Chapter Five
Hey Shay.
I love chatting with you so far, too. What do you think, do you want to talk on the phone? I think we know enough about each other now that we’re safe to move off this site – but if you’re not comfortable with that, no worries. We can stay on here till you’re ready.
Lol, I’m assuming that Xander didn’t tell you some horror stories about me. If he did, none of it’s true, he’s just messing with me, and I’ll kill him! Or no, forget I said that – considering that you’ve only just moved me out of the possible axe-murderer category, I shouldn’t even joke about it.
Anyway, I hope you had a good chat with Xander and Tori, and I hope you had a good afternoon with your family. What did you do? What do your Sunday afternoons with them look like?
It was a run of the mill Sunday around here. It’s finally warm enough to enjoy eating outside so I smoked us a prime rib and did all the trimmings and we sat out back. The brothers all help with Sunday lunch, I enjoy it. And saying that we sat out back, I should send you some photos of what it’s like here. It’s beautiful – if you like mountains. Do you? What’s it like where you live? I know from the name that it’s a lake but no clue what it’s like. I was stationed in Coronado, we used to go up to Big Bear sometimes – is it that kind of scenery? Maybe you can send me some photos of the place, too?
Today was fun because everyone except Cash was here. He doesn’t live in the valley. He runs a private security firm and only comes to visit every so often. When I say everyone else, I mean:
Ford is the eldest of us who live here, I already told you that he manages the herd. He’s single and lives in the big house with me and Tanner. He’s a good guy, he keeps to himself more than the rest of us, he’s more the broody kind, but he has a big heart – he just doesn’t like to show it.
Wade came with his fiancée, Sierra. I told you that they adopted little Mateo and Maya. The kids came from a bad situation. Both their parents were killed. They were rescued by a SEAL team – Sierra’s brother was a SEAL, and his best friend and teammate, Dax, brought the kids up here to her. She’s a sweetie, she’s kind of quiet and seems like a bit of a pushover at first, but she’s got a backbone of steel. You wouldn’t believe it because she’s real down to earth, but she’s a super-wealthy heiress.
Tanner’s the one who runs the stud. Not sure I should tell you too much about him since most women seem to think he is a stud! He’s definitely the best-looking one in the family. If you fall for him instead of me, I’ll understand it. I might not get over it, but I’ll understand. When we were kids, Kolby and I did our best to never bring girls around when Tanner was here because they all fell for him instead of us. But since everyone in the valley knows everyone else, there was always the possibility that girls only showed interest in us to get closer to him. He’s still single and more than ready to mingle – with as many women as possible as often as possible.
I don’t think I’ve told you much about my sisters. Laney and Janey are awesome. They’re twins but they couldn’t be more different. Janey’s a veterinarian, she’s more of a homebody and maybe you’d say she’s an introvert. She has a huge heart. Our dad used to call her plain Jane, and she believed him for the longest time. She’s married now to a great guy named Rocket. She didn’t date much before she met him – she didn’t think much of herself. But Rocket fell for her in a big way, and he’s worked wonders in helping her see her own worth. I was wary of him at first – I’m kind of protective of the women in my life. But I’m happy to admit that I was wrong about him, and now I’m glad to have him as a brother.
Laney is cowgirl to the core. People describe her as a hot blonde – but as her brother that just makes me shudder. She’s awesome. She’s headstrong and stubborn. She could probably out cowboy every single one of us if she chose. She moved away when she was eighteen and trained racehorses in Kentucky for years. She’s not been home all that long, and when she came home, she got together with Luke. He’s Tanner’s best friend, and we’ve always thought of him as just another brother. It was kind of a shock when he and Laney told us that they were together – and even more of a shock when it turned out that they were back together. They’d had a thing for each other since we were all kids. I was kind of mad at him at first for keeping secrets from us all but I shouldn’t have been. They’re great together.
Then there’s Frankie and her fiancé, Spider. Frankie’s our cousin – she’s another feisty cowgirl – love her to bits. Spider is Rocket’s best friend. He owns the local bakery. It’s more than just a bakery, it’s a coffee shop as well. Spider and Rocket moved here from California. Spider came to visit some friends and met Frankie and never went home. So … shit we haven’t even seen each other’s photo yet, I shouldn’t say it, should I?
I’m going to say it, though. I’m loving chatting with you so far. I’m excited to see what might happen, and it was only talking about Spider that it hit me – he moved here for Frankie, so … it happens.
Anyway. This got long again. I think I might have talked about the family too much. But let me know what you think – if you want to exchange numbers and actually talk on the phone. If you even have the time to do that. I’m only an hour ahead of you if you do. Tell you what, I’ll give you my number. Not expecting you to call me – you can send me yours if you like and I’ll call you. Just letting you know that I’m comfortable sharing with you.
