The Influencer and The Introvert (Snow Creek Ranch #4)

1. Colt

Colt

Aman can never own too many fishing rods, tackle boxes, and non-stick fry pans.

At least that’s my rule. Some people say cast iron is the way to go, but I’ve never liked it. My cupboards sag under the weight of fry pans in all sizes purchased on sale, because clearly, I have a love for discounted cookware.

After cracking an egg in my favorite pan and turning on my radio for the news and weather, I toss two slices of bread in the toaster and peek out the window of my new apartment above the town bookstore, High Noon Reads.

I love watching the sunlight bathe the town every morning.

My view from the window isn’t clear enough to actually watch the sun poke over the mountains, but I can still make out the muted glow of the sun’s rays filling the streets.

I don’t know why I love it so much, but I do.

Watching the sunrise is one of my favorite things, and sometimes I like to arrive at work early just to watch the light bathe Snow Creek Ranch first thing.

There’s no better feeling than watching the sun greet you each day to remind you of the gift of your beating heart.

A new day brings new things, and as much as I hate straying from my routine, I can admit new things are sometimes good.

Hard, but good.

Like the time I listened to Chris at Your Fly is Down tackle shop and tried an olive-colored Woolly Bugger while fishing for trout instead of my favorite generic white fly.

That was a good change. Took me forever to try it, but when I did, it all worked out, and I had my most successful fly-fishing outing in years.

When Uncle Albert told me he needed to move to a retirement home in the city, that was a hard change.

I know he needs to be closer to his doctors, but boy, did I struggle with that.

Selling our old home and moving into my apartment was the hardest thing I had to do after burying my mother.

Maybe my new apartment will be the good to come out of that change.

There’s always good in every situation; I truly believe that, but sometimes I take longer to find it than I’d like.

The radio crackles, and a nasal voice reads the weather report.

A gorgeous spring day is on the way, and that will make my job a lot nicer.

The horses can be groomed and enjoy the pasture while I deep clean the stalls to prepare for the trail rides and fishing excursions to come soon at Snow Creek Ranch.

After eating, I wash my dishes and finish getting dressed.

Boxes still line the hallway of the apartment, and I really should get more settled here.

Rummaging for things every night in all the boxes is growing old.

Maybe tonight I’ll get my fishing rods and tackle organized.

Then I can tell Uncle Albert that I’m making progress with unpacking.

He’d like that.

After locking up, I wave to the empty bookstore. Aubrey, the owner and my landlord, isn’t in, but it just feels right to acknowledge him, even if he’s not actually there.

Walking to my parking space, the lights flash on my truck when I get closer, picking up the signal from the key fob still in my pocket.

New vehicles are full of so many automated gadgets.

It knows I’m the owner, just with the key in my pocket, for gosh sakes.

After sliding behind the wheel, I shake my head as I stare at the controls.

The interior is like a spaceship, and it took me a bit to figure out the radio on my new truck.

I’m still not sure how to program my favorite stations, but at least I can turn it on.

Uncle Albert insisted that if I were driving to visit him more often, I should use the money I’d saved to buy a new vehicle. I know he spoke from more than just concern about my truck’s age, and while I didn’t want to part with my old one…I wanted to make sure he didn’t worry about me so much.

After tuning my radio to the easy listening station that settles my brain, I pull into the small street in front of the bookstore. Signaling, even though there isn’t a soul around to see it, I turn toward Main Street before hitting the highway to the ranch.

The peaceful highway drive and budding spring scenery wake me up in a way coffee can’t. This drive is a favorite activity next to watching the sunrise and working at the ranch. Nothing would make me want to leave here.

Not even the announcement by Jesse, the ranch’s new foreman, that the ranch was expanding to bring in more business. I’m not afraid of hard work, and I like people just fine. It just takes me a while to know and be comfortable with them.

Heck, when Gunner first arrived, all sharp blue eyes, tattoos, and muscles for days, I don’t think I looked directly at him for the first week. But he’s a lot like me with his quiet ways, and now one of my closest friends. It just took us a bit to get there.

