The Cowboys Fire

Chapter 3

Connor POV

Another full day on the ranch laid ahead of me and I stand on the back porch looking out on to our aches of land stretching to the sunrise.

We are always up early on a ranch but after a restless night I found myself in my office this morning trying to somehow organise the large amount of paperwork and accounts that are required on a ranch this size.

With such a large herd of cattle to process and manage it’s a wonder how I get any paperwork done at all. We each have our own passions and duties on the ranch, yet nobody was keen to take up that mantel so it got left to me. Aiden has more agricultural interests and has three decent sized green houses where he grows everything from artichokes to zucchini. Feeding us all year round, then selling his extras to the school and hospital on the way into town.

William is the horse man, all the horses on the ranch are taken care of by him. He also breeds and trains them. I have to admit he is rather good at it. He controls the feed and supplies. I rely on him and I am pleased to see, every morning, my horse is kitted out and ready to ride.

Logan is the mechanic in the family, every machine or vehicle on the ranch are his babies. There are quad bikes and dirt bikes, farming equipment, trucks, horse trailers, and cattle lorry’s. Oh and mums flower power golf buggy. He keeps them all in top condition and does any repairs himself. Which reminds me, I need to tell him about the noise my truck is making.

Jackson is the youngest and still trying to work out where his heart is I think. He is pretty happy going where we need him and mucking in with the rest of the hands. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to persuade him accounting was the way forward. He has always been happiest outdoors and caked in mud if you asked mom. To be honest, his interests take him off the ranch and to far away places. If he isn’t working with the hands then he is out on his horse under the stars with his telescope. I have no idea what he is talking about half the time but you can see the passion in his eyes when he speaks.

So different and yet so similar, my brothers and I. We drove mom mad when we were growing up and she was never shy about telling us she had always wished for at least one girl just so she had some back up. After her and pop gave up trying, she shifted her hopes on to us having wives and therefore providing her with an endless stream of grand-daughters. So far, there are no wives or grandchildren for her to bond with, a slight we are reminded of every Sunday when she calls. Heavens neither of us has a girlfriend, let alone anything more.

The sun is starting to streak across the sky, everyone will start surfacing soon. Since I’m up, I might as well make breakfast for everyone. I go back inside, pour myself another black coffee from the pot and pull out the mix for blueberry pancakes, eggs and maple bacon. I’m going to have to make some more enquiries about so help, I won’t let on to them, but the work load is suffocating me. I love being outside and getting my hands dirty, I need someone to take over the admin, the accounting and the house keeping. Mrs McArthy used to clean the bunk house as well, I haven’t dared venture that far. I’m not surprised people kept turning us down but someone must be willing to take it on. I just have to find them.

One by one my brothers come down, freshly showered and in semi clean clothes, ready for coffee and some form of breakfast. They are all pleased to see the table set with pancakes and all the fixings, I do my best to ignore the questioning looks. They have their own issues and their own dramas. It is my responsibility, I can handle it.

We all sit down, discussing the day ahead and who needed some help from the hands etc. Some of the hands were already in the stables, moving horses to the paddock and then mucking out the stalls. Will is normally already there but he seems a little slow off the mark this morning, much like the rest of us. Must be something in the water of late. Logan pipes up,

“Nice to see we all had a crap nights sleep and that none of us know why” everyone round the table nods slowly, sipping their coffee like it holds all the answers to life’s problems.

“Today’s going to be a difficult one then, pizza delivery, a few beers and games night?” I enquire. “Sounds perfect” Aiden replied, smiles light up their faces. Well at least we have that to look forward to.

“I’ll ring Carlos this afternoon and order enough for the ranch etc so he has plenty of time. I swear we are single handedly keeping that man in business” I comment and head to get my shoes on and properly start my day.