Chapter 4
Chapter Four
KADE
Dirt billows out from behind the SUV as I drive down the empty road. Scraggly grass lines each side as the mountains loom in the distance.
The Lost Spur gateway greets me. One of the metal spurs hangs haphazardly from one side and rust coats the sign.
Leaning forward to take it in, I pass under it, entering Verne’s ranch.
Well, now my ranch. I met with the attorneys today, and after some signatures, the place is mine.
Fences don’t look to be in great shape, held together with duct tape and a prayer.
Jesus. I knew the place wasn’t looking good, but I didn’t think it was this bad. Turning along the drive toward the main building, pine trees rise up on either side of me. I roll the windows down, sucking in a breath of fresh air.
I forgot how good it feels.
A few cars sit in the parking lot, but I bypass them and head toward the barn. I don’t know who still works here that I would know, but something I learned from the time I spent here is that the ranch hands always knew what was going on.
I’ll start there.
Parking my car, I hop out and slam the door shut behind me. A horse neighs in the pasture ahead of me.
The barn is old. Windows and doors are dusty, with bales of hay stacked along one wall. The sun glares off the high windows from the roof.
Everything looks like it could use a good scrubbing.
The doors are swung wide open and an older man walks out.
“Can I help you?”
“Yeah. I’m Kade Miller. I—”
“The new owner,” he interrupts. “Sam Shaw. I’m the lead rancher here. I’ve been trying to do what I can to keep things running these last few months, but it hasn’t been easy.”
“What do you mean?” He winces, brown eyes looking at me with curiosity, gauging how much he wants to tell me. “Look, I own the place now, so might as well rip off the Band-Aid.”
“The ranch is broke,” he says matter-of-factly, running a hand through his graying hair.
“Shit. Really? I haven’t had a chance to look at any of the paperwork I got from the lawyers.”
“Reservations have been dwindling, and Verne pissed off the main buyer of the cattle, so money hasn’t been coming in.”
“Fuck,” I groan.
Looking around the barn, it seems to be in okay shape. The horses look well fed, at least.
“Verne didn’t keep me updated on the finances, but I knew what was going on. I’ve done what I can, but I don’t know how much longer we can keep going without an influx of cash.”
“Well, that I do have, fortunately.”
Or unfortunately as I grab a board and it pops right off the stall.
“We’ve got a good program in place for horse training, but we haven’t been able to bring people in. No marketing equals no guests.”
“You any good at that?” I ask, eyeing him.
He waggles his head back and forth. “Some experience, back in my college days.”
I smile at him. “When was that? Back before electricity was invented.”
“Fuck off, kid.” He laughs. “I’m forty-five. I’m not ancient.”
“Then you might have to start doing what you can to bring people in. Care to show me the main building?”
“You sure?” He cocks a brow at me. “It’s nothing fancy.”
“Gotta start somewhere.”
I follow him on the well-worn trail from the barn to the guesthouse. A few paths branch out from the main one, leading off to the guest cabins. I have no idea what state they’re in.
A small, hand-painted sign, surrounded by wildflowers, welcomes people inside.
“Still have this here, I see.” I pat it as we walk by.
Sam smiles back at me. “Verne could never part with it. Not when his Arlene made it for him.”
I give him a sad smile. “Hopefully they’re together.”
“I’m sure they are.” He claps me on the back as he holds open the door for me. “No doubt she’s yelling at him for smoking his cigarettes.”
That pulls a laugh from me. “God, I forgot how much she used to yell at him for that.”
“They were quite the pair, weren’t they?”
A musty smell wafts over me as we walk inside. Looking around, I take it all in. Wallpaper peels from the old plaster in the corner. Cobwebs cling to the ceiling. The carpet beneath me is frayed.
“Reenie. What are you doing up here?” Sam comes to an abrupt stop. “Where’s Joey?”
Joey? The same Joey that used to be best friends with…never mind. That’s not my concern right now.
Right now, this dilapidated ranch is.
“It’s three. She had to go pick Max up from school and drop him off at her parents’.”
He nods. “Right. Then I guess I’m introducing you to the new owner.”
“Owner?” She straightens. The woman, likely the same age as my mom, gives me a warm smile as she sticks her hand out. “I’ve been waiting to see who comes in and takes over.”
“Kade Miller.”
“Reenie Jones. I only started working at the ranch a few months ago.”