After parking my truck next to the main barn, I hop out and open the heavy wooden door. The lights flicker and come to life after I flip the switches, and a dozen horse heads poke over the stall doors to say good morning.

“Good morning, beauties. Today, you’re all going to enjoy the pasture first thing.

It’s a gorgeous spring day.” I walk down the aisle of the barn, scratching ears and petting necks.

When I reach the end, I slide open the door that leads to the pasture and work my way back, opening the stalls.

Each horse steps out carefully and turns to the open door at the end.

Ears twitch, and happy huffs sound as they all exit into the fresh air of a Colorado early spring day.

“You’re already here and working, Colt. You make the rest of us look bad.” Gunner enters the barn, and I turn toward him. His kind smile softens his sometimes stern face. If I didn’t work with and know him, I’d probably cross the street to avoid him.

“I’m just an early bird is all. You know that.”

“The earliest of birds,” he says with a small laugh, his blue eyes sparkling with humor. “I think you race the sun over the mountains every day, Colt.”

Shrugging, I smile and try not to be embarrassed over something so minor as being up before the sun. I was never one to sleep late and I don’t see that ever changing.

“If you need help with anything in here today, let me know. I have to do some bullshit paperwork for Jesse this morning, so I’ll be in the staff building for the next bit.”

Gunner hates it when he needs to do anything inside. I can’t really blame him. If I had a horse like his mustang, Rogue, I’d want to spend every second outside with my horse, too.

“Sure thing, Gunner. If you go out to check the trails today, I’d love to join you.”

“If we get the work for today done, absolutely. I’ll let you know.”

He nods once before exiting the barn and trusting me with my duties today. I like that about Gunner. No micromanaging.

I’m lost in my thoughts, my shovel scraping the floor as I hum quietly to myself, when a booming voice fills the barn.

“Colt! You in here?”

Jesse’s voice echoes in the empty barn, and I exit from the stall I was cleaning.

“Yeah, Jesse. I’m here.”

He waves for me to join him and, after leaning my shovel on the stall, I remove my work gloves and meet him at the front of the barn.

“You’re the only one I trust with this Colt.”

“With what?”

He leans against the closest stall, and a softness crosses his face that I don’t see very often.

“I need you to show the new social media guy all the best parts of the ranch. Tell him stories, take him places, take him on rides. Teach him how to fly fish. Show him the best of everything.” He steps forward and squeezes my shoulder.

“I know you don’t like big changes, but you’re great at what you do, and I know you love it here.

So work alongside this guy for me, okay? ”

Jesse doesn’t ask much of me except to do a great job and represent Snow Creek Ranch to the best of my abilities. I knew this was coming, and now that it’s here, I can’t hide from it any longer.

“Of course I will, Jesse. Do you have anything specific in mind for me to start with? Or…well, anything?”

He shakes his head and claps me on the shoulder before stepping back. “Just sell all the best things about Snow Creek Ranch. I know you won’t let me down, Colt. I’ll find you later.”

Jesse nods once, effectively ending the conversation, before turning and leaving the barn. The door bumps softly behind him, and once again I’m alone in the barn.

“Okay, then.”

Returning to the stall I was working in, I try not to think of how much my days might change with this new development. It’s best to just do my work and let the day unfold.

Something good will come of it eventually. It always does once I ride it out. Until then, I’ll enjoy my morning.

“See you all tomorrow,” I call out to the horses with a laugh.

Trixie actually bobs her head like she understands, and I stroll from the barn to my truck. Jesse never came to find me later, like he said he would, and somehow I made it through the day without thinking about it too much. Which is probably for the best.

Before hopping into my truck, I notice a piece of paper under the wiper blade and pluck it out before sliding behind the steering wheel. After pressing the button to start my truck—I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that—I unfold the note.

Colt,

Since you didn’t answer your cell, I’m assuming you left it at home again.

