Time To Retire Old Faithful

Time To Retire Old Faithful

It’s time, rancher Ross Hanks told Kit in the main room of the sprawling ranch house. The H-H ranch had grown from the one hundred sixty acre land grab to the three thousand acre ranch it is mostly because of the hard work of Ross’s top hand Kit.

Without Kit, Ross Hanks H-H Ranch might only be the hundred sixty acres he started with. Kit knew cattle ranching, and that is what Ross Hanks needed. Ross heard things out west was the place to be for a man with ambition. He sold his small house in Ohio and spent most of his money traveling west. When Ross saw the poster about the lands that could be claimed, he joined the crowd of men heading to the land office. All he had to do was mark, claim, and register it. Then he had to make the improvements to keep his claim. Ross knew nothing about those things, but he saw a man who was too late, all the land had been claimed. That man was named Kit.

Kit seemed to know something about cattle, but there was no land left for him to prove it. Ross asked Kit some questions about how to do what was needed to keep his claim. I can’t pay much, Ross said, but it’s better than nothing. When Kit saw the land Ross claimed, he told him I’ll take the job. Kit knew the land was good for cattle to graze and there was a stream for the water the dry ground needed. First, Kit said, you need a shack, then I can get to work on the land. Buy two breeders, I’ll have a corral ready by the time you get back here.

Ross liked the plans being made. He took the few dollars he had left and went to buy what Kit needed. Kit picked the place to build the needed shack near where he planned to build the large ranch house. He was standing in listening to Boss Hanks start to tell him why he called him into the main room.

Ross began, Kit it’s time for me to really show you my appreciation for the many years of service you have given me and the H-H. When Kit started to open his mouth Ross raised his hand. Without you there would not be any H-H. I might have even lost the land grant I got to start. You built the this ranch into what it is today, from that scrap of land to the best ranch for several counties around. Kit started again to speak. Son, Ross said, Kit you are like a son to me even if you are a little older. You have been family to me. When I married Silvia you made everything look just right, and, and, and, Ross kept naming many of the times Kit was there for him.

Kit finally got the chance to speak. Ross my friend, Kit started, you paid me well. As the ranch grew, you paid me more, and more, I can’t ask for anything more. Ross stopped Kit from saying anything more. Kit my friend, it is time for you to retire, here on the ranch of course. You have worked all these years building this ranch, now it is time for you to sit back and let the H-H take care of you my faithful friend.