The Russian Billionaire’s Secret(101)

Lars slapped the butts of the two voluptuous women as they stepped up into his trailer on the rodeo grounds. While they waited for the winner results to be announced, Lars gave his women some lovin’ ‘til they screamed out his name. It made him feel like the king of the world.

After receiving his fourth bronco-riding win in a row, and a standing ovation from the local crowd, Lars returned home to Wildrose, North Dakota, just in time for his grandfather’s annual barbecue with the neighbors. Lars knew better than to miss that event that was so important to his grandfather.

He pulled up to the Fiske Ranch in his limousine with bull horns on the hood, and piled out of the car after his four accompanying lady-friends.

Anders met him at the limo. “Glad you could make it, grandson.” He scowled at the women around him.

“I wouldn’t miss it, Gramps,” Lars said as he drank a swig from his silver flask.

Anders slapped the flask out of Lars’ hand. “Shape up, boy! You should be ashamed of yourself!”

Lars was shocked. He knew his grandfather disapproved of his lifestyle, but he usually kept his cool about it.

“What?” Lars whined.

“I raised you better than this. I will not allow you to show up in front of our life-long neighbors and friends and act like a clown. Get back in your fancy car and get out of here until you can remember how to act like a Fiske. And take your tramps with you!” Anders kicked Lars in the ass.

Lars had never seen his grandfather so upset. At first he wondered if he was playing with him, but when he looked at Anders’ face, he knew this was serious business.

Lars motioned for the girls to join him back and in the car and they all took off. He told the driver to just keep driving for the next several hours while he and the women got drunk and laughed.

At the end of the night, Lars had the driver take them all to the motel in Wildrose. It was not fancy. It suited the old western town. Once the ladies were settled in the room, and the buzz from the booze wore off, Lars headed home. He knew he needed to apologize. He was sure once Anders saw how sorry he was for disrespecting him, everything would be alright.

Lars sheepishly walked into the farmhouse. He saw the silhouette of his grandfather sitting at the same kitchen table he had since 1960.

“Grandpa,” Lars began, “I’m very sorry for my behavior. I hope you will forgive me.”

Anders tapped the table with his hand, indicating for Lars to sit by him. Lars obeyed.

“Lars, I thought I was doing the right thing when I agreed to this oil money. But I see how it has changed you, and I fear I was wrong.”

“Grandpa,” Lars interrupted.

Anders held up his hand. “You are going to be thirty-two years old in three months. If you have not changed your life, settled down with a good and decent woman and let go of your childish antics, I will cut off your inheritance. The only thing you have that is yours is your rodeo money. Everything else is mine until I choose to give it to you.”

Lars lowered his head. “Yes, sir.”

“I refuse to enable you any longer, grandson. From now on, your life choices have consequences. Three months, Lars.”

Lars kept his head down. He knew better than to argue or whine. That would only make things worse.

Anders stood up and walked out of the room.

Lars laid his head down on the table. Now what?

Chapter 2

Frontier Dreams

Eddie watched and waved as the last bus of students left camp for the summer. She felt a tear drop down her cheek.

Sondra, her friend and co-director of Kenosee Lake Bible Camp, put her arm around Eddie and squeezed. “Another great summer, Eddie. Lots of lives changed for the better.”

“Yes, it was a great summer. It’s going to be lonely here for a while.”

“Don’t worry, we have weekend retreats coming in the fall,” Sondra reminded.

“I know, but they’re not the same. I’ll miss the energy the kids bring. The horses love them too.”

Sondra perked up. “Hey, you wanna go for a ride? Just me and you on Timber and Smokey. It’ll be fun.”

Eddie couldn’t help but smile. There wasn’t much she loved more than riding Timber. “What about all the clean up?”

“Let the crew get started without us. Come on, we can take a few hours and enjoy the beautiful land God gave us.” Sondra pulled Eddie’s arm.

Eddie laughed. “Alright, you win! And, you’re right.”

The women chatted about the summer camps as they saddled their horses. Eddie was the first one ready. She walked Timber out of the barn and mounted him. “Come on, Sondra, enough, dawdling, let’s go!”

Sondra laughed. “You sound like my mother!” She quickly joined Eddie and the two of them began to race.

Eddie felt rejuvenated as the wind blew her hair under her cowboy hat. She was reminded why she left Chicago so many years ago and built her life in Saskatchewan, Canada where the land was wide open and untamed. Timber ran like he had been cooped up and limited to trail rides all summer. Eddie just hung on and let him run ‘til he finally tired out and slowed and stopped at the top of a hill.

Sondra and Smokey arrived shortly after them. She patted Smokey on the neck. “These guys are lovin’ this!”

“So am I.” Eddie dismounted Timber and let him graze. Sondra did the same and stood by her friend as they overlooked the scenic land before them.