Speaker 1: Oh day one. Dear Connor, you can probably guess where
Speaker 1: I am right now. I'm sitting in our favorite place
Speaker 1: in the world. Sure, I know. We spent two whole
Speaker 1: summers with Mom and Dad building the new Red One.
Speaker 1: And don't get me wrong, she's beautiful. If there was
Speaker 1: ever a Montana resort made for chickens, it's right over there.
Speaker 1: But there's something special about this creeky old barn. It's
Speaker 1: the one place on the whole ranch where you can
Speaker 1: sit on top and almost see the back edge of
Speaker 1: our land. Like right over that last hill is Turkey River,
Speaker 1: where G Pop's grandpa first set off down Travis Creek
Speaker 1: to clean this meadow. It's been too long since I've
Speaker 1: climbed up here. It all looks the same as before,
Speaker 1: but it's not. Everything has changed. Everything is different than
Speaker 1: it was supposed to be. And I really miss Bailey.
Speaker 2: You up there. Ugh, Yes, it's good to see you
Speaker 2: back up on the old barn.
Speaker 1: Bailey, Gee Pop, you scared the life out of me.
Speaker 2: Oh I'm sorry. For a second, I thought you were
Speaker 2: a raccoon up there causing a ruckus. Didn't mean to
Speaker 2: scare you like that.
Speaker 1: It's okay, I was just finishing my lunch.
Speaker 2: Oh yeah, then what else do you got there? Uh?
Speaker 1: It's a journal for school, I guess I found it
Speaker 1: this morning outside my door with a bag of caramels
Speaker 1: on top.
Speaker 2: You know what I love about your mother? Mmm?
Speaker 1: She's your daughter, so hopefully a lot of things.
Speaker 2: Ever since I can remember, she always has a way
Speaker 2: of finding the best gift that I didn't even know
Speaker 2: I needed but I did. And then those little surprime
Speaker 2: It's like a mystery. Does he leave you something else
Speaker 2: besides the caramel?
Speaker 1: Yeah? Here, look at this, Bailey Grace.
Speaker 2: If you think I'm crawling up on that raggedy old
Speaker 2: metal roofing, but my big old self. Okay, hey, I
Speaker 2: didn't mean for you to just jump off the thing,
Speaker 2: but of course, what else should I expect from you kids?
Speaker 2: Let me see what you got there? I knew it,
Speaker 2: her famous fat pig drawing.
Speaker 1: Don't you think I'm getting a little too old for
Speaker 1: mister porky pants to be on the first page of
Speaker 1: my journal?
Speaker 2: Nah? Never? Hey, can I have a caramel?
Speaker 1: Sure? So? Are we gonna move the cattle today? For real?
Speaker 1: Just the two of us?
Speaker 2: Yep, it's overdue to rotate pastures and your mother has
Speaker 2: to get the ball rolling on the garden. We've got
Speaker 2: a lot of catching up to do, and it's time
Speaker 2: go ahead and tack up Sonny. You could take point
Speaker 2: by yourself.
Speaker 1: No, I I think I'll stick with the ATV and
Speaker 1: take up the flank.
Speaker 2: You sure about that? Wouldn't you rather dust off your
Speaker 2: saddle and lead the herd than drive that old four
Speaker 2: wheeler even by yourself? It should be easy if you
Speaker 2: keep Travis Creek till you're right.
Speaker 1: True, But I really think the ATV will be best
Speaker 1: for me today.
Speaker 2: Sonny could really use some attention.
Speaker 1: Hey, Bailey, I'll meet you on the field. You take point.
Speaker 1: I caught blank? Hey, Gepop, I have the southern edge
Speaker 1: pretty clean. How's it going up there with you?
Speaker 2: I swear these aberdeens are gonna make my head curl over?
Speaker 2: They just keep trying to push towards the gorge.
Speaker 1: Did you round up Hannah Mutana yet?
Speaker 2: What? Hannah Montana?
Speaker 1: No, it's Hannah never mind. Just get the big heifer
Speaker 1: with the spot on her face moving in the right
Speaker 1: direction and the rest will follow. You'll be fine.
Speaker 3: Gepop, sounds like.
Speaker 2: You should be up here at point it's been a
Speaker 2: year since I've done this part. You know, back in
Speaker 2: my day, we would sleep out here on the stars
Speaker 2: and I would learn these animals better than I'm new
Speaker 2: my own brother.
Speaker 1: No flank can be my thing. Now. Oh wait a second,
Speaker 1: I think I see something. Uh, give me a minute
Speaker 1: to see what's going on over the hill?
Speaker 2: Wish everything? Okay? Do you need me?
Speaker 1: No, I'm sure it's nothing crazy. Might be the Buckholtz heard,
Speaker 1: maybe broke through the fence again. I'll go to out. Wow,
Speaker 1: not the buck holds hurt. Wild's are back again, gepop.
Speaker 1: The wild horses are back in closer than ever. They're
Speaker 1: all there, and there are a few new fools. Even.
