Chapter 30
Apparently I have a modern cowboy fantasy
Alex
I became aware of movement against my legs, warmth shifting and settling, then shifting again. Maggie was getting restless.
“Hey, girl,” I murmured, reaching down to scratch behind her soft ears. “Need to go out?”
One tail thump against the covers, patient but clearly a yes.
The Midol Elowyn sent was sitting on the nightstand next to the water bottle Finn had left for me. I took two tablets and started the careful process of extracting myself from the tangle of blankets and pillows.
I pulled on a pair of black leggings that felt like I was wearing pajamas in public, but they were soft and stretchy and didn’t require any real thought.
Next, I donned a gray V-neck tee that wouldn’t make me feel like I was being strangled, followed by my chunky cardigan that was basically like wrapping myself in a blanket.
Finally, I slipped on my Birkenstocks and grabbed my phone and sunglasses.
Good enough to go out in public where nobody knew who I was outside of the Walkers.
I ran my fingers through my hair, gathering it back into the elastic it had escaped from.
“Okay, Maggie. Let’s go.”
The lodge felt different walking through it on my own, bigger and quieter.
Maggie trotted beside me with certainty.
Outside, the afternoon air was crisp and clean, carrying the scent of pine and wildflowers.
Maggie immediately busied herself while I stood taking in the scope of the resort side of the ranch.
Guests were scattered around the property, families with kids pointing at horses in the distance, couples walking hand-in-hand toward what looked like hiking trails, a group setting up some kind of outdoor game near the main lodge.
Everyone looked relaxed and vacation-happy. I had to admit, I saw the appeal.
Maggie finished her business and returned to me with an expectant look, tail wagging.
“Shall we see what we can find?” She bounded around me before waiting to see where we went next.
We wandered toward the main lodge building where the restaurant was. It was busier than I’d expected, with guests coming and going from a casual counter service area alongside the more formal dining room.
I studied the menu board before deciding on a plain turkey sandwich with no veggies, a bottle of water, and a can of Diet Coke.
The woman behind the counter was cheerful and efficient, and when I mentioned charging it to our room, she just smiled and asked for the room number like it was completely normal. I still felt weird about it.
Sandwich and more caffeine acquired, I spotted a cluster of comfortable-looking Adirondack chairs, complete with throw pillows, arranged around an unlit fire pit area with a good view of the property.
Maggie settled at my feet while I unwrapped my sandwich and prepared to watch the afternoon unfold around us.
The sandwich was amazing with seasoned turkey piled between two thick pieces of rye bread with light mayo and a cranberry spread.
I pulled out my phone to check on the team back home, but there were only a few routine emails from Tabitha and one update from Casey about a client revision that honestly looked like an improvement.
It was weird having nothing urgent demanding my attention, but apparently the world could function without me for a few days. It was either reassuring or mildly insulting, and I wasn’t sure which. Still, no messages from my family for once felt amazing.
A petite woman in the North Star staff uniform of khakis and a green polo shirt with a nametag emerged from the guest services office.
She moved across the yard like she owned it, guests naturally stepping aside or offering friendly waves as she passed.
Her blonde hair was pulled back in a practical ponytail and she wore minimal makeup, but her smile was beautiful and her eyes bright.
Everything about her radiated the kind of natural confidence that came from knowing exactly where she belonged.
It had to be Lou.
She looked exactly like the kind of woman Finn’s family would expect him to end up with. The beautiful, grounded, former rodeo queen who fit seamlessly into this picture-perfect place.
I opened Instagram, navigated to the first photo Finn had posted of us together and tapped on the username, RanchLifeWithLou. Her account loaded with hundreds of posts, mostly country life and outdoor adventures, but as I scrolled through the recent photos, I stopped at the dahlias.
Rows and rows of them in a variety of colors, meticulously organized by height and bloom size. The captions were