It took over a hour for Jacob to get me away from the others. I managed to snag a few biscuits on the way. Thinking that it was a bad idea to raise a dragons spirits and disappoint them. In the feed truck I see in the mirror that Earl and several other dragons had formed a group following the truck in the sky. “ So how did you come to work here?”

I asked after about five minutes of silence. “ Well I'm a fan of these fellas. Have been sense I was knee high to my daddy. See I'm a rancher bred and born, but my family always raised beef. Being youngest of three boys I decided to branch on my own. I get to see Tim once a year when the beef is sent up. He's the middle one. Adam is the oldest. He's a numbers person. Don't really work the herds.” 

I see a bit of resentment on his face. “ Making sure the ranch has money is as important as the cattle you know.”

His expression brightens up a bit. “ As pa says. Can't feed the hands on nutin. I just open he want ta.” 

I think over that a moment before responding. “ Well why don't you invite him up. I mean write him a letter and ask him to see how you are doing.” 

He looks at me a moment and smiles before turning his attention back in front. “ Good thinkin. I'll do that later. Now I gotta fed these fellas.” 

The next few minutes went in silence. Until we go to a troft looking thing that must be used as feeding bins. Within seconds of me exiting the truck Earl bowed to me and I in turn. He starts licking my hand. I notice many of the other dragons watching. “ I'll give them to you when the others are not watching.” 

He looks behind him then back at me. “ Come on lets keep out of Jacob's way.” 

So we moved off about fifty feet from the truck. The hay bales were being thrown from the truck to the troft like an expert. I take out two biscuits for Earl and lets him eat one as I take a bite of the other. I end up giving him the rest as well. He then moves beside me and lays his head on my lap. I start stroking his neck and after a minute he raises his head. “ Don't like it? Move our head up and down like this for yes... and side to side like this for no.” 

He seemed to smile a bit before licking my cheek. “ So do you like me doing that?” 

He shakes his head up and down then looks behind me. I turn and see a dark red dragon bigger than Earl. I did not think it a good idea to look this one in the eyes so I looked under it's chin and nodded. As soon as he lowered his head a bit I turned back to Earl who had put his head on my lap again. The red dragon laid down beside me. “ Want your neck stroked to huh? I got two hands I guess I could.”

So there I was petting two dragons, one on each side of me. Then there was a flash from the truck. All three of us look toward it. Jacob comes off the truck with a digital camera in his hands. He shows us the image of the three of us together. “ I thought this was a no electricity ranch.” 

I said confused. “ Yea, fer you city slickers. The point of ya all coming is ta know these fellas, not play viteo games or use cell ear phones. There is an underground line leading to the ranch. Quite engenious really. Mr. Branson designed it back in the sixties. He have lights, internet, a fridge, and several other things in our bunk house. Even got a plasma tv and a playstation.”

I laugh a bit. “ Well now that is something. What is next on the agenda?” 

He looks at the red dragon. “ Come on Max. You can come too. I left a bale for you two on the back for you two to share.” 

The two dragons move onto the back of the truck and I got into the passenger seat again. As soon as we were moving again I asked, “ So what is Max story.”

He looks in the rear view and see the two dragons digging their heads into the hay. “ Man, well he is senior old fart. Been here sense the beginning over three and a half hundred years ago. He cast away on one of a Columbus boats. Him and two perty lass dragons. Almost every dragon here comes from his loins at one point. See dragons are quite smart. Overheard the search of new land and they risked the trip leaving massive wealth behind. It was worth it. The injins was as curious of them as the rest feared em. When we started expanding they faught for the injins. That is why some places arn't considered part of the U.S.A. Like here. This ranch is called a game preserve but in actuality the cowboys back then could not run em out. I should know. My granddaddy, granddaddy, granddaddies brother faught right over there in that there battle for dragon's peek.” 

He points to a plateau in the distance. “ That where the pregnant ones nest. They don't let any near there. Made it a real pain in the ass for gold rushers to get further west too. You may not know this but without dragons Americans would have probably have owned everything west by force or baught it from the frienchies. Well like Texas the injins became Americans to their advantage but this here is entirely owned by the dragons. Those fenses around the road is not to keep them in but keep outsiders out. That is why they let a few live here. They know it'd be trouble if none lived here so only those they trust some live here. Well that and the tours. Honestly I love being here. I'd do this fer free if I were allowed.” 

