The Doctor Gets a Visitor V
by: E Walk

(© 2007 by the Author)
Editor Radio Rancher

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...


Chapter 19

Strike Three

Friday morning everything was going as scheduled and Rick announced, “Today, we are adding a new staff member who many of you met last night.  Dr. Goodfellow will be here for story telling time at 1:00 and then after dinner tonight, he will be conducting a square/line dance class.  You can’t do anything but have a good time.”

After breakfast, Beau took his guys to the corral.  He took each of them for a ride on Midnight.  They all enjoyed it, but Trey, Roddy and Jeremy wanted to stick to smaller horses, since they had never ridden. 

Chip had never ridden before, but he loved it.  Spencer had ridden on his farm, so he was right at home.  Beau had Spencer ride by himself and Midnight was very careful.  Beau put Chip on with Spencer and they took off,   Beau sent Jeremy to get Rick.

Rick arrived just as Spencer and Chip returned.  Beau had Rick get into the corral with him so Midnight could get used to him.  He had Rick get on Midnight and they took off.  At first Midnight went slow until Rick got used to riding bareback.  Midnight started to go faster until Beau whistled and Midnight brought Rick back.  Rick and Beau rubbed down Midnight with both guys talking to him.

As they were leaving the corral area, Rick asked, “What was this all about?  I am not a horseman.”

Beau said, “You are the person who is going to take care of Midnight, after I leave.  You need to exercise him every day and he loves to run.”

The two guys went to the Chow Hall for lunch and Carole Anne said, “Beau, I want all of you guys in jeans with a nice shirt at the main house at four, you too Rick and Will.  We’re going out for dinner.”

Beau started to complain, “But who is going to run the evening activities?”

Mr. Stephens said, “Beau, I ran the activities around here before you arrived and hired three assistants.  Besides, Dr. Goodfellow will be conducting a square/line dancing class after dinner.  Now stop worrying about everything.  Just go and have a good time and report to everyone in the morning.”

The afternoon went quickly, but everyone was ready at the main house at four.  All of a sudden a helicopter landed on the front lawn.  The blades shut down and S.Z.Q. got out and motioned for the people to get onboard.  The guests and staff were watching as the guys climbed in.  Trey and Beau told Ranger to stay with the Little boys.”

No one could talk over the blades of the aircraft but the guys were so busy watching the scenery that it didn't matter, and when they entered the airspace over Denver, the guys were enthralled with the big city.

They landed outside a big building on a helipad.  Will, Rick, Dylan and the Gordons knew where they were, but the six guys from Fremont had no clue.  They went to the ticket window and the Senator picked up the tickets.

The Fremont guys as well as Rick and Will were overwhelmed by what was happening.  Beau made his guys go the bathroom as soon as he saw a sign and he made sure they were surrounded.

They passed a concession stand selling hats and shirts and other souvenirs.  People started to try to pay for what the guys got.  Beau told everyone to back off because he had money that their parents and grandparents had given them and that they hadn’t been able to spend any.  In addition to everyone getting a hat, the nine youngest got Rockies tea shirts and Beau got the five youngest each a baseball.

The Senator stopped and got everyone a hotdog and a drink.  They went to the stands and were ushered to their seats which were directly behind the Rockies’ dugout.  The Senator stopped to talk to the gentleman in the next box.  The gentleman nodded and the Senator sat down.  The five young guys were filling out there scorecards in their programs that Beau had bought.  The teenagers were helping the three little guys showing them what to do.  Chipper caught on immediately as Rick helped him.  S.Z.Q. was helping Trey and Beau was helping Roddy.  Will was helping Spencer and Jeremy.

The public address announcer came on and greeted the people.  “We are pleased to have some special guests today.  In the box behind the Rockies’ dugout are Senator Gordie Gordon and his family.  The four Gordons stood and waved.

“The national anthem tonight will be sung by one of the Senator’s guests, Mr. Beau Benson.  While he is making his way to the mound, I will be introducing the starting lineups for tonight’s game.”

A young man came and opened the gate for a stunned Beau and handed him a microphone and asked him if he wanted the organist to accompany him.  Beau shook his head no and said, “No thanks, especially since we have never practiced together.  Would it be permissible for me to have the spectators join me in singing God Bless America at the conclusion of the national anthem?”

The young man spoke into the headset and told Beau that everyone was fine with his request.

Beau went to the mound and at the appropriate time turned the microphone on and sang The Star Spangled Banner and it was outstanding.    When the crowd noise and the fireworks subsided, Beau said, “Now everyone, join me in singing God Bless America.”

