Chapter 24
Carter
D espite Hawk stating firmly that he wasn’t moving in, a fair number of his things had made it into my house.
More than a week’s worth of clothes took up one side of my closet, his toothbrush and razor lived on one side of the bathroom counter, and his e-reader sat on the other bedside table.
Not that we did much reading in bed. We used that time for other things.
He'd been spending more nights than not with me, sneaking out of bed in the wee hours to make it to the ranch early. It had become a routine, in just a couple of days, for me to sleepily try to coax him to stay, even though we both knew he wouldn’t.
But I loved the playfulness of it and that it had become a thing.
I hoped to have many more “things” that were just ours.
Two months ago, I would have never imagined this was where we would be. But I was grateful for it. He was young, yes, but far too mature for his age. We fit well in that regard, and though we didn’t always communicate perfectly, we were both striving to do better.
The only problem was, I was at loose ends.
I couldn’t drift forever. Sure I had money to spare and would probably be fine for the rest of my life, as long as I didn’t suddenly have a mid-life crisis and blow it on sports cars and island homes.
I was, at times, impulsive, but even that was far beyond my practicality.
So I wasn’t worried about being able to live comfortably for the rest of my life.
But I was only forty-five, and despite needing the time off after I left Omicron, even before Ramona and Hawk, I’d been getting antsy.
That feeling was growing again. As much as I helped out at the ranch, and loved it, I couldn’t do that forever either.
I needed something to occupy at least some of my time. I just had no idea what.
Hawk had been out of bed before six that morning, but I’d lingered for a couple of more hours before starting my day.
I made my coffee to-go and headed to Colorado Springs.
I’d spoken to Jenn the day before and she was all too happy to have me involved in the Blue Creek Ranch Halloween Extravaganza.
I’d heard the capital letters when she said the name, and while I wasn’t sure it was actually called that, I enjoyed her amusement when she said it.
She hadn’t hesitated to put me on pick up duty, gushing about how it would help so much, since they wouldn’t have to schedule it into someone else’s day.
When Hawk had arrived last night, he’d been towing a small flatbed trailer, which he then hooked to my Jeep.
This year, the Harringtons were adding several twelve-foot skeletons to the decorations.
I’d seen them before, and honestly, I was surprised they didn’t have them already. When I expressed that, Jenn’s bright peal of laughter had me smiling.
“Oh, no, dear. Three more . We already have seven. Fern has outfits for some of them. You’ll see when you get here.” She chuckled again. “But really, thank you so much for going to pick them up.”
It took me a dozen or so miles to get used to driving with the trailer attached. Mostly, I just had to remember it was there and not pull in front of anyone without ample room. I found a spooky playlist on a streaming channel to get into the mood as I drove.
My destination was about an hour and a half away.
Even though the music was fun, it didn’t hold my attention enough to not let my brain drift.
Honestly, my professional future had been on my mind for days.
There had been at least once that I thought Hawk would bring up my preoccupation, but he must have thought better of it or changed his mind, because he never mentioned it.
I was glad because I had no idea what I could even do with my life.
I knew I didn’t want to get back into the corporate sector.
I could, and make a killing doing it. But it was more important to me to stay in my new home, and frankly, this part of Colorado just didn’t have that kind of infrastructure.
Not unless I wanted a several hour commute every day.
I didn’t want to spend hours traveling since it would cut into my time with Ramona and—more importantly—Hawk.
But that was all I had done for the past twenty years, mini retirement notwithstanding.
I wasn’t incapable of learning a new job, and I wasn’t opposed to a new career path either.
It’s possible that if I actually took the time to look, I’d find a job that would suit.
The problem with that was that anything I did would take me away from Hawk.
Even if I managed to find something that was strictly remote.
It still meant logging in and being away from him for eight plus hours a day.
In just two months, I’d gotten so used to spending at least part of my day on the ranch, and at least seeing Hawk, that I didn’t want to lose that.
There was a part of me that was stuck on this. It was almost as though I couldn't move forward with my future with Hawk unless I figured this out. How could I expect him to count on me if I wasn’t settled? How could I dive headfirst into life with my man if I didn’t have a plan for this part of me?
