Many years ago Elliott’s father had found Greer as a young boy sleeping in the hay loft. Greer claimed he was hungry and had no money or home. Elliott’s father liked the boy’s forthright manner. When he got the boy a change of clothes he noted the deep bruises that covered his body and the fact that he was rail thin. He suspected what the boy’s home life was like and why he had run away. Right there and then Elliott’s father had taken him in and decided to teach him the ways of ranching. The young boy and old man working together had helped frame the enormous new ranch house and overseen the layout of the pond and orchard. As the work progressed over the course of many months, the two had grown very fond of one another. When Elliott’s father passed away Greer had simply stayed on. He’d been a fixture at the ranch for as long as Elliott could remember.
“Greer, how long have you worked here?”
The old ranch hand reached up and scratched his head. “I don’t rightly know sir. I reckon it’s gotta be close to forty years.”
“Closer to fifty. I have a proposal for you Greer. I’m not sure how much longer I’m going to be around. I’ve asked my attorney to draw up papers and have them recorded at the county offices. I’m going to split off twenty acres along with the original house down by the creek and deed them to you.”
“You don’t need to do that Mr. Elliott. I like sleeping in the bunk house just fine,” the ramrod protested.
“I’m not through. Remember I said this was a proposal. Your part of the bargain is to be sure my parents’ graves are properly tended to, they are never to look neglected.”
Greer smiled. “Heck Mr. Elliott, I been doing that for years anyhow. Wait, maybe you think they don’t look so well cared for, is that it?”
“No, no, I think they look just fine, but I want to be sure they are kept that way.”
“Say, what’s going on here? Are you going away somewheres?” Greer asked, suddenly squinty-eyed suspicious.
“Nothing lasts forever,” Elliott replied, “including me. I want to be sure we get this done right. You’ve been very loyal to me and my family. You deserve this.”
“I don’t rightly know what to say sir,” Greer replied softly. “It’s a mighty fine house and it’s way too big for the likes of me.”
“Greer, I plan on leaving the other seventeen hundred acres, this ranch house, the barns, corrals, bunkhouse, and everything but the old ranch house and your twenty acres to the state of Colorado as a park.”
“That there is a mighty big gift. I wonder if your pa would approve. He loved this ranch and all.”
“Oh I think he’s looking down on us and smiling right now. Why have the ranch locked up? Let’s let young city people come on down here and go riding. Let them learn to love the land like we did.”
“When you put it that way I guess it does sound pretty good.”
“And I know my father would want to be sure you are well cared for. The old ranch house along with some money set aside should do you very well.”
“I still don’t know sir.”
“I know, Greer. Do you ever just know when something is the right thing to do? I mean really know it from deep down inside?”
“Sure, I reckon I do sir.”
“Good, then it’s settled. If you’ll go saddle up Dusty I think I’ll go for a ride before it’s too dark.”
“Yes sir, right away sir.”
Dusty was a golden bay stallion with white mane and tail. He was getting up there in years, but still loved to run flat out. At the sight of Elliott he whinnied with pleasure. The senator approached him, gave him a sugar cube and talked in low tones to the big horse. He took him out through the big barn doors. Greer stood aside as he mounted up.
“I’ll be back in an hour,” Elliott said.
Greer nodded and watched him ride out of the yard. The old cowboy knew where he was going and smiled when he saw Elliott turn off the road and head for a little known hanging valley.
“Greer, how long have you worked here?”
The old ranch hand reached up and scratched his head. “I don’t rightly know sir. I reckon it’s gotta be close to forty years.”
“Closer to fifty. I have a proposal for you Greer. I’m not sure how much longer I’m going to be around. I’ve asked my attorney to draw up papers and have them recorded at the county offices. I’m going to split off twenty acres along with the original house down by the creek and deed them to you.”
“You don’t need to do that Mr. Elliott. I like sleeping in the bunk house just fine,” the ramrod protested.
“I’m not through. Remember I said this was a proposal. Your part of the bargain is to be sure my parents’ graves are properly tended to, they are never to look neglected.”
Greer smiled. “Heck Mr. Elliott, I been doing that for years anyhow. Wait, maybe you think they don’t look so well cared for, is that it?”
“No, no, I think they look just fine, but I want to be sure they are kept that way.”
“Say, what’s going on here? Are you going away somewheres?” Greer asked, suddenly squinty-eyed suspicious.
“Nothing lasts forever,” Elliott replied, “including me. I want to be sure we get this done right. You’ve been very loyal to me and my family. You deserve this.”
“I don’t rightly know what to say sir,” Greer replied softly. “It’s a mighty fine house and it’s way too big for the likes of me.”
“Greer, I plan on leaving the other seventeen hundred acres, this ranch house, the barns, corrals, bunkhouse, and everything but the old ranch house and your twenty acres to the state of Colorado as a park.”
“That there is a mighty big gift. I wonder if your pa would approve. He loved this ranch and all.”
“Oh I think he’s looking down on us and smiling right now. Why have the ranch locked up? Let’s let young city people come on down here and go riding. Let them learn to love the land like we did.”
“When you put it that way I guess it does sound pretty good.”
“And I know my father would want to be sure you are well cared for. The old ranch house along with some money set aside should do you very well.”
“I still don’t know sir.”
“I know, Greer. Do you ever just know when something is the right thing to do? I mean really know it from deep down inside?”
“Sure, I reckon I do sir.”
“Good, then it’s settled. If you’ll go saddle up Dusty I think I’ll go for a ride before it’s too dark.”
“Yes sir, right away sir.”
Dusty was a golden bay stallion with white mane and tail. He was getting up there in years, but still loved to run flat out. At the sight of Elliott he whinnied with pleasure. The senator approached him, gave him a sugar cube and talked in low tones to the big horse. He took him out through the big barn doors. Greer stood aside as he mounted up.
“I’ll be back in an hour,” Elliott said.
Greer nodded and watched him ride out of the yard. The old cowboy knew where he was going and smiled when he saw Elliott turn off the road and head for a little known hanging valley.
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