So�This Is Montana� Ch. 12
�Well�it looks like you�re good to go, Lance,� Dr. Shannon said as he looked at the set of x-rays being displayed on a lit wall panel. �The bones have healed up nicely.� Dr. Shannon flipped a switch causing the light behind the panel to turn off then walked over to the examination table where Lance was seated with JC standing nearby.
�That�s great news, doc,� Lance replied with a smile as Dr. Shannon reached for his arm once again to run his hand over its surface.
�Now�I�m going to have you wear a soft brace during your visit in Montana.�
�I thought you said that everything looked good,� JC said as he looked on at what the doctor was doing.
�Oh�it does, JC, but with the activities that you may be doing, I don�t want to take the chance that Lance might reinjure his arm,� Dr. Shannon explained.
�That�s okay, Dr. Shannon,� Lance replied. �I don�t mind. At least it�s something that I can take off before getting in the shower.� Lance hated the fact that he had been forced into wearing a special plastic bag over his cast for the last 6 weeks. He was so ready to take a shower without having to worry about getting a cast wet.
�Here�s a brochure with some exercises that I want you to do in order to build up the strength in your wrist,� the doctor said as he handed over the thin booklet.
�I also want you to have this prescription filled.�
Lance took the piece of paper being handed to him. �What is it for?� he asked, looking at the cryptic writings.�
�It�s an anti-inflammatory. You�re going to be using that hand and wrist more now and I want to make sure that the swelling that�s going to occur doesn�t prevent you from having a good time at your ranch.�
The doctor�s words brought a wide smile to Lance�s face.
�What did I say?� Dr. Shannon asked, in obvious confusion.
�I believe Poofoo is smiling because of the words �your ranch,�� JC said, his voice full of teasing.
Lance smiled sheepishly. �I sometimes have to read the deed to make sure that I�m really the owner of a 700 acre ranch in the middle of Montana.�
�Well�I�m really proud of you, Lance,� Dr. Shannon said. �You made a wise investment.�
�Thanks, Dr. Shannon.�
The boys watched Dr. Shannon search through a drawer before pulling out a black, Velcro brace.
�Let�s see how this fits,� the doctor said as he wrapped the brace around Lance�s right arm.
�It�s pretty much like the cast that you just took off,� Lance said as he watched the doctor firmly fasten the various straps on the brace.
�Yes, it is. I want you to wear this for the next two weeks or at least through your stay with Mr. Benson. You don�t need to wear it while you shower, but I do want you to wear it at night to help with any swelling you may experience.�
�Yes sir,� Lance answered. He lifted his arm and looked at the brace.
�Too tight?� Dr. Shannon asked.
�Maybe a little,� Lance answered as he watched the doctor readjust the straps.
�JC, you or one of the others are going to have to help Lance out in tightening the straps,� Dr. Shannon instructed. �Make sure that you fasten the straps firmly enough that the arm will receive the most support without cutting down on the circulation.�
�Yes sir,� JC answered.
Minutes later, Dr. Shannon was showing the boys to the front of his family practice. The front office was dark and empty since Lance�s appointment had been made for after hours so that he and JC would not have to worry about fans.
Dr. Shannon unlocked the front door and stepped back so that Lance and JC could walk out the door.
�Well, don�t do anything that will earn me a midnight phone call like last time,� Dr. Shannon said half teasing and serious at the same time.
Lance and JC grinned sheepishly at the doctor.
�Yes sir,� they answered.
�Remember, if you have any problems with that arm, go see Dr. Parrish or Dr. Granger at the county clinic. They�ll fix you up.�
With that said, the men shook hands and Dr. Shannon watched as JC and Lance climbed into JC�s car and drove away.
Later, that same evening, most of the ranch hands at Hickory Hill Ranch were preparing to go to bed. As their usual night time routines were going on there was talk of the upcoming visit of the ranch�s new owner.
�When are they going to be here?� asked Troy Garner. He and Mitch Warden were both fairly new employees of the ranch.
�Two days,� John Williams growled.
Troy looked at Mitch and shrugged his shoulders. Unfortunately, John caught the movement and practically pounced on the younger man. All activity ceased to watch the older man stride angrily across the room to Troy�s side.
�You don�t see a problem with this�do you?� he yelled as he pointed his finger in Troy�s face. The younger man took a step back and raised his hands in a gesture of surrender as he spoke calmly.
�You�re right�I don�t actually see a problem with the new owner, but you�ve been here longer than me and I guess I�ll just have to trust your judgment.�
�You. Better.� John said, his tone menacing, his posture stiff and threatening.
�Yes, sir,� Troy said in response to the threat.
After the outburst, the rest of the men slowly continued in preparing for bed and soon the lights were turned off. Light snores could be heard in the large room several minutes later.
�Troy�psst�Troy,� Mitch whispered to the man sleeping in the next bed.
�What?� Troy asked as he raised his head to see his friend pointing toward to the door and then holding up 10 fingers.
