It took just over two weeks for the engineer to get back to me, and that was after working on the plans for my home for hours. That time length was because he, the engineer, had wanted to give me multiple choices to consider. He produced three different concepts in design for my house for me to ponder over. He figured he had my taste and likes down on paper in detail. With the basic layouts the engineer had also included a finished drawing.
Like most humans, he based his thoughts more on what he did not know than what he knew. Having no real knowledge about my life before being hired by me he had no clue that I would see everything he proposed for my first home as a luxury. For nine years I had slept on a brick floor in a bed made from bamboo and until I had bought the trailer to live in had slept with a blanket on the floor. Yet in his eyes they were what most homes needed just for one to live comfortably.
If it had not been for meeting Alana, I would have told him where to go and how to do it. However, Alana made me understand that others’ needs would have to be considered. In the end, I had to acknowledge that I would have to accept what was considered normal in American society as an acceptable part of his design even if I consider everything of a materialistic nature over the top.
When talking with the accounting department, they had decided to factor in that with the amount of mass we would have to move for the new concrete road to level the ground to the same height out because of the way the engineer, David, was designing it. Saving time transporting it for uses elsewhere would more than be offset by adding the height and shape we wanted to build up the land up to my future home.
Since we were underwriting the cost and donating the road to the county when it was completed, we figured the full amount could be written off giving us a tax advantage. The accountant saw it as a win-win solution where everyone benefits to the good.
They also decided that because I did not take pay for the extra hours that I put in the company that they would only charge me the actual cost they incurred, not the retail market value. It turned out that the actual cost for labor and materials at wholesale prices was estimated to be beneath thirty-five thousand. I told David that if that was all it was that I could issue a cheque for full payment when completed.
In talking with the county to get their blessing on extending the road, they had requested that we put in the wiring for electrical, phone, sewage, and water underground, with a perimeter of transformers built-in, as we built the road. It would say the county millions down the road.
It was considered part of the normal costs for anyone developing property in the county for resale. The problem was we were not a land development company. Unfortunately, the county did not see it that way. As a result, we had to turn the problem over to the lawyers.
The county suggested to us that the cost of it could be added to the electrical generation plant. That was when we learned they had a company interested in the plant when it was finished, assuming the state was willing to sell. We learned it was the same reseller that was providing them with electric power that they were using now. Everyone in the know saw their request for what it was. A friend with benefits relationship. Some thought the county would end up being charged a lot less for the electrical they used.
As a result, we sent their request to the governor’s office since they were funding the building of that part of our project, knowing that the county had no clue as to who they would be dealing with. Let the governor’s office deal with the political bull shit. Along with their request we asked that if the government were to sell the operation, once completed, that we have the first right of refusal to it.
My advisory team and I would learn much later on that making that request was one of the smartest moves we ever had made because, after diving into it, we learned the governor was on the verge of retiring after serving the rest of his term which was limited to eight years. As a result, he decided to sell it to us at cost providing we agreed to certain environmental standards before he retired if what he had been hearing about what we were accomplishing proved true.
It took the serious threat of shutting down the whole operation and allowing mother nature to deal with the contaminates that we were trying to deal with for the county to get serious. I guess a multimillion dollar lawsuit threat from Canada was something the county didn’t consider.
The three interior layouts of my future home were startlingly different. I chose the design that left part of the house exposed on the side where the huge flat area that would be built. By the time it was done, I would have about three to four acres of flat land in front of the house.
The new yard would also give me added exposure to the whole valley below. It was decided that when we built the driveway, we would build in such a way that there would be room to push the winter snow off on both sides. The engineer agreed that it would be made with the same concrete as we were using for the new road.
The chosen design would also give me an overall view of the valley from both the kitchen, the kitchen nook, and the family room. The French doors into the patio area would be between the kitchen nook and the family room. It would leave us with a huge patio that was eight feet wide and forty feet long. An added feature was that kitchen nook, which stuck out from the side would give us a clear view of the pond.
The actual shape of the home would be longer than it was wider. We would only have two levels to it, but it was to be built with a crawl space between both levels. That was done to allow the fixing of plumbing and electrical without having to disturb things in the house.
The space for the pond would be made of rock, gravel, sand, and concrete blended to make it seem that it had always existed. Its depth would reach a maximum of ten feet. There would be two concrete steps from each end of the patio going down into it. It was large enough that my guests and I would be able to swim under the falls if we wanted to.
The way it was designed it was going to end up being bigger than the total length of the house. The falls would come down in the center of the pond. The secondary falls would drop forty five feet before creating a pool that when filled up would run under the road via the huge culvert that we would have to install. There would be shrubs planted around the perimeter of it to give my quests and me complete privacy.
David and I both understood that we were creating a new creek for the area, and that we would have to keep adjusting the layout of the stream as we raised the soil level in the strip mine. Once the water started flowing a whole bunch of new challenges would confront us. One thing we did not want to end up with was a deep depression where the water flowed in relation to the rest of the land.
What appealed to me was the fact that we would have the backside part of the cavern that we did not need, covered with a concrete floor so that we could store extra vehicles if needed. It would be lighted from the lights attached to the house.
Looking directly at the front of the house by the time it was done would be the only way to tell that part of the home was built into the mountain. The only drawback was that we would have to check the roof of the cavern regularly to remove any rock that may become loose over time so that it did not cause damage to the roof.
The second floor had four bedrooms all laid out so all would have window exposure to the valley. The large master bedroom to be built in the front corner gave me a view of both my flat land and the valley. Each was laid out to have their private bathroom and walk-in closet. I was impressed with how much actual sunlight would be brought into the home.
David was going to cut stone to mimic the rock of the mountain and apply it to the side that was visible from the country road making the part facing the valley almost impossible to see. Those glancing would see nothing but the mountain. He had estimated that once we started extending the county road it would take three months to complete.
What convinced me to move forward with it was the fact that David thought that the cavern would help to control the temperature of our home year-round and that we would use electricity to heat it. That would remove the need for air conditioning.
