by Kim Smart
“She knows how to get it done. I must hire her the next time I’m updating a room.”
“Oh, honey, you don’t need any help spending money. You do just fine on your own.” Martin looked to his wife and smiled.
“Now listen, Stella. I’m not sure exactly why Brandon is looking for all this information, but you can tell him whatever you want. He acted like he needed it right away. I don’t know if that’s because he has to go back to Texas or what. I trust him, so I’m not worried about his intent but it seems that there is a purpose other than general knowledge.”
“Thanks for the heads-up Martin. It seemed a little odd to me too, that he couldn’t just ask questions by email or wait until I had a little more experience under my belt. I’ll do my best to bring factual information forward.” Stella pulled out a dog-eared notebook. “I’ve been crunching some numbers and doing some research.”
“I would expect nothing less from you, Stella. It looks like Brandon’s coming up the drive now.”
Brandon pulled into the yard and parked. Clara walked outside to greet him and escort him into the study.
“Here we are with some of my favorite people.” Brandon shook Martin’s hand. “It’s nice to see you again, Martin. Thank you for making the time to see me.”
Martin put his free hand on Brandon’s shoulder. “Of course, son. It’s always good to see you. I hope some good comes from all this information you’re gathering.”
A broad grin grew on Brandon’s face. “I assure you, sir, it will.”
Brandon moved in to hug Stella. “Stella, it’s very nice to see you again. I hope it wasn’t too much of an inconvenience for you to meet here at the ranch. I trust everything is going well up at Rabbit Creek. I hope to see the place one day.”
“No, it was no problem. I wanted to come down and check in with Martin and Clara anyway. It’s kinda nice being back on the ranch. You don’t know how much a place means to you until you’re away from it.”
“Well, I’ll try not to take up too much of your time. Shall we sit? I sent you both a series of questions I had about the operations up at Rabbit Creek. That was your brainchild, Martin, and now that you’re up there with fresh eyes Stella, I thought maybe you might have some additional insights and fresh ideas to bring to the table.”
“Sure. Sounds good.” Stella nodded to Brandon, encouraging him to move forward with his questioning.
“Okay then. Martin, I’ll start with you. Can you give me something of a history on using the federal land for grazing, and, to the degree you also use state or tribal lands? I would like to hear about that too.” Brandon pulled a notebook and pen from his well-used canvas and leather backpack and started making notes.
Martin provided history on the use of public lands and the wide variation in costs to the operator. Without pausing, he turned to Stella and asked her to explain the benefits of controlled grazing on public lands. Brandon kept taking notes furiously as Stella spoke.
“Rising fuel and equipment prices hit ranchers hard. If you come watch the Rabbit Creek operation, you’ll notice first and foremost that I’m running cattle in a rugged country where no equipment and vehicles can travel. I need a good horse and I rough it for days at a time. My team and I move cattle on horseback. We don’t haul feed into the pastures. We provide minerals and salt, but we’re not driving that all around the canyon.”
“It makes sense that there would be a substantial savings and cost avoidance using this model.” Brandon looked from Stella to Martin, hoping one of them would volunteer the financial perspective. Stella obliged by sharing some rough figures.
“It goes beyond just the dollars and cents to me.” Stella shifted in her chair and crossed her legs. She would soon share her passion for animal welfare.
“Can we be honest? I mean, if you look at big scale ranching and grow-feeder operations, like the one I grew up on, much of what the cattle endure goes against nature. They are fed food that puts weight on fast, burdening their bodies, and some ranchers expose their herd to hormones and chemicals that get passed on through their flesh. All that was standard practice, but now, consumers are demanding something else.” Stella fought the urge to spring from her chair and start pacing and lecturing, with her arms waiving wildly as she tried to get her students to understand her perspective. Martin looked on with pride. Brandon paused his pen to acknowledge and reflect on her passion.
“Our customers are looking for fewer chemicals in their meat and more natural conditions for the livestock. As operators, we need to stand behind our product. These cattle that I’m running are eating off the land. They are grazing on cactus and shrubs and grasses. They have limited access to water. A subset of the population seeks them out because they are healthy, are not exposed to certain grains thought to be harmful for humans and their meat has a unique flavor, and it is lean.”
“Thanks for bringing up the consumer’s perspective. We hear more and more that the voice of the consumer carries increased weight in the marketplace.” Brandon tapped the bottom of his pen against his legal pad as he contemplated his next question.
“All the talk of global warming, does that impact your operation?” Brandon looked to Martin. Martin looked to Stella, who was on the edge of her chair, poised to respond.
“It impacts our operation less than, shall we say, traditional operators? The cows on Rabbit Creek come from a long line of high desert animals. They are efficient and survive with limited water. The same is not true for those cattle eating grain and plentiful grass. They have to be watered regularly because they need it to help their bodies manage the high load of food and chemicals they process. If there is a decrease in water because of global warming, not only will the high desert cattle be better positioned to survive, but they are already accustomed to living on the scanty plants they eat. Cattle that are bred to stand in one place and eat green shoots will not tolerate drought.”