Troy nodded in understanding. Mitch wanted to meet with him in 10 minutes outside. They had done this frequently, as did other members of the group from time to time. It was the only way to carry on any sort of private conversation.
Ten minutes later, Mitch and Troy quietly stole out of the large house and made their way over to one of the many corrals on the property. The full moon caused eerie shadows to criss-cross the yard and night sounds could be heard all around them.
�I�ve got a feeling�a bad feeling about this visit,� Mitch whispered as he kicked at the dirt with his bare foot.
Troy leaned his arms against the top rail of the fence and rested his head on his arms.
�Yeah,� Troy answered. �I think John and Steven are going to make the visit one that the new owner will never forget.�
Mitch looked over at the other man. �What do you mean?� he asked, his voice full of concern.
�I�ve overheard snatches of conversations and I think John and some of the others want Mr. Bass to come to the conclusion that he made a mistake in purchasing the ranch.� Troy looked over at Mitch and saw that he was chewing his bottom lip, a habit that he only saw when his friend was nervous or worried about something.
�Hey,� Troy said quietly. �We�ll keep an eye out for Mr. Bass and his friends�they�ll be okay.�
Mitch nodded his head in agreement. �Mr. Benson will be keeping an eye on them too, so�maybe nothing will happen.�
�Yeah,� Troy said with a nod. �Let�s get back to bed. I know that we have the west pasture to check tomorrow and that�s going to make for a long day.�
Troy laughed at the expression on Mitch�s face. �Man�the west pasture. That has to be the most forsaken spot on this whole ranch�� Mitch complained.
�And most dangerous,� Troy added. �So we need the rest�let�s go.�
Both men walked quietly back into the ranch hand�s house and went to their beds. It wasn�t too long before all 8 ranch hands were asleep.
Meanwhile, Harvey Benson was in his office area on the phone with his sister-in-law, Janice Benson, in Phoenix, Arizona. He had just received the news that his youngest brother, Max, had fallen from a ladder and may have damaged his spinal cord.
�When did he fall,� Harvey asked, as he began shuffling through a phone book to find a phone number for the airport in Billings.
�He fell this afternoon around 4:30�I wanted to call you, but there was too much going on,� Janice whispered through her tears.
�Sh�it�s okay hon�I�m working on booking a flight for in the morning. Can you last that long?� Harvey asked as he continued to thumb through the book.
�Yes�I�m so sorry about this Harv�I�m so sorry.� Harvey could hear his brother�s wife begin to quietly weep.
�Is someone there with you?� he asked. �Where are the kids?�
�Yes�someone is here with me. My neighbor, Mike and his wife Sherry. The kids are still at school. I haven�t called them yet. I wanted to talk to you first.�
Max and Janice�s two sons were attending college in California. The oldest was a senior at UCLA while the youngest was a freshman at Pepperdine University.
�Okay�I�m calling for tickets just as soon as we get off the phone. I�ll call you when I get my travel information together. Do you have your cell phone with you?� he asked. He grabbed a pen and paper and jotted down the phone numbers that Janice began giving him.
�Okay, sweetie�I�ll call you as soon as I can. Love you, Janice,� he said quietly. �And don�t worry about Max�he�s a fighter�he�ll be okay.�
�I know Harv,� the woman whispered. �See you soon and love you.�
�Bye.� Harvey hung up the phone and immediately began to work at getting a flight booked to Phoenix for the morning.
After he had finished getting his flight plans, Harvey picked up the phone again and called Orlando. It was midnight in Montana and there was a 2 hour difference between their areas so maybe he wouldn�t be disturbing Lance.
The phone rang 3 times before being answered by an unfamiliar male voice.
�Hello?� said Chris as he plopped down on a nearby sofa.
�I�m sorry,� Harvey apologized. �I�m calling the Bass residence.�
The voice on the other end of the line sounded vaguely familiar to Chris so he took a chance.
�Is this Mr. Benson?� Chris asked.
�Why�yes, it is. How did you know and who is this?� Harvey asked in confusion.
�This is Chris, Chris Kirkpatrick and I remembered your voice from the clinic,� Chris answered with a laugh. �I don�t speak to too many people with your accent so�it was kinda easy to remember.�
Harvey chuckled at Chris�s revelation, then sobered at the thought of breaking the news of his brother�s accident to the young man.
�Is Lance there, Chris?� he quietly asked.
Chris caught the change in the older man�s tone of voice, but decided that it was not his business to pry.
�Yes, sir. He�s outside�I�ll get him for you.� Chris laid the phone down and crossed the room to the back patio door.
Harvey could hear him calling Lance to the phone in the background and moments later, he heard someone pick up the phone.
�Hello, Mr. Benson,� Lance said.
�Hi Lance,� Harvey answered. �Listen, son. I�m going to cut right to the chase.� Lance sat up on the sofa at the serious sound of Mr. Benson�s voice.
