“It’s good money,” Buck said.
“It’s responsibility,” Silas replied.
“You already feed him.”
“For six weeks. Not for life.”
“He’s no trouble.”
“He could become trouble.”
“So could the horses. So could the weather. So could tourists from Florida who think moose are friendly.”
Nessa smiled, but Silas did not.
“Dad,” she said, “this could be important.”
“I know.”
“No, I mean really important. Not just for Nabid. Other animals like him get written off because they don’t fit systems built for efficiency. If his case gets studied properly, it could give people a reason to try something else before giving up.”
Silas leaned back in his chair. “And what about this place? We become what? A research ranch? A sanctuary? A tourist stop for a famous bull?”
“Maybe we become the place we were supposed to be,” Nessa said.
He looked at her.
She glanced down, then continued. “Mom always said this ranch felt like it was waiting for a bigger purpose.”
This story touched a part of me that has hurt underneath several careers and 65 years of life. I'm 71 now. My family is a long established name there. My memories of ranching, accidents, rodeo stock, flash floods and family loss are different than the way life is lived today. This story is magnificent, thank you for sharing it. And maybe there's hope for some of us humans that just need space and understanding. It's been 40 years since I became a civilian after 11 years as a
U.S. Marine. This story and that bull have more meaning than some will ever know. Thank you once again. Job well done.