Chapter 6
Aspen
Zach sits propped up in our bed while I get ready for the day. He should be getting up too, since he has to be at the police academy soon, but I’m not his mother, so he can be late if that’s what he wants to do.
It’s been a week since I started at Moonlight Ranch, and so far, I actually enjoy going to work every day.
I haven’t had one terrible guest interaction since I started, which is such a breath of fresh air after working in a busy city for the last few years.
And my coworkers are wonderful. It’s been kind of fun.
Zach seemed to think I was crazy when I mentioned how much I like it.
It’s almost as if he wanted me to hate the job he forced me into.
I don’t know what his deal is lately. I know it’s stressful moving and starting a new job, but at least he knows people here.
It’s even more stressful for me. I moved to a town where I don’t know anyone except him, simply because he asked me to.
“Do you know how to ride horses?” I ask as I blend my eyeshadow.
He chuckles. “Yeah, babe. I do. You don’t?”
“Nope. Your dad wants me to learn, though.”
“You don’t have to do anything he wants you to.”
I look over at him. “He is my boss…”
“Yeah, but your job description doesn’t require you to ride horses, does it?” he asks. I don’t have to look at him to know he’s smirking right now.
“No, but I think it’d be a good idea to learn. He said I can ask Beck to give me a lesson or two.”
Zach finally climbs out of bed and makes his way to our bathroom. He stands behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. “I can teach you how to ride if you really want to learn. But you did a pretty good job riding last night.” He winks at me through the mirror before he kisses my cheek.
I ignore his sex comment and add, “If you were to teach me, it would require you to come to the ranch.”
He makes a face and shakes his head as he drops his hands and walks toward the toilet. “Nah then. Beck can teach you. He’s good.”
“I don’t understand why you don’t like the ranch. Or your dad, for that matter.”
“I told you. My dad loves that ranch more than anyone or anything else. He always put the ranch before me. He wanted me to take over one day, just like he did when my grandpa retired, and I don’t want that. And he treated my mom really shitty.”
“How did he treat your mom?” I ask carefully because I can tell he’s getting annoyed.
“He didn’t give a shit about her, just like he doesn’t give a shit about me.” I want to argue because I don’t believe that’s true, but I keep my mouth shut as he continues. “He broke up with her when I was a baby. Didn’t even want to try to work on their relationship.”
“Weren’t they just kids when they had you?”
“Yeah, but mom wanted us to be a family. She wanted to work on it, and he just gave up. Didn’t even try.”
“But he still wanted to be in your life, didn’t he?”
He shrugs. “My mom was always there for me. I only saw my dad every other weekend. It was like hanging out with a stranger. Mom hated it when I left for those weekends, so I decided to stop going. She needed me more than he did.”
“Oh,” is all I can say because, again, I don’t think that’s true at all, but it’s not my business. Zach is an adult and can make his own decisions, no matter how wrong I think they might be.
“You think I’m the bad guy, don’t you?” he asks, coming up beside me again to wash his hands.
“No. Your feelings are valid. I’m just trying to understand.” Because I would do anything to have a dad, even if he only hung out with me every other weekend.
“Families are complicated. I know you don’t really understand that.” Ok. Ouch. I swallow down the hurt from that comment because I know he didn’t mean to hurt me, but it still stings.
I nod and drop the subject, not really wanting to get into an argument before work. I finish up my makeup and then give Zach a kiss goodbye.
“What time do you think you’ll be home tonight?” I ask. The past few nights, I’ve been getting home before him. He’s been exhausted, so I wanted to try to have dinner ready for him tonight.
“Actually, Mom wants me to come over for dinner. You wanna come? I’m sure she won’t mind.”
Why wouldn’t she just invite both of us? That seems odd. But I’m also grateful because I don’t actually want to go. “Oh. No, that’s ok. You enjoy the time with your mom.”
“Alright. I’ll text you later.” He kisses my cheek, and I head to work.
“Good morning, Brooks. Here’s your coffee.” I place the coffee on the corner of his desk. He looks over at me from his laptop.
“How many times have I told you that you don’t have to bring me coffee?”
“How many times have I told you that I’m going to do what your previous assistants did?”
He chuckles and reaches across his desk to get the coffee. “Touché.”
“Do you need anything from me today?” I ask.
“Not at the moment, but that could change.”
So far, he hasn’t needed me to do too much.
I review his emails each morning and respond to the ones I can.
Harper doesn’t even have to sit with me while I do it anymore.
I’ve answered one call from the mayor, who wanted to know how many people were booked at the ranch so far for the Fourth of July holiday.
I was pretty proud that I was able to answer that question without having to ask anyone for help.
I’ve even started handling the desk on my own.
I do check in and outs. I’ve scheduled hikes and trail rides.
I even offer suggestions in town. For that part, I do have to consult the list Harper and Jazz compiled for me since I still haven’t been around town much.
Overall, I feel like I’m doing a pretty good job.