Speaker 1: That's strange. Where'd you come from? Buddy? What do you
Speaker 1: think you're doing? Hanging out around another stallion's herd?
Speaker 3: Beautiful though, Bailey, Come in, Bailey.
Speaker 1: I need to write this down. Connor, our herd came
Speaker 1: back again. But it looks like there's a new horse
Speaker 1: with them. He's a bay with a white stripe down
Speaker 1: his face. He looks young and wild, almost as wild
Speaker 1: as you. I miss you. You and I were supposed
Speaker 1: to be doing this together. We had a dream and
Speaker 1: we were so close. I can't do this.
Speaker 2: There you are, Bailey, Grace is everything okay?
Speaker 1: Oh yes, sir, I'm sorry. I was just watching that
Speaker 1: wild herd and I'm sorry I lost track of time.
Speaker 1: Come on, let's finish this, Dailey.
Speaker 2: You don't have to do this alone. Come on now, boy,
Speaker 2: we got some ground to catch up on.
Speaker 3: That's great, honey.
Speaker 4: Yeah, I'm so impressed with how well they prepared for
Speaker 4: this without me these past four months. I wish you
Speaker 4: could have seen the all today.
Speaker 5: Well, you developed a good team with good managers and trainers,
Speaker 5: not to mention good horses, so I may not be
Speaker 5: as surprised as you are, but I sure I'm proud
Speaker 5: of you.
Speaker 4: Everyone's been real nice, asking how we're doing it all.
Speaker 4: They held a moment for Connor before the main started.
Speaker 5: I could feelhim, well, then maybe this will be our
Speaker 5: best season yet.
Speaker 4: Are you sure you're okay with me being gone? You
Speaker 4: know how long the circuit schedule is, and I was
Speaker 4: thinking maybe I could cut it short.
Speaker 1: Blake.
Speaker 3: We need you out there.
Speaker 5: As much as I hate having you gone, I really
Speaker 5: don't know of another option of how we'll keep this
Speaker 5: all going. Anyways, it feels good to be useful again
Speaker 5: here and to see the farm come.
Speaker 3: Back to life.
Speaker 5: But Blake, I keep catching myself looking for him out
Speaker 5: in the fields or down by the barn. And I'm
Speaker 5: worried about Bailey.
Speaker 4: As she started riding Sonny.
Speaker 5: Again, I don't think so Dad was gonna try and
Speaker 5: get her to ride today.
Speaker 3: They moved the cattle, starting off strong.
Speaker 4: I see, so how'd that go?
Speaker 3: I don't know yet. I guess I shouldn't push her
Speaker 3: too hard. But oh, hang on, Hey, Bailey, Dad's on FaceTime.
Speaker 1: Come say hi, Hi Dad. Sorry, I'm a complete and
Speaker 1: disgusting mess. I need to wash out before dinner.
Speaker 4: That's okay. Uh, the farrier's here, one of those horses
Speaker 4: through a shoe. Gotta run.
Speaker 5: Love you, Shannon, Okay, I love you too, babe.
Speaker 3: Hey Dad, did you get me some rosemary?
Speaker 2: Got it right here? Two sprigs of rosemary coming right up.
Speaker 3: Thank you. Mom's recipe wouldn't be complete without it.
Speaker 2: M I need some of that right now.
Speaker 5: Not yet, it has to simmer first. Plus, look at
Speaker 5: your hands. They are covered in dirt and who knows
Speaker 5: what else, although I can probably guess.
Speaker 2: Okay, okay, you don't have to be so pushy, I'll
Speaker 2: wash them.
Speaker 5: You should know better than to take the spoon out
Speaker 5: of a chef's hand without permission.
Speaker 2: So how far did you get with the garden?
Speaker 3: Far enough to believe me? It was a mess in there?
Speaker 5: Can't tell if it was our animals or not, but
Speaker 5: somebody has been feasting on the cucumbers and tomatoes.
Speaker 2: Were there any holes at the base of the fencing, Yes,
Speaker 2: I think so groundhogs. You just need to put Rocky
Speaker 2: in there for a while.
Speaker 5: Rocky all he does is dig holes. I don't want
Speaker 5: Rocky causing any more mess in there. He'll just make
Speaker 5: it worse. Dad, help me set the table.
Speaker 2: Oh about cayenne pepper? How much pepper do you have?
Speaker 3: There's pepper on the table.
Speaker 2: No, I'll need a lot more than that.
Speaker 5: I think we actually have a pretty big container of
Speaker 5: it in the back of the pantry.
Speaker 3: Why for dinner?
Speaker 2: Groundhogs have sensitive noses and they can't stand pepper. I
Speaker 2: bet if I shake some around the garden, they'll be
Speaker 2: out of there in no time.
Speaker 5: Not sure where you come up with these things, but
Speaker 5: I like that a lot better than Rocky digging around
Speaker 5: in there.
Speaker 3: How did it go with Bailey today.
Speaker 2: Well, we got the job done.
