Rugged Cowboy: A Grumpy Sunshine Western Romance

Chapter 15

The next several days passed quickly and settled into a slightly different routine for Viv. She had her usual activities for the spa—the yoga classes, the massages, dealing with the staff and scheduling. But she spent more time with Wade, especially her nights. They alternated between spending them at Wade’s or her cabin depending on the night. He didn’t seem to care who knew about them, wasn’t hiding them from anyone, though he wasn’t announcing it either. But, the more she thought about it and about their conversation at the meteor shower, which they never actually saw, she realized she’d never really seen him with his family, not unless he was working with Michael.

And, of course, that made her wonder and want to ask questions. So, when she happened to be working with Sarah, going over the month-end accounting, she debated how to bring it up without betraying Wade’s confidence. Fortunately, she didn’t have to worry about it. Sarah beat her to the punch.

As they sat across the small round table in the conference room, the account information spread between them, Sarah said, “So, I hear you’ve been spending time with my son.”

It took Viv a minute to understand who she meant.“Your son?”

“Wade. I hear you’ve become almost inseparable. Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy for him. He’s kept to himself for far too long. I just worry that you’ll break his heart.”

Viv was surprised to hear Sarah refer to Wade as her son, especially after hearing Wade’s perspective. But she wasn’t going to speak out of turn. It wasn’t her place to share confidences.“I didn’t intend to start anything, nor do I plan on breaking anyone’s heart, Sarah. We don’t know what this is, not really.”

But her words brought up an uncomfortable point. What were they doing? Was this a vacation fling, a summer romance like teenagers at a summer camp? Would it end when the season ended, or was their connection strong enough to carry them beyond what would seem like a natural end? Because, the reality was, her employment ended as soon as her friend Greta came back from maternity leave. The season would end and, while the Guest Ranch had guests all year long, Viv wouldn’t be working there. Where would that leave her and Wade?

“So you haven’t discussed a future?” Sarah eyed her over the top of her glasses.

Viv put down the paper she was reviewing and looked at the older woman.“Sarah, I’m only here for the season. I can’t make any promises.”

Sarah made a noncommittal sound, then turned her attention back to the accounts, leaving Viv to wonder what that meant. When the other woman said nothing else, Viv sorted through the papers in front of her, not really seeing them.

Sarah took a sip of her tea.“Has Wade told you how he came to live with us?”

Just when she thought they were off the topic, Sarah threw a curveball. Viv nodded.“Yes, he told me about his parents.”

“He broke my heart when we finally got to Colorado to see him. His parents had been gone a month by then, I think. They had trouble tracking down family, you see. His parents were distant relatives on my husband’s side. Daniel’s family had some issues, to put it mildly. His uncle was unhappy that he didn’t inherit the ranch. He was given his inheritance monetarily, and he blew it, but he wanted access to the ranch’s assets, too. But his father knew he would drag down the ranch, so he refused and left it all to Daniel’s father. That created a rift that never got resolved. We never even knew Wade’s parents, or that Wade existed.”

Viv swallowed against the lump in her throat thinking about the lonely little boy grieving for his parents and being alone in the world.“He had no one else?”

“Apparently not. His grandparents on both sides had passed away. Not that Daniel’s uncle should ever have raised Wade. I never knew his mother’s family, but Social Services said we were the closest relatives to him.”

“Did you ever consider not going down there?”

Sarah stared at her like she had sprouted feathers and did the chicken dance right there in the conference room.“He was family. Of course he was coming to live with us. There had never been a doubt, for me or Daniel. As soon as we heard about him, we drove straight down there and brought him home.”

Viv struggled to reconcile Wade’s version of his life with the Buchanans and this story.“How did your family take to him?”

“You know how kids are. They couldn’t believe he’d never been on a horse before or seen cattle. There was a little hazing, but nothing too serious. Overall, the boys got him adjusted to ranch life. I think Gabe and he got along the best for a while, until Gabe left. By then, he and Michael were working side by side on the ranch. They’ve been thick as thieves ever since.”

Sarah took a sip of her tea and glanced over at her.“What about you? You haven’t said much about your family.”

Viv snorted.“We’re a bit of a blended family, like you. My dad and his brother own a vineyard together and all the kids work on it—except for me, of course. I’m the black sheep, so to speak.”

Sarah focused her full attention on Viv, sympathy in her eyes.“That must be very hard for you. How does your family feel about you being this far away?”

Viv barked a laugh.“They think this is a lark for me, and I’ll come to my senses.”

Sarah arched an eyebrow.“You’ve done an outstanding job for us in the short time you’ve been here. The goat yoga program that you started has been incredibly popular with our guests. The crystal reiki is also one of the top-requested sessions based on the accounts. Our staff is thrilled with some of the new ideas you’ve brought and the training you’ve provided. You’ve been a breath of fresh air to our facility, Viv. You’re not keeping a seat warm here; you’re growing and expanding our business. You’ve been an asset.”

Viv blushed under the words of praise, not sure how to respond.“I appreciate the opportunity to try new things. The staff has been amazingly supportive and eager for a chance to try ideas, and they’re really talented.”

“Have you thought about what you’ll do when Greta comes back?”

With one question, Sarah took the wind right out of Viv’s sails.“Honestly, no. I have my position at the studio back home. I took a leave when I came here, so I guess I’ll go back.”

“Something tells me that you won’t be happy being an instructor anymore. I think you should consider looking for management positions, like you’re doing here. I would be happy to give you a reference. I may know of a couple of guest ranches looking for someone with your skills, if you want to stay in this field. Just say the word.”

Viv’s grin broadened under her praise, even as it brought home a new reality. She wasn’t staying at the Guest Ranch at Buck’s Falls. The clock was ticking and her time was coming to a close. What would that mean for her and Wade?