Chapter 7
Teddy
This was not how I expected to spend my day. With Ariel in my truck, going with me to do errands for the ranch. I don’t know why I said she could tag along. I promised myself that I’d avoid her, but every little thing she did drew me to her. It was like a bug being drawn to light. Except her light shone brighter than anything. I saw it in the way she studied the horse stalls in the barn. If someone took a picture of the awe in her face and shared it with no explanation, she would’ve been mistaken for someone looking at a Van Goh piece.
We sat in silence for the whole trip to Lion’s Market. When we get here, we hop out of my truck and go in. That’s when Ariel starts talking, “Do you mind explaining everything you get, and how it helps on the ranch.”
“Of course.” I tell her because I have nothing better to do than entertain her. As we shop, I explain the use of everything, apples for the horses. Local horse feed because they have better nutrients in them for the horses. Soil for the multiple gardens we have around the ranch. That one makes Ariel get this wistful look in her eyes. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. It just reminds me of my dad. He and I used to garden every summer. He liked to use gardening to teach me life lessons. Getting your hands dirty is part of life. Life is filled with imperfections, but they can still be beautiful. Flowers are so small, but hold such a big responsibility in the ecosystem. He’d find just about any kind of lesson through gardening.”
“He sounds like a smart man.”
“He was. He died last year.”
“I’m sorry.” Apologizing when someone loses a loved one seems useless, but it’s all we can do sometimes.
“Thank you.”
When we get back to the ranch, there’s people everywhere. Ariel tenses up at the sight.
“Is there an office or anything where I can get started on the social media pages? Oh, and I’ll need a laptop or computer!”
“There’s an office in the house with a computer. Once we get you a little more settled here, we’ll provide a laptop for you, so you can be more portable.”
“Oh you don’t have-”
“Ariel, you work here now. We take care of our own here.” I interrupted her. “Also I’ll need your phone number, so I can contact you whenever I’m away from the ranch.”
“Of course.” She pulls out a flip phone. No lie, a fucking flip phone. I’m all for simplicity, but that phone is yet another reminder that she’s on the run from something. I tighten my hands on the steering wheel, and speak through gritted teeth.
“We’ll provide you with a new phone too. If we’re going to have social media, you need a smartphone.” She doesn’t try to argue. She can sense that I won’t let her fight me on this. “Come on, I’ll show you to the office