Betrayed, but New Love Found

The Ranch

Holly

Driving into Whitefish, Montana was like driving into a fairy tale. They arrived around noon. Holly followed the directions on her Google Maps, and she turned down a dirt lane and was stopped by an iron half gate that was gray in color. A sign next to it that read Robertson Ranch No Trespassing.

There was a big bulky chain with a big padlock wrapped around the gate and a steel pole sticking out of the ground.

Holly got out of the truck with Angie and Zion.

“Well, let’s hope one of these keys unlocks the padlock,” she said.

“Should be that one,” Zion said, pointing at the smallest key on the keychain. There were six keys all ranging in different sizes. The biggest one square at the base and long to a point at the end.

Holly nodded and tried it in the padlock. It popped open when she twisted the key, and they all cheered.

Taking the padlock out, Zion reached over her and started undoing the chain. It did look pretty heavy, and she was grateful he took it upon himself to help her out. His mama really did raise him right.

Once the chain was off, the gate swung inward and Angie followed it and pushed it wide open until it got stuck on some overgrown weeds on the side of the dirt road. That was something that would have to be cleaned up and be more appealing.

“From the looks of the front of the drive and beyond, the house might be in bad shape. The land might be overgrown. This drive is long, we can’t even see the house from here,” Angie said.

Holly nodded. She worried that the land and the house would be neglected.

“Emma Jean, the woman who owned this land before she passed away, did say she hired someone to take care of it, but she never came back after she lost her husband and daughter and who knows if whoever she hired did what she asked,” Holly said. She kicked at a rock, looked around at the weeds and tall grass.

“Well, there’s only one way to find out,” Zion said.

Holly and Angie nodded, and they all got back into the truck.

They drove for about two more miles before they all gasped at the sight before them. The dirt road gave way to white gravel. The overgrowth suddenly disappeared. The land in front of them was well maintained, there was a long gray wooden fence surrounding a big red barn and land where six horses were milling around eating the grass or trotting after each other. On the other side was another long gray wood fence with…

“Are those Alpacas?” Angie asked.

“I think so,” Holly said.

When the lane curved, they saw a large metal building and to their left and in front of them was the most gorgeous three-story white farm house with light green shutters, a light green door with a glass front, and a wrap-around porch.

The house wasn’t neglected at all. In fact, it looked freshly painted. Clean, like someone had just swept the porch. They didn’t see anyone around and no one came out of the house to greet them as Holly shut off the truck, and they all got out.

“This place is gorgeous,” Angie said with a shiver. “It's a little chilly out here in Montana.”

Holly smiled at her. “We aren’t in Texas any more kiddo.”

They grabbed their bags and suitcases and trudged up the steps to the door. Holly reached out and turned the knob and found it locked. Zion looked into the front windows.

“I don’t see anyone. Looks deserted.”

Holly nodded and used the big key on her keychain to unlock the top lock in the door and then the bottom. She tried the knob again and the door swung open. They all stood there and looked in.

“Well, no one’s come charging at us,” Angie said.

Holly gave a decisive nod, and they all walked in. The place was immaculate. The wooden floors looked like the original flooring and gleamed with wood oil, she thought. There didn’t appear to be any dust anywhere, everything was polished. The walls in the front room were a soothing green color, in fact the same light green that was on the shutters. The furniture looked like the cushions had been fluffed, and the couch pillows arranged nicely. There were a couple of big high back chairs and a small coffee table. It looked like a nice place to just sit and read. They all put down their bags there and started to explore.

Holly walked into a dining room with Zion and Angie sticking close to her. It was pretty big with a long dining table that fit twelve chairs around it. There was a hutch filled with dishes, glasses, and salt and pepper shakers with cute little pig and sheep characters.

The art on the wall was of fields of wheat, one with cows grazing in the grass, or horses running. One was a pretty awesome looking chicken coop and chickens. There were three hanging lights high up on the ceiling. The ceiling itself was a masterpiece. It looked to be twenty ft above their heads wooden beams in a crisscross pattern.

Turning their heads, they saw that the dining room was open to the kitchen and the kitchen was open to the other side that looked like a big family room.

The kitchen boasted two double ovens and range tops. A big black and white marble island with six chairs around it. There were lovely brown cabinets with glass doors. The back splash was a cream and light brown glass tile. The countertops were the same marble as the island and the kitchen sink was a huge copper farm sink. There was also a regular coffee maker, an espresso machine, two microwaves and what looked like a Ninja slushie maker.