It's 406-555-0122
And if you want to switch to just regular email, my address is Ty@ MacFarlandRanch.com
No worries if you don’t want to give me yours yet.
What you up to tomorrow? Which of your many jobs are you off to?
I’d better stop now, or you’ll have to stay up past your bedtime just to finish reading.
I said I’d send some pics, but I can’t make them load on this site. I’ll send them when we start emailing – if you want to.
G’nite, Shay.
~ ~ ~
From: Shayna Rose:ShayMRose1@ gmail.com
To: Tyler MacFarland:Ty@ MacFarlandRanch.com
Hi Ty.
Sorry I didn’t get back to you last night. I wanted to but when I came back up to my apartment – I’ll explain how that works in a minute – I had to finish submitting my assignment and the portal was being stupid. It took me ages, and the deadline was midnight. I made it, but only just. I read your message but had so much to say that I didn’t dare start – I had to get some sleep.
I’ve been to the barn this morning and I’m home again now, getting ready to go to the grocery store for my shift there. I’m glad you had a good time with your family – they sound awesome. And yes please – I’d love to see some photos of where you live. I’ll attach some of Summer Lake to this email. As you probably noticed, I have no problem getting off that dating site. Happy to email you properly instead. And I’d love to talk on the phone. My only issue will be finding the time.
Actually – being honest again. Monday nights, I don’t usually work at any of my jobs. I’m home but I have to do my schoolwork. And today’s Monday – so I don’t want to seem too eager – lol, I might have blown that already. After tonight, the week gets busy. Tomorrow night I’m at the gym – not to teach but for a self-defense class that Alexis teaches. Booker, my kind-of little brother, said I should have told you from the start that I know self-defense!
Wednesday, I’m helping at Violets again – have to tell you that Xander and Tori are HUGE fans of yours! Thursday might work. I teach at the gym – can’t remember if I told you that I teach Pilates, I know you asked. But I’m usually home by nine-thirty. I know you’re an hour ahead of me – is ten-thirty too late for you? Then I’m working behind the bar at The Boathouse Friday and Saturday nights.
Do you ever have any free time during the day? I know you said you have the weekends off. I think I’m free Saturday afternoon. Let me know what works for you and we’ll make it happen. If I can’t see your face, I’m curious to at least hear your voice. Do you have an accent? Dumb question – nobody thinks they have an accent, do they? It’s just that we sound weird to people who aren’t used to us. Then again, April’s from up there and she doesn’t have an accent. I guess I’m just showing myself up for the small-town girl that I am. I’ve lived here all my life and haven’t traveled much. I bet you’ve been all over the world, haven’t you? I’d love to hear about what you did, but I don’t imagine you can share much. And thanks for not telling me you were a SEAL from the start – I probably would have been too intimidated to talk to you!
Okay, so where were we with everything? Seems like we’ve shared so much that I’ve lost track. Oh, I know, you wanted to know about life here. I mentioned my apartment. I kind of live with my family – my adopted family. They have a gorgeous house right on the lake – it has its own dock and everything! I was living in my own little house in town – it was a bit shitty to say the least, and not in the safest area. Although Summer Lake is about as safe a place as you can be. But my landlord was an asshole, and he was making life difficult for me, so Davin and Alexis offered me the apartment above their garage. They let me have the first month free to help me get back on my feet, and they only charge me half of what I used to pay at my old place. They could get three times as much, and they’d let me stay here for nothing if I’d let them. Have I told you how awesome they are? Lol.
Now I’m thinking that I should delete most of that – you have a sister-in-law who’s a country superstar?! Calypso Rayne is just Callie to you?! OMFG! I hope she’s as nice as she seems. And your other brother is engaged to a wealthy heiress? They’ll all wonder what you’re doing wasting your time talking to someone like me.
Anyway, our Sunday afternoons are about having lunch together. We usually sit outside or hang out on the dock. They bought a boat not long ago, so we’ve been having fun going out on that. Davin and Booker like to fish. Alexis and I just soak up the sun and chat or read. It’s lovely – ha, now I sound like her. She’s from England originally and she still has her accent.
I feel like I can tell you about my real family by now. But this is getting long again. And I have to get going. Off to spend my day stacking shelves and working a cash register! How about you, what do your days as a chef look like?
My number is 760-555-0104 Eek! This feels real! Although, you’ve been real with me from the start – I hope! Okay, shut up Shay! Gotta go.
