Competitive bastard couldn't stand being last.
Had to prove his superior riding skills.
Predictable.
The ranch appears on the horizon—sprawling property with multiple buildings, fenced pastures, the particular organization that speaks to working operation rather than hobby farm.
This is their ranch.
Aidric's family ranch, which he walked away from to pursue firefighting.
The legacy he abandoned.
The main house is a substantial two-story structure with a wrap-around porch, an architectural style that balances functionality with aesthetic appeal. Outbuildings dot the property—barn, equipment sheds, what appears to be a guest house or bunkhouse, and corrals for livestock.
Impressive.
Genuinely impressive operation.
Not a hobby ranch but a legitimate agricultural business.
We slow as we approach—horses transitioning smoothly through gaits, responsive to riders' cues as we navigate toward the barn area.
This is good.
This moment—riding through Montana wilderness with pack, approaching ranch that represents their heritage, anticipating weekend of genuine leisure and connection—this is exactly what I needed.
What we all needed.
Space to be packed away from professional obligations and public scrutiny.
Aidric pulls alongside me, his stallion matching my mare's pace with practiced ease. His expression has shifted from competitive frustration to something approaching satisfaction—pride in his home, in this land, in the heritage he's maintained despite choosing a different career path.
This is his.
His family legacy.
And he's sharing it with me.
With us.
The significance isn't lost—invitation to private space, inclusion in family heritage, demonstration of trust that extends beyond professional cooperation.
We're a Pack.
Actually, genuinely a Pack.
Not just surviving together but building life together.
The barn looms closer, horses anticipating arrival with increasing energy. They know this place, recognize it as home or at least familiar territory.
Almost there.
A weekend of connection and discovery.
Almost time to create memories that transform our arrangement into a family.
DANCING VICTORIES AND PUBLIC DECLARATIONS