I gaze around the lobby. “I used to work on the ranch in high school. It’s been a while since I’ve been here.”
“And now you’re the owner?”
“Yup.” I nod.
“What do you plan on doing with the place?” she asks.
Isn’t that the million-dollar question?
“I’ve got some time to figure it out.” I brush my hand over the faded wallpaper. “Looks like it needs a lot of work.”
If I have any hope of selling the place, it looks like I’m going to have to be here to help. Which means staying longer than I planned.
An old computer blinks while a large calendar sits open—with no reservations for the next week, it seems.
“Then I guess we have our work cut out for us,” Sam says.
“Look, I know you don’t know me, but I could use your help fixing this place up. It won’t be easy, and you might think I’m some city boy who’s not used to hard work.”
He laughs, crossing his arms over his chest. Arms that show they don’t mind doing what’s necessary to keep things going.
“I know you from what Verne told me. That old bastard loved you, so that means you’re good stock. I’ll do whatever I can to help you. Even if you decide you don’t want anything to do with this place.”
“Thanks.” I stick out my hand for him to shake. “I appreciate it.”
“When do you want to get started?”
“How about Monday? Take the weekend and then dive in.”
“Sounds good. I can talk to the other guys, get them on board.”
“Perfect. Who’s the manager up front? I’d like to talk to them Monday.”
Sam shakes his head. “We don’t have one. They quit when Verne died. Joey’s been managing things for now.”
“Great,” I jest. “So on top of everything else, I need to hire someone.”
“Joey’s good. Just a lot going on with her kid.”
I massage the muscle in my neck, tension growing there. The list of what needs done here seems to be never-ending.
“We’ll see.” My stomach growls. “I’m going to head into town and grab something to eat. Here’s my number. Text me a list of everything you need done in the barn.”
“Anything?” he asks, taking my card from me.
“Anything. I’m going to sort everything out and see what all needs done and prioritize from there.”
“Got it. Thanks, Kade.”
“See you Monday, Sam.”
Heading back out to my SUV, dirt sticks to my leather shoes. Definitely something I can’t wear again out here. I’ll need to see if I still have my old boots. They might be buried in my closet at my mom’s place.
I’ll also need to figure out where the fuck I’m going to stay.
The smart option would be to stay here on the ranch so I can save the money on a rental.
Mom offered me to stay with her, but I don’t know if I could manage that for more than a few days.
Especially with my sister being between jobs—and relationships—and crashing there as well.
No.
As I head back into town, I decide the ranch is the best place to be. I’ll figure out what I need and get it sorted before Sam and I start the hard work of fixing everything up. At least he’s on board. If he can get the other ranch hands to help, that’s one item off my list.
Passing by the Hash ’N Hop, I decide a greasy burger is what I need right now. Tearing off my tie, I toss it into the front seat as I head inside. Shouldering open the door, the smell of grease assaults my senses.
Just like it used to.
The place is packed to the brim with people. There’s one lone stool open at the bar next to a little girl with blonde pigtails.
“This seat taken?”
“No.” She looks up from the picture she’s coloring. “But I shouldn’t tell you that.”
“Why not?”
I grab a plastic menu and take a quick glance, not really needing it since I know what I’m getting.
“I’m not supposed to talk to strangers.”
“My name is Kade. What’s yours?”
“Poppy.”
“And who’s that?” I nod to a stuffed goose sitting next to her.
“Strawberry.”
There’s something familiar about her. About the animal sitting by her. I can’t pinpoint what.
It’s not like I see a lot of people when I come to town. Mom, Grace, and Verne. And it’s not like I can see one of them anymore.
The server comes over and takes my order, getting me a Coke and setting it in front of me. I take a long, refreshing drink. Just what I needed.
“You should get a milkshake,” Poppy tells me.
“Oh yeah?” I eye her. “What’s the best flavor?”
“Chocolate.”
“Not strawberry?”
She shakes her head. “Strawberry can’t have strawberries.”
I smile. “Why not?”
“Because she’s a strawberry. Duh.”
“Poppy,” a voice hisses behind us. “What have I told you about talking to strangers?”
That voice.
I haven’t heard that voice in six long years. Since the night I left town and never looked back.
That’s why this little girl looks familiar.
Spinning on my stool, my gaze lands on her, standing in a pink shirt with her blonde hair tied up in a bandanna. She looks the exact same.
Presley King.
The woman that broke my heart.