First Day

Cyrus was elated that Mrs. King was impressed with him. "Oh yes Mrs. King, I completely understand. And no, I don't really have family. Everything I own is in my truck, so I will need to drive that to the ranch. I can hitch a ride back here to retrieve the helicopter after get those kids to school. Thank you ma'am, I won't let you down."

With that, Cyrus completed his log book and got in his truck. He knew where the ranch was, everyone did. After a 45 minute drive, he was there. He parked his truck near what appeared to be a bunkhouse, but he wasn't sure. Cyrus left his saddle and gear in the back of his truck and quickly figured out his surroundings. Another cowboy was tending to a horse in the corral, so he approached and asked about the neighbor kids. Explained he was supposed to pick them up and bring them to school. The cowboy was rightfully dubious, but Cyrus showed him the completed hiring paperwork with Amelia's signature. After the cowboy, whoever he was, verified with Miss Lauren Harris, he gave Cyrus the keys to one of the King Ranch work trucks, and Cyrus immediately got in and followed the directions to the neighbor's house. He completed his task, then returned to the ranch. That same cowboy was still there when he got back too.

"Hey, sorry to bother you again, but could you give me a ride back to town? I need to get the helicopter from the airfield and bring it back to the ranch, along with Mrs. King. I'd take my truck, but then it would be stuck at the airfield." Cyrus explained to the cowboy. The man nodded, understanding the problem.

"Give me a few minutes." The man said with a grunt.

Cyrus checked the time in the meanwhile, it was getting close to time for him to pick up Amelia. He did not want to be late on his first day. Finally, the cowboy climbed in the truck. "You drive to where we're going, I'll drive back. I'm Arthur."

Cyrus shook the man's hand firmly, "Cyrus. Cyrus Riddell."

"So you just a pilot or do you work too? You got some strong hands boy." Arthur asked as they pulled away from the ranch.

"Oh, I'm a cowboy as well. Mrs. King hired me because I can do both. Fly her machine when she needs it, and work a saddle in the meanwhile." Cyrus replied.

"Well, we'll see about that now. You worked a ranch this size before?" Arthur asked with a grin.

"Actually, I have. Before I joined the Army, I worked the Four Sixes and the Waggoner with my old man. He died and I didn't have anything left for me here, so I enlisted. That's where I learned to fly helicopters." Cyrus explained as they drove.

"Huh, well I'll be damned. Maybe we finally got a new cowboy who can actually cowboy. I've been working the ranch for 19 years, seen maybe two boys about your age who could even sit a horse right, let alone herd cows from pasture to pasture. I think you'll be alright kid..."

Their conversation continued for the rest of the drive, ending just before Cyrus arrived at his destination. He got out of the truck and waved goodbye to his new friend. Arthur reminded Cyrus of his father a little bit. He quickly got back to the helicopter, conducted his pre-flight inspection and strapped himself into the pilot's seat. There he waited as Amelia would be there any minute.

(OOC- I just made up Arthur as one of the many ranch hands. I don't intend to create a character sheet for him)