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This is going to be a kind of filler chapter winding a lot of things up. But, hold on...we got some more stuff coming.

LIFE

Chapter 43

Things were going along splendidly. We received another shipment of horses; this time fifteen. There were the other ten dapples, and the first five friesians. They were magnificient. We had a scare with one of the dapples having trouble within hours of landing, and on the way home.

We managed to make it in time at the ranch to get them unloaded, and into their stalls. Sean, and Paul worked with the sick one even into the night. It was very sick, and just wanting to lay around. They gave it fluids, and some type of medicine, and almost daylight of the next morning it was doing wonderfully.

The next morning we found a barn full of horses, and it was turning into a wonderful day. Edward went with five other men to start putting up the fencing for the cattles pasture. Emmett, and his men were winding up on the heifer sheds, and would then start to work on the greenhouse.

There was an arrival of cement trucks to start pouring the foundations for the other cabins up on the ridge. I had decided on ten more cabins for the employees, as I felt I was going to end up with around fifty employees to handle the horses, and cattle.

I called Max to let him know about the horses, and the one that go sick, but was feeling fine this morning. He was sending fifteen more friesians this weekend. That was going to leave eleven more the following Wednesday, and I would have all my horses, except for the ones I was buying for the employees to use around the ranch. Those were coming from all over Alaska. There were about twenty of them, all different types, but good for working horses.

We got a call from the Alaska Feed in Fairbanks, and they were expecting chickens to be coming in this weekend. I told them we would be in town, and to expect us to be coming to buy. Alice assured me the chicken coup was ready, and we had a silo full of feed for them. We were having a couple bales of hay brought over to scatter throughout the pen, and to line their nests. Alice was having a field day setting things up.

We were planning a trip into town for everyone to take a break from everything. We were also planning a big cookout for dinner on Sunday like we did last time. We would have dinner in town instead of worrying about cooking.

They were hoping to finish up on the fencing for the pasture, and I could start getting us some cattle. I had looked into buying some from this person in Anchorage that had some Beefmasters at a pretty good price. I would still be taking Sean, and Paul to check them out when we went to pick them up. I had two haulers to carry the cattle. Not big enough to carry more than maybe forty head of cattle at a time though.

I was having Rose check out both the cattle haulers from top to bottom. I was not taking any chances. She also said she would be more than happy to go with us in case of any problems, and she had experience in driving a freightliner. Personally, I think she had a thing for the big trucks, but I was more than happy to have her along.

I was also picking up another dog while we were in Anchorage. A couple had a Samoyed that was eleven weeks old for sale. It was a male, and was up to date on everything. I was going to get Sean and Paul to check him out. I was working my way through getting the dogs I wanted. I was also checking out an Australian shepherd someone had for sale. It was a female about eight months old, and had been fixed. I like that as I didn't want a bunch of puppies everywhere. I planned on using them for herding the cattle, and horses.

I just needed to finish getting the rest of the horses before I started on something else. They were taking a lot of time, and very well worth it in the end. They were all so beautiful, and I could hardly wait to see the horse Max was gifting me. It was a Friesian, and had some very notable bloodlines.

I was already in talks with a young woman who had tried to get on Pinnacle Farms in Arkansas. They didn't have any positions open, and was in need of a job. I was offering her one, and the same thing I was offering everyone else. If she stayed with me, done her job, and was interested I would give her an acre of land, and a one bedroom house built.

I told her to come out on my dime, and we would talk. I was due to receive the horse from Max this next weekend when we received the last of the other ten Friesians. There would be eleven horses sent in the last trip. Max said I would know which one it was when I saw him. I could hardly wait.

I also had another woman coming out with a degree in Animal Husbandry to work with Alice. A Charlotte Curry that had went to school with Alice, but had not found a long term job. I put in a call to the employment agencies in Fairbanks, and the Alaska Labor Board to send me people out that were looking for long term to permanent jobs either working with horses, or cattle. I was looking for men, and women.