When the song ended and the applause had stopped, Beau started to walk back to the stands. The public address announcer came on and said, “Mr. Benson, doesn’t know it, but he is going to throw the first ball tonight.”

The catcher handed the ball to Beau who went to the mound.  He waited for the catcher to give him a target.  Beau reared back and let the ball fly.  The catcher didn’t have to move his mitt and the umpire called “Strike.”

Beau started to leave the mound but the catcher challenged him, “I have $100.00 that says you can’t do that again.”

Beau walked to the mound and with the same motion, threw a sweeping curve ball that landed right where the catcher’s mitt was.  The umpire said, “Strike two.”

The spectators knew something was happening and the young man with microphone came on the field and asked, “Okay guys, what’s happening.”

The catcher said, “Mr. Benson has just thrown two perfect strikes.  The first was a moving fast ball and the second was a sweeping curve, and I didn’t have to move my mitt.  I am going to bet him he can’t do it a third time or I’ll donate $1000.00 to his favorite charity.”

Beau grabbed the ball and went to the mound.  Everyone knew what was happening and the spectators were standing on their feet.  The catcher put his mitt up and Beau reared back with the same motion threw a knuckle that landed in the catcher’s mitt and the umpire exaggerated as he called “Strike three.”

Beau walked off the field and jumped the wall and went to his seat.  The catcher came over and flipped the ball to Beau and said, “I’ll talk to you after this first inning is over.”

The Washington Nationals went down – one, two, three.  The Catcher came over and said, “Beau, if you give me your baseball, I’ll get some of the team to sign it.”

Beau said, “Sir, my friends each have baseballs.  Do you think you could get a couple of the players to sign them also?”
 

The young man said, “Yep.”  Beau had the five guys put their baseballs in a bag.  The catcher left and the Rockies had two homeruns in the first inning and the score was 4-0.  After six innings, the score was 9-0 in favor of the Rockies.  The Rockies pitcher had a perfect game going.

In the middle of the seventh, the public address speaker came on and said, “Seventh inning stretch time, Beau and his friends are going to stand on the home team dugout and sing Take Me Out to Ballgame.”

The six Fremont guys crawled unto the roof with three microphones and sang and when they finished they all yelled, “Go Rockies.”

The rest of the inning and the eighth went scoreless.  The Washington Nationals came up in the ninth and the Rockies’ pitcher walked the first batter.  Beau got the catcher’s attention and indicated he should call time out.  The catcher came over to Beau and Beau told him, “Go tell the pitcher to stop being so careful.  The perfect game is gone, so tell him to pitch like he did the first eight innings.  Remind him that he won’t getting a bonus for a perfect game, but I bet he will get one if he throws a no hitter.”

The next batter hit the first pitch on the ground for a double play and the third batter hit the first pitch for a pop up out.  The stands erupted as the home team came off the field to congratulate the pitcher.  The crowd watched as the scene unfolded.  The pitcher and the catcher came and got Beau and paraded him around the field on their shoulders.

They finally put him down and Beau asked, “What was that for?”

“You just earned us a bonus and perhaps secured us a spot on the roster.  This is our first game in the big leagues.”  The two men walked Beau back to the stands.

The Gordon gang left after the owner came to talk to them and Beau thanked him for all the free food.  They boarded their helicopter for the flight home.  When the helicopter arrived at the ranch, the Little’s were waiting with their two sons and Ranger.  The two boys only had shorts on.

As the guys got off the chopper, they hugged and kissed the three Gordon’s who weren’t staying and said their thank yous.  Beau said, “This has been an experience that none of us will ever forget.  This entire week has been like something out of a fairy tale.”

He hugged Dylan and Carole Anne and took his guys and the two Little boys to the bunkhouse.   Everyone fell asleep and Beau took his shower and made a make shift bed on the floor of the sitting area after letting Ranger out to do his business.

Saturday morning Beau was awakened by someone touching him.  He looked up and saw Rick and Will.  He extricated himself from five young guys.  The three guys took off for their morning run and Beau pushed the other two until they were about to fall.  He dropped them off at their bunkhouses and went to wake his guys.

When he walked in, Spencer was standing there in his natural state and he started to chew Beau out.

Beau pulled Spencer close and held him, “Dude, I figured that you and Jeremy needed some downtime after last night.  Now cool it.  I love all of you guys, but you need time to be boys.”

Spencer put his hands on his hips and said, “Yes and you need to go into hibernation or you’ll never live to be fourteen.”

Jeremy came out of the shower and yelled, “Yeah, put it in low gear for a while.”

