Chapter 1 #2
“She’s scheduled to leave in a couple weeks. Think she’ll be ready?” I ask.
“Oh yeah. She’s bound to have an off day, but she’ll be good to go. Plus, we’ll need her stall for the next one.”
“I’m sure Tripp could come down this evenin’ if you need assistance,” I suggest as I wait for Waylon to hurry his ass down here.
Tripp’s only two years older than her and is an experienced trainer, too. He pitches in when Noah needs a hand, but I know her well enough to know she’s too prideful to admit when she needs help.
“He’s already workin’ on Rosebud and Jewels. Plus, he’s on guest services this weekend,” she says as she continues Brighton’s lunges.
Friday and Saturday nights are karaoke and square dancing nights for the guests.
We all take turns emceeing since it’s the least desired job at the retreat.
Well, except for Wilder, who enjoys the attention.
Ever since a video of him went viral a year ago, he’s requested almost every weekend.
A bunch of thirsty housewives couldn’t get enough of his flirty antics and always want more of him shaking his ass.
He might as well. He makes the most tips out of all of us.
“Right, but I’m sure if you—”
“You losin’ faith in me, Ayden?” she teases.
“Never. You’re amazin’, you know that. Just worry about ya. Like an annoyin’ little sister who never takes a moment for herself.”
“I take offense to that.”
“You know I’m kiddin’.” I chuckle. “What would I do without your entertainin’ last-minute mania to make your deadlines?”
She snorts. “Have a life of your own, maybe?”
Though each day can be chaotic, I’m grateful for it. My mind stays busy, and not knowing what to expect each morning keeps things interesting and fun most of the time.
Finally, Waylon arrives in his pickup. “Sorry, I left my phone in my truck when I went to shower, and then Ma distracted me with food.”
I hand him the list. “Better be quick. They all want on the afternoon tour.”
He grunts. “Yeah, yeah.”
“I gotta run to The Lodge. Have fun.” I smack his shoulder as I walk around him and hop into my truck.
As I drive past the stables and pastures, I reflect on my first day here.
I’d hoped Garrett would take pity on me and give me a job.
I was willing to do anything. Work any shift and any number of hours.
He said considering I was coming with no experience and being only eighteen, he’d give me one chance to prove myself.
No fucking up, no showing up late, and no costly mistakes.
By the end of my shift, I was so goddamn sore I could barely walk the next day. But I was determined to earn this job.
The most laborious job I’d had up until then was cleaning pools for the country club wives. You’d think four years of high school football would’ve prepared me, but it hadn’t. The longest I played for was a few hours. My first day on the ranch lasted twelve.
But I didn’t give up because I had something to prove—to myself—and I wasn’t about to be a quitter. Especially after what it took for me to leave and the people there who meant everything to me.
When I pull into the parking lot, I quickly find a spot. Since cabins stay booked year-round, it’s always busy on this side of the property. The Hollises have a full staff to help the retreat run smoothly and over a dozen ranch hands to keep up with the horses and maintenance.
The boarding and training side of the ranch is much calmer, but we stay just as busy keeping up with the stables and training.
When I walk through the doors, I see Tripp behind the front desk as if he’s been waiting for me. The guests are checked in by the looks of the empty waiting room, but the receptionist is busy on the phone.
“Hey, man.” I walk up to the counter.
“Over there.” He nods in the direction of someone behind me. The smirk planted on his face is uneasy as if he’s keeping a secret.
When I turn around, she stands from a chair.
All the air vanishes from my lungs.
It can’t be. There’s no way she’s in front of me right now, yet she is.
Long golden blond hair swims around her shoulders as sparkling green eyes stare into mine.
She steps toward me, but I’m too shocked to move.
Laney Bennett.
“Hi, Ayden,” she finally speaks, soft and gentle as she fidgets with her fingers.
“You can’t be here, Laney.” My voice comes out much harsher than I mean to, but I can’t help the fear of my father lingering somewhere in the bushes.
It’s pathetic that I’m still scared of him after all this time, but it's instinctual after putting up with his abuse for eighteen years. He’d probably laugh in my face if he knew that fear of him still haunts me.
I’m no longer a child, and I shouldn’t let it bury me alive.
Her face etches in pain, and the guilt hits me as soon as it flashes across her pretty features.
“Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.” I lift my ball cap and scrub a hand through my hair as I step closer. “I’m shocked to see you, is all. How are you? How’d you find me?”
Laney looks behind me. “Is there somewhere quiet we can go?”
Glancing over my shoulder, I notice Tripp watching us. Nosy bastard.
“Yeah, of course. My truck’s out front. Come with me.” Out of habit, I grab her hand, and when she doesn’t pull away, I link my fingers between hers. They’re just as warm and inviting as I remember.
“You still have that old thing?” she asks as I lead her outside.
Chuckling, I sneak another glance. “Of course. Good ole Betty Lou hasn’t let me down yet.”
She laughs, and the sound of it feels like home.
I open the passenger side door, help her in, and then round the front and jump into the driver’s side. “I live in the ranch hand quarters if you don’t mind going there? It’ll be private.”
“Fine with me.”
Once we’re out of the parking lot, I look over and admire how beautiful she still looks. Laney’s always been drop-dead gorgeous, but she’s matured over the past decade. Fuller lips, thicker hair, rounder hips. Absolutely stunning.
“I saw a video of you,” she begins, and my heart races.
“How? What was I doing?”
She must hear the panic in my tone because she leans over and squeezes my thigh. “He doesn’t know where you are, Ayden. It’s okay.”
I nod, appreciating that she understands.
“Someone posted a video from their bachelorette party. They were just a bunch of clips, but in one of them, you were standin’ next to a horse with a devilish smirk on your face. One of the women asked if they could ride the cowboy instead of the horse.”
I snort, laughing at the memory. “Ah, yes. I remember that. I was coverin’ for Wilder, who called in sick that day. Wait. That party was from three months ago.”
“Yeah.”
“It took you that long to find the ranch?”
“Oh.” She pulls her hand back into her lap and looks down. “No, it was easy to find the location since they tagged it, but I wasn’t sure if I should just show up. I also couldn’t take off work right away. I had to make arrangements. And also, find the courage.”
I pull up in front of my house and park, then turn and face her. “So what made you come now?”
She swallows hard as she avoids eye contact, and I can tell something’s wrong.
“Laney, what is it?”
Finally, she lifts her head and frowns. “Howie died.”