Page 36 of Forever C*cky

Chapter Eleven

Eliza

Almost a week later

We’ve been herefor a week already and I can’t believe just how much I’ve enjoyed myself. I’ve spent the days with several of the guys who work the ranch as well as a day with Rowdy, learning about the business side of this massive enterprise. My camera man was with me and he captured some great video for the segment.

The day I spent with Bessie, seeing what all she does to take care of the guys out here, was shocking. I had no idea she did so much all on her own.

She personally sees to the meals for all of the men who work this ranch. She gets up around 3AM to start on a hot meal for their breakfast, breakfast is at 5:30AM sharp and if you aren’t at the table by 5:40, you’ve pretty much missed out. She makes sandwiches and easy to eat meals on go for every man to have during their grueling day and also has a light meal ready at the house that is up at noon. Anyone who is close enough to the house can pop in to grab a bite before heading back out to the job. Dinner is at 7PM, sharp, every night. All sit down meals are taken at the main house.

Between meals, she’s cleaning the ranch house, doing the laundry for those in the house, tending to the garden and the greenhouse, where most of the produce for the ranch is grown and readying things for the next meal.

Meal prep is a massive undertaking out here, but she practically does it alone. She also knows the name of every employee of the Double Down Ranch. She knows them on a personal level and she acts as the mother figure for all of them. They all call her Momma Bessie and she loves each employee as if she gave birth to them.

Through our talks, as I worked alongside her and helped where she directed me, I also learned that her husband, Falcon and Rowdy’s father, died in a stampede, here on the ranch.

She filled me in on the history of the ranch and told me that while it’s been in her husband’s family for years, it wasn’t as prosperous as it is now until her sons took it over. She claims that when her husband and brother in law owned it, they were barely making ends meet and that they were in danger of losing it to the bank.

Then, Falcon and Rowdy decided to take it on. They invested everything they owned in it while purchasing an additional two-hundred-thousand acres for the hunting grounds. They also improved the quality of the beef they raised here. I learned that they started out with only sixty heads of Angus Beef and now they have over nine thousand with that number growing every year.

The Double Down Ranch covers roughly six-hundred-fifty-seven-thousand-acres. It’s mindboggling.

Sometimes, I’d set up a camera and just record as we talked and worked and other times throughout the day, my camera man would follow us around and record things. I’ve been so engrossed with the everyday running of the ranch and just how much goes into it, that most days, I forget all about the cameras altogether.

I’ve also spent a lot of time with Falcon, riding alongside him as he does various things. Sometimes there are cameras on us, sometimes there aren’t. There are so many hats in the ring that make this place run like the well-oiled machine it is, there’s never a lack of something going on that can be documented.

Natalee is always working on things for me, being an amazing assistant. She makes certain my life still gets taken care of in Los Angeles while I’m here in Texas. She’s checking in with the studio and with Marlie, who is hosting my show while I’m out here doing this. And, I notice at night that she’s also apparently finding some time to spend with Rowdy, not that I can say anything since I’m doing the same with Falcon.

Falcon and I try to keep what’s happening between us away from my crew, his men, and his family, but I’m not ignorant enough to think that they don’t know. I’m certain Bessie knows my bed isn’t occupied most nights and when it is, there are head prints on both pillows.

I’m surprised at just how much I’m enjoying not only learning about, but being a part of the ranch. In fact, far from the hate and disgust I assumed I’d feel out here, I find that most days, I wake up with joy and anticipation of what the day will bring.

Eliza McCormick no longer gags at the sight of cow shit… Who the hell would have imagined that?!

Alongside Falcon, I’ve checked and repaired fence, fertilized pastures, watched as cattle were counted and tagged, and ridden alongside the men on horseback as herds are moved from one pasture to another to prevent over-grazing. That’s not to say that I haven’t had my share of cringe worthy moments. I giggle as I remember the first day Falcon told me to get on a horse.

I was walking alongside him as he crossed the yard. One of his hands had radioed in that several head were missing from one of the herds and their tracks led toward the river. Falcon was going to go locate them and direct them back to the herd and he asked if I wanted to accompany him. I’d said, “Sure,” and assumed we’d be taking his truck.

I turned to walk to the truck and he kept walking. He called out, “Not today, darlin’. Today, we’re riding.”

I thought, “Well, duh. Riding in the truck.”

He laughed and pointed to the barn. My jaw dropped and I sputtered, “What? Riding what?”

He said, “A horse, of course.”

I stopped in the middle of the yard and shook my head adamantly. “No. I am not riding a horse. I don’t even know how to ride a horse, Falcon!”

He’d just ignored me and said, “Come on, Fancy Pants. Time to get that ass in a saddle!” I refused to move and he laughed again before striding across the yard and scooping me up and slinging me over his shoulder.

I screamed as my head bounced off his back, above his ass. I slapped it and said, “I’m going to bite you! Put me down. I am not getting on a goddamned horse!”

He stopped and looked down at me, grinning. He was upside down, but still sexy and that stupid grin made my stomach jump. “Are you going to bite my ass?” He slapped mine, where it was practically perched on his shoulder, and then squeezed it. “I bite back.”

I was getting dizzy from the blood flowing to my head and I snarkily said, “I’m never having sex with you again!”

He laughed, “Wanna bet,” and walked into the barn. He set me down and a ranch hand was standing there, holding two horses. He was young and his cheeks were pink. He also refused to look at me, so, I knew he’d heard us.

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