The five young guys started to wake and they went to the bathroom.  Beau, Spencer and Jeremy helped dry them, and Beau sent them on to breakfast.  Beau crawled into the shower and had just finished decorating the shower when Rick and Will walked in.  Will said, “I’m not cleaning that mess. You made it, you clean it.  Now come or we’re going to miss breakfast.”

Beau quickly dressed and they went to the Chow Hall.  They found that Spencer and Jeremy were playing the roll of hosts.  The five guys finally sat down to eat.  As they were finishing, Beau said, “Uncle Howie, could you take me shopping this morning?  Carole and Dylan, I need you to take us to a western wear shop this afternoon.”

Beau did some checking around the Chow Hall and his mind was working.  “Hey Cookie, do you have everything you need for tonight?”  She shook her head yes and Beau turned to Mr. Stephens, “Uncle Howie, I’ll be ready as soon as I exercise Midnight.”  He took off.

After Beau had groomed Midnight, he went to find Mr. Stephens.  The two of them took the Ranch van and went to the small town.  The first stop was a jewelry store and then they went to fabric store and Beau found exactly what he wanted.  They drove to a small nursery and Beau got what he was looking for and when everything was loaded, they went back to the jewelry store where the jeweler showed the merchandise to Beau and Beau gave him thumbs up and paid the bill.  Mr. Stephens had no idea what Beau was planning and he didn’t ask any questions.

They pulled into the Ranch just as people were going through the lunch line.  After everyone had left the Chow Hall except for the kitchen staff, Beau had them help unload the van. 

Beau had bought red and white checked vinyl tablecloths for all the all of the tables in the Chow hall.  He even put red and white checked curtains on the windows and tied them back to let the light in.  He placed a cactus plant in the center of each table and on top of the piano.  He went to get Cookie.  When she saw what Beau had done, she gave him a big hug.  “This adds so much to the rustic atmosphere and it will be easy to clean and maintain.  Your mind must think all the time.”   She reached up and gave Beau a kiss.

Beau took his small bag and put it in the safe.   He went to round up his guys and the two Little boys, S.Z.Q., Rick, Will, Carole Anne and Dylan.  Mr. and Mrs. Little had no objections as they pulled away from the Ranch in two vans.  Ranger was staying with Dr. Goodfellow.

They walked into the western wear store and Beau went to a young salesman and said, “We want matching red and white checked shirts, black boots and black belts and everyone can pick their own hat.”

The young man said, “Let’s start with the shirts.”  He was able to find matching shirts for everyone.  He led them to the boot department and everyone got boots except S.Z.Q. who already had her own with her. Everyone picked out their belts and the buckle they wanted with a little help from Beau, especially for the youngest five guys.

Everyone had their buckle except for Beau.  He saw one with a simple horse on it.  Beau said, “I’ll have that one.”

The young man asked, “Are you sure sir, it’s rather expensive?”  He pulled it out and Beau showed it to Spence and the others and they nodded yes.

Beau said, “That’s fine.  Now, let’s go look at the hats.”  S.Z.Q. already had hers and they found hats that everyone liked that fit them.  Beau said, “Now we need the smallest sized hat that you have and a red and white checked kerchief.”

Trey asked, “Is that for Ranger?” Beau shook his head yes.

Beau finally said, “I think that’s it.” As they went to the checkout stand, Beau saw some bolo ties.  He called out, “Hey guys, come here.  I want us to have one these for formal occasions.”  The people picked out one and the young man was ringing up the purchases and another young man was helping to carefully bag each person’s items so they could carry them.  They were all wearing their cowboy hats.

When the total came up Beau simply swiped his card and the transaction cleared.  The young man said, “Who are you? No one swipes a card and clears that fast.   Are you one those rich oil barons or something?”

Beau started to laugh, “Not exactly, I am a poor orphan from Fremont, Nebraska and I haven’t been to school for two years.  I’m not rich.  I’m just taking care of my friends.” Beau said, as the left.

Everyone in the store was watching as they departed.  Beau had the two vehicles stop at the church and they quickly practiced the processional and the songs that they would be singing and the recessional.  They spent only a minimum time and they took off for the Ranch.

They quickly unloaded and took their things to their cabins. Beau went to the Chow Hall to see if there was anything he could help Cookie with.   Beau stood at the front of the Chow Hall and diverted everyone to the area where the grills were working and buffet tables were lined with food.   The other young people were helping the guests and when they went into the Chow Hall, it was like they had been transported back in time. 

Cookie had even come up with some old fashioned lanterns with her Granddad’s help.  Finally the guys went through the line and sat down.  Rick announced “There is more food out there, if anyone is still hungry.  Didn’t Beau and Cookie plan a wonderful surprise?”

