Duncan smiled at the calf.  “Honestly, that is the closest I have ever been to a calf.  I rode a Brahma bull when I was a little kid … and that is about it.  All I did here was use a little common sense.  Well, once I got it to calm down a little I did.”

Her offer to come over for dinner was kind, but a little poorly timed.  The way she asked, she seemed to expect him to drop everything and follow her over.  It was morning.  His plan had been to head to town and pick up supplies.  But he supposed that could wait a day.  He simply couldn’t make a habit of this.  It wouldn’t hurt to make nice with the neighbors though.  He sighed.

“I was supposed to head into town and get supplies Victoria.  But you may have noticed I am terrible about being sociable.  I suppose that supplies can wait a day.  Can’t say as ANYone would be much use on my farm until I have supplies.  I don’t even have furniture, cooking stuff, nothing.  I have basically been camping.

“To be honest, I am not sure what possessed me to start a ranch.  I suppose I just wanted some privacy.  That’s why I bought such a large tract of land.  And the quality really doesn’t matter much to me.  I can turn any land into fertile, productive land - or industry.  Of course, it would have been nicer to be by the river.  But I can work around that.

“Tell you what, walking long distances is rough on me.  If you like, hop on up into my wagon and we can ride around the fence.  It’s the long way, but it will likely end up faster.”