Page 119 of Hold the Pickle
I have every faith we are going to figure this out. Cities. Hospitals. Rescues. Where to put our kittens.
There is no falling apart. Only growing together.
EPILOGUE: NADIA
Eight months later.
The ducks on the dash bounce as we leave the asphalt highway for a dirt road.
I lean forward to keep them from falling to the floor.
Dalton glances my way. “We’re going to have to tape them down!”
“We might.”
A yellow one covered in hearts, which I left for him this last Valentine’s Day, escapes my hands and dives into the cup holder.
“Two points!” Dalton calls.
The road smooths out as we drive alongside pasture land, the mountains in the distance. It’s a vividly bright summer day, and flowers spread across the lowlands like yellow stars.
I hang on as we bounce over another rut. “Maybe we can put down some gravel there to fill it in,” I tell him. “Or we can see if there is room in the budget to pave it.”
We drive another minute or so before the sprawling house appears, surrounded by trees. The property used to be a ranch,decades ago, but it’s being sold by the retired couple who has owned it for fifty years.
I reach out to hold Dalton’s hand. “You think they’ll let it go?”
“I hope so.”
The couple has been reluctant to sell, taking the property on and off the market multiple times over the last five years. They wanted one of their kids to take it over, but none of them has been willing.
We approach the main house. Behind it looms a large hay barn, and beyond it, a long pole barn meant to house cattle when necessary. There are almost a hundred acres attached to the parcel, some five hundred getting sold off over the years as the operation slowly shut down.
We toured it a few weeks ago with the real estate agent, but today we meet the family. We have been warned this is the make-or-break moment.
Another couple stands off to the side of the house, not much older than us. The man points out at the mountain view, then lifts a fancy camera to take a photo.
“Do we have competition?” I ask. “I thought we were the only ones who put in an offer.”
Dalton kills the Jeep. “Maybe someone else stepped up yesterday or today.”
My heart speeds up. We can’t lose this place! It’s the best option for the rescue operation, I imagine. A place not just for dogs and cats, but horses and goats and even exotic pets, at least until proper placements can be found for them.
There would be a veterinary office where we saw paying patients, boarding to help with costs. I had it all worked out how it could be profitable!
Dalton squeezes my hand. “Don’t worry. We’re going to charm the pants off these people. You’ve planned every little thing.”
“I wish we weren’t competing. I hate competing.”
He kisses my knuckles. “We’re going to win.”
“We have to. It’s only thirty minutes from the Children’s Hospital, and forty minutes from Denver.” It’s also near my brother Court and their goat farm.
It’s so perfect. I can’t bear to lose it.
“Let’s go get it.” Dalton releases my hand.
“Maybe we can scare the other couple off. Tell them it’s haunted.”