The inside walls would all be drywalled and insulated to give it a more natural home appearance. From outward appearances there was no way one would be able to tell it was made from concrete and steel metal beams.
That was when I decided that if Alana and I were still seeing each other that I would get her opinion when buying and organizing anything regarding the interior of my house. Having seen her parent’s house I could tell that she would go for quality of product and not be overly affected by price.
The only thing I asked to be added was that the part that was exposed from the mountain should be finished off in a brick finish that matched the surrounding colors. Two huge barn type doors would hide the unused area of the cavern giving it complete privacy.
*******
I got teased all week because it was the first time since I had started putting the operation together that I was taking a Saturday off. David the engineer let it spill at the start of the week that I was spending it with my new girlfriend. He described Alana as a very pretty young thing and that perked everybody’s interest.
It did not help that he told them all that she had come hunting for me dragging her father with her. The ladies who worked with us were extremely impressed about that. Those who had daughters knew what it meant to have a fathers approval.
I got bombarded with the usual questions. Who was she, what is she like, how did the two of you meet and what are you planning to do on your date. It frustrated the office staff to no end because they got no answers.
After a major renovation and update the gold mines office building was being used as ours. The eight huge containment ponds fluid levels had been taken down so that the danger of spillover was now non-existent.
We had covered them with a fine black mesh screen, so no animals or birds were able to drink out of them. All the scattered remains had been removed and now were part of the area covered in fresh clover. As a result, there was no longer a danger to what little wildlife remained.
It seemed the Epa had been pushing things from their end because during that same period three more drops of live trout took place. Even with an estimated loss of ten percent, it was figured by them that there was more than enough fish for the conservation authority to release the first set of Eagles.
When I talked to Chris from the Epa on Monday, I had learned that the governor of Washington State was getting a lot of inquiries over the process that we had going on. It seemed that some of the environmental protection protest groups were applying pressure to have our whole operation shut down. I was confused because I could not make sense of what they were trying to do or why?
It was a sad commentary on American society when doing something good for the ecology gets turned into a weapon to satisfy someone’s political agenda. It was moments like this that made me think of China. If we were China those discontented voices would never have been heard from again. In China, you may think it, but you dare not speak it. I was still learning what freedom realy was and at times it was confusing.
That was when Chris and I decided to turn the release of the eagles into a mass media event because we both had too much time and effort invested in what we were doing to have a protest group permamently shut it down. Instead of introducing one pair of eagles, we would release two.
We decided that they would be flown in by helicopter to the construction site area inside of the mountain near the ridge where we would release the two pairs of eagles to the wild. After deep discussions, we put a general plan together that just might combat the pollical whims of others.
On Wednesday night I made a call to Bonnie to make sure that I could take her daughter Alana out for a day date on Saturday. Bonnie thought I was being very considerate, and I got her permission. I called Alana and together we set things up. The only suggestion I gave her concerning dressing was to be prepared for all possibilities of weather.
It required some quick last-minute maneuvers on my end. I had to hire a helicopter and a special crew on short notice because I wanted to create spots on the east side of the mountain’s upper section that faced the valley that would entice the eagles to nest. It took the rest of the week to get the job done. Even though it was expensive because of short notice I thought it was worth it.
We ended up building eight ridges into the side of the mountain peaks big enough and safe enough for the eagles to nest on. The way they were designed it supplied them some protection from the weather. What was even better was that from the ground the nesting areas were not even visible to the naked eye.
I hoped that the eagles would take to what we had created naturally. If they, did it would a place where people in time could come to view for themselves the eagles in their natural habitat. As we were doing it, I decided that from this day forward, the area under my control would not be open to any kind of hunting.
********
All I had told Alana about our first date was that it would be starting with something she would have never expected. When I picked her up that morning, she was pacing the floor waiting. Anticipation was killing her. Her parents said before we left for the day that she was wound up tighter than a yoyo.
During the drive into Richmond, she got caught up with what was going on at the site by asking all sorts of questions while wondering why we had to be in the city by nine in the morning. I was pleased to learn that she was just as excited about what was going on at the site as I was.
Alana found it frustrating because I would not tell her anything about what we would be doing together during our date. I wanted it to be a complete surprise for her because I was worried that if I had of revealed my plans, she would not have wanted to do it.
It was when I turned into the Richmond airport that she began to catch on to the fact this was not going to be a typical first date. As we pulled into a parking spot, she started to wonder what we were doing there. That was when she noticed a man walking to where a military helicopter was sitting.
“Look at that man. He is carrying two cages each containing a pair of eagles,” Alana said. “I wonder what they’re going to be doing with them?”
“They are joining us on a helicopter ride,” I said. “We are going to be releasing them from up top of the mountain this morning after flying into the crater.”
Alana’s blue eyes brightened in excitement as she said, “Are you kidding me? I’ve never been that close to an eagle in my life.”
“Then you’re in for a big surprise,” I said, “Because if things go as planned, you’re going to get a lot closer. I brought two sets of full-arm gloves for us to wear while holding them so that we can release the two pairs together.”
“Arm gloves, what are they?” Alana said. “Are you kidding me? Those birds are powerful and dangerous.”
“Yes, they are designed to protect us from the eagle’s talons which can cut and hurt us,” I said. “Until we set them free. It fits over your shoulder and goes down the full length of your arms and covers most of your hands while leaving your fingers tips exposed.”
Alana’s eyes got large in excitement as she said, “This is unbelievable! Are you sure about this? Since I’ve never done anything like this in my life why do you think we can pull it off?”
“Think about what I was able to do with your horse throwing you,” I replied. “I have worked with birds all my life. It will be fine.”
After parking the truck, we headed in with me carrying the four sleeves. Alana got introduced to Chris from the Epa and to the governor of the state. Neither of them knew she was my date. Within twenty minutes we were in the air with a couple of representatives of a news organization from the capital and the conservation representative who had brought the birds who had been nurtured back to health.
