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Mike, Bart's able ranch hand, works three days a week when Bart
and his entertaining band of chickens are on the road performing. He works daily
when they are back on the ranch.
Bart rested for a week. One day Bart walked to the main road to meet Mike. "Bart," says Mike, "it's plain to see you have enjoyed this rest from entertaining. Are the feet still paining?" "My
feet are not paining and my throat is not sore anymore. I have certainly
cherished this week of rest,"
says Bart. "My
throat and feet have mended, but I'm still sick of working. I plan to sell my
chicken ranch and take a permanent rest. I could rest and work on my oil
paintings. And the best thing---I could spend weeks and weeks sailing and
fishing with Ray."
"A permanent rest! Sell the ranch!" yells Mike. "Then can't I work on the ranch anymore?" "You need not worry, Mike. I plan to sell my ranch to a man who likes chickens, and train him to be a rancher and a chicken handler. You are an able rancher, Mike. You should be able to stay on and work for him. Or.....would YOU like to have my ranch?" says Bart.
"Boy!"
yelled Mike, feeling cheered. "Would
I like to be a chicken rancher and train chickens to be entertainers? Boy!!
Would I? I would like to have this ranch.... But..., but I would need a partner.
Who could be my partner? I worked with a swell ranch hand north of Portland on a
steer ranch. We could meet at Norm's bakery and talk.... I'll see. I'll see."
In the morning Mike wheeled to Norm's bakery to talk with his former working partner. "Bart is selling his chicken ranch. Would you like to be my partner on his ranch?" Mike says shyly. "I have seen Bart's ranch and it's a sorry mess. Would it be worth the money and the work it would take?" said Mike's former partner.
"Frankly, Bart has not been maintaining the ranch like he should," says Mike. "But he has been performing on a world trip. Bart said I could have the training I need to perform with the entertaining chickens. Then we could make the money we would need for the ranch. I feel it would be worth the work and the money, and I would like to try it. Will you be my partner?" "I
enjoyed working with you on the steer ranch, Mike. I will try it,"
answers his partner. "We
can talk more on the way to Bart's ranch."
Chapter 2 At the Ranch "Bart," says Mike, "this is my former partner, Blanch. Blanch, this is Bart. Blanch and I worked on a steer ranch north of Portland. We would like to be partners on this chicken ranch. Blanch is a swell worker, and she likes chickens." "Well, well,"
says a startled Bart, "I
had planned to sell my ranch to a man. Blanch may have been an able steer
rancher but can she train chickens to entertain?" |