“Alright. I wanted to see if it was ok for me to schedule a time with Beck to teach me how to ride. I can do it on my lunch break.”
His face lights up at my question, which surprises me. “Absolutely. You don’t need to use your lunch break, though. Just schedule a time with him, and we’ll find someone to cover the desk. Hell, I’ll cover it if I have to.”
I laugh. “I can’t imagine you behind the desk.”
“Hey, I’ve had to do it a time or two. My dad always told me that if I wanted to be a good leader, I needed to make sure I understood exactly what I was asking other people to do. So, I know how to do just about everything at this ranch.”
“That’s pretty cool, actually.”
“Now, I never said I was good at it, but I can manage if I have to. So schedule a time with Beck, and we’ll figure it out.”
“Ok, thank you.”
“Of course. Has, uh, Zach mentioned anything about stopping by the ranch? It’s been awhile since he’s been here.”
He looks so hopeful that I don’t have the heart to tell him that Zach doesn’t want to be anywhere near this place, so I tell a little white lie. “He hasn’t mentioned anything, but I can ask.”
Surely I can convince Zach to stop by for a few minutes. We can even plan it for a time when I’m here so I can be a buffer.
Brooks nods, and I excuse myself so he can work. At the front desk computer, I add my name to Beck’s schedule for tomorrow. There’s an open spot at one, which is perfect. It’s after check-out time but before check-in.
The first half of my shift passes by quickly. Harper stops in to check on me once, but for the most part, I’ve become pretty self-sufficient.
Around midday, Jazz stops by. It’s becoming our little routine. She hops up on the desk and lets her legs dangle. I love that she doesn’t care what anyone thinks about her. She seems completely sure of herself. Her energy has drawn me in, and I hope we’ll be good friends.
“My dearest Aspen. How art thou today?” she asks in the most Southern Shakespearean accent I’ve ever heard.
I laugh. “I’m even better now that you’re here.”
“Yes, I do tend to have that effect on people.”
“You’ll be happy to know that I scheduled my first riding lesson with Beck.” I told her the other day that I’ve never ridden a horse, and she proceeded to tease me, telling me I needed to learn since I work on a ranch now.
“Ugh, he’s so hot. I wish he could give me riding lessons, if you know what I mean.”
I’m embarrassed by the loud cackle that explodes out of me, but I swear I never know what she’s going to say. “Yeah, I think I know what you mean. And I’m starting to think that you think everyone is hot.”
“That’s not true. Have you met Danny?”
The name doesn’t sound familiar, but I may have just forgotten. “I don’t think so.”
“Yeah, well, he’s not hot, trust me on that.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
“So when are you doing it?” she asks.
“Doing it?” I ask, confused. My mind has officially crossed over to dirty territory, and I can’t remember what we were discussing.
She cocks an eyebrow at me. “The riding lessons?”
“Oh, right. Tomorrow afternoon.”
“Cool.” She leans back and looks down at the ground behind the desk. “Please tell me you have boots.”
I look down at my sneakers and realize that’s what she’s looking at. “Oh. Um, no, I don’t. Do I need them?”
“You don’t need them, but you kinda need them,” she explains.
“That makes no sense.”
She sighs. “What are you doing after work?”
Well, I guess I’m not doing anything since Zach won’t be home. “Nothing.”
“Cool. We’ll go to town, get you some boots, and then we’ll have dinner. Girls’ night!”
I smile. “I’d love that.”
She hops off the desk. “Cool. I’ll come up here after I finish my last cabin.”
“Alright.” She starts to walk off, but I stop her. “Hey Jazz?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks for this.”
She smiles. “Anytime, sunshine.”
The rest of my shift passes quickly, probably because I’m so excited to do something with a girlfriend.
I had a few friends in Florida, but when I moved to Atlanta, I had a hard time meeting people.
I wasn’t in school, and the people I worked with weren’t there to build friendships.
Then, when I started dating Zach, all my spare time went to him.
It’s been a long time since I’ve done anything for just myself.
True to her word, Jazz walks toward the desk right as the night shift person comes to relieve me.
“Perfect timing!” Jazz says as I grab my stuff and follow her out to the parking lot.
“I can drive if you want,” I offer, heading to my car.
“Cool.”
We’re just about to get in when I see Brooks and Harper walking in the direction of his truck. Harper is laughing, and Brooks is smiling at whatever they were just talking about. My curiosity gets the better of me. “Hey, Jazz. Are those two a thing?” I nod in their direction.
She turns her head to see who I’m looking at. “Brooks and Harper? Nah, they’re more like brother and sister.”
I can’t look away as Brooks slings his arm over Harper’s shoulder and pulls her in close. “Doesn’t look like it…”
Jazz laughs. “No, really. You should hear them together. There’s no romance there.”
I’m not sure that I believe her, but it’s really none of my business anyway, so I force myself to look away and think about my first girls’ night in my new town.