Although Alana had flown before this was the first time she had flown in a helicopter. She found it to be very stimulating. She could not get over the feeling of being exposed to everything around her. I found it humorous because she held onto my hand tight to give her some support. The time in the air seemed to fly by because too soon we were beginning our descent in the flat area in the crater.
Once the helicopter had descended and its motor shut off. I could see Alana beginning to relax a bit because she was back on firm ground. I could see her facial cheeks beginning to redden up because of the chillness lingering in the cool air of the morning. I though it made her more beautiful.
Both of us were swept up by the beauty of the site with its fresh snow, crystal clear water, and pine trees. It looked so pristine and clean in its natural state. In a way, to both of us it was breathe taking.
The moment was added to when we saw a fish jump out of the water in front of us to catch an insect the was hovering over the clean clear water of the lake. Alana said it surprised her that even with the clearness of the lake that she had been unable to see the fish.
It was easy to tell that Alana was still quite excited because her face showed it all. As soon as the blades had stopped rotating, we got out. I was surprised because from this point of view the flat area was larger than I had pictured. It was nice to see that the crew being flown in was making good progress in carving out the rock for the generators.
When the female news reporter asked where the rock was that had been removed, I told her that it had been transferred down to the rock crushing machines to make what we needed. Everything that can be recycled is used to help restore to mother nature what had been taken from her.
The female news reporter also noted that the crew working on this site was trying to minimize its disruption of the surrounding environment. That told me she was starting to see the point we wanted to make.
The conservation representative was a bit worried because the eagles were agitated. I told him to relax as I would take over the releasing of the birds. He was a bit concerned until I pulled out all our accessories.
After getting Alana to take off her jacket I strapped Alana into her gloves. I was worried that she was going to find it too cold to take part. Then I got into mine before walking over and taking a female eagle out of the first cage. You could tell the female eagle was in a heightened state of stress.
Alana watched me closely as I took a few minutes to calm the female eagle down before bringing it to her. After placing it on Alana’s arm I removed the head covering from the female eagles head.
Alana and the eagle just stared at each other as if they were trying to figure out which would dominate. It was as if each was memorized by each other. Each one of us witnessing it saw it for what it was a bonding moment between the two as they looked at each other eye to eye.
I knew that for Alana it was taking every fiber in her body to remain calm when everything about the situation screamed excitement.
“When I have brought the male out, together we will release the strings that bind their legs. Then in an upright motion, we will lift our arms towards the sky as we are releasing them,” I said. “At that moment, their instincts will take over as their wings will open up and they will fly away in freedom.”
It took just a couple of minutes longer for me to get the bigger male eagle ready. His normal independent streak was working against me. When he was prepared Alana and I stood side by side about eight feet apart. I removed the head covering on his head.
“On the count of three,” I said just before counting down.
Together we undid the strings which bound their feet. We raised our arms and released the first pair and watched them fly up into the air. It happened so fast that it felt like we had missed the whole thing.
Alana walked over and stood by my side taking my hand into hers as she said, “This is something I will never forget. To be so close to something so beautiful, independent, and majestic is something I could never see me doing in my life. To be able to handle them so easily and set them free like this has left me feeling very emotional. Thank you for arranging this surprise, it is a memory I will cherish the rest of my life.”
The news crew captured it all. Even her comments. The news commenter mentioned in her comments that she thought if we were a couple that this was most likely our first official date. She heard Alana say, “Once you reminded me of what you could do, I was at ease with what we have just done. I surprised myself because I thought I handled me excitement quite well.
As Alana and I watched the pair flying off while holding hands the governor explained about the partnership between the state, the Epa, and my limited company. After speaking for a few he introduced me to the two so that I could explain what we were doing.
It took me about half an hour to answer all their questions. When asked about the electrical generation plant we were building I explained that it was being done for the future growth of the valley once it was fully restored to its former glory. Alana's eyes were always on me.
Chris than took over while I went to prepare the second set of eagles for their flight to freedom. I could hear him explaining how it had taken him months to get me to the point of even considering it. It was nice to hear him communicate why what we were doing was so important.
We then repeated the process and released the second pair. This time Alana was mentally prepared. I think she enjoyed releasing the second pair more because she felt more secure in what she was doing.
The news crew as we were flying out caught the whole site with the camera using closeup features to capture some of the highlights. The female commentator said that if she had not have seen it, she would not have been able to comprehend what we were doing.
Everyone was caught up with the excitement of Alana who told the reporter with the cameraman filming her about the progress I was making on the site and what my long time plans were. It was noticeable that she was immensely proud of me and what I was doing.
I found it interesting that the female new reporter asked Alana about how we had met. I listened as Alana explained how I had saved her life by stopping her from bleeding out. When I awoke out of surgery the first thing, I did she said was to get Dirk to promise me that he would be my date for the spring prom Alana added.
Once the cameras were turned off the governor said, “Your young lady friend Dirk had done more to help us get acceptance of this project than any of us could. Seeing it from an emerging adults point of view means a lot. She by her enthusiasm will sell it. If the news crew want to do a follow up, can they come?”
“Anytime,” I said. “I’ve got nothing to hide.”
I did not realize what a simple straight forward answer said to a man who had to question everything a person said.
When we got back to Richmond County airport the governor had a few more words to say to the camera.
“I wasn’t behind this program one hundred percent. I reluctantly signed on,” he said. “The Epa had to push me into it. The more I got into it the more I understood just what was at stake. The concentrate of contaminates was so great we could not afford to sit and do nothing. If not delt with it could have destroyed a river system in two countries. It was the releasing of the eagles and seeing a huge site of lush green land beneath us as we flew in that made it easy to see what is being done.”
“Recent reports received by our office show a steady progress of getting rid of the contaminated ponds safely that were threatening the life of the nearest river system,” he added. “I want to thank the Epa and Dirk Blackstone for their willingness to take this big of a project on. What they have achieved so far is far beyond my expectations.”