I was also looking for a few people to work in the longhouse kitchen to help with either cooking, serving, or cleaning. At present it looks as if I got twenty one people to work for me. I was still in need of three vet assist, another farrier, or an assistant to work with Alistair. I was needing about three, or four more people to work in the kitchen in the longhouse.

I was then wanting about ten more ranch hands to work the cattle, and to ride the fences to keep the wildlife from killing any of my animals. This was why I was building the additional ten cabins on the ridge, and the ten bedrooms for temporary employees in the horse barn.

LLLLLLLLLL

We had fun going into town. The people didn't know what to make of the semi-convoy of vehicles. It just meant a load of money for the people of Fairbanks. We went shopping at Walmart, and Home Depot, which had a bunch of stuff for them in the longhouse kitchen. We went to some of the clothing stores stocking up on jeans, shirts, and a few other items. We stocked up on cleaning supplies, food items, toys for my babies, feed for the horses, and we ended up with twenty five chickens, and two roosters. They looked pretty good.

We ended up at Big Daddy's BBQ, and they were more than ready for us. We ended up filling up about half the restaurant, and came plenty hungry. We had a good time, and really needed the break. We were planning on a big cookout of steaks, hamburgers, chicken, and anything else they could think of. There was also talk among-st a few men of going hunting some on Sunday morning. We had plenty of freezers to fill up, and I wanted to do just that for this coming winter.

We now had mini-sheds to hold immediate firewood, and it was up to eight cords. Plenty of wood even for this winter, but we also had more fireplaces.

We were running fine on the solar panels, generators, and wind turbines. They were supplying plenty of energy. I was still looking to buy a few more generators for the cabins, and the horse barn. This past winter was pretty bad, and I didn't want to risk losing any animals to the weather conditions.

I'm sitting out on our back porch watching my horses, people working, and my baby in the distance putting up fence posts. Edward has certainly been working his butt off. He looks so very tired, but won't quit for nothing.

A car is pulling up, and a red headed woman is coming towards me. I smile, and she introduces herself as Rachael White, the horse trainer. I take her inside getting us both a glass of tea, and we sit down at the kitchen counter. She hands me her resume, and a video of her working with some horses. I pop it into my computer watching it while she points some things out on it. I like her methods, and we continue to talk. I tell her what I am offering, and the extended package if she works out, and wants to make this her home. I then mention us walking out to the horse barn for her to meet Alexander the Great. This is the horse Max sent me as a gift for all the horses I bought from him. Alexander is absolutely beautiful, along with the other Friesians he sent.

I was very pleased to see Alexander took to Rachael. We took him out of his stall, and out to the field with the other horses. They had only been out for a little bit, and they were only taking twenty out at a time. Alexander was enjoying his time outside. I liked Rachael, and asked if she was ready to start work this coming week. She said she had everything she owned in her car, and was very ready.

We walked over to one of the cabins that only had one other woman in it, and I showed her the bedroom, bathroom, and then we walked over to the longhouse. I introduced her to everyone working in the kitchen, and asked them to help her meet everyone else tonight during dinner. Rachael was blown away with everything we had set up. I told her we were not even through yet.

I mentioned the ten more cabins, the greenhouse, the garden we would have this next spring, and probably more cattle. I told her we would have about three horses I wanted her to start working with, including Alexander. I also mentioned I wanted their manes, and tails allowed to grow out, and the special shampoos, and conditioners I had for them. Yes, she knew of Frederik the Great, and had wanted to work with him, or some of their horses, but they didn't have any jobs available.

I got Alice to help her get her things into her room, and to finish showing her around. To point out the laundry room, the other rooms in the longhouse, and show her around the ranch.

I went back to our house, and Angela was cooking with them in the longhouse. We were all having dinner over there tonight. This gave me a chance to introduce Rachael to everyone. I decided tonight if Edward wasn't to tired I was going to see about finishing him off. lol

I went looking for something sexy to wear for my husband, and I do believe I found just the thing. Now, I need to head out to the longhouse , and see what is going on. I walk into the kitchen, and the ladies are just now pulling out a huge roast. They got four ovens going at the same time, and looks as if Maggie is cooking rolls, and something for dessert in two of them. I can't really tell what all is cooking. It's almost a mad house.

