“Meating” on Common Ground by Bode Kostick

A 95 Ford, bucket of bolts, panels hanging askew, paint peeling rounds the corner into Dupuyer. The car comes to a sagging halt outside of BJs restaurant.

A Prius Prime slides around the corner, barely heard over the drum of the Ford.

The sounds of the morning birds fade in as the hum of the engines subside.

The crack of a door splits through the air. Out steps Kinnin of Premium Feedlot Cattle. He plants both feet firmly onto the ground, gravel crunching beneath his manure-caked cowboy boots. He snorts, spits, crosses his arms and pulls his cap low over his brow.

Jude of the Indigenous Parks Alliance pops open the car door, a deft pair of Keens plants firmly onto the gravel.

”Pleasure meeting you here, Kinnin,” Lou says, walking over to shake Kinnin’s hand.

”Pleasure’s all mine,” Kinnin says gruffly, extending his hand to meet Jude’s.

”Well, let’s go on in and get some coffee!” Jude says, a wry smile spreading across his face. Kinnin nods and the men turn with Kinnin leading them into BJs.

*****

“Thank you, Ma’am,” Kinnin says, looking up at their server as she sets down their steaming coffees. Jude nods a thank you to their server as well. The light streaming in from the windows sets a soft glow atop their table. Kinnin looks down at his mug, placing both hands on the mug, warming them. He looks up at Jude and asks, “So, why’d you bring me to talk to me about bears?” He cocks his head. “I mean, there really are only two types of bears, you know that, right?” His voice rising.

Jude takes a sip from his coffee, sighs, and sets his mug down on the table.

“Look here, young man,” Jude says, adjusting his glasses. “I’ve been around a long time and I’ve dealt with lots of people like you.”

Kinnin interjects, “People like me?! You mean, hardworking, honest men just trying to make a living?” He grits his teeth. “If that’s the case, then I know your type as well. You’re just a haughty environmentalist libtard trying to save every square inch of that goddamn place you call the wilderness.” Kinnin throws up quotes around the world ‘wilderness.’

“I think we started off on the wrong foot.” Jude squares up with Kinnin, looking him in the eyes. “I’m not here to fight you, I’m a man of peace,” he says, smiling.

“And I am a man of practicality, I have a business to run, and a third generation legacy to uphold.”

“Oh you ranchers and your generations,” Jude scoffs. “Once you’re gone, the only thing that will be left of your generations is a couple of acres of destroyed land.” He shakes his head.

“Destroyed is a strong term, buddy,” Kinnin says, pointing an accusing finger at Lou. “I prefer the term ‘utilized.’ And look, I only came here cause my wife told me to, and because you promised us some electric fencing.”

“First off, I wanted this to be a conversation, not an argument,” Jude says, raising his voice for the first time. “I can tell we have different opinions on how to treat the environment. But I assure you that this will not be a transaction. I want to help you, Kinnin.” Jude smooths his shirt, exhales, and puts his hands on the table. “What are you looking to get out of this?” he posits. “Well, besides the fencing, of course,” he adds wryly.

Kinnin looks around, not meeting Jude’s gaze. He sighs, slouching back into his chair.

“To be honest, I’m scared. These grizzly bears make it hard to run a business and… and I’m scared for my family. If the cattle prices weren’t so high right now, we’d be underwater,” Kinnin says, taking off his cap and rubbing his hand through his graying hair. “But these grizzlies just cause me such a headache, rummaging through my feed like it’s a goddamned Golden Corral.” He shoves his hat back on his head. “If it wasn’t for these laws, I would use any means necessary to get rid of them, and I mean any.”

“I hear you, Kinnin, but these animals deserve life as much as we do. I am trying to advocate for them because they don’t have a voice,” Jude says, enunciating the last word.

“When it’s not your livelihood at stake, it’s easy to say that.”

Jude shakes his head.

“Well I can tell this isn’t getting anywhere, thanks for the coffee.” Kinnin pushes his chair back, motioning to stand up.

“Wait, you haven’t even finished your cup.” Jude motions at the quarter full pot sitting on the table. Kinnin hesitates for a second and then reluctantly sits back down in his chair.

“I can get you that fence. I hear you and I feel like I’m letting my ‘libtard’ ideas get in the way.” Throwing up the word ‘libtard’ in quotes with a smirk spread across his face, his eyes softening. Kinnin chuckles.

“Well it would be nice to have some help putting up some fence.”

”Well, I hopefully won’t be the one putting it up!”Jude says, slapping his knee.

”Me neither!” Kinnin laughs.

Kinnin and Jude both sigh and look around the restaurant.

”Well, it’s nearly 10, I oughta get going,” says Kinnin. “Farm work never stops.”

Both men push up out of their chairs. Jude walks around the table to Kinnin and sticks out his hand, like an olive branch reaching out for peace. Kinnin shakes Jude’s hand firmly, saying, “Thanks for the coffee. Let me know about them fences.”

”Will do.”

Kinnin puts down a 20 on the table and walks out with Jude following close behind.