“I can honestly say that I am looking forward to doing annual inspections as this long term project moves along,” The governor explained. “The eagle is the first test to see if they will accept our giving back to mother nature what we as mankind have taken from her.”
The governor asked to speak to me privately. He wanted to thank me personally for bringing my girlfriend along. He thought it was a brilliant thought because it turned a public announcement into a story that created interest. We would learn later that thanks to social media it generated more interest than what the governor’s office staff could handle.
After saying our goodbye to Chris and the governor Alana and I headed off. She was still so excited that she was talking a mile a minute. It was hard for me to get a word in edgewise.
“You used your knowledge about the eagle's nervous system to calm them down,” Alana said as we climbed into my truck. “The conservation representative was surprised because of what you were able to accomplish. He said he had never seen anyone who could handle the eagles as easy as you did.”
“Your right,” I said. “Otherwise, the outcome would have been completely different. Now we just have to wait and see if they will make the area their home.”
“What's next on our agenda,” Alana asked?
“Getting something to eat,” I replied. “Preferably something that is not fast food.”
It was interesting to see Alana slid over to sit right beside me in my truck as if that were where she belonged. She then called her mom to explain what we had done and asked her to record it if she caught it on the news. I got the impression that her mother was finding it hard to believe that we had done what was being explained to her.
“Mom wants to know if she should plan on us being there for dinner,” Alana asked?
“I think we can arrange that,” I said. “Besides, I would like to see if the eagles are still in the area before it gets dark.”
Alana and her mother talked for a few minutes more as she explained to her what had happened. I thought if I were trying to impress her, I could not have done better.
Suddenly Alana started to giggle before she explained to her mom. “I just realized that we are most likely going to be on the evening news. It is going to make me the center of attention at school next week. A lot of my schoolmates are going to envious.”
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
I had found a local restaurant that seemed appealing and had pulled in when Alana told her mother she had to go.
“My future husband,” Alana said. “I don’t think there is anything you will do that will top the start of our day.”
I laughed and said, “You’re getting way ahead of yourself. What makes you think that we will find ourselves that compatible with each other?”
“Dirk,” Alana said. “You don’t realize how old-world your ways are because they are second nature to you. You find joy in things that others will never appreciate, and you have allowed me today to see a part of you that most will never know. The way you were able to bond with those eagles was amazing. I saw it where the others didn’t.”
I looked at her in total puzzlement not knowing how to respond.
“Don’t give me that look,” she said. “Just admit to yourself that I am right. How you can relate to all living things is a gift that most others will never have, and it is so unique because it can’t be taught.”
I think that was the moment that I realized that Alana had a better insight into me than I did because she was right. I had never seen what I considered a natural ability to be a gift. It reminded me of my master's words when he said, “You see life as the whole and how it relates to every living thing, and it is automatically reflected in how you view things.”
As soon as we got out of the truck Alana took my hand and together, we headed in for a late breakfast early lunch. After eating we spent the day touring some of the local small museums before heading back to check on our eagles. During the whole day, she never left my side.
In walking around the museums, she found me diligently interested in the history of things.
“Why so interested in our past culture,” Alana asked?
“Understanding how a society evolved,” I explained. “Gives me insights into why things are the way they are today.”
“You’re also studying the past,” Alana replied. “Hoping it will give you a better understanding of our future.”
********
We were standing at the outer edge of the strip mine watching three out of the four eagles flying high in the sky as the sun was beginning to descend behind the west side of the mountain. It was a good sign because it meant that the eagles were adjusting to the area and had found enough available food to satisfy their hunger. We watched as they disappeared into the peaks of the mountain.
At that moment, the electronic system in the gas collection pipes clicked in. Every single one of the pipes began to do what it was designed for as the pressure built up in them had caused them to automatically burst open and ignite. I heard a gasp from Alana because the whole green area began to glow with the reflection of the light of the flames.
“If you were trying to impress me with a romantic moment,” Alana said. “You could not have done a better job.”
“It truly is beautiful,” I said. “I didn’t expect there would be so much gas build up this soon.”
“You did again,” Alana said. “I could not have asked for a better ending to this very romantic day. From this point of view, you have set out a pattern that lays out like a Celtic cross when lite up.”
We stood there for a few more minutes just enjoying the quiet, the dance of the flames in the slight breeze, and the results of the flame reflecting on the land while sharing a few hugs and kisses.
Both of us saw it as a mystical moment. For both of us as the darkness deepened the light show below drew us in more. Finally, we had to leave because her parents had planned a later dinner for around eight.
We got back to her parent's place with a few minutes to spare. If they were concerned about how our first date had gone, they were quickly dispelled because of the glow on their daughter's face.
“Dirk, I don’t know what you all did to today but that daughter of mine looks like she is smitten,” Ian said with a grin as we walked in through the front door.
Alana told them both about our day from how it started right down to how it ended. Bonnie told Ian that she had recorded the clips they displayed on the news. It had been cut down into two sections. So, we went to watch them before we ate. The first part was the news part surrounded by the governor's comments. It included a brief bit of everything about the site and what we were doing.
Then there was the romantic section where they dealt with our first date focusing on how I was able to get the eagle calmed down to release the birds. They had caught Alana’s words just after we had released the first pair. They ended the session by saying that an hour special about the day's events would be viewed as a special next Saturday at seven.
The commentator said, “I don’t know if any man will be able to top what Dirk Blackstone did on his date to impress a girl, but it worked. All could tell that there was a deep connection between the two of them. I do not know if Alana Conner’s trusted the man or the birds, but she released them like a pro. If Alana was not in love with Dirk at that time, by the time, we ended our adventure there was no doubt to any of us that she was.
Both Alana and I were surprised because I guess neither one of us had clued into how large the four birds were. The cameraman had caught the eagles spreading their wings when starting to take flight from our arms in such a way that there was no doubt that the birds, we released were mature adults. It realy was an impressive camera shot.
