Travis Gives a Tour
After an early breakfast Travis took Jan and Tee for a tour of the ranch.
"Oh Travis, this is lovely…I thought the inside very nice but the outside is beautiful," said Jan taking in the house and grounds that surrounded it.
"You sound surprised Jan," Travis said smiling
"I thought it being a ranch it would be more…rustic."
"Oh there’s plenty of rustic around here I just don’t care to live in it." He walked them past the plantings around the house which he explained he’d had landscaped before they moved out there. Not too far from the house they came to the cow sheds. He showed them the shed where the calves were kept in clean pens.
"They don’t go with the other cows?" Jan asked.
"Sure they do, some we’ll keep and some will go to market, I try not to look into their eyes." He said dipping his head. "It’s hard for me to think of them as food.
Jan checked her fine leather boots, smiled and caught up with Travis and Tee. "You should have brought your wellies." He grinned catching her eye.
"You know I don’t own a pair of wellies," she grinned back.
"Your wardrobe is lacking Miss Rollings, we’ll have to see to that…get you some ranch clothes."
Tee would run ahead and then stop and wait for them not wanting to miss anything his uncle might have to say.
Travis’ attention was caught by Jimmy Kelp calling to him.
"Got a minute Travis?" he said walking up to him.
"Jan Rollings this is Jimmy Kelp, cattleman he runs the place."
"How do ma’am," Jimmy drawled tipping his hat.
"What’s up Jimmy?" asked Travis
"I heard your nephew was coming,"
"Yeah that’s Tee up there on the fence."
"I thought I’d better check with you first, the bitch has had pups, maybe Tee would like one."
"I think he probably would, hey Tee, come here," he called.
Tee jumped down from the fence and ran over, "yes sir?"
"Tee this is Jimmy Kelp, he’s the foreman here…more or less runs things on the ranch."
"I wouldn’t go that far…glad to meet you Tee…I was tellin’ your uncle about some pups thought you might wanna go have a look an’ pick one out."
"Pups?" Tee turned to Travis.
"They’re new puppies Tee and if you want one go pick it out."
"A puppy…wow can I?" his face lit up.
Tee went off with Jimmy to have a look at the new puppies.
"That was sweet of you Travis," Jan said taking his arm.
"A boy needs a dog," Travis said matter
-of-factly. "Now over here they’ve brought in some heifers," he continued.Jan was watching him more than listening and wondering if he knew just how special he was.