�Okay��
�My brother, Max was in an accident in Phoenix this afternoon and may have damaged his spinal cord. I�ve booked a flight to get out there in the morning and I don�t know how long my stay will need to be.�
�Oh�Mr. Benson�I�m so sorry,� Lance said. �Is there anything I can do for you?�
�Yes�go ahead with your plans in coming here with your friends. I�ll have John and Steven, along with the rest of the hands, show you the ropes and help you familiarize yourself with running the ranch.�
�Are you sure, Mr. Benson?� Lance asked. He wasn�t sure if he wanted the older man to worry about his being there on the ranch with him being gone.
�Of course I�m sure. You�ve been planning this for quite sometime and it may be several months before Mr. Wright can arrange for another visit, so you need to come on out while you can,� Mr. Benson reasoned.
Lance didn�t quite agree with what Mr. Benson was proposing, but he decided that it would be best to go along with his wishes.
�Okay, but you�ll let me know how things are going with your brother,� Lance said.
�Yes�I�ll call you. I�ll want to know how well you�re running that ranch anyway,� Harvey said with a tired laugh.
�Yes, sir.�
�I need to start packing, Lance. I�ll call you later.�
�Yes, sir�bye.�
Lance hung up the phone and went outside to tell the rest of the group the news.
�Man�that�s too bad about his brother,� JC said with a shudder. He couldn�t even begin to imagine what it would be like to get a phone call like that about his own younger brother.
Justin was also thinking along those same lines. It would be terrible, no matter what your age, to receive news like that.
�So�the trip is still on?� Joey asked.
�Yeah�Mr. Benson still wants us to come on out there,� Lance answered. �He said that the ranch hands would be able to take care of us.�
�That�s good,� Chris answered. �As long as I don�t have to ride a horse.�
The others laughed at Chris�s comment then picked up a basketball and headed toward a lit court for a quick game not knowing that the ranch hands would be taking care of them�taking very good care of them.
Two days later, the group was stepping off a chartered plane at the same airstrip that they had landed on almost 2 months earlier.
�Who�s picking us up, Lance,� Justin asked as he shifted his bag from one to shoulder to the other.
�Ummm�Mr. Benson is sending John Williams and Steven Cartwright out to get us,� Lance answered.
�That must be them now,� JC said pointing at a dark suburban that was driving up.
�What do these guys do at the ranch, Lance,� Chris asked as he watched the vehicle come to a stop some 50 feet away from the plane.
�They�re both ranch hands. John Williams has been at the ranch for more than 15 years. He�s the head ranch hand. I think Steven Cartwright has been there almost as long.�
�They don�t look like much to me,� sneered John Williams as he looked at the small group of young men milling around in the distance.
�Yep�look pretty citified,� answered Steven Cartwright as he took in the sight before him.
All five of the members of Nsync were dressed casually in blue jeans, t-shirts, baseball caps, and tennis shoes. They had dressed more for comfort for the long flight from Orlando to a small town outside Billings than anything else.
Both men watched as their new employer, Lance Bass crossed the distance between the two groups and reached out his hand as he greeted the men with a smile.
�Hello Mr. Williams�Mr. Cartwright,� Lance said politely. �I�m glad that you were able to come out and pick us up. Hope it wasn�t too much trouble.�
�None at all, Mr. Bass,� John replied as he shook the young man�s hand. He could almost feel his skin crawl with the contact that he made with Lance, but Lance didn�t seem to notice how uncomfortable the man appeared to be.
�I�d like you to meet the rest of the guys,� Lance said with a smile as he waved at the rest of the guys to join them.
�Guys�this is John Williams and Steven Cartwright.�
�Hello�nice to meet you,� JC said as he shook each man�s hand. �My name is Josh Chasez.�
�Hi�I�m Chris Kirkpatrick,� Chris said shaking their hands.
�I�m Joey Fatone�nice to meet you.�
�My name is Justin Timberlake,� Justin said as he shook their hands.
�Well�you ready to head on up to the ranch?� Steven asked as he helped the boys load their luggage into the back of the suburban.
�Yeah�we can�t wait to see it,� JC answered enthusiastically.
�We fell a little short of our goal in seeing it the last time we were here,� Joey added in a teasing tone.
There were a few groans and chuckles at Joey�s remark, but not from Steven and John. Justin noticed that the two men weren�t joining in on the laughter.
�Humph,� Justin thought to himself as he shrugged his shoulders. �No sense of humor.�
Once everyone was in the vehicle, they left for the ranch�five young men making plans for fun and adventure�two men and more at the ranch, already full of plans that had nothing to do with fun for the young men. They were plans for their own fun�at the expense of their guests.
Steven chanced a glance in the rearview mirror as he drove. He saw the five young men animatedly speaking in the background of what they wanted to do and see. Steven then looked over at John, who was seated in the passenger�s seat. They both smiled at each other�knowing that the plans that their passengers had were not going to be anything like what they had in store for them.