Speaker 3: Did she ride the horse?
Speaker 2: Nah, she rode the yama.
Speaker 3: She chose the four wheeler instead of the horse. She
Speaker 3: put her heart and soul.
Speaker 2: Into I just hey, don't put too much pressure on her.
Speaker 2: She'll come around in her own time. That journal you
Speaker 2: gave her was a good start.
Speaker 3: Oh good? Is she using it?
Speaker 1: Using?
Speaker 4: What?
Speaker 5: Gepop says? You showed him your new journal? What do
Speaker 5: you think?
Speaker 1: Well? I did like the caramels, but I guess the
Speaker 1: journal's okay too, and accounts for school? Right?
Speaker 3: Sure? Absolutely, But you're not going to read it or anything,
Speaker 3: are you?
Speaker 5: Only if you want me to. But i'd watch out
Speaker 5: for mister porky pants. He can be so nosy ah ha.
Speaker 2: So can we eat now or what? I'm starting to
Speaker 2: feel a little like mister porky pants?
Speaker 3: Yes, yes, let's sit down.
Speaker 1: Uh. Geepop, what are you doing with that huge thing
Speaker 1: of pepper? You can just use the shaker on the table.
Speaker 2: Oh honey, it's for the ground.
Speaker 1: Hogs reading what for dinner?
Speaker 2: No, no, the ground hogs in your mother's garden. I'm
Speaker 2: gonna scare them off with the pepper, Ailey.
Speaker 5: I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear you accuse me of
Speaker 5: cooking groundhog for dinner.
Speaker 2: Hey, now it ain't that bad. Cook just right over
Speaker 2: a fire. Mm it's even better than chicken.
Speaker 3: Hmmm.
Speaker 1: Remind me to bring my own food the next time
Speaker 1: you take me camping. Sonjay wants to buy a bike
Speaker 1: that costs three hundred and twenty five dollars. He has
Speaker 1: fifty five dollars and saves his allowance each month starting
Speaker 1: in May. By the end of August, he has enough
Speaker 1: to buy the bike assuming Ugh, Sonja, do you really
Speaker 1: need a bike?
Speaker 3: Hey, honey, can I come in sure?
Speaker 1: Mom, I'm just finishing up math.
Speaker 3: How's it going great?
Speaker 1: So fun?
Speaker 3: Hah?
Speaker 5: I can see that by all the drawings on your
Speaker 5: paper you are really good at drawing horses.
Speaker 1: Thanks their horses from the wild Horse Range. This one
Speaker 1: is the lead stallion, remember him?
Speaker 3: Oh yeah, the beautiful dappled gray one.
Speaker 1: Right, but he's looking more white this year. They came
Speaker 1: really close today. I saw them grazing about one hundred
Speaker 1: yards from our fence when we were pushing cattle.
Speaker 3: That is closer than normal. So, uh, how did it
Speaker 3: go today with moving the cattle? I mean it went fine.
Speaker 5: Must have been tough. I know it was a favorite
Speaker 5: job to do with your brother.
Speaker 1: I said it was fine.
Speaker 3: Really, what about Sonny?
Speaker 1: What about her? The ATV worked just as well, and
Speaker 1: I took the flank Gepop usually used the ATV to
Speaker 1: ride flank anyway so he could cover more ground without
Speaker 1: tiring out the horses.
Speaker 5: I just think it'd be a good time to get
Speaker 5: back in the saddle with things around here.
Speaker 1: Literally, did you mean back to normal? Mom? It will
Speaker 1: never be normal again, So what's the point.
Speaker 3: I don't want to see you get stuck? What do
Speaker 3: you think Connor would tell you?
Speaker 4: Now?
Speaker 3: Don't say that you can tell me how you're feeling.
Speaker 1: You know, I don't want to. I just can't.
Speaker 3: Okay, Okay, I love you, sweetie.
Speaker 5: The answer to the last problem is ninety dollars. Just
Speaker 5: don't tell your teacher I helped you cheat.
Speaker 1: Mom, you are my teacher.
Speaker 3: Your favorite teacher.
Speaker 4: Right.
Speaker 1: Good night, Bailey, good night, and good night math book?
Speaker 1: What did I do with that journal? Hey, Connor? Mom's
Speaker 1: trying to be funny again. She's not much of a comedian.
Speaker 1: Or maybe I'm just not feeling up to laughing. I'm
Speaker 1: feeling pretty exhausted. Actually, it was a lot harder to
Speaker 1: move the cattle today without you. She Pap wanted me
Speaker 1: to take the lead, but what he really needed was you,
Speaker 1: not me. I don't know if I'll ever be able
Speaker 1: to do it again, and or heard what am I
Speaker 1: supposed to do? There? The new bay hanging around them
Speaker 1: is a stallion. I'm worried about him. The gray stallion
Speaker 1: won't let him hang out for long. What would you do, Connor?
Speaker 1: I just know there's going to be trouble.
Speaker 2: Streams of Macie find joy to me.