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“I’ll let you know now that all pants will stay on for the duration of this demonstration. And please let me introduce you to Ranger. I give Ranger the signal, and he runs to my side, then sits obediently with his mouth closed. This dog is the picture of dignity.
“Isn’t he wonderful?” another investor says.
“This is Ranger.” I gesture to Ranger for him to do his introductory routine. He runs like the wind to my car, then back again, leaping and dodging other cars, and sits at my side. “He is a border collie with extraordinary work ethic, strong herding skills, and a need to serve when disaster strikes. He’s five years old and has trained in both winter and summer conditions, but his powers shine through when he’s in snow. He’s tracked a fallen snowboarder when human technology failed to find him, and he’s scaled ranges where human feet falter. He’s at ease on toboggans, chair lifts, snowmobiles, and will be carried on my shoulders if the conditions demand it.”
Ranger spins and then lowers his front legs in the doggy version of a bow.
The investors applaud again.
“But enough of this talk!” I raise my arms. “Let’s see it in action, shall we?”
“Monsieur Green, will you ride in the Land Crosser weeth us?”
Ranger has already taken off for the truck.
“I’m following that guy! Scotty will drive us up. We’ll meet in Parking Lot Four at the west entry.”
And in the meantime, I have to figure out how I can show investors the good stuff… while they wear stilettos and thousand-dollar dress shoes.
Scotty opens the door for Ranger, who hops into the back without hesitation. “Seems you prefer a pickup over the comfort of the Land Crosser, huh?”
“No offense intended, but the truck is more my style.”
“You and me both, kid.”
I shoot off a quick text to Alli to warn her of the change of location. It might take her a little longer to get there. No one will mind since it’s a public park and anybody could wander in. It’s best she stays in the shadows anyhow.
The road to Parking Lot Four is the easiest one into the state park. Given our guests’ attire, this was the only viable option.
When we pull in, my jaw drops. She’s already here.
“How did you manage that?” I ask as Ranger flies out of the truck to give Alli the greeting of a lifetime.
“Manage what? I just detoured and took the dirt bike path from Lot Three. It’s a ton easier coming this way than the other.”
“Impressive.”
How do I not know that she knows the bike paths? We see each other multiple days of the week, and she still surprises me.
She blows on her fingernails and rubs them on her shoulder.
“Hi there, I’m Scotty.” Scotty nods at her in greeting since his arms are full of equipment.
“Hi, Scotty, let me give you a hand. I know how Terence likes it laid out.”
“Thanks,” I mouth to her while I give my notes one last read.
Alli walks over with her arms full. “I’m guessing these are your investors coming along now.”
The Land Crosser stops just inside the entrance. The investors pile out of it, all walking with extra care along the uneven packed dirt of the parking lot ground. One woman holds onto a man for dear life while Miss Chardonnay teeters in several directions. There’s a single picnic table at the lookout point, which is also a benefit to this particular location.
These people don’t strike me as the type who stand.
“I’ll just hang over here.” Alli skips over to the side. “You stay there, Ranger.”
Ranger cocks his head but follows instruction and hangs out at my side.
“Ladies and gentlemen. Welcome. Please do feel free to sit during the course of this demonstration–”
