It was a cold December morning, and Chad Rigby rubbed the frost off his front window to look out over his deep snow-covered North Dakota ranch. He’d need to somehow fight his way through that snow and go check out the housing of his ranch hands and see they were cared for. Most of his temporary ranch hands had fled south to warmer climes for the winter leaving only a limited staff to care for the animals housed safely in their barns where there was adequate food for them stored in the lofts above to be bought down and distributed to the cattle and horses after their stalls had been cleaned out and the corrupted straw had been cleaned out of stalls daily.

Ranch work at this time of year was cared for by permanent ranch hands remaining who looked after prize breeding stock kept inside for the winter. Most of the ranch animals were sent to market south for sale well before the beginnings of the long winter set in with temperatures ranging from Fahrenheit seventeen to five degrees. Blizzards could be expected on schedule in February.

For the brief spring and summers his itinerant workers would return when the ranch would be restocked, and ranching machinery taken out of storage to plough fields and crops be harvested to supply food for stock in the following winter. These were stored in silos and barns for the next winter season.

This had been Chad’s predictable life since he was a child. His siblings had chafed at the lifestyle, but Chad quite enjoyed it. So, one by one as his siblings matured, they took off to further their careers in more acceptable climes and comfortable circumstances leaving his parents Hamish and Lizzy Rigby and Chad to run the ranch with their long-term permanent ranch hands. He smiled every time he reflected on the story of his mother’s entry into the ranch. His father Hamish had been visiting a town far removed from their ranch and noticed two drunken men pestering the schoolteacher Lizzy Lansdowne. Hamish had come to the rescue and there was a fight with Hamish wounded and the two drunks knocked out on the ground. Lizzy grateful for the rescue by Hamish took him to her boarding home to care for his wounds where the strict matron of the home refused him entry. No men allowed inside. There was an altercation between the two women and Hamish drew Lizzy aside.

“What’s your name maam?”

“Elizabeth Lansdowne.”

“You need a man to look after you and take you away from this dreadful woman. Why don’t you marry me, and I’ll look after you.”

Lizzy Lansdowne stared at this stranger in surprise and studied him carefully.

“I don’t know you and I don’t know where you live. What kind of life are you expecting to offer me with your foolish offer?”

Hamish looked uncomfortable as the woman studied him closely, but he smiled, and Lizzy smiled in return.

“My name is Hamish Rigby maam, and my father owns a ranch about forty-five miles from this city. I’m here buying supplies for the ranch. I’d be honoured if you’d accompany me back there as my wife.”

Elizabeth Rigby pushed her way past the matron standing with folded arms to prevent a man from entering. She packed her bags and returned to join Hamish.

“We need to get a marriage licence, and I need to resign from my teaching assignment.”

Grandfather and Grandmother Rigby were startled to see their son arrive back home married and it took them some time to accept Hamish’s new wife. Lizzy produced children over time and being trained as a schoolteacher insisted every child on the ranch would spend mornings in school at the ranch with her as their teacher. She gave them as good a grounding in literature and arithmetic as any city child would get up to their high school level of education. That was Chad’s mom, and he loved her dearly. She was equally loved as a mother by all the ranch kids.

Permanent ranch hands had grown up on this ranch just as their parents had served the Rigby generations. They looked on the Rigby’s as family and the Rigby’s viewed them in the same way working together as family.

But Chad’s parents Hamish and Lizzy were now dead having lost their lives in a vehicle accident two years previous and Chad felt lonely occupying this sprawling ranch house by himself. His siblings had returned briefly for the funeral but had departed quickly to return to their families and careers far to the southeast. Chad had turned to his long-term friends the Garcia family for comfort on the loss of his parents. Juan and Estella Garcia had been like second parents to him as he grew up and Chad’s father Hamish had appointed Juan to be his foreman of the ranch long before Chad had been born so the Garcia’s were like family to him, and they’d treated him as a son as he grew up. 