Everyone applauded.  Rick continued, “Tonight there will be a campfire that Beau didn’t plan.  So be there.  It will begin at 8:00 and Cookie has a surprise dessert since Beau has been such a grouch.”

Beau stood and said, “I ain’t going.”

Everyone shouted, “You’re going or we'll bring you there naked.”

As usual, everyone took their own utensils to the containers and Beau went to take a ride on Midnight.  They stopped at the lake but Beau didn’t swim.  He was almost falling asleep when Midnight nudged him.  They went back to the Ranch, and Beau groomed and hugged Midnight.

Beau stopped at the bunkhouse and washed his hands and face and went to the campfire area.  He was sitting at the back when Rick started the show. There was applauding as some minor awards were made.  Beau was whistling and Ranger was sitting beside him.  The rest of his guys were in the front.

The head life guard got up and said, “I have two awards to present.  The Hero of the Week goes to Ranger.”  Beau signaled for Ranger to go forward.  The young man hung a blue ribbon with a medal around Ranger’s neck.  It seems he had helped someone last night while the guys were gone.  “The runner up award goes to Beau.”

Beau went forward and they shook hands after he presented Beau with the award.  Beau started to leave, but Jake, the lifeguard, just held him tight and said, “Not so fast, Benson.  The lifeguards got together and voted that you were the best swimmer on the Ranch and also selected you as the meanest, grouchiest person on the Ranch for reminding us what we were here for.   We have two small tokens for you and believe me we learned our lesson.”

Beau sat down and the applause had stopped.  Cookie got up and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, it has been my pleasure to get to know most of you this week.  I have a one time award to present to the young man who enabled us to do some interesting things.  Mr. Beau Benson, I would like to present you with this Golden Spoon Award.”

Beau came forward again and hugged Cookie and thanked her for everything.  Beau went and sat down and Rick stood and said, “Mr. Little, I believe you have a presentation to make on behalf of the guests.”

“Thanks Rick, on behalf of all the guests who have been here this week, we would like to give a special award to the person who was most influential in making this week a memorable one and one that we will not forget soon.  Beau, please come forward.

Mr. Little handed Beau a plague with an envelope.  Beau said, “It is I who should be presenting this award to the rest of you.  I have had the experience of my young life.”

After the applause stopped, Rick got up and said, “Uncle Kit, you are up.”

“As you all know I guess, I have been promoted to Assistant Camp Director, but this award is because of my other job.  As most of you already know Beau rode a horse that never had been ridden before, and who still runs away from everyone except for a select few people, Rick being one.  I hereby present the Horsemanship of the Year Award to Beau.

Beau went forward and hugged Kit and Kit handed Beau a large framed picture of Beau riding Midnight.  Beau held the picture high so that everyone could see it and said, “Thank you Uncle Kit.”

Rich came back and said, “The last award tonight is the award to the person most exemplified friendship and caring for others here at the Ranch this week.  We are honored to have Carole Anne Gordon here to present the award this week.”

Carole Anne went forward and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, I don’t think that this will come as a surprise to anyone.  The winner is who?”

The audience yelled, “Beau.”

Carole Anne had Beau come forward and said, “This plaque will be hung above the piano in the Chow Hall and each week another plaque will be added until either the walls are full or I sell the ranch.”

Beau grabbed the microphone and said, “You’ll be paying me to come to the Ranch to teach your and Dylan’s children to be real men and woman.  I want to thank everyone for these awards.  I am truly humbled.  Now I would like to invite you all to attend church with us in the morning before we head back to Fremont.  We will be attending the 8:30 service.  I think you will be surprised at what you find.” 

He handed the microphone to Rick who announced, “Cookie has surprise dessert tonight that even Beau doesn’t know about.  Now before we go to the Chow Hall, everyone stand and hold hands as Beau leads us in one last song.” Dr. Goodfellow started and Rick and Beau held hands and lead everyone in singing Happy Trails to You.

Beau took his awards to the bunkhouse and went to the Chow Hall where the head table was waiting for him.  The help started serving the tables' Baked Alaska with a sparkler lit on top.  The guests were loving the thrill of a luxury treat in the old time setting.   As they were finishing Senator Gordon said, “Beau, I hate to think about going back to Washington, D. C.  It is going to be boring after this week.”

Spencer said, “Don’t worry sir.  Beau will make you pay when we get there in about two weeks.  Just be forewarned, he’ll be recharged by then.”

Beau and his seven guys and Ranger left.  There was no question but that was the way was supposed to be.

To be continued...

Feedback always welcome:     

Editor's Notes:

This was without a doubt one of the most wonderful chapters so far.  I am almost certain that we will see that antique dealer again.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 02/01/08