Friday Jan 31 River City

Bobbie decided that she needed to check on the progress of her ranch. They were using the beef in the restaurant and she really had to see things first hand.

That was not going to be easy. She would have to bring Maddy. She didn’t want to ask Charlie to look after her; he had his own problems with his growing family. She wasn’t too sure she could really get anything done if she was focused on Maddy. In the end she decided to bring Johnny. He was really good with Maddy and he could help her understand the ranch build and what needed to be done for the business. And he deserved a trip too.

River City was a direct flight. As Bobbie was packing for herself and Maddy she tried to get things organized in her head. The climate there was a little different than Crow Harbour. It wouldn’t be warm weather but it would likely not be snowy and definitely not as cold. She packed fall type clothes and traded their winter coats for rain coats. She packed Maddy’s suitcase and also her little back pack that she would carry on the plane. She packed some gum, so Maddy could chew it while they took off and maybe keep her ears form hurting. She was worried about her little ears since she had tubes now. She sighed and packed a small box of crayons and a new colouring book. She had new little toys in a little pouch and new book about farm to read. All that should keep her occupied on the flight.

Bobbie decided to drive them and leave the car at the airport. It didn’t cost much and just felt easier than taking the shuttle. She stowed their things and went to pick up Johnny.

He was waiting in his driveway when they pulled up. “Hi Girls. Bobbie, you could have taken the shuttle it’s one of the motel’s services.”

“I know, I know. I just feel better knowing my car is at the airport, waiting for us.”

Johnny laughed. “I’m bringing an old guitar, we might get to sing a few tunes. I might even leave it there.”

“I’m not sure there’s enough of a place even built to leave it anywhere Johnny. Tilsey does like to sing.”

“Johnny almost blushed. I think she’s cute.”

“I think she’s married.”

Johnny rolled his eyes and got in the back beside Maddy. “Hi Maddy are you excited to fly on a plane?”

The flight went well and Bobbie was surprised to see Sam, the Carson’s and now the Ruggle’s handy man there grinning and obviously there to pick them up. “Hi guys I hope the flight went well. And who is this lovely young lady?” His eyes moved to Maddy’s hair.

Maddy was a little drowsy from the flight and was leaning against Bobbies legs, gripping her new little toy.

Bobbie smiled. “Sam, you are a sight for sore eyes. This is Maddy, my granddaughter. And this is Johnny Gold, a long-time friend and partner in crime.”

Sam tipped his hat and helped Johnny move the bags into the sedan. They all piled in. Bobbie sat in the front with Sam. “I didn’t think you would be here to pick us up Sam. I was going to rent a car here at the airport. We’re staying at the motel out by the highway.”

Sam gave her a reassuring look. “Dina, Mel and Tilsey got everything sorted. Danny and Mel are out of town right now but Mel cancelled the motel reservation and you are staying with us. We have a car you can drive too. It’s good to see you.”

Bobbie sat back and was thoughtful for a minute. This was very different than her first trip here. Mel and Danny must be trying to make up for that. She wondered what the big house looked like since they moved in.

They pulled into the big circular driveway and Dina was waiting for them. “Hi Bobbie, it’s good to see you. This must be Maddy.” She hugged Bobbie and took Maddy’s hand. “There are some new kittens on the porch, do want to come see them?” Maddy’s eyes got big and she looked at Bobbie and nodded and went with Dina. The car was getting unloaded. Sam was talking to Johnny ushering him inside with the bags and Bobbie was left to go in the house and look around.

Everything was different. Danny and Mel had worked fast. The kitchen was new, the parlour was new, the wallpaper was gone, the woodwork had been stripped of paint and stained. Cottage country was having a moment in this once frumpy but comfortable rambling ranch house. She walked up the still grand staircase and saw the bedrooms were all redecorated too.

Johnny and Sam were coming out of bedrooms and walking toward her. “You’re in the guest wing Bobbie. They put a cot in your room for Maddy so you’re sharing.”

“Thanks guys, that’s perfect. Let’s go down and rescue Dina from Maddy and the kittens.”

Sam shook his head. “Dina might not let you take that child home. Her blond curls look just like Dina’s little sister’s. “She passed a long time ago.”

Johnny went into the kitchen before them. Dina and Maddy were sitting on stools at the big work table eating cookies and drinking milk. “Hello Ma’am I’m Johnny. Thank you for letting us stay. I know you and your husband were close to the Carsons so I had these pictures printed.” He gave her two pictures. One was Townes holding a big fish, with a big grin. It was taken when Johnny took him fishing. Another was Townes and his mother at the market. They were both laughing.

Dina looked at the pictures and wiped away a tear. “Oh my, thank you. They look so happy…”, she broke off.

Just then there was a knock at the door and Tilsey came in. “Hey guys, how was the flight. Hi Johnny. Hi Maddy, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Aunty Tilsey.”

Bobbie hugged Tilsey. “Mel certainly dug in and did a lot of work on this place.”

