Eden’s Dom (The Doms of Madison County #7)

Chapter One

Eden shuffled behind the line of people, moving off the plane. She was glad the chaotic flight was over. She winced again when the bag she carried bounced against her hip. From the weight of the bag and people running into her, she knew she’d have a few bruises.

Her excitement and thoughts of being on the ranch kept her sane and moving along. It was a dream come true.

She would stay at the ranch for two weeks, during which time she would learn how to use horses as therapy for children and military vets. A friend told her about the program, and it was exactly what she’d been looking for. She needed something to do with her time, but she didn’t want to go back to full-time work. She had enough money and didn’t need to.

The program was going to teach the group several things. One part was teaching the students how to take care of a horse and how to ride. Since she’d been around horses her whole life, she could skip that.

Eden caught sight of a sign with her name on it, held over everyone’s heads, and headed that way.

The man smiled. “You must be Eden?”

“Yes.”

“I’m Randy, the ranch manager. I’m here to pick you up.”

“Thank you so much. I hate to take you away from your job, though.”

He chuckled. “Don’t worry about that. Until everyone shows up, there’s not much to do.” He held his hand out. “Let me take your bag. It looks heavy, and you look tired.”

Eden chuckled. “A bit. The flight was hectic, with babies crying, men arguing, and the flight attendants had to move a few people around to keep the peace.”

“I’m so glad I don’t have to fly.”

“Have you ever?” she asked as they walked to the baggage claim.

“Nope, and I’m good with it,” Randy said. “Show me which ones are yours.”

They stood with a large group of people waiting for their bags. She’d only packed one because she was only going to be there for two weeks.

“That one,” she said and pointed.

Randy snatched it up. “Follow me.”

Eden walked with him out of the terminal. “I can carry one.”

Randy snorted. “This is nothing. We have to wrestle calves every spring, and the hay bales alone are a hundred pounds.”

“I knew they were heavy when I tried to move one at the ranch where I help. I couldn’t move it an inch. I even tried sitting and using my legs, but it didn’t budge. I still think someone glued the bale to the floor.”

They both laughed. He walked to a truck that had the ranch emblem on the doors and put her bags in the back seat.

After Eden got in, she looked around. The two front seats were large and fit Randy well. She looked over her shoulder and saw how nice and big the back was. “I didn’t realize trucks had back seats like this.”

Randy put the truck in gear. “Yes. We had to have room for the ranch hands. We’ll go to town in this or to pick up supplies, and since we’re all big men, the trucks had to be, too.”

They talked about the area, and she asked questions about the seminar. It was a pleasant and relaxing ride, which helped with the headache that started the moment she got on the plane that morning.

Eden looked around in awe when they turned into a driveway and through huge metal gates with the ranch’s name in decorative, elaborate letters spelling, CRAWFORD RANCH.

“Wow, this is beautiful,” she said.

Randy grinned. “Yeah. I hate to say it, but I’ve gotten so used to it, I don’t appreciate it like I should.”

She looked over at the young man. “Do you enjoy working here?”

“Oh, yeah. I started right after high school and trained under my father, who had worked here for decades until he retired when I took over.”

“I think just enjoying what you do is a lot. You’re lucky. Most people don’t get to say that,” Eden said.

“That’s true. We’ll drive up to the main house to get you checked in. I already know which cabin you are in, so I’ll drop everything there if that’s okay.”

“That would be wonderful. Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome. I enjoyed talking to you. You remind me of my mom, although you’re younger than her.”

“Really? How?”

“She’s as sweet as can be.”

“That’s very nice. Thank you. I’m probably around the same age as your mom.”

“No way,” Randy blurted. “My mom is forty-seven.”

“I’m forty-two. My daughters are out of college and working in the city.”

“You don’t look your age.”

“I get that a lot. My mom was the same, and I take care of myself, so that helps.”

She grinned when Randy cringed. “What?”

“You couldn’t pay me enough to live in a city.”

“Me, either. They think I’m crazy.”

They both laughed.

“Here it is. Do you need help down?”

“I don’t think so, but if I suddenly disappear and you hear a thump, you might want to come and check on me.”

Randy threw back his head and laughed. “This seminar is going to be so much fun with you.”

“That’s very sweet.” She opened the door and slid out, landing on her feet. “Yay for me.”

Randy laughed again. “I’ll see you around, Eden.”

“Good. Thank you again.”

Randy waved as he drove away. He stopped in front of the first small cabin and took her bags inside. Ten cabins were off to the left of the main house. She had yet to learn how many people came to the seminars. She just hoped they were nice. It would make the next two weeks fun.

She walked up the steps and through a screen door. A small desk was off to the right, and the door to the living room was on the left.

“Hello, may I help you?” an older woman with mostly gray hair said. She was sitting at the desk.

“Yes. I’m Eden Montgomery. I’m here for the seminar.”

The woman smiled. “Yes. Have a seat, and I’ll go over some things with you.”

Eden sat in a chair across from the lady.

“My name is Mary.”

“It’s nice to meet you.”

Mary smiled. “Let me go over the release of liability.”

Eden sat and talked with Mary after she filled in the necessary paperwork. The two people she’d met were extremely nice, and she enjoyed talking to both.

“Supper will be ready at five, and it’s in the food barn. It’s the white one you passed. The other barns are all red.”

“Thank you. When does the class start tomorrow?” Eden asked.

“Eight o’clock tomorrow morning in the arena. You’ll pass it when you walk to the food barn.”

“Sounds good. I hope to see you again.”

Mary smiled. “I’m sure you will. My husband and I are in charge of the meals. We also do a few other things, like checking people in.”

“You’re busy people,” Eden said.

“That’s the way we like it.”

Eden grinned. “I’m like that, too. My family calls me Squirrel sometimes because I’m always rushing about.”

Mary laughed. “That’s hilarious. Are you married?”

Eden shook her head. “No, divorced.”

Mary patted her hand. “I’m sorry. I can tell you were hurt.”

Eden nodded. “Yes. He wasn’t a nice man.”

“Then I’m glad you’re away from him.”

Eden smiled. “Me, too.”

“You have some time to rest, but I hope to see you at the food barn,” Mary said.

“I’ll be there.”

Eden walked down to her cabin and took several breaths. Just taking in the scent of horses was enough to calm her. Being on a horse was her happy place, something her ex had hated. He didn’t like the smell or how dirty she got, but it wasn’t going to change her.

She took one more look around and smiled when she saw several horses. She hoped it wasn’t long before she was on the back of one.