I could not help noticing how quiet Bonnie got when the lady news reporter was giving the background on our story. Going into detail about the day we met.
“I told you, Mom,” Alana said. “That Dirk had a difference in him that set him apart. The way those majestic eagles related to him proved that. The conservation specialist said that Dirk has a magic touch that the eagles seemed to naturally relate to and that was why what could be difficult went off so easily.”
That night as she walked me to my truck Alana said. “Do you think our eagles will stay?”
“We will get the answer to that in time,” I said. “Hopefully, they will have enough food resources that will make it easy for them to. The big question will be answered next week with all the work being done will it scare them away.”
Before saying goodnight, Alana and I held each other and started talking about the prom was coming up. Just before kissing her good night, I slid off my father’s ring saying that we would be exclusive with each other until she gave it back.
Alana said she was going to wear it on her neck with her Celtic cross.
On Monday I learned quite quickly that everyone who knew somebody who worked with me had seen the two news clips. It was the topic of discussion. Quite a few of the ladies in our office commented that they could tell that Alana and I belonged together.
All in all, most agreed it was the right thing to do because it answered a lot of questions that were not anyone’s business. That was when we decided as a group to promote ourselves as a land restoration company.
Every time someone thought about it, they would look out the windows to see if they could spot the eagles. When one did it was announced, and everyone came to look. I did not see it but that simple gesture seemed to bring us together as a collective unit.
********
It had been over two weeks since Alana and I had our first date. Although we had talked in the evening's things at the site had gotten busy. The concrete plant was completed, and we had started receiving the materials and chemicals needed to begin the production of making concrete. When choosing this site, it had been the drilled well that had convinced me it was right for the cement plant.
So, the push was on to get the first ring around the stripped mine leveled off. That meant blasting out sections and transferring the rock. Leveling it off with crushed rock and fine stone sand. Framing in the molds adding the rebar for reinforcement.
David and his crews started where the county road ended. To do that we had to create a new road into the gold mines office. So, we went the mile extra and built a proper parking lot. That was quickly done after removing all the topsoil and replacing it with the stockpiles of crushed rock, fine stone sand, and a thick oil tar-based covering when it had been compressed and packed down.
The staff felt the new road was a huge improvement. With the saved topsoil we spent two days leveling off the land around the building. Made a picnic area so they could enjoy their lunch outside in good weather while creating walking paths before reseeding.
I did not realize that each section of concrete poured for the road would be two feet deep. Like always as much of the topsoil was collected and transported to the soil making section. At the same time, we would run the lines the county wanted but would not connect them until some agreement had been met.
We were busy watching the first batch of concrete for the road being poured in via the pumper trucks when I got a phone call from Alana. Her father had bought a few wild horses from the Devil’s Garden Plateau Wild Horse Territory in the Modoc National Forest in Northern California.
They had just arrived a couple of days before and one of the handlers of them was using a whip to control one of them. She asked me to come because her parents were out for the day. I was surprised she was at home until she said it was spring break.
As I drove into Conner’s place what I saw infuriated me. Four men had a large male white horse roped to hold it down while the leader of the group snapped his whip whenever the male horse raised his front legs. All their action were working against the horse’s natural instincts which served to heighten the horses fears.
The fools did not realize that they were only adding to the horse’s temperament multiplying its natural protective response to the extreme. The horse having run wild all its life was not used to any man.
After slamming to a stop, I jumped out. Tore off my jacket, my shirt, shoes, socks, and headed for the coral in a fast run. With one leap I was on the top rail. I did not realize until later that this was the first time Alana had seen me half naked.
Alana could tell I was angry. She watched as I as I leaped landing in front of the leader just as he let the whip go. In the next moment, I had kicked it out of his right hand before it landed on the horse.
The man was angry that I had stopped him and swung at me. I grabbed his arm and used it to throw him full force against the railing near the gate. That action knocked the wind out of him. He fell to the ground.
I picked up his whip before he caught his breath saying in a rage. “If I ever see you near a horse again, I will take this away from you and use it on you. Do you understand. Now get yourself and your men off the Conner’s land.”
“You heard him,” Alana said. “Best do what my boyfriend says because the five of you are fired.”
The man said, “You don’t have the authority.”
“You have my dad’s cell number,” Alana said. “Call him and tell him what Dirk and I said.”
I turned myself to the male white horse who was still raising himself in the air. As he came down on his front legs, I held my hand towards the front of his nose. He rose again and came down again causing me to move back or forward depending on where I figure he would land.
Alana watched me do this as the man talked to her father and learned right from the horse’s mouth, they were all fired. I had to keep my attention on the horse because I needed to keep myself inches away from where he landed. I was trying to get him to understand that I was not a danger to him. I knew that as soon as he caught my scent the horse would know I had no fear.
I could hear a cell phone ring as I kept my focus on the movement of the white Stallion. Alana later said that watching us interact with each other was like we were learning together a new dance. Slowly he calmed down as he began to understand that I was not like them. The horse was beginning to learn that I was no danger to him.
Once he had stopped venting and as his breathing pattern started to slow down, I slowly inched forward and began carefully removing the four ropes they had on him. Each was removed as gently as possible because I did not want him getting excited again. I removed the four ropes from the coral.
“Alana, can you please get me as many handfuls of fresh hay you can carry as soon as you are done talking,” I asked, “and a bucket of horse feed.”
“Okay it will take me a few minutes,” she responded.
The horse and I started bonding while she was gone. When she came back, I went and took some of the hay from her first. She watched me as I went back slowly and offered it to the horse. For a few minutes, there was a cold standoff between us but then the horse captured its scent.
I was hoping that all that excitement had given him an appetite. If I were right, it would lead him to moving towards me. It was a joy seeing him slowly walk over to me checking the smell out. Once he had proven to himself what it was, he began eating from my hand. Four times we followed the same routine. Each time I got some more fresh hay the male horse had to come to me.