Estella had taken over the housekeeping for the ranch on Chad’s parents’ death and along with her daughters Ana, Gloria and Clarisa kept the place spotless and well maintained as well as supplying all Chad’s meals. Up to the time of his mother’s death Estella had cared for the house under supervision of his mother but had eased into being in complete charge immediately on mother’s death Estella stood over him to make sure he was well fed and even when he was in the fields during summer or down at the barns, she was there right on time in what she considered appropriate meal scheduled times to see he was well fed.

The Garcia girls worked along with their brothers on the ranch during the brief spring and summer seasons and helped maintain the barn stock along with the permanent workers during wintertime. Chad relied on the foreman’s expertise when selling and buying stock in season and gave him a free reign in maintaining the property and supervising workers. He’d grown up from a skinny child with the ranch hand kids but with the hard work of the ranch as he grew, he was now well built and muscular.  He viewed Antonio eldest son of the Garcia’s as the natural successor to his father when Juan decided to delegate as he grew older. It was more an extended family than hired hands as Chad viewed things.

During Chad’s parents’ days Christmas had been a major time of celebration for those who remained during winter months. There were coloured lights and decorations the women erected around buildings and one of the empty barns was decorated and heated for the occasion in which all residents participated. It was a time for eating together and sharing presents. There was singing and sharing of stories. Some of the permanent workers were from the Sioux first nations people and had the most interesting stories to tell. Chad who was still mourning the death of his parents and absence of his siblings was greatly cheered during these times of celebration and particularly looked forward to Christmas.

Chad stood to make his speech as midnight approached, he looked out over the sitting group huddled together in their fur lined coats and pants to add to the warmth of the carefully controlled charcoal fires. This was his family, and he felt happy with them surrounding him at this celebration. He mentioned them all in thanks for the work they did to keep the ranch profitable and stated his wish for them to prosper in the coming year. As he scanned the crowd in front of him his eye fell on Ana eldest daughter of the Gacia family. He marvelled at how this playmate from his youth had matured. She was now a woman with all the shape and grace a young woman carried with her at that age and for the first time he noticed her as a woman and not a ranch hand. She was looking at him with a penetrating softness in her brown eyes and he felt a sudden rush of blood through his veins and almost lost track of what he was saying. The audience had been sleepy as it was beyond normal bedtime at the ranch and they all had to get up early next morning to do their chores but his long pause in the speech had them looking up and then turning to see what had caught his attention. Estella was the first to see the object of his attention and turned to nudge her husband, Juan. She whispered.

“Juan, I think Chad has finally found someone to make his lonely life happier. Look at him and see who has taken attention away from his speech.”      

Juan studied his daughter and smiled. It was not a matter of cultural differences as the ranch had its own culture, and they operated as a single family. He’d been thinking for some time about the need for Chad to find a wife and expected he’d find one from his own ethnic community. Perhaps he needed to take the initiative and have a talk with young ranch owner Chad Rigby.   

Juan kept his thoughts to himself and observed Chad in the next few days as they worked together. He noticed that since Christmas Ana had been taking every opportunity to work near Chad and observed the furtive glances each were giving in the others direction. There was certainly a spark there.   Something had certainly passed between them at that Christmas event as they paused to communicate with each other through their eyes during Chad’s speech. Each day as they moved toward the end of the year those yearning glances became so apparent that the ranch hands and Ana’s siblings noticed and began to tease her. Ana would blush and deny any interest, but the glances continued.

There was one more celebration to be planned for on the ranch as they saw the old year out and the new one in and that was New Year’s Eve, so decorations were replaced in the barn and those residing on the ranch were invited to the New Year’s Eve celebration which all looked forward to. It was now December thirty, and Juan decided it was time to intervene as it was now an opportune time. Working along with Chad in the prize stock barn Juan turned to his young ranch owner.

“Have you noticed how my Ana is now a young woman of marriageable age Chad. I suppose it’s time for me to start looking for a suitable marriage partner for my cherished daughter. Do you have any ideas as to who might make a good partner for her?”

Chad’s face turned red, and he looked alarmed at the thought this young woman he had an interest in might be lost to him. He turned imploringly to the foreman stammering.

“It should be someone who’d treat her like the princess she is Juan. I’d hate to see her leave though she is such a joy to have here.”

