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[Joe Pickett 18] • The Disappeared
Chapter 6
by C.J., Box,The chapter opens with Sheridan Pickett, a 23-year-old wrangler at Silver Creek Ranch, performing her winter duties. Driving a pickup truck through snow-covered terrain, she leads horses to the frozen North Platte River, where she breaks ice to provide them access to water. The serene yet harsh winter landscape is vividly described, with wildlife like bald eagles and pronghorn antelope adding to the scene. Sheridan’s routine involves meticulous care for the horses, ensuring they remain disciplined and hydrated despite the challenging conditions. Her work contrasts sharply with the bustling summer season, offering a glimpse into the ranch’s seasonal rhythms.
During the summer, Sheridan and her fellow wranglers—mostly young women—work tirelessly to accommodate wealthy guests. The ranch operates like a high-end hospitality business, with wranglers guiding horseback rides, lessons, and trail adventures. Sheridan reflects on the dynamics of the job, noting how male guests often respond better to female wranglers. The days are long, starting at dawn and ending late, with constant attention to horse care and guest satisfaction. Despite the grueling schedule, Sheridan gains valuable experience in both horsemanship and customer service, though she remains unsure if this career path suits her long-term.
The chapter delves into the diverse clientele of the ranch, ranging from tech moguls to supermodels, many of whom are experiencing ranch life for the first time. Sheridan observes that wealth doesn’t equate to intelligence or harmony, as families exhibit familiar patterns of conflict and bonding. Surprisingly, many guests find the ranch a rare opportunity to reconnect with loved ones, often inviting staff to join them for meals. Sheridan particularly enjoys working with preteen girls, who form deep bonds with the horses and look up to her as a role model. These interactions highlight the ranch’s unique ability to foster meaningful connections.
The chapter concludes with Sheridan reflecting on the social dynamics among the staff, which mirror the intensity of high school cliques. Romantic relationships and breakups unfold rapidly in the close-knit environment, adding another layer of complexity to the job. Despite the challenges, Sheridan appreciates the lessons learned about hospitality, horsemanship, and human nature. The chapter paints a vivid picture of life at Silver Creek Ranch, balancing the tranquility of winter with the chaos of summer, and Sheridan’s personal growth amid it all.
FAQs
1. What are Sheridan Pickett’s primary responsibilities during the winter season at Silver Creek Ranch, and how do they differ from her summer duties?
Answer:
During winter, Sheridan’s main tasks involve maintaining access to water for the horses by breaking ice at six locations along the river and distributing hay using a forklift. She also rides 5-10 horses weekly in the indoor arena to keep them trained and manageable. In contrast, her summer duties are far more demanding: she works six days a week from dawn to dusk as a wrangler, managing up to 130 horses for guest activities. This includes grooming, saddling, leading trail rides, and providing riding lessons. The summer season requires constant guest interaction and physical labor, while winter offers a slower pace focused on horse maintenance.2. How does the chapter illustrate the dynamics between the ranch staff and the wealthy guests? What insights does Sheridan gain about wealth and family relationships?
Answer:
The chapter reveals that while many guests are affluent (tech moguls, bankers, celebrities), most are surprisingly normal family groups seeking authentic ranch experiences. Sheridan learns that wealth doesn’t equate to intelligence or happiness, observing that wealthy families face similar dynamics of “conflict, dysfunction, and love” as others. A key insight is how the ranch becomes a rare space for families to reconnect—many guests share their first family meals in years during their stay. Staff are encouraged to engage while respecting guest anonymity, and some genuine friendships form, with guests occasionally inviting wranglers to dine with them. Sheridan particularly bonds with young riders who maintain contact after their visits.3. Analyze the significance of the ranch’s “credo” to accommodate every guest request. How does this philosophy shape the wranglers’ work experience?
Answer:
The ranch’s commitment to fulfilling all guest requests, no matter how unconventional, creates an intense work environment for wranglers like Sheridan. This expectation means long, unpredictable hours—from dawn trail rides to evening sessions—with little downtime. While it fosters guest satisfaction (critical for a luxury resort), it demands extreme flexibility from staff. The chapter highlights this through Sheridan’s summer routine: multiple daily riding sessions, horse care, and last-minute adjustments for guests overestimating their riding skills. This credo likely contributes to high staff turnover (noted by the predominance of recent college graduates) but also provides immersive hospitality training, teaching adaptability and customer service under pressure.4. What does Sheridan’s interaction with the horses reveal about equine behavior and the challenges of managing a large herd?
Answer:
Sheridan’s tasks demonstrate that horses require consistent discipline and activity to remain safe for guests. Left untrained, they become “bronc-ey” (unruly) or lazy, potentially injuring themselves or riders. The chapter details how she must repeatedly break ice for water access and use tools (ax, shovel) to manage their environment—a physically demanding process. The horses’ tendency to crowd her at the river and their immediate response to her commands (“Get back”) show their herd mentality and need for clear leadership. Sheridan’s rotational riding system (130 horses ridden regularly) underscores the scale of maintaining their training: without it, their skills degrade, compromising guest safety and experience.5. How does the author use contrasts (e.g., seasons, gender roles, expectations vs. reality) to develop themes in this chapter?
Answer:
The chapter employs stark contrasts to explore themes of adaptation and perception. The seasonal dichotomy—grueling summers versus “restful” winters—highlights the physical and emotional demands of ranch life. Gender dynamics are another contrast: though wranglers are mostly women (to appeal to male guests), their work is far from the stereotypical “dude ranch” fantasy, requiring real expertise. The disparity between guests’ self-perceived riding skills and reality reveals themes of humility and learning. Most notably, the juxtaposition of wealth and simplicity shows that money doesn’t insulate guests from universal human experiences, as Sheridan observes families bonding over shared activities rather than material comforts.
Quotes
1. “Horses were naturally lazy, and unless they were ridden hard and reminded of their jobs, they’d spend all their days grazing, sleeping, and standing around. Either that or figuring out unique ways to hurt and injure themselves.”
This quote captures Sheridan’s insight into horse behavior and the necessity of consistent training. It reflects the chapter’s theme of discipline and routine in ranch work.
2. “Male guests were much more likely to participate in horseback riding—and listen to instruction—if their host was a young woman. Especially if the young woman wrangler looked good in a pair of jeans.”
This revealing observation highlights the unspoken dynamics of guest ranch hospitality. It shows the intersection of gender roles and customer service expectations in the tourism industry.
3. “She’d also learned very quickly that just because someone was extremely wealthy didn’t mean he or she was extremely smart. And that despite their money, families were families in various shades of conflict, dysfunction, and love.”
This profound realization underscores Sheridan’s personal growth and the chapter’s examination of human nature. It demystifies wealth while affirming universal family dynamics.
4. “Sheridan’s favorite category of guests was twelve-year-old girls. That was the time in life when a special connection to a horse seemed to occur—after childhood and before the social pressure of dating.”
This tender observation reveals Sheridan’s emotional connection to her work. It represents a key moment where she finds meaning beyond the physical labor of ranch life.