, carrying it in his hand.
“It’s customary to have an office attached to a barn, but this made more sense for me,” Kitt explained, leading us to a table in the back of the center room that had several rolls of large paper on top. “I took liberty in havin’ these blueprints pulled together. We have an architect who’s developed all our land.”
Kitt unrolled one set of plans. He lifted his gaze to me as he placed his hands on each side of the architectural blueprints. “I’ve assumed you’re on board with what Slade has told us.”
“The sanctuary?” I asked, all my attention focused on the structures drawn on the paper. “I’m in. I’m not sure what’s gonna happen with me and Slade, so I want to lease his land that backs against mine in some sort of formal way. He doesn’t know that yet.”
“If he’s anything like Austin, I bet that decision won’t go over well,” Kitt said, his lip twitching as if fighting a grin at whatever memory popped into his head. “It’s the reason he has a small office in here too. He wants to be a part of everything I do regardless of whether he understands or not.”
“Seems like Slade too,” I said and tapped a finger on the plans. “Tell me about these.”
“Like I said, I took lots of liberties that may or may not be for you. You’ll have to be completely honest with me,” he explained, and lifted his hands, the multiple sheets staying in place. “These are quickly drawn, close to the same design of several animal refuges around the country. Of course, you’ll make changes to make it yours. Think of this as the starting point. I’ve got a few for you to look over.”