“Well, she wouldn’t have to leave if someone here would marry her so help me solve this problem, Chad.”

Chad didn’t get a wink of sleep that night as he thought of his Ana being taken away from him. He didn’t know if the Gacia family would consider him as a prospective husband in that their cultural background was different to his. The next morning as Estella came in early to see Chad had his meal before starting the day she was startled to find him still in bed and this had never happened before he was always washed dressed and ready for the day. She sped into his room to see he was well, and he looked sick.

“Chad what’s the matter are you unwell.”

Chad’s concern about Ana’s potential departure came gushing out to his adopted mother Estella.

Estella ordered him out of bed and told him to get to his prepared breakfast. There were things to do on the ranch, and he was needed there and was not sick. Standing over him while he ate Estella spoke to him softly.

“Chad its time you asked Ana to marry you. She wants that and you are obviously besotted with her so don’t delay any longer. Go and talk with Juan. He’s expecting your request. You’ll find him at home.”

Chad raced to the foreman’s home and knocked at the door. A deep masculine voice invited him in. There seated with her father was Ana and Chad stood shocked for a minute before being seated.

“Thanks for coming Chad, I’m hoping you’ve come with a solution to the marriage of my daughter Ana. Have you thought of anyone to suggest?”

Chad smiled as he realized Juan had understood what was on his heart.

“Juan, would you consider me as that marriage partner for Ana. I’d cherish her and make her the happiest woman in the world if you’d consider me as an appropriate choice.”

Juan turned to Ana.

“Daughter you’ve heard this request. What do you wish me to say to Chad as I’m sure this comes as a shock to you.”

Ana smiled.

“I’d say yes and am anxious to know when we can get married.”

Juan nodded.

“Well, there’s no way we can get to a city to formalize a wedding between the both of you so may I suggest we declare you married in the presence of those who’ll be attending the celebration of New Year’s Eve. I’ll conduct a service in the presence of those in attendance to indicate this has our approval and when the snows thaw, we will formalize it for government records. How does that sound to you children? You can move into the ranch house on New Year’s Eve daughter. Are you agreeable to that?

Both Chad and Ana nodded in agreement and Juan spoke again.

“Ana you will not see Chad until the wedding on New Year’s Eve so will stay home until then. Now go to your room as I want to speak with Chad alone.”

For the next hour Juan gave Chad the kind of advice a father would give to his son preparing for marriage then signalled they needed to get out and help the hired hands with work for the day.

December thirty-one evening as everyone assembled for the New Year celebration Juan whispered that Chad in his welcome speech should include the agreement, he and Ana be wed that night then Juan would take over and perform a ceremony after which they’d enjoy the traditional celebration together.

So, Chad Rigby stood and called Juan and his daughter Ana to his side and revealed Chad Rigby’s New Year surprise. The audience however was not at all surprised as the eye courting between the two had been noted openly since Christmas, but they stood to their feet and cheered loudly at the announcement. Juan stepped forward and indicated they should all be seated then in a loud voice he delivered a short message of commitment for the two, Estella then stepped forward and delivered a wedding ring to Chad who looked down at the ring in surprise. It was his mother’s wedding ring. He took it and tried it on Ana’s finger and to his surprise it fitted. How did Estella find that ring? Estella whispered as he placed the ring on Ana’s finger.

“I know where everything is kept in your home Chad and thought it would be an appropriate thing for you to share with Ana tonight.”

Chad kissed his bride for the first time, and she blushed with pleasure. They were surrounded then by the Gacia family children Chad had grown up with Antonio his close friend, Luis, Gloria and Clarisa, where hugs and kisses were exchanged and the assembled guests moved forward to offer their congratulations. Gloria gave her brother-in-law a playful slap.

“How come you didn’t choose me instead of my sister? Don’t you think I’m prettier?”

Everyone laughed as they saw Chad look embarrassed at the question while Ana gave her sister a playful slap in return.

“Hands off my man Gloria!”

Then Juan clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention.

“Let the celebrations begin. Wishing you all a happy new year!”

The assembled guests shouted happy new year in return and settled down to enjoy the feast prepared.

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