Yellowstone: Wind in the Smoke

"Was it really necessary to give me a ranch?"

"The truth is, I want my brother to have the best."

The ranch Dante was gifting his brother was nestled in a river valley at the edge of the Rocky Mountains, located in the basin between the reservation and near the Yellowstone ranch.

The land here was rolling, with pastures surrounded by vast expanses of grasslands and low shrubs. The northern branch of a river flowed quietly along one side, nourishing the earth.

Dante parked the truck at the ranch's entrance, turned off the engine, opened the door, and stepped out with Kayce.

The sight before him made him frown. It was obvious this place had been neglected for quite some time.

The once-sturdy wooden fence was now crumbling, with several wooden stakes fallen to the ground and rusty wire hanging loosely from broken posts.

There were even traces of small animals coming and going through various damaged sections, and it seemed that hares and marmots had taken up residence here.

Dante approached and reached out to touch one of the fence posts. The wood had become rough from years of wind and rain, and he could feel a slight dampness against his fingertips.

The weeds beneath his feet had almost swallowed the original grass, growing taller than his boots, swaying in the morning breeze with a rustling sound.

Even some shrubs had begun to creep out from under the fence, as if claiming sovereignty over the neglected land.

The northern branch of the river flowed slowly not far away. The gentle gurgling of the river brought a sense of tranquility, starkly contrasting with the ruinous scene before them—a somewhat ironic juxtaposition.

Dante looked around, his eyes holding a mix of complicated emotions.

This land had once been full of life but had now been ravaged by time.

"Well, it looks like it's going to take some work to get this place back in shape. But I think it'd be a brilliant project to take on with your family."

"Yeah, this is a good place." Kayce had initially thought it was part of his father's plan for him to stay at this ranch, but upon learning otherwise, he grew more interested in the work Dante was doing.

"You'll just have to install some security measures," Dante muttered to himself, rubbing his temples as the dull pain of his hangover still lingered in his mind.

Looking over the dilapidated fence, the weed-covered grass, and the slowly flowing river, he began to weigh where to start.

Repairing the fences was a must—it was the ranch's first line of defense.

They'd need to clear away the piles of rotted, fallen wood and replace them with new, sturdy ones.

Fortunately, fences were one of the simpler tasks. The materials could be sourced from the storehouse or cut nearby.

Dante glanced toward the pine and fir forest not far away. As the owner of this private land, he had the legal right to cut some timber.

As long as the amount wasn't excessive, there was no need to notify the local county government for a permit.

Next was preparing the land and pastures.

The pasture grass was overrun with weeds taller than his boots. Dante bent down to examine the plants and found several poisonous weeds that were essentially useless. It would be best to clear them out entirely and reseed the area.

The fertile land near the river was also better suited for farming. Kayce planned to reorganize the planting areas according to the topography and water sources to improve land use.

After considering his options, Dante decided not to rush into repairs immediately and began working on the ranch alongside his brother.

He glanced toward the dense forest not far away, remembering there was a small cabin there. It might serve as a temporary home while they worked on the ranch.

Grabbing his shotgun, he ventured further into the woods along the edge of the pasture.

In the forest, late spring brought fresh, humid air.

Dante walked on the slippery ground, weaving between newly green trees. Sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting patterns on the ground, while birdsong and the sound of streams intertwined in his ears.

Following the path he remembered, he watched the ground carefully.

The thick grass and trees, along with underbrush and leaves, nearly obscured the trail.

After walking for about five or six minutes, he arrived at a relatively flat clearing.

The old wooden house stood quietly in a corner of the clearing, surrounded by tall pines and firs, which seemed to form a natural barrier around it.

The adjacent orchard was also overrun with weeds, and a few wildflowers bloomed with small white and yellow petals.

Dante studied the wooden house closely.

The weathered planks were mottled gray, and the roof was covered with a thin layer of moss.

Though dilapidated, the overall structure was still solid, and the foundation corners held the house firmly in place.

The wooden house's door was tightly shut, bearing a few claw marks from animals. On the warning board placed in front of the door, the iron nails were noticeably bent.

This was probably the work of a grizzly bear.

Some dirt had been dug up in a corner of the wooden house, likely from small animals coming and going.

Dante stood in front of the door, shotgun in hand, his eyes alert, wondering what animals might be hiding inside the cabin.

Perhaps a few rats, or some other small creature trapped inside—or maybe even a bear.

These animals often made homes in unoccupied wooden cabins.

Taking a deep breath, Dante opened the door. The wooden door creaked softly, as if in protest.

Kayce, who followed behind him, listened intently. Beyond the sounds of the wind and birdsong, there were faint creaks from within the house.

Dante frowned, trying to identify the source of the noise.

Suddenly, a low snore came from inside the cabin, deep and strange, like the breathing of a large animal.

Dante instinctively tensed. He stepped back half a pace and quickly drew the small hunting knife from his belt.

Holding his breath, he gently pushed the door open a crack and peeked inside.

In the dim light, he saw a large white shape curled up on the sofa.

What kind of white-furred creature could this be?

A goat? He didn't see any horns.

Ferrets? It wasn't winter, and they wouldn't grow this large.

The ball of fur seemed aware of the commotion outside. A pair of round ears twitched slightly, followed by a black nose that sniffed the air occasionally.

Suddenly, it woke and turned its head to look.

Dante could hardly believe his eyes.

But this wasn't a high-latitude area. Only black bears and North American grizzlies were active here.

A Kermode bear? They mainly lived in Canada, which was a bit far from here.

A glacier bear? They were found in Alaska and northwestern Canada.

This smaller white bear looked on with wary eyes, its muscles tense, as if ready to spring up and flee at any moment.

It was only then that Dante noticed its eyes were pale pink.

It was a rare albino grizzly cub, likely not fully grown, judging by its size.

It might have gotten lost or been driven out by other bears, deciding to take temporary refuge in this abandoned cabin.

The albino grizzly sniffed the air, trying to identify the stranger outside. It showed no signs of aggression.

After a few seconds, it seemed the scent was familiar. Its ears relaxed, and its body slightly loosened.

Dante let out a sigh of relief, hiding the shotgun behind him, slowly pushing the door open further, and offering a friendly smile. "Hey, little one, you've found a cozy spot to rest," he said softly, trying to sound gentle.

The albino bear blinked, seeming a bit confused, but clearly showed no intention of leaving its temporary habitat.

It yawned, tucked its head between its paws, curled up again, and let out a soft murmur, as if intending to continue its peaceful nap.

Dante knew he couldn't chase it away easily.

Though this little albino grizzly was an uninvited guest and a wild animal, surviving in the wilderness wasn't easy for it.

He didn't want to force it out or push it into a desperate situation.

An albino grizzly like this would be vulnerable to attacks in the wild, and it had likely chosen this spot because it was a safe haven.

"Well, it looks like you'll have a neighbor for a while, Kayce," Dante said quietly, closing the door and allowing the bear to continue resting.