One Man's Dream

The mountains had pulled at Steve"s very soul for the bigger part of his life. He didn"t understand why but it had gotten worse every year since he was in his mid-twenties. Then, John Long came into his life. An old man he met that was ninety-three years old with lots of stories and adventures about his life in a hidden valley somewhere in the Rocky Mountains. Steve spent a lot of time with John and never tired of his stories. He could actually imagine himself living the stories other than John when they were told. They became very close over one summer and fall and before winter was over John made him an offer. He wanted to live close to his family but had to be on his own. He had been on his own too long to be able to live with his children. He was also too old to survive by himself in the Rocky Mountains anymore so he made Steve a proposition. For the exchange of only Steve"s place to live out his days, he would sign over all rights to his hidden valley. There wasn"t anyone in his family interested in it anyway. Steve never hesitated, feeling he had nothing to lose. He made sure John had enough money to live on, and by spring he was on his way knowing he could always come back if things didn"t work out. Finding the valley turned out to be just a small challenge compared to keeping it safe from both predators and humans. He had to learn how to survive, and if not for the young dog he had taken with him he wouldn"t have. Then, of all things, another love came into his life. The way her and her children survived upon arrival was a miracle in itself. What they had to do to keep their family and valley was beyond anything the law could or would have tolerated.