05-01-2013, 01:45 AM
"Well," Calden looks wry, "depends on how you define a ranch. Plenty of estates up and down the interstate corridors where folks pay a few million just to sit pretty on sixteen acres of land. If you're talking about real ranching, though -- not so much now as there was in my grandpa's time. Between modern irrigation and modern urbanization most the ranchland's turning into suburbs in one direction and farmland in the other."
Coming from someone else, it could be a bitter tirade. It's not, from Calden. It's matter of fact, objective, erudite: charting the rise and fall of an old way of life. The -- let's just say it -- cowboy, albeit an evidently well-read and rather well-to-do cowboy, pauses to take another swig of beer. Then he sets the mug back on the table so he can start in on his dinner.
"Still plenty of ranches up near the Wyoming border, though. More across the border, of course, but the water rights aren't as generous there." That skewed smile makes it way back. "Bet that was more about Colorado ranching than you ever needed to hear. What about you? What's this about projects and clients?"
Coming from someone else, it could be a bitter tirade. It's not, from Calden. It's matter of fact, objective, erudite: charting the rise and fall of an old way of life. The -- let's just say it -- cowboy, albeit an evidently well-read and rather well-to-do cowboy, pauses to take another swig of beer. Then he sets the mug back on the table so he can start in on his dinner.
"Still plenty of ranches up near the Wyoming border, though. More across the border, of course, but the water rights aren't as generous there." That skewed smile makes it way back. "Bet that was more about Colorado ranching than you ever needed to hear. What about you? What's this about projects and clients?"
BECAUSE OF LIGHT AND DUTY AND REASONS.