When what she had brought out was gone, I asked Alana to pass me the feed bucket and this time I met the horse halfway. I held it up as he began to eat the feed.
When I left the coral, the horse had calmed down.
Alana looked at me with tears in her eyes. I took her into my arms and let her tears come.
When she had calmed down, she spoke, “Thank you for coming as fast as you did. That man was going to come back after you threw him against the rail until he saw the scars on your back. I think that was when he realized you had a history and were deadly serious. He quickly realized that you were a man he did not want to deal with.”
“What does your dad plan to do with these horses,” I asked?
“That was the one I picked for my birthday present,” Alana said. “The rest once trained he will sell-off via a local farm market web page.”
“Your scars are fading but one can tell that you’ve been whipped,” Alana said. “When did that happen?”
“When I was young” I replied. “It was one of the last things the monks did to get me to take the cross I wear off. When it did not work the one who became my master stepped in to protect me.”
“What made you refuse to take it off,” Alana asked?
“My Chinese grandfather Le Chey gave it to me to keep for him until I was able to return it to him. It was and still is not mine to give away.”
I could see Alana starting to tear up again, so I added. “The last report I got on him was that he’d been released from the work camps and kicked out of the country. I know they immigrated to the US that in part is one of the reasons I came to this country.”
We just held each other for a few before I turned my attention to the white Stallion. I asked her to come with me as we returned to him. We approached the horse holding hands very slowly. For a few moments we just stood there.
I explained we were allowing the horse time to get used to smelling our scent. From it he could sense if we were a danger to him. I explained that it was one of the horses natural tools when sorting things out.
Then after a few minutes of the two of us slowly inching our way closer to him. Using a technique taught by the master I touched the horse gently on four spots on his forehead using both of my hands.
“Alana, I want you to whistle,” I said.
She did, and I asked her to do it again two or three times. Each time she did I could see the horse's ears raise in response. I repeated the process three or four times until Alana was getting tired of it.
I then got Alana to walk over to the far corner of the coral and whistle again. The horse when he heard her raised its head, turned it towards her, then started walking over to her as if he had always done it. Alana was shocked because her horse was coming towards her willingly.
“Alana the horse now trusts you,” I said. “Over the next week build your relationship with him gently. Start slowly training him with pieces of the horse riding equipment. Start with a soft horse blanket. Get him to follow you around with it on. He needs to learn to become completely comfortable with it before you add something else. Be sure when you bed him for the night it is you that is doing it. Reward him for his good behavior as I did him, daily.”
“Are you what they call a Horse Whisper,” Alana asked?
“I don’t even know what that is,” I responded with a laugh. “I’m just using some of the tool my adopted father the master taught me.”
I did not realize that we had been together for almost four hours. I was just thinking about getting cleaned up to leave when her parents pulled in. As they were doing that Alana decided it was time for her horse to go into the barn for the night.
As I opened the gate, I reminded her saying, “Whistle and then walk towards the barn. If he stops whistle again and repeat until you have led him into his stall.”
When both she and her horse was clear I closed the gate to the coral. I watched her whistle each time the horse stopped.
I walked over to my truck and began to put on my shirt. Alana kept doing as I asked. Slowly the horse followed her always keeping itself a couple of steps behind. Ian and Bonnie having gotten out of their explorer watched in amazement until her daughter and her new horse had disappeared into the horse barn.
“Have you been here since I called my daughter,” Ian asked?
“Yes, mostly because the horse needed my attention,” I said. “By the time I got here the people working with the horse had it so agitated because of fear that it was in danger of hurting itself permanently.”
As I was saying that Alana came out of the barn to join us. Using the side of the floorboards of my truck I began to put my shoes and socks back on.
“Mom, Dad, did you see how Toby followed me into his stall, “Alana said? “It’s all due to Dirk and how he relates to animals. I never have seen one so willing to invest the time to create a relationship with an animal before doing anything with it. It’s amazing how far he got Toby to come after the state he was in earlier.”
“Tá tú fíor difriúil,” Ian said to us all in Gaelic. ( Which means you truly are different)
“That’s what your daughter keeps telling me,” I said with a laugh. “She’s almost got me to the point that I might start believing it.”
Her parents laughed because my words made Alana blush.
“Dad what a thing to say to my boyfriend,” Alana said. “After what he did for the family today you should appologize.”
“All kidding aside we want to thank you for stepping in and doing what was right,” Ian said. “Alana told us you had arrived just in time. Come give us a hand to haul the groceries in and then we will get a bit of supper.”
While they were putting away the groceries, I went into the downstairs washroom to wash and clean up. It also gave me the time to tuck in my shirt and make myself look half presentable. I was coming out when I overheard Alana.
“Mom have you ever loved someone so much that It hurts when you hear of things, they had to endure just to be able to be standing here today,” Alana asked?
“You love him that much,” Bonnie said. “Your grandmother felt the same way about your grandfather when she first met him and still does. When your grandfather learned that he stopped talking about his past because he did not want to hurt her. When she found out they had the biggest argument over it. It went on for weeks. The lesson to be learned from them both is that he had to learn to break the revealing of things gradually to her to stop those emotional outbursts.”
“Thanks for the info, Mom,” Alana said. “I just wish there was a way that we could show our appreciation for what Dirk did today.”
“We talked about that after we called you and learned what had happened,” Bonnie said. “We decided to offer him the pick of the remaining horses, that way you both can go riding together.”
I saw the tears starting to flow from Alana’s face and quietly joined Ian outside who was starting to grill steaks for dinner.
“Ever since her classmates saw her on Tv releasing the eagles with you Alana has been much happier at school,” Ian explained. “It’s nice to see her finally enjoying it. For some reason, they had always seen her as different, now she has their respect and acceptance. Some even envy her because of what you two did on your first date. It’s has even been mentioned at the last local businessmen meeting.”
“I did not know that” I said. “I had the same problem when I was in high school in Scotland. Mine was because of cultural differences, my lack of the local language and my lack of knowledge of western ways. I realize that Alana is mature beyond her years. That can create problems too because it is another reason some won’t be able to relate.”
