Main Cabin, Dutton Ranch
The appearance of this rabbit plague in the alfalfa fields told Dante that managing a ranch was never an easy task.
The rabbits had come first, but this was only the beginning. With them, sooner or later, would come pests and diseases—an inevitable chain in nature's balance. There was no room for complacency; current achievements meant nothing in the face of what was to come.
After all, no matter how much wealth someone possessed, it would not make them immune to the consequences.
Sitting on a sofa outside his cabin, Dante looked at the dogs that followed him everywhere and said in a frustrated tone, "You two aren't very good at chasing rabbits, not to mention that you dig holes. You've got plenty of energy, but you haven't had anything important to use it on, have you?"
The dogs looked at Dante; it was clear they didn't fully understand. They truly didn't grasp some of his intentions.
However, when they saw Dante extend his hand, they jumped onto the sofa and lay down on either side of him—one on the left, the other on the right.
Hugging them both, Dante scratched their chins and said, "You should eat more vegetables, little troublemakers. Eating only meat isn't a balanced diet for you. You're getting fat."
This was also the result of an experiment Dante had been conducting over the past six months since he and Susie adopted these dogs. The meals they received after being adopted were something they had never had before. It made them stronger, but also a little lazier.
Of course, neither Susie nor Dante minded this about their dogs, but now it seemed they needed a more balanced diet.
"How about bringing in some trained foxes and golden eagles?" Dante thought while petting his dogs, murmuring, "Golden eagles can catch wolves if they're strong. They patrol the skies, and rabbits can't escape their eyes. As for foxes, they're experts at invading burrows and hunting rabbits."
Dante's mind was filled with ideas, and he thought again, "However, ferrets are good too. They're domesticated and have been used for centuries for rabbit hunting—a practice known as ferreting. What I don't know is whether they're suitable for the ranch. I don't want to bring them here just to suffer."
Dante seemed a little concerned. There really wasn't a perfect solution at the moment. These ideas seemed feasible but difficult to implement.
The dogs beside him were German Shepherds with great execution abilities. However, whether it was a golden eagle, a fox, or a ferret, they were all difficult to tame and care for once brought to the ranch.
Dante knew that foxes weren't domesticated animals in the same sense as dogs or cats, but there were domesticated fox lines, such as those bred in the Siberian Fox Domestication Experiment. These foxes had been selected for their docility and friendly behavior toward humans.
If Dante wanted to use domesticated foxes and trained eagles to hunt rabbits, he would need extensive knowledge in falconry and carnivore management. Foxes could help with ground hunting, while eagles could strike from above, forming an efficient yet difficult-to-manage team. However, caring for them might cost him more money and labor than he had available.
It was a difficult problem, and Dante really didn't have a better solution.
But at that moment, as Dante was lost in thought, he heard the sound of an engine and immediately noticed a Ford truck approaching the cabin.
Dante stood up at once, watching as the truck slowly came closer. It was Susie's 2014 Ford F-150—one of the newest trucks they had acquired in bulk.
The dogs were thrilled and ran toward Susie, wagging their tails excitedly.
Susie, who had just parked the truck, happily played with the dogs, her treasured companions.
She truly felt a little more at home now.
After temporarily calming the playful pets, Susie took a grocery bag from the back seat and said, "I brought food, lots of spices."
"Why not have someone else do it?" Dante understood why Susie did these things, but he still asked.
"Do you want to keep me locked in the house forever? The new batch of books I ordered hasn't arrived yet." Susie loved the peace she could experience here on the ranch.
"That's understandable. Let's eat something and get some sleep. I have a busy day tomorrow," Dante said, remembering the rabbits.
Susie looked a little tired and said, "We ran into a few issues with the business today. I hate those emergencies. Tomorrow is the weekend, so I can come back, rest, and help you with those rabbits."
Dante walked into the cabin carrying Susie's groceries and curiously asked, "You're going to help me deal with the rabbits?"
"Yes, we could use smoke to flush them out of their burrows and have the dogs take care of the rest," Susie said as she walked toward a shelf to feed the dogs.
Dante, thoughtful, asked, "Smoke?"
"Yes. Considering your problem, using smoke is the least reliable method. Their burrows are too big, and waiting it out is a dumb idea."
"Then I'll have to take you with me tomorrow," Dante said, proud of his future wife.
Susie smiled and walked toward the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Dante's greatest regret was that Susie didn't love the ranch as much as he did. After all, for many, the city was hard to forget. But contrary to his concerns, Susie loved this land filled with tranquility.
That only made Dante think about how much Susie needed some time to relax.
Everyone did.