Stella let Brandon catch up. He was writing feverishly.
“Sure, if there is a severe drought we may have to cut back the herd to prevent overgrazing of diminishing food. But that is minor compared to what will happen with the traditional rancher. They’ll have to sell a whole herd or large portions because they’ll run out of viable food sources. We have the added advantage that with frequent pasture rotation, to avoid overgrazing, our cattle are spreading plant seeds far and wide.”
Martin smiled toward Stella. He wanted to stand and cheer. He hadn’t even recognized this quality of his cattle in the context of drought recovery.
“Your passion is inspiring, Stella. You either have done a lot of homework or you’re just brilliant at your job.”
“Or both.” Stella concluded.
“Would either of you like to comment on overhead costs?” Brandon drew a line on his notepad - a sign of transition to another topic.
“Stella’s on a roll. Stella, go ahead, unless you want me to take this one.”
“I’ll start, you can finish if you have anything else.” Stella turned to Brandon. She wasn’t sure that it was just her passion talking anymore. She felt a need to impress him. “If you think about it, the price of land is not cheap. Traditional ranchers look to increase their landholdings to increase their herd size. In our operation, our opportunity is to manage grazing. If we are careful with our observations, we know when to move cattle so the land can recover and we can graze the same section again. Care management of grazing is more affordable than buying more land. The increased availability of federal land at the current cow-calf unit price is a boon for our operation. I speculate that there is more grazing land available if we can show a value to the government.”
Martin raised his eyebrows. It had been some years since he advocated for opening more grazing land. He and Stella would talk further about this idea.
“I don’t live in a ranch-house because there is no need for a ranch at Rabbit Creek. The cattle are scattered in the canyons and forest. We are not harvesting or grinding feed so we don’t need t
hat equipment nor do we need to store it. We manage several smaller herds, rather than herds of large numbers, so we need less fencing and water. We also look at the natural resources differently from the traditional rancher. I’m measuring plant growth and environmental conditions that my dad never had to pay attention to, and he’s a very successful rancher.”
Stella sat back in her chair, satisfied that she had shared all her knowledge on the subject. Martin, Clara, and Brandon all looked at her, silent at first, then talking over each other, emphasizing various points that Stella made.
Brandon asked some clarifying questions and shared some anecdotes of operators attempting to implement innovative practices. “Well, unless you have something to add, Martin or Clara, I think I have all the information I can gather today and wow, is it great stuff!”
Brandon turned to Stella. “You know your stuff, Stella. This is great information and I promise, if I learn of anything that may be added value for you, I will share it.”
“Thanks Brandon. I think Martin will agree that it’s essential to inform oneself, and he has always encouraged me to challenge the status quo. In this industry we need to always ask what our customers want and need and find a way, within reason, to satisfy their demands.”
“Well said, Stella.” Martin nodded to Stella. “Brandon, if there’s anything else you need, you know how to reach me.”
The group rose as Brandon tucked his legal pad and pen back in his bag. He shook hands with Clara and Martin, thanking them for their time and hospitality, then turned to Stella. “Stella, do you mind walking me out?”
“I don’t mind at all. I need to stretch my legs some.” She walked toward the door with Brandon following close behind.
Brandon was silent, processing his thoughts on the way to his pickup. When he got to the driver’s door, he turned to Stella. “You just blew my socks off. I mean, you’ve been at your job for what, a matter of weeks, and you’ve got this whole concept thought out.”
“Well, I need be familiar with my job and it’s more than herding cattle and fixing fences.” Stella looked at Brandon, no smile crossing her lips.
“I’m sorry. I know you can do your job. It’s just that what you just shared with me is a lot more thought out than I usually get. It helps that you’re very articulate and can get your ideas across.”
He paused and grinned. “Heck, have you ever thought of being a lawyer? You’ve got the skills.”
“No, that’s never even once crossed my mind! I’ll leave that to you. I enjoy sleeping under the stars or running with a tarp over my head dodging rain drops while the cows look on trying to figure out what my problem is.”
“It sounds like you’re thrilled to be settled in Watson. I hope to come see you up there some day, if that’s all right.”
“Sure, why not? Well, Brandon...” Stella reached out and touched his bicep. “I think I’ve given you all I have today. I hope to see you again too, maybe after your Texas case is over? My mom and I got my house all in order. I could even cook you dinner, although I’m out of practice.”
Brandon leaned in to close the gap between them. “That’s okay. I’m heading off to Texas so you’ve got time to practice.”
Stella reached out and opened Brandon’s door for him. “That’s good, I need it. I hope you find time to stay in touch. You just got an earful about my work. Next it will be your turn to share.”
“There’s a next time? Great! I look forward to it and yes, I should have something interesting to share by the next time I see you. For now, I’ve got to get to the office and type up my notes. The partners are waiting on this information. This is the last of the operator interviews and now I pack up about a dozen boxes of research and discovery, pack a suitcase and hit the road.”
“You mean, you have to drive to Texas?”
“That’s right. I need a vehicle down there and I have all this stuff to haul. That’s why I won’t be back for a while. I will stay in touch, though, if that’s okay.”