“She been old souled all her life,” Ian said. “As a result, she marches to a different drummer. She is like you in that manner. She also sees the world in ways her mother and I will never completely understand. When I said that you were different, I meant it as a compliment.”
“I know but the master used to say that there is the right soul mate for every one of us,” I said. “The problem is that most of us humans are in too big of a rush to allow ourselves the time to find it.”
Ian looked at me in amazement. I did not understand why. I was just speaking one of the masters many truths.
“His words are truer today than when he said them,” Ian said. “Makes me wonder what our society would be like if we did not collectively try to rush our lives.”
“I promise you Ian it will be hands off until she graduates from grade twelve,” I said. “For two reasons she is young, and the second reason is we don’t know what changes we will have to face as we grow in our relationship. When I get married, I want to marry because I love the girl and not because I have to.”
“If others had said that” Ian said. “I would have said they were full of shit. But everything I see you do is goal related. Your old souled which tells me you believe in the old ways. Let me warn you I had to deal with her mother’s sensual aggressiveness until we got married. Believe me there was a lot of cold showers because Bonnie was the same age as Alana when I first met her.”
When the steaks were done, we took them in. Alana sat next to me as we ate as if it were the most natural thing in the world. While eating I thought of Ian’s words and clued in that he in his own way had given his blessing on his daughter and my relationship. That was when I was told I could pick out the horse I wanted. So, I agreed to do that on Saturday.
It was well after ten almost eleven before I went home to prepare for the start of the next day. Ian and Bonnie overheard Alana saying to me “Goodnight my future husband,” as I was leaving.
Ian looked at his wife and said, “I know she very mature for her age, but don’t you think you should tell her to wind it down a bit and let things work themselves out naturally.”
“Dear we both know that when our daughter thinks something it usually happens,” Bonnie said. “She has been telling us for years that she would meet the man she would marry when she was in grade eleven. Dirk comes along and saves her life. She knew that day he was the one.”
“I’ve got to admit that they both have an extraordinarily strong love of nature and wildlife. We both know already that their kindred in spirit as both seem too old for our society” Ian said. “Dirks touch with living things is so unique that I can honestly say that we will never see another with his ability in our lives.”
Alana having heard her parent's words peaked her head into the living room and said, “Dad don’t worry we will work it out. After all, we just agreed to go steady. Besides, you already know where our home will be when we get married.”
Ian looked at his wife because he felt his daughter had just proved him right. She said, “She’s in love with the boy, just as much as he is with her. We see it every time he looks at her. He is just like you were when we were young. He’s not ready to admit it.”
“Dear if you remember you were not of legal age when we met,” Ian said. “We had to tread very carefully. Thanks to you I had to take many a cold shower. Your daughter is like you so will Dirk.”
“True,” Bonnie said. “Those frustrating moments and our determination to keep our word to ourselves made our relationship stronger. I see Alana and Dirk following our in footsteps. Each will help the other become a better person. Dirk will lead Alana will appear to follow all the time leading him towards the alter.”
“And just how do you know it’s going to work out that way,” Ian asked?
“Because dear husband,” Bonnie replied. “That is what I did to you. Dirk has one advantage because he already knows what he is going to do with his life.”
********
I had to apologize to Alana on Saturday because we had pushed it the rest of the week. As a result, I had not called her. The construction crew working on the road while having the rest of the operation going at full bore had kept me super busy.
It was added to by one of the local counties who had asked us if we could take on handling huge rubbish from building demolitions going on in their area. It meant hiring more crew to go through it and sort it out. I wanted as much salvage out of it as possible. Thankfully, it supplied us a much needed influx for material that could be used to create more soil.
When we discovered the amount of drywall, we were receiving I was thrilled to death. Most in the industry knew that drywall was basically a chalk calcium base. We could recycle it and use it in the manufacturing of concrete once I figured out a way to safely detach the paper glued to it.
We were beginning to realize that it was still not going to be enough because we were not creating as much topsoil as we were using. We were brainstorming trying to figure out what we could do to enhance our soil production when we got a phone call that saved us.
There had been a huge mudslide thanks to unusually heavy spring rains which speeded up the melting of snow. It had completely blocked a section of the highway. The state’s highway department wanted to know because of our closeness to it if we would take it. They estimated it was going to take about two weeks to completely clean it up because of the volume that had come down.
We said yes. The call went out to crew leaders that there was major overtime for those who wanted it. With some still catching up with bills from the holiday's lots grabbed it. They would be hauling mud to us by the truckload seven days a week until it was done. What we did not realize was that they would be doing that twenty-four hours a day.
Our eagerness to accept it with no dumping fee’s started a new working relationship. Little did we know that one situation would solve our soil problems for years.
When each truck was loaded by the state each truck became a drainage system as the excess water ran out of the back of the trucks as they drove up to us. Although it was still wet when it got to us. We were able to start piling it as soon as they dumped it. During that time, we sorted the trees and plants that had come down so we could put them through the mulching machines.
We realized as we got into it just how much raw material we were getting. It was as if Mother Nature was rewarding us. We believed we would end up with enough soil for our needs for the next six months. All the related stuff that was coming with it was an added plus. With what was being sent to the mulching area those machines would be running for weeks.
I had to call Alana and explain that it would have to be another week before I could come because of everything that was going on.
“Dad and I drove up to see the mud slide,” Alana said. “It looked like half the mountain had come down. Dad asked where they were taking the stuff so we knew already how swamped you must be.”
********
I admit I was ready for a break that Saturday when I pulled into the Conner’s property. It had been twelve long days for me while working sixteen hours a day nonstop. David seeing what it was doing me told me to take a day for myself to recharge myself by doing something different.
It was a beautiful warm day, so I was dressed casually in blue jeans and a t-shirt. The spring prom was only two weeks away and Alana and I need to finalize things.
