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What is left?

Chapter 1.

Written by Wolfie Steel.

I drive my old pick-up truck up the dirt driveway of the ranch where I have worked and loved for close on ten years, as I drive I am nearly taken off the road by a large removal truck coming the other way. I slowly pull up in front of the ranch house and climb from my truck, my equine feet crunching lightly on the dirt and gravel of the driveway as I walk up to the door.

As I arrive at the door I notice a piece of paper is pinned to the doorframe, the piece of paper is a final letter from my lover.

Christian, I can't go on any longer, the ranch is failing big time and so I have taken the decision to sell up before the bailiffs come and take it all, I sold the livestock to anyone who wanted it, the ranch itself will most likely be razed to the ground to make way for new houses or some shit like that. Now I don't want you trying to find me because I failed you in so many ways, please forget about me and go on with your life, you can do so much better than me.

It hurts me to say it but it's the truth, the spare key for the door is in its usual place, go into the kitchen and on the table you will find an envelope with an amount of money in it, it's nowhere near enough to cover what you have put into the ranch over the years but it is I'm afraid all that I can afford. I hope you will use the money to start anew somewhere far away from here.

I'm so sorry my love but as I see it, this is my only course of action.

All of my love is still yours.

Michael.

I fall to my knees as I finish reading the note; I feel the coolness of my tears as they run down my equine cheeks, after a few moments I manage to get control of my emotions, I get back to my feet and walk to the up turned plant pot that hides the spare key, I take the key and open the door, sure enough inside the kitchen there is an envelope resting on the table, I pick it up and open it, inside the envelope is what to me would equate to a years' salary so it is more money than I have ever seen in my life, I hold the envelope in my shaking hoofed hand, it is then that I come to a decision, I'm going to go to the bank and use the money to secure a loan, that loan is then going to be used to buy the ranch, I will then move into the ranch and use it as a place for where furs can come to stay to get away from it all, maybe even to ride the many trails that lead off from the ranch.

I look at my watch and notice that it is just past ten am, I run from the kitchen and lock the door, I hide the key back under the plant pot and then I race to my truck. I fire up the engine and quickly turn the truck around and head back into town.

I pull up in the local parking area and exit the truck, I walk towards the bank, straightening my shirt out as I go, well if I'm going to see the bank manager, I gotta look the part.

I'm no cowboy by any stretch of the imagination, but I can ride a horse obviously being one myself gives me the added experience that I need, all I need to do then is buy some horses, hire a couple of furs to help me run the venture, and who knows, if I play my cards right, maybe I will find my new Mr. Right.

I walk into the bank and wait in line for the next teller to become available. After a few moments it is my turn, and so using my best voice I ask to see the manager. The puma behind the counter heads into the back office, she then returns a minute later.

"The manager, Jason Cramer, has agreed to see you Mr. Miles, so please take a seat and he will call you in when he is ready"

Two minutes later and there is a large and imposing wolf standing before me all dressed up in his pristine stripped suit, he is holding his paw out in greeting and has a warm smile on his muzzle. I take his paw in my hand and shake it warmly.

"Mr. Miles, my name is Jason Cramer and I'm the manager here at First National, now I understand that you wanted to speak to me?"

I confirm his question and he turns back towards his office, motioning for me to follow him. Once inside the office the wolf closes the door and then offers me a seat which I take, he then sits behind his desk and logs into his computer.

"Now then Mr. Miles, what can First National do for you today?"

I clear my throat and begin to outline my plan for the ranch.

"Last week I was a ranch hand at O'Neil's Ranch, I had worked there since leaving school, this morning though, all of that changed, you see the ranch was heavily in debt and was failing week after week, so this morning I pull up to the front door of the ranch house to find a note from the previous owner telling me that he had sold up before it was taken from him, and that effectively I was out of a job"

A single tear runs down my cheek as I remember the actual wording of the note but then I control myself and continue to speak.

"The previous owner has left me what basically equates to twelve months salary, so about $11000.00, and in the note he told me to use it to start a new life which is exactly what I intend to do, but I'm going to need the bank's help to do that, I need a loan which is enough to buy the ranch and clear its debts, I will also need to purchase a few horses so that I can run a vacation ranch where folks can come for a vacation and maybe ride the trails that run from the ranch"

The wolf looks at me and then makes his reply.

"This bank had already given O'Neil's a massive life line and yet it still failed what makes you think that you can make the place pay?"

By now I could feel my hopes starting to fade but I continued on, determined to make a go of things.

"While I worked at the ranch, many folks had asked me if they could ride the trails with me, but I had to turn them down because of the fact that I was employed by the ranch and as such the only job I could do was look after mucking out of the animals and making sure they were kept well, now I know that most folks would pay handsomely to ride the trails as it is some of the most stunning scenery around. All I need is enough to buy the place, clear its debts and get about six horses and a partner to help me with the riding the trails, a ranch hand to keep things clean and someone to look after the booking office, all in all I would say that about $800,000.00 would be enough"

The wolf starts to nibble on the end of his pen as he considers my plea.

"Okay Mr. Miles you have put forward a very compelling argument, but I believe that you have missed something out of your calculations, to wit horse feed and bedding, I am however willing to cut you a deal, the bank will loan you $1500,000.00 which takes the feed and bedding into consideration, on two conditions, first condition is this, my step son Taylor is a fresh faced nineteen year old husky, now I love him to bits but he is a lazy bastard, pardon my language, so condition one is that you take him on as your ranch hand. Condition two is this that I get to ride the trails with you for free"

I sit there and consider the offer, just two conditions stand between me and managing to save the ranch. I nod gently and stand from my seat, I offer the wolf my hand and reply.

"Mr. Cramer, you just got yourself a deal"

The wolf shakes my hand and then begins to fill in the loan paperwork on his computer. Half an hour later and I am walking from the wolf's office armed with the money that I need and the knowledge that I now have my first member of staff.

I clamber back into my truck and fire up the engine; I know that the next stop that I need to make is the realtor's office that has been charged with selling the ranch.