“My dear, Mel had ideas about redecorating this place back when she dated Townes in high school.  It looks fabulous but it’s lost a sense of timelessness. The good news is everything that was in the house, right down to Townes’ football trophies from in high school is packed away in a storage unit and is yours to use to furnish your own ranch. When we finish building it.”

Bobbie nodded thinking it must be a big storage unit. In some ways that’s how she moved into her current home with stuff from her old home stuff, in storage, and a few new things. Lorne had really helped her. Also, she didn’t remember everything that was in this house. It just seemed like it would be a big job to go through all that stuff. Their flights were booked for Wednesday, February 5th so they only had 4 effective days. At least Dina was getting along with Maddy. It was unexpected but it looked like Maddy could stay with her.

“Dina, we are going to go with Tilsey and see the progress on our ranch. Do you mind if Maddy stays here with you?”

Dina patted Maddy’s hand. “If it’s okay with Maddy she can stay here with me. We have lots of exploring to do.”

Maddy looked at Bobbie. “Can I stay here?”

Bobbie smiled. “Of course dear, maybe you can show Dina your new book. I’ll be back soon.”

Tilsey led the way to her car and they drove to the main road and down another long driveway and pulled onto Bobbie’s lot. The last time Bobbie saw it, it was a field. There were a large new barn and a bunkhouse and further along a dirt road the view opened onto the house lot. You could see the mountains in the background and the river ran along one side into the distant valley. They got out of the car.

Johnny walked towards the in-progress building. It was on higher ground and looked down on everything. “It will have a nice view. Do you suppose there’s fish in that river?”

Bobbie could feel the wind as soon as she got out of the car. “It’s cold up here. It will be nice in the summer though.”

Tilsey got out. “We talked about the aspect, the altitude and the view on the phone. Work on the foundation is done and since we got an infusion of cash last week, we got the framing started. Frank assured me we can finish on schedule and have it ready for this summer.”

Bobbie looked around it was going to be bigger than she thought. She hadn’t imagined the view of the river and the valley and the sense of the big space. She shook her head in disbelief and walked up the main step across the threshold and looked at the area that would be her main living area and kitchen and dining room. The primary bedroom, office and TV room were at the back of the house and there was half a second story with more bedrooms. After much discussion, Bobbie agreed to have small en suites in each upstairs bedroom. She thought it was too many bathrooms but realized she was only a caretaker and her sons and grand kids would own it longer than her and might want to rent it or something.

The main floor only had one bathroom. The primary suite had a big closet with a door to the main floor four-piece bathroom and there was another door so people hanging out on the main floor could access it too. The back door would be flanked with windows and was between the office and TV room and almost directly opposite the main entrance. You could see outside from the entrance. Bobbie walked across the space and through what would be the back door. There was a pool dug and a concrete deck around it. A big low building with an open lanai and rooms behind it on the left side of the property. It was finished and had an outdoor kitchen and al fresco dining. It would be nice when the pool was finished. There was a whole granny flat back there. It would be good for clients or non-family guests.

Tilsey came up beside her. “We finished that small apartment first so if you wanted to stay here it would have been ready. Mel and Danny insisted that you stay at the Carson…I mean Ruggle place.”

“I have to thank you for all this Tilsey, it’s more than I imagined for sure.”, said Bobbie.

Tilsey said, “Remember, I was at the motel. I know what you’re used to.”

Bobby laughed. “I guess this is the River City headquarters of my new business. I’ll need a gate that says OPDM. Can I brand my cows with that too? I’ll get Quinn to design our brand.”

Tilsey laughed. “Now you’re thinking like a rancher. Let’s go find Johnny, he’s talking to the guys that tend your horses and cows.”

They walked along side the lot and crossed the driveway and down the slope to the barn and bunkhouse. The guys had made a small patio in front with concrete blocks. It had a barbecue and a smoker with a little pergola over it. Johnny came out the door with one of the ranch hands. “Hi Bobbie, this is Reggie, he’s Sam’s cousin.” Another younger man came out. “And this is Sol; he’s the other ranch hand.”

They both greeted Bobbie and Sol shook her hand. “I want to thank you for giving me this job. I love horses and cattle and I’ll work hard.”

Bobbie smiled and remembered Sam told her that Sol had been in trouble as a kid. “Everyone deserves a chance Sol. I’m glad it’s working out for you. Do you have family around here?”

Sol shook his head. “My people are all gone; I grew up in foster care.”

Bobbie didn’t know what else to say and Johnny picked up on that. “Sol, you should take us over to meet the horses.”

There were 3 horses. They were from the Carson ranch. They were 2 mares and a gelding. They were all about 4 years old. Bobbie didn’t know anything about horses but they looked well cared for. She liked the smell in the barn.

Over the next 4 days she and Tilsey and Johnny organized the storage units with all the stuff that now was hers. Maddy wasn’t sad when they left but she did ask when they could visit again.