The Conner’s were having a lazy morning because of the highway closure. As a result, I got invited in for a late breakfast.
I was sitting at the bar counter in the kitchen drinking my first cup of coffee for the day when Alana came in not knowing I was there. She had forgotten to put on a housecoat and was in her baby dolls. There was no doubt about it. With the amount of skin, she was showing and the natural shape of her half naked body. There was no doubt with what I was seeing that my girlfriend was hot.
With her build I was looking forward to warmer weather because I would never tire of looking at her. I was eternally grateful because the countertop hid my hard-on.
When Alana finally saw me, she screamed and ran upstairs. Ian and I started to laugh.
It did not help when he said, “Well that’s one way to get a man's attention. Did it work?”
My face turned a beet red. Ian roared in laughter.
“The more we see of Dirk,” Bonnie said with a smile. “The more we realize he’s just like all other men who have hormones.”
I do not think my face could have any redder, but it did.
When Alana rejoined us in the kitchen she was dressed for the day. The first thing she did was walk behind where I was sitting and wrapped her arms around my shoulders before giving me a kiss on the cheek.
“I forgot you were coming over today,” Alana said. “I’ll not make that mistake again.”
“And I will be hoping that you will,” I replied.
Ian laughed and said, “You two remind me of the innocence we had back when we were young. We had a few embarrassing moments with both our parents.”
“Just keep in mind,” Bonnie said. “To take the time to build your relationship with each other. We did and it has blessed us all of our lives.”
Over the rest of the breakfast time Alanna parents teased us both unmercifully. I saw it as an acceptance of them that I was already family.
After a full country breakfast, I offered to help Alana to do the dishes. I washed Alana rinsed and dried. It gave a chance to talk about general things. It was as we headed to the pasture where the wild horses were that our talk took a serious turn.
“I never realized that our releasing the eagle into the environment you are creating could change my everyday world like it did,” Alana said. “Students I walked by everyday stopped to say hello. Some to congratulate me. Some to apologize for being so wrong about me, and some to say they thought that my boyfriend had to be a special type of man. I made a few new friends as a result.”
“Their perception of you was proved wrong,” I explained. “My adopted father, the master explained it so well when he said, take a simple leaf, tell a story about it, to a group of people, then wait a day. Bring that same leaf back to them individually and ask them about it, you will learn each of them will have a different story about the leaf. Then he asked me what was consistent about the whole situation. When I could not give him an answer, he said the leaf.”
Alana paused and looked at me for a moment as if she were deep in thought then said, “The leaf did not change but everyone’s perception of it did. it wasn’t what we did that changed their minds, it was how they perceived it.”
“That is why the hype of shutting us down has gone,” I said. “Their perception of what we are doing had been proved wrong. The governor was so pleased with the change of attitude by the public in general that we received word that the mineral rights to the land is going to be turned over to us ahead of schedule.”
“Does that mean you’re starting to look for a buyer for the iron ore that you need to remove to make the long deep and wide tunnel in the mountain,” Alana asked?
“Yes, I figure it will take two years to get it to the point that I have enough room for what I’m going to do with it,” I said. “Your great grandfather Angus McGregor uses the caves in the hills to do what I am going to do on a larger scale.”
“You’re going to be making scotch on a large scale,” Alana said. “Will it be a single malt or a double?”
“That is yet to be determined,” I said. “Your dad likes the single malt a lot.”
We had arrived at the pasture where the wild horses were kept. I pulled off my t-shirt then took off my socks and shoes.
“What are you doing,” Alana asked.
“I’m going to go stand in the middle of the pasture with the horses until one chooses me,” I said. “I don’t know how long this will take so your free to leave if you wish.”
“I’m not going anywhere because this is something I have to see,” Alana said. “Then afterwards you can explain the method to your madness.”
I went into the middle of the pasture and stood there. I lowered my head and closed my eyes as if I were zening out. I mentally pictured what kind of spirit I wanted my horse to have and focused on that. It took about an hour before I could sense the horse beside me. When I raised my head and opened my eyes it was a black Stallion that had chosen me. I put my hands on his head and whistled. I saw Alana watching me as I did it. I could see a smile on her face.
Once I had done my horse, like I had done to hers I started walking towards the pasture’s gate. Every time the horse stopped, I whistled, and it started following me once again. By the time I had reached the gate Alana had it open for me.
“If I had of not seen it, I would not have believed it,” Alana said. “You got yourself a real beautiful strong horse. Every time I see you with an animal or bird you do something that amazes me.”
After she had closed the gate, I put on my shoes and socks.
“Alana, the way I approach anything depends on the situation I’m in,” I explained. “It was the horses curiosity that brought him to me. Nothing more nothing less. It proved his acceptance of me. As a result, the rest should be easy.”
Bonnie and Ian watched as we walked back towards the barn with the horse following us.
“I would like to have for one day,” Ian said. “What Dirk has. I believe that somehow Dirk was calling the horse to him when he stood still.”
“He was expressing complete calm and peace when he was doing it,” Bonnie said. “Not just about himself but to those he allows into his world. That is what the horse was sensing. Dirk has got himself a highly intelligent horse.”
“Perhaps that is why those two are walking like they don’t have a care in the world,” Ian said.
“He does things with simplicity in mind,” Bonnie said. “It’s allowing him to accomplish great things. From what Alana has told me he asks for her thoughts on what he is planning to do with the land in current matters and long term plans.”
“That gives me the impression that he is basically a builder. I wonder with what he is doing is he going to turn it into a nature conservatory when he is done making his millions with it,” Ian said.
“What pleases me about him,” Bonnie said. “The way he treats our daughter has not changed since day one. They seem to be able to communicate with each other without saying a word. Have you noticed that when their together there never far from each other.”
“What is that telling you,” Ian asked.
“Those two are not just building a relationship,” Bonnie said. “They are laying the foundation of their walk in life when they become man and wife. Those two old souls are going to be an unstoppable force when they become one.”