I let out a laugh. “ Living the dream. To be honest just being here fulfills mine. I've been wanting to come here for years.”

I stopped talking to review all I've done to get here. “ I mean I've did everything I could sense as you said, knee high, to get here. I paid for this trip completely out of my own pocket. Ever sense I was six and saw one of those trip commercials I've set my goal to coming here one day.” 

He laughs a bit. “ Hell I might have been in that there comertial. I was the one throwing the bales off the truck about ten moments into it.”

I think over the commercial. “ With the red shirt?”

He stops the truck beside a shack. “ Yep, that was me. We're here.” 

We get out of the truck. Max and Earl jump off the back and come to me. They follow me as I follow Jacob to the shack. It was obviously a storage unit and emergency center if ever needed. We waited outside and waited as he brung out a set of saddle gear that was way too small for any horse. Which now I think of it I have not seen even one on the ranch. Or other vehicles other than that one truck. As soon as Earl saw the gear he lowered himself and Jacob sets it down. “ Keep yer scales on now. Your not ready yet I told ya and neither is he. I'm sure your strong enough but let me make sure. Now Eric watch how I put them on him.”

He puts on the gear then lets me examine them before taking them off. “ You try.”

I try putting the saddle and other things on Earl and only made minor mistakes as in putting something on too tightly or loosely. When I took it off of him again Earl licked my face proud of me getting it mostly right on my first try. Jacob turns to the other dragon and asks, “ Care to help today?”

The red dragon copies Earls pose and Jacob had me put the gear on him as well. I did it much better that time. “ Now Max care to take the boy around a bit while I test the youngyen?”

Max nods his head and moves by me and kneels his hind end again. It had strait forward getup. Places for your feet, something to grip to, and two harness clips so you do not fall off. I get on his back and strap in. Jacob hands me a paintball mask. “ You'll need it.” 

I put it on without question. I hear Jacob then say, “ Now Max your in charge up there. If he gives you a command you can ignore it. He may not even know he gave it.” 

The obvious thought crossed my mind. ' I'm mad. I'm going to fly on the back of a dragon.' Then Max started moving a bit. I shift myself to be more comfortable. “ Good, yer properly placed now. Max take'm up when your ready and Eric stay close to his ba...”

I did not hear the rest as Max ran to get momentum before going aerial. I lowered myself as much as I could. The air pressure was great cutting threw my clothes. Now I see the reason why I needed the mask. It helped with me seeing and breathing. We circled overhead of them a few times then I leaned and we went into a new direction. I was as excited as I was terrified. I quickly found out that almost every time I moved Max shifted to a new direction. I lean back some and he would rise. I push forward and down. It must have been over twenty minutes before I noticed that I had lost sight of the shack. I yelled, “ Lets go back.”

as loud as I could and he ignored all new movements as we turned slightly toward the plateau. Before we landed we circled a bit and he kept hitting my feet. I figured out that they were going to be in his way so I raised them a bit. He moved quickly in his decent and I could not help but yell in fright. He landed within feet of the truck where Earl was resting in it's shade. I got off as soon as I could and then got the mask off and Max licked my face in approval before moving to Jacob. Earl moves over to me seemingly jealous and licks my hand. “ I've got two left. One is mine and the other Jacobs. I've given you enough already.”

He moves away from me disappointed. Max seemed to laugh some and I notice Jacob shaking his head amused. “ Good, show em you can be the boss. He can't have his way all the time. Now I got oter things to do and I have notin else to show you. I'm wanting to check on Al also. The one I told you about earlier. So Earl can take you back.” 

I just stare blankly. As the words registered but not processing. He gets the gear off of Max and gets in his truck. “ Here is your biscuit.” I take them before he drives off. I just stand there dumbfounded more than ever until Earl tries to take one from my hand. I raise it up before he could free it. “ Ah! This one is mine I told you.” 

He turned away from me knowing he was my way back. “ I tell you what. I'll split it with you.” I rip it in half and a bit of buttery biscuit smell is released. “ Raar.”

I heard from the red one to get my attention. “ Not you too.”

I thought it best not to deny him so I tossed a half to each of them. Soon I was heading back on Earl's back following Max.