If this story is prohibited in your area, you are underage or gay sex offends you, then please leave. If you are looking for hard core sex, you won't find it here. This story is fictional and so are the characters. However, the setting is a real and is located in Central Oregon. It does sit on the edge of the Three Sisters Wilderness Area. Please feel free to email me and be sure to include the title in the subject line.
Thanks, Randy, for the terrific job you are doing!
Now just sit back and enjoy!
The Cabin by the Lake Chapter 11
The plane landed in Redmond. The guys went to a small restaurant that served home cooked meals and had dinner. They were just getting in the car when Dennis got a phone call from the Mitchells, the people who are running the ranch in Christmas Valley.
"This is Dennis speaking. Oh, Mrs. Mitchell, I am so sorry! You're at the hospital in Bend. We are in Redmond now. We'll stop and see you. What is Mr. Mitchell's room number.. We will be there shortly. Good-bye."
"Well, guys as you heard we have to stop by the hospital. Mr. Mitchell had a severe heart attack and is in intensive care. He may not make it through the night," explained Dennis.
"Hey, Dennis, wake up. We are pulling into the hospital parking lot." Terry said.
"I must have really been tired. I don't remember anything from the time we left the restaurant and talking with Mrs. Mitchell. Let's go in and see how bad Mr. Mitchell is. I have a very bad feeling," said Dennis.
"I think we had better check in at the information desk. Since Mr. Mitchell is in ICU, he may not be able to have visitors," Terry said. He was correct: no visitors except for immediate family and then only two at a time. He had the nurse get Mrs. Mitchell.
Mrs. Mitchell told the guys, " My husband has been having troubles for about three months and has been under strict doctors orders. We've decided to leave the ranch and move to Northern California to be near family. We were all packed and ready to go. We're waiting until you returned from your vacation because we wanted to give our notice in person. Then all of this happened and Mr. Mitchell had to be airlifted to the hospital. We called a neighbor to watch the place and feed the livestock."
"Mrs. Mitchell, don't you worry about a thing. We'll take care of everything. We have a little time before we start the summer operation. We'll get the horses moved immediately, which will be one less thing for you to worry you. In fact, the three of us, will get a u-haul and move you when you are ready," Dennis said.
"That will be just swell. You could move us now. I am staying with friends here in Bend and everything is packed and ready to go. Just remember that all the furniture goes with the place. All the things we want to take are in boxes in the living room."
"Mrs. Mitchell, I don't want you to think that I am prying or meddling in your business, do you have medical insurance, other that the policy we have for our employees?" asked Terry.
"Yes, Terry. We both have Medicare, and we have a good nest egg set aside for rainy days. With our social security and what we have put into saving, we won't have any financial problems. Thanks for asking and looking out for us," said Mrs. Mitchell.
"Mrs. Mitchell, you will find a large severance check in the envelope with your last paycheck. Why don't you call and tell them to look for us in four days. We'll need a phone number and will call when we get close," said Terry.
"I need a break, so I will go to my friends and call now," Mrs. Mitchell said and gave a sigh of relief and with a big grin on her face. "Terry, I will tell the nurse that you are our son and you can go in and visit with your dad. Steve, our son is on the way and should be here sometime tonight."
Terry returned shortly and everyone left the hospital. "Let's get a motel room and spend the night here in Bend, I'm too tired to drive home tonight. We might as well stay in town because we will be making a trip to Christmas Valley," Kyle said. The other two quickly agreed. That night in the motel room Terry, Kyle and Dennis were discussing what had happened so quickly.
"Remember the couple with the two teenage boys that we had out for Christmas Dinner. He told me that he had grown up on a farm/ranch and had worked for a place in Idaho until he got laid off. I wonder if he would be interested in running the farm in Christmas Valley?" inquired Dennis.
"Hey, that is a good idea. Dennis, call the shelter and find out if the family is still there," replied Kyle. "Terry, you will like this family. Dennis and I fell in love with this fun loving family at Christmas time."
"From the sounds of things, I really missed out on a good time. My Christmas was far from fun. If fact, I didn't leave my room all day," said Terry, all misty eyed.
"Hey, oh, no you don't The past is over. The only reason we remember the past is to learn from the mistakes so that we won't repeat them. Terry, no looking back remember. All we do is live one day at a time. The future will take care of itself. Come on, I want to see that great big smile that we love," said Dennis. "Terry, I think tomorrow we will go Christmas shopping and have our own little Christmas party when we get to Christmas Valley. I can`t think of a better place to have a Christmas party."
"Christmas presents, decorated tree and all. Good idea, Dennis!" said Kyle.
"You don't have to do this," said Terry.
"You're right, we don't have to do this. However, it is something we want to do. Big difference you know," replied Dennis. "I am going to make my phone call now.
Dennis was able to make connections with Roger and Edith. He invited the family to breakfast the next day. He was glad that they had the nine passenger van. Now everyone could go in one vehicle.
Dennis picked up Roger, Edith and the boys and headed to a little family owned restaurant. He told them about the situation and what had happened to the Mitchells. "I'm now looking for new managers of the farm. I would like all of you to go out with us and look the place over with the idea that the job is yours, if you want it."
Edith started crying. Roger spoke up. "We don't have to see the place. We have 37 cents between all of us. There is no possibility of any more coming in. So yes, we will go to Christmas Valley and yes we will accept the job! Why is it called Christmas Valley?"