And I wanted that future. We were still taking things slowly, and that was fine with me. Whatever he needed. But I was all in, ready to ride this ride until the end, whatever it looked like. I just needed to figure out my professional life so I could have it.
Thankfully, I had plenty of time to mull it over on the drive to Colorado Springs and back.
Juanpablo sent up the alert as I pulled up to the house, and Jenn bounded out the front door to meet me. Instead of directing me, she pulled open the passenger door and hopped in, pointing toward the first barn.
“Head that-a-way, my dear,” she said, grinning. “Fernie is meeting us.”
Since I had her undivided attention for at least a few minutes, and she knew everyone and their mother, I decided to pick her brain. “Hey, Jenn? What do you know about Phillip Meyer?”
She made a retching sound that had me laughing. “He’s a tool. Don’t work with him. He won’t listen and he’ll make changes without your approval, which will cost you more money. What do you need a contractor for?”
That settled that. I hummed and she motioned toward one of the front paddocks that had the gate standing open. I wasn’t worried about my Jeep being able to traverse the dying grass and it hadn’t rained in a few days so it wasn’t muddy.
“The plant oasis Keegan created needs to be built before your son can fill it with plants.”
She let out a little gasp. “Oh! He told me about that. It sounds lovely. And it was so kind of you to use him. He’s so excited.”
I tutted. “It wasn’t kind. He’s an expert. Or learning to be anyway. He’s passionate though, which I always reward. Plus he’s giving me what I want. Drive right up there?” I gestured to where I could see several of the overlarge skeletons, one of which was half constructed.
“Yep. No point in putting these bad boys in storage just to get them out again. You’ll have time to help, won’t you?”
“You bet.” Our time was coming to an end so I quickly added, “I met with Porter Cantwell too. Thoughts?”
Jenn gripped my arm. “I don’t know him, but I’ve heard he’s good. But, Carter, honey. If you want the shelves and such built, you should have just asked. I know people. For instance, Beckett Winters is technically a handyman by profession but does outstanding work. I can put you in touch.”
“Yes, please. And from now on, I’m going to have Marielle run any local appointments by you.”
That pleased her, based on the wide, radiant smile.
We didn’t have time to talk more. I slowed the Jeep and we both hopped out.
Fern was directing people I’d never met but as soon as she saw us, she rushed over.
After that, it was a flurry of activity.
Fern had a clipboard and wasn’t afraid to use it.
She had all of us doing her bidding, setting up the skeletons and other decorations.
A different set of people were working on the straw bale maze to her specifications.
By keeping an ear out while I worked—the skeleton construction wasn’t hard but it did require a ladder and concentration—it was easy to see Fern’s vision.
This front paddock would be transformed into a slightly spooky carnival type area, with games and decorations.
The part of the drive right outside of it was where the food and drink trucks would park, and the vehicles for trunk or treating would line the drive past the house and toward the cabins, where a bonfire would be blazing.
Apparently that was mostly for atmosphere and a place to rest if the littler kids needed a break.
I had half a minute to wonder where Hawk would run ghost Humphrey and Jaina, but then Fern grabbed me for some heavy lifting. My own problems left my mind as I reveled in being a part of this warm and wonderful family.
Hawk found me in the late afternoon. I was a little bit sweaty but it was cool enough that most of it had dried in the breeze.
I was chugging some water when I felt his presence and turned, ready to show off all we’d accomplished.
But he was staring at me, not the decorations.
He tilted his head and waited until I stood and walked toward him before he turned and headed off.
I hurried to catch up. As soon as I did, he grabbed my hand.
“How about a ride?” he murmured.
“On me?” I asked, putting all the innuendo into my tone I could. “Or horses?
Hawk laughed and I got a glimpse of his real smile, the one that only made occasional appearances. “You later. Right now, horses. Want to take Ramona out?”
I stopped in my tracks, and he only paused when my arm couldn’t go any further. He looked back at me over his shoulder, the sly smirk a knowing one.
“Are you serious?”