I see this huge roast, actually two roast. It also looks as if there are potatoes, mushrooms and broccoli, with rolls. I finally see Maggie making her delicious chocolate, and coconut cakes. I am now starving, and it is almost time for dinner. They are cutting up the roast, dishing up all the vegetables, and Maggie is sitting the cakes out front.

Alice, Esme, and I are getting plates, silverware, napkins, glasses with ice all set up out front. I see people starting to come inside. I see Rachael coming in, so I walk over to greet her, and to start some introductions. She can't believe everything running the way it is. I assure her it is like this every day, and they cook breakfast, and a big dinner. There is stuff for them to have something small like sandwiches for lunch if they want too. I also tell her that we serve different types of meat. There is deer, bear, moose, mountain lion, and then just regular beef, chicken, or pork.

Tonight we are having prime rib roast, and a bear roast. I prefer the bear as it is very tender, with a very distinct taste. I inform her they do go hunting occasionally. I go on telling her about our past winter, and how we spent it.

Edward comes walking towards us, and I turn to introduce her to my husband. She's kind of shocked, and drooling just a little bit. Of course, he has to bring out that sexy lop-sided grin to lay on her. I hit him with my elbow to tone it down a touch. He just laughs, and leans over giving me a kiss.

Just as I go to take Rachael up to get her a plate Charlie Parker comes up, and I introduce them. I can't believe it. He ends up taking her over to get their dinner. I do believe we have another match. Thank goodness I got quite a few more women coming out to work.

Edward just shakes his head at me, and we both grin. We walk over getting us some dinner, and sit down with everyone. They are all talking about things going on around the ranch, and how much they got done today. I tell them about Rachael being my first trainer for some of my horses, and Edward tells us about getting a lot of fencing done for the cattle. Emmett says he is just about to start on the greenhouse probably in the next couple days.

I tell everyone about us having an influx of new employees coming from Fairbanks. I got vet assist, an assistant for Alistair coming, some more help for the kitchen, and we also have more horses coming from different places for the ranch hands to ride. I also tell them about our coming trip to Anchorage to pick up some cattle, and my new dog.

My babies are laying at our feet pigging out on roast, and potatoes. Theodore, Lise, and Sasha have been playing all day. Wait until I start putting them to work on the ranch. I really need to start putting Theodore, and Sasha around the horses more often.

Right now though, I look over at Edward, and he looks so tired. I don't know what to do at this point. I think I'll send him on to get his shower, and stay to see everything gets taken care of before I head in myself.

I get chased out of the kitchen by everyone. It looks like Charlie is walking Rachael to her cabin. Everyone else is either sitting watching some television, or just relaxing. I head out towards my house.

I walk in, and Edward is already in bed stretched out with his arms up behind his head. He's just laying there awfully still. I walk into the bathroom, stripping off my clothes, and taking a quick shower. I come out drying off, and slip on my nightgown. I brush my teeth, and brush my hair out. I turn walking out as I turn off the light.

Edward turns looking at me, and he holds out his hand to me. I walk over climbing over to him, and he pulls me down kissing me so tenderly. He pulls me over his body, and we're lying chest to chest, looking in each others eyes. He tells me he loves me more than life. I tell him he is my life. We slowly remove any clothes, and make tender slow love. He makes my toes curl, and I scream out his name into the night. He comes with a hard thrust, and moaning my name over, and over. He leans down kissing me gently, rolls to his side, and pulls me close.

I feel him pull the sheet over our bodies, and we drift off to sleep uttering our love for each other. THIS is my love, my life.

LLLLLLLLLL

Well, kind of a filler chapter, but things have progressed some more. They got a lot of things done, more horses, and some more new people. I still got some surprises to come, and probably about ten more chapters at the most. I'm kind of excited, but kind of depressed to see it winding down.

The trip is fun, & still got more to come.

Please let me know what ya'll think. Visit the group page for more pics.

Thanks muches...