“I would like that. You take care of yourself down there.”
“Me? I’ll be fine. I have a room in a company condo about a mile from our office. It’s not likely any wild animal will attack me. You, on the other hand, have a vast wilderness between you and your bed.” Brandon reached to Stella’s face and brushed her cheek with his finger. “You stay safe, beautiful.”
She watched as he climbed into his pickup. They exchanged waves as he drove away. She turned toward the house to see Martin and Clara, arm in arm, watching from the porch.
“Now that was a sweet farewell!” Clara called out to Stella. “You’ll be seeing that boy again, Stella. Mark my words.”
15
Stella settled into the routine of moving in and out of cow camp. She coordinated her activities, as best she could, with the weather forecast. She planned the two to five day overnight trail rides every other week or so. The moving parts kept her busy in-between, preparing food, packing and the most difficult, selecting the right clothes. Nights could be cold, and days in the sun very warm. She mastered the art of dressing in layers and became skilled at reducing or adding layers while riding.
Stella now carried an extra notebook with her. In the evenings she wrote down the thoughts that came to her during the ride. Much of what she wrote reflected the environment, her love for the cattle and the cowboy lifestyle she enjoyed. Once in a while her lines rhymed or they would make her laugh when she read them later on the weekend.
Matt became Stella’s main right-hand man when she needed help with the cattle or big fencing and hauling jobs. They often worked in silence for long periods during the day. If they were on an overnight job, they would share stories about childhood around the fire in the evening. Matt became animated when sharing stories about his children. Stella’s heart melted to see him light up when he told about their newest milestone or antic.
Since she and Mom had furnished it and Gus moved in, Stella loved her new home. Gus proved to be every bit as good with the cattle as Jed bragged him up to be.
Martin drove up to Rabbit Creek Ranch about six weeks after their meeting at Winding Slough with Brandon. He delivered salt and mineral supplements and some back-up fencing materials.
“Looks like winter is coming up here. Bet it’s chilly at night now, huh?” Martin pointed to the snow on top of the highest peaks in the distance.
“We haven’t hit freezing yet, but I know it’s coming before long. I picked up a new bedroll. Cost about as much as my bed in the house but I’ll be warm as a tick in fur in that sack.”
“That’s good. I’m glad you found something that’ll work for you. I remember when Clara and I were first starting we stuffed potato sacks with straw or dried grass to put some insulation between us and the ground. A good tarp can be a lifesaver in the cold.”
“I’ve got those too. Never can be too prepared.”
“That’s right. Well, if you don’t need nothing else, I guess I’ll be heading back down south.” Martin turned to return to his pickup. He shifted around to call out to Stella. “Say, did you ever hear anything more from Brandon after our interview? He sort of fell off the face of the earth. I haven’t heard a word.”
Stella had some brief text messages from him, just saying hello and letting her know he was still working in Texas. There were no follow-up questions after the interview. “No, not really. He just sent a message to say he’s still working on their case in Fort Worth. Never said another thing about the operations after we met with you.”
“Strange. Well, I hope it helps him somehow with his work. Say, you and I should get together and talk. The longer you’re here the more ideas you’ll have, I’m sure.”
“That sounds good, Martin. My brother Jesse will be here in two weeks. I think he wants to stay with me for several weeks. I would like to bring him down to meet you. I might put him to work up here some. I’ve got a few big projects, and Matt will be with his family. They’re going to Iowa to visit relatives.”
“Sure, sure! Bring him on down. We would love to meet him and if he’s half the worker you are I have no qualms with him filling in. You’re doing a great job, Stella. Thanks for being here.” Martin tipped his hat and climbed into the truck to drive back to Winding Slough. He left Stella feeling accomplished and appreciated. She knew she was fortunate. Not everyone had the open feedback from his or her boss that she enjoyed.
Stella thought a little about what Brandon’s days might be like while working in Texas. She assumed he had meetings, interviews with clients and witnesses, gathered documents for discovery and did a lot of writing in the office. She was unfamiliar with the inner workings of a legal case or a law office and didn’t feel one way or another about it. While driving into Watson for supplies, she thought about the long weeks Brandon had been away and wondered how he was handling the ongoing workload.
When she returned home, she checked on the horses, fed Gus and warmed up some leftover fish stew for herself. It was Friday evening and she had no plans. Stella pulled Brandon’s number up on her phone and poised her thumb over the button to dial him. She put the phone down and got up to do the dishes. About an hour and a shot of whiskey later, she picked up the phone again and called Brandon. When there was no answer, she hung up. She didn’t have a message to leave. She was lonely.
After tidying up the house and watering the plants her mother insisted she get to ‘bring life into the place’, Stella picked a movie and sat down to watch it with Gus at her feet. She woke up at midnight; the movie was over and her neck hurt from the awkward position of her head. Gus had crawled into his bed for the night. He raised his head as she stirred, but once reassured that all was right in the world, he went back to sleep. She checked her phone to see if Brandon sent a text message after her abandoned call. There were no messages. She stumbled to bed and slept restlessly the rest of the night.