In the family room, one wall was a giant flat TV. screen with a nice fireplace under it. Shelves built into the wall next to the TV, with every gaming system. There was a huge sectional, big plush love seat, some bean bags and a couple of rocking chairs with a chess table between them.

“How is this your life?” Angie asked.

“Um, I had no idea the place would be like this. All it says in Emma Jean’s letter was there was a house and fifty acres of land,” Holly said.

“Look at the backyard,” Zion said.

Angie and Holly rushed over to where he was, he had moved a curtain and they both gasped. The backyard was massive, with a huge covered pool that had two water slides that were also covered, and a diving board. There was a rock wall feature that looked like water would fall down it if the water was running. And to the left of that looked to be a hot tub, but it was also covered. Holly guessed for the winter.

On one side of the yard there was an outdoor kitchen with a built-in pizza oven and barbecue. There was also a sand volleyball pit, and what she thought was a trampoline but set in the ground.

“Is that a golf course back there?” Zion asked.

Holly squinted her eyes at what looked like the beginning of a golf course.

“This place is insane,” Angie commented, and Holly had to agree. She wasn’t expecting this at all.

She looked at Zion and Angie.

“Let’s check out upstairs.”

They raced upstairs.

Holly counted ten bedrooms on the second floor and every one of them had their own bathrooms. There were some linen closets that were packed with towels, sheets and comforters. On the third floor there were five huge suites also with their own bathrooms. Every bed had been made, all the bathrooms were spotless. There were no personal items, so she didn’t think any of the rooms were occupied. But someone was clearly taking care of this house and the land.

Holly looked out the window in one of the suites that looked out the right side of the house. There were more buildings back there. A few looked like cabins. There was another large barn structure and in the middle of it all was the biggest fire pit she had ever seen. There had to be twenty small tables and chairs around it. The smile that came over her face was big. Emma Jean must still be taking care of her from beyond the grave and knew exactly what Holly wanted to do with this place.

She walked back downstairs and looked at the open space in front of the door. It was a big foyer. She could put a small reception desk there.

She walked back into the kitchen and opened the cupboards, and found them empty. She then walked to the huge industrial-sized fridge and freezer combo and opened both doors, also empty. She saw a closed door and opened it. It was a colossal pantry filled with dried goods and non-perishable foods. Flour, rice, sugar, brown sugar, salt, pepper, vegetable, coconut oil, avocado oil and olive oil. There were a lot of granola bar flavors, cans of beans and stacks of bottled water.

Holly thought the place was perfect. The only things she thought needed attending to were the dirt road leading into this place. She’d want to extend that gravel, clean up the two miles of weeds and tall grass, get a nicer gate and change the sign. Also, she needed someone to attend to the animals, maintenance for the buildings and grounds and maybe some maids. She’d do all the cooking, Angie could help with that, and Zion could do a website and advertising.

“Zion, do you have any other education besides high school?”

“No, ma’am.”

She looked at Angie and already knew she didn’t.

“How would you two like to take some online courses? Angie, what were you good at in school?”

“Math and Science.”

Holly smiled. “How about we enroll you in some business classes with some accounting thrown in?”

Angie’s whole face lit up. “ Really?”

“Yeah. And Zion, let’s get you certified in Web Design and Advertising.”

“Lady, you’re f*cking crazy, but I like it.”

“It’s settled then. We’re going to open a retreat. For businesses to do employee bonding, maybe the local boy scouts could get some badge requirements fulfilled here. Couples can honeymoon, or vacation with family. The possibilities are endless. I also have another idea. What do you two think about our first event being a Meet and Greet Retreat? The last couple of days my DMs have been flooded with stories of broken-hearted people. And with Christmas and New Years coming up, I say we throw a Meet-up Party. I can invite all the divorcees or long-term couples that have broken up, and they can mingle.”

“Like a singles cruise but at a ranch,” Angie said.

“Yes, like that.”

“Christmas is in twenty-seven days,” Zion said.

“It sure is. We’ll have to build a website right away, start advertising for it. I’ll come up with some price points and package deals. I’ll use my Holly Homemaker page and my VidTube account. We’ll enroll you guys for the new semester after New Years online. Pick a school, I’ll foot the bill. You pay me back by working here.”

“So same deal for giving us room and board,” Angie said with a smile.

“Yes. Us three, we’re family now, and we’re going to make something of ourselves and show those people that threw us away that we can thrive without them.”

Zion and Angie smiled at her, and then they cheered, and they all hugged. Holly just knew this was the right way to go.