Guy’s name is Ethan. He’ll find you in the barn tomorrow morning. Don’t worry about doing chores with the others. Just do what Ethan needs. Gunner knows you’re unavailable as well. Ethan is your priority.

Jesse

With a puff of my cheeks, I set the paper on the seat next to me and shift the truck into gear. Tomorrow it all starts then. My fingers grip the wheel harder than necessary as I drive. The scenery I love to watch along the road is a blur as my chest grows tighter.

Once I’m on a straight stretch, I pull over to unbuckle. After flinging the door open, I jump out and fill my lungs with several deep inhales.

“Get it together, Colt. Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale.”

It’s been a long time since I’ve had a bout of anxiety like this one. Probably something I should examine and talk about, but for now, I’ll keep it to myself. The tightness loosens, and I slump against the side of the truck. God, I wish I weren’t like this.

Change.

It’s both my biggest thrill and my downfall.

It’s not that I hate trying new things. Not even close.

I enjoy new things. I even tried sushi once, and surprisingly, I quite liked it.

It’s my comfort of routine vanishing that unsettles me.

I knew this was coming, and I knew it would change things for me on the job.

However, knowing and preparing are two separate things.

I figured we’d have a staff meeting of sorts and greet the new guy. Maybe he’d tag along here and there. We’d all just ease into it, and I’d get used to him like I did Gunner. No way did I ever think Jesse would ask me to make the guy my sole priority.

That’s a lot of pressure.

I’d do anything for the ranch, but holy smokes, it’s caught me way off balance today.

I’m just a ranch hand. I’m not a…I don’t know what you’d call it, but I’m not a guy to promote the ranch.

I can’t even remember to carry my cell phone most days.

A social media expert following me around can’t be the wisest choice.

Maybe I should ask Jesse to pick someone else.

He said he only trusts you.

Sliding back behind the wheel, the music still plays, but the station isn’t my usual. Every time I turn the truck off, it jumps back to an FM station, and I don’t know how to change it. But the song is appropriate at least.

ABBA’s Take a Chance on Me plays through the speakers instead of my soothing instrumental music.

I laugh as I pull out to continue driving. “Okay, ABBA. Message received. I can only promise to do my best.”

It’s all I can do, and I hope it’s enough.

My paintbrush feathers a line of yellow next to the orange before I wash them together with water. The edges bleed together, mimicking the glow of a sunrise over the mountains. Well, I think it’s a pretty good imitation at least.

My morning egg crackles in the pan, reminding me I still need to eat. The unpacked box on the counter also reminds me that I haven’t unpacked like I said I would.

Unpacking lasted for exactly one box. That’s when I found my watercolor paints and, after clearing a spot at the kitchen table, sat down to paint for the first time since moving in. I’m no artist by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s something I enjoy doing when I can.

Setting my paints down, I turn toward the stove and finish my egg before popping the bread into the toaster. My gaze lands on the shimmer pot of paint I picked up last time I went to the craft supply store. It’s so pretty in the jar, and I’ve yet to bring myself to use it in a painting.

After my toast is buttered, I stare at the paint pot.

“It’s just a new paint, Colt. Use it.”

With a new brush, I dip into the shimmering substance with a confidence I’m positive isn’t mine. After a pause, I swipe it onto the sun in my painting. The sun instantly shimmers like the heat over the pavement on a hot summer’s day.

“Wow.” My voice is quiet in the empty apartment as I quickly layer another coat of orange on the sun and add more shimmer. My breakfast sits untouched as I stare at the painting and how much the picture has changed.

It’s just paint. It shouldn’t feel like I just won the biggest prize at the state fair, but it does. I’m kicking myself for not using it sooner. I could’ve been enjoying this paint months ago!

Better late than never, I suppose. I quickly shovel my breakfast into my mouth and reach for my journal to make a single entry.

I tried the shimmer paint today and feel great! Wish I had tried it sooner!

Quickly, I leave my paintbrushes soaking and rush off to work with this feeling of triumph still clinging to me.