"I have absolutely no idea. I guess we will have to google it and find out. I've never really given it a thought." said Terry. "Regardless, of why or how it got its name, I think Christmas Valley is a place where one can forget all about the past and live in magical bliss if only for a short time."
"We are going to have another Christmas party. Terry didn't have one and we are giving him one-a little late but we feel like celebrating again. What about you guys, want another Christmas?" asked Kyle.
"You bet!" said one of the boys.
The group finished eating breakfast, went shopping, and headed for Christmas Valley with every thing they needed for another Christmas. During the hour's drive, Dennis discovered that the other two families, who were Christmas guests had found employment and had moved out of the homeless shelter and the area completely.
Terry pulled into the drive way of the ranch. "Well, gang this is it. Everyone out and lets go exploring."
The boys were the first out of vehicle and were met by two large dogs. The boys hugged their necks and received a bunch of doggie kisses. It was hard to tell who enjoyed the attention more, the boys or the dogs.
A tour of the house was first. Although nothing real fancy, It had a cozy and warm feeling. "You know, Roger, it would be really easy for me to call this home," Edith said with tears in her eyes. The boys quickly agreed with her 100%.
"Hey, let's go out to the barn and then take a tour of the rest of the ranch," Kyle said.
"You four young kids can go into the barn and load 5 bales of hay on the trailer and we'll use the tractor to hall it out to the feed lot." Terry put his fingers to his lips and give a shrill whistle. Horses and mules came running from everywhere and were rewarded with a lot of hay.
"Let's tour the ranch with the tractor and trailer. Jump on and we will go for a ride. You might want to sit toward the middle so if we hit a bump, you won't fall off. If you do you'll have to run to catch us because we are not stopping. Call the dogs and they'll jump up on the wagon and go for a ride also. They love riding," Terry informed the group.
"Do the dogs come with the place?" asked Luke.
"Everything you see will stay on the place. The only exceptions are the boxes stacked in the living room. The Mitchells want to take those with them. You will find a big bunch laying chickens, a whole pen of fryers, three hutches of rabbits, three pigs, two milk cows and calves, and a couple of beef steers. Of course the horses and mules will go out to the lake for the summer. There will be four horses left here for you to ride left here at the ranch." Terry said.
"Kyle, you've just been elected driver. You can take us by the vegetable garden, which is just starting to grow and then the orchard which is in full bloom. You won't have to worry about buying fruits and vegetables. You will have all you want here and they'll certainly be fresh. Then you can head out to the lake, actually just a large pond which was made by damming a creek." Terry said.
The Johnsons were extremely impressed with the lake and creek. This area was covered with large juniper trees, native bushes, grasses and wildflowers. Spring had arrived early and all the plants were starting to grow and bloom. It was like a hayride through a park.
"The water from the lake is used to irrigate the fields. In the summer it is a great place to swim. Summers can get very hot here. Boys, it is secluded and no swim suits are necessary--that is, if you can sneak away from your mother. There are three wells that are also used for irrigation. The house has its own well and has the best water in all of Central Oregon. Not only is it pure but also the coldest. Can't beat it," Terry said.. "The lake has some of the best fishing in the whole country. I know your dad will keep you boys busy and he will sneak off and go fishing."
Kyle drove the tractor to the back of the property and hit a dirt road and headed back to the ranch house. Just before they reached the home place, Dennis saw the farm that joined his was for sale.
"Terry, I didn't know that the Harrison place is for sale," commented Dennis.
"It must have just gone on the market. There was no sign the last time we were out. I wonder what they are asking for it? Terry replied. "I might just look into it."
"Oh, no you don't. You have a job and I need someone to tuck me under his wing and keep me going. Just kidding. I want whatever will make you happy. It might be nice for you to have a new beginning." Dennis said.
"Just don't try to play match maker. I can find my own partner," chuckled Terry. Terry called the owner of the farm and they set up an appointment to meet right after lunch. The old couple wanted to sell out and move to Northern Washington to be near their daughter and grandchildren.
Terry wanted Dennis and Kyle to go with him when went he for his appointment. The three of them already knew the place so it was just a matter of discussing the details of the sale. The owners wanted $10,000 earnest money. All the farm machinery would be included in the purchase price. The owners would keep all the household furniture except for the appliances. All the power tools and miscellaneous tools in the machine shed, and the farm animals would go with the place.
Terry wrote out a check for the $10,000 and made arrangements to meet again in 3 days. If more time was need, all Terry had to do was give them a call.
On the way over to Dennis's place , the guys were doing a little talking. "Terry, you can tell me it is none of my business if you want. How much are you going to have to finance." Dennis inquired.
"Oh, probably about a hundred thousand. Why do you ask?" replied Terry.
"Dad just inherited a large amount of money from Kevin. He was asking what he should do with it. I could give him a call and see if he would like to invest in the farm with you," Dennis said. "If he doesn't want to go that route, then I think that I could swing what you need," Dennis responded.
"Dennis, are you sure this is what you want to do, if your Dad doesn't want to invest in the farm? ." Terry asked.
"Terry, I will give Dad a call and see what he says and then we can go from there!" Dennis suggested.
"I think that is a very good idea," agreed Terry.
Dennis made his call and his dad was extremely excited but wanted to wait until he had a chance to look the place over. Jim would be leaving Texas the next morning and would be on the road about six days. He was going to take the scenic route home.
Terry called Mr. Harrison and postponed the purchase for two weeks.
TBC