So�This Is Montana Ch. 2
Harvey Benson stepped out onto the back porch of his large, two story, home. He looked at the large fields of pasture that lay below the house that was set on a hill. As he watched the sun rise over the far hills, he felt few regrets in his decision to sell his ranch. He knew that the time to let it go had finally come when his wife of 45 years had died earlier in the spring. He and Sara been the owners of the ranch for almost 25 years and after Sara�s death, Harvey had finally decided to call it quits in the ranching business. His heart just wasn�t in it anymore. He had put the ranch up for sale and had been offered many bids, but had held out until he had heard from the lawyers representing the man from Florida. He had the opportunity to meet the young man almost 2 months ago and had immediately been impressed with how down to earth he seemed to be. His knowledge in ranching seemed to be somewhat limited, but with as much eagerness the youngster seemed to possess in learning the business, Harvey was sure that he would get by just fine. Harvey made it a point to introduce Lance to the employees that had been on hand at the time of his visit, but he had not been able to introduce him to the two men that would play most instrumental in the success of the ranch once it left his hands. Harvey would later regret that as would Lance and the rest of Nsync.
The two ranch hands walked across the large yard of the Hickory Hill Ranch. They were on their way to the stables to tend to the many morning chores awaiting them.
�So, who bought out the place?� asked Steven Cartwright, the head ranch hand for the last 15 years at Hickory Hill Ranch.
�A James Bass of Orlando, Florida,� replied John Williams with a slight sneer. He had been an employee on the ranch for almost as long as the man speaking with him.
�Know anything about the man?�
�Not too much really. Owns his own company is what I�ve heard from Mr. Benson and he�s not even 24 years old yet.�
�You�re kidding�right?� Steven stopped in his tracks and looked at the other man in disbelief.
�Nope.�
�So, some rich yahoo is going to force us out of our jobs.� Steven�s voice was full of bitterness with his statement.
�No. My understanding is that he wants us to continue with our jobs.�
�How decent of him,� replied Steven sarcastically? �Doesn�t know enough about the business, but has enough money to buy into it.�
�Looks like it.�
�When is he going to come?�
�Heard from Mr. Benson that him and 4 friends will be in next week. They plan to stay for a week or two.�
�Good. That gives us some time to get ready for their little visit.�
�Huh? What do you mean Steve?� John opened the stable doors and began to walk into the building.
�Let�s just say I want the new owner of the ranch to feel welcome�mighty welcome.�
Both men laughed out loud as they entered the building and closed the large door behind them.
One week later, the members of Nsync were well on their way to see Lance�s new investment. The excitement had been gradually building throughout the last week as they anticipated their trip to Montana.
�I can�t believe we�re actually going to see Lance�s ranch.� Justin excitedly looked out the window of the small, chartered plane that was taking him, Lance, Chris, Joey and JC from Orlando to a small airport outside Billings, Montana. From there, the group would drive a rented vehicle 2 hours to the ranch.
Joey was sitting nearby with a scrapbook sitting open in his lap. The pictures contained in the book were of the ranch. Some of the pictures were incredible.
�Man�no wonder you fell in love with this place. Chris�look at this picture.� Joey pushed the book into Chris� lap and pointed at a picture of open pasture at sunset.
�Wow�great photograph. Hey Lance, do you know where this was taken?� Chris held up the book in Lance�s direction and waited for an answer.
Lance stood up and looked over Chris� shoulder. �I�m not real sure, but I think that�s out on the far west side of the ranch.� Lance smiled at the picture. He was still pinching himself, not believing that he had fulfilled yet another dream of his.
�What did you say the name of the ranch is?�
Lance sat back down in his chair and looked over at JC.
�Hickory Hill Ranch.�
�Nice name,� JC murmured. �Are you planning on changing it?�
�No,� Lance shook his head. �Hadn�t planned on it.�
�Good. It has a nice ring to it.�
Lance nodded in agreement to Joey�s comment and leaned his head back against his seat. He closed his eyes and a small smile played across his face. With his eyes closed, he did not notice the grins that his friends were sporting as they took in the dreamy look that Lance was wearing, but he could hear their giggles.
�Okay guys�what�s so funny.�
That remark earned loud laughter and Lance couldn�t help but join in with them.