TTYL
~ ~ ~
From: Tyler MacFarland:Ty@ MacFarlandRanch.com
To: Shayna Rose:ShayMRose1@ gmail.com
Hey Shay
Thanks for sending me an email and for trusting me with your number. You’re right – this does feel real – and I feel like you’ve been real with me from the beginning as well. I promise you I have. I promise you that no matter how this goes, I won’t jerk you around. I’ll be honest with you. I think if you asked people who know me, they’d tell you that I have more of a problem with being too honest. I’m more likely to hurt your feelings by telling it to you straight. If ever I do that, will you tell me? Don’t assume that I did it on purpose – I just don’t always remember that the truth sometimes needs to be presented more gently.
Anyway, enough of that – I’m not trying to put you off. I am kind of mad at myself, though. I was intending to call you tonight. As soon as I saw that you sent me your number, I decided that we should talk as soon as possible, but I forgot that I promised I’d take Nessa up to town tonight. I haven’t told you about her yet. She’s the daughter of one of Cash’s friends. Well, it sounds kind of like your situation in a way. Nessa’s mom got together with Cash’s friend, Ace – don’t know if I told you that Cash is waaay older. He’s in his fifties, which means more explaining of family, but I’ll save that for later – but anyhow, Ace is that age, too, and he got together with Nessa’s mom, Ari. Nessa’s dad died when she was a kid, and she missed having a dad. Ace could never have kids of his own and so they decided that he can be her dad. Nessa’s awesome – she’s the one who set the profile up for me. So, now I think she’s even more awesome. Even though I thought she was just a pain in my ass in the beginning, if she hadn’t done it, I wouldn’t have met you.
Shit. But nope – not going to delete it! It’s true. I’m loving talking to you, and I can’t wait to talk to you for real. I can’t tonight, because Nessa just got back the other day, and I already promised that I’d take her up to town. She had a bit of a scare a while back and we all like to make sure that she’s safe whenever she’s here.
I’m still mad about it though – passing up the first chance we have to talk on the phone. So, do you want to tell me what gaps you have in your schedule for the rest of the week? If nothing else, I’ll call you on Thursday at ten-thirty. Or you can text me when you get home and I’ll call you. Don’t want you to feel like you have to dash home. I really don’t want to wait till Thursday though. Would it be okay if I text you? Have to tell you, I’m not normally a big texter, but dammit, I want to talk to you. The suspense is killing me!
In the meantime, I hope your shift at the grocery store isn’t too bad. If you have any gaps during the day, I can make time to talk to you. Mealtimes and just after are best for me, because when people are eating, it means that I’m done cooking.
Let me know what works for you – soon. Lol. I want to hear your voice, too. I already imagine how you sound from the way you write but I could be way off. Is it weird that I’m not even wondering so much about what you look like now? I know that you’re beautiful on the inside, and that has to show on the outside.
Right, my turn to shut up. I’ll attach some photos before I hit send. Summer Lake looks amazing. Going to say it – I’d love to see the place, and since I have a teammate who owns a bar there, and now I know this amazing chick who lives there, I might have to visit sooner rather than later.
Shit, if that’s too much too soon, say so – just don’t freak out on me and disappear, okay?
Hope you don’t have too much schoolwork to do, and that you can have a bit of a break this evening. I’ll be thinking about you while Nessa chatters on – lol, and on and on. Nah, she’s a good kid really.
Talk to you soon – just not soon enough.
Ty
~ ~ ~
From: Shayna Rose:ShayMRose1@ gmail.com
To: Tyler MacFarland:Ty@ MacFarlandRanch.com
Oh my god!! Are those photos seriously where you live? It’s so incredibly beautiful! You lucky … I’ll let you fill in the blank! Wow! Just wow. It’s so beautiful. I mean, Summer Lake’s gorgeous but those mountains! It’s amazing.
Thank you for sending them. This is just a quickie again. I know you’re busy with your friend this evening – please tell her that I said thank you for setting you up with a profile. I’m glad she did.
I feel the same way, Ty. I like you. It might be crazy. There might be no chemistry. We live too far away, but I want to talk to you, I want to see what you look like, and if you want to come visit your friend, I won’t be mad about it. If you want to come visit me, I’ll be even happier.
But maybe we should slow down? Maybe we won’t have anything to say when we actually talk? I don’t know. One step at a time I suppose. First, we talk. If that goes well, then what do you think, is it time to exchange photos? It’d be a bummer if you think I’m fugly after all this! I know you won’t be. But … I don’t want to sound shallow, but there needs to be chemistry, too, don’t you think? Maybe there isn’t any and we just end up as friends?
Going to keep this short because you’re out with your friend. Of course you can text me anytime – I’ll answer when I can, don’t worry if it takes me a while.
In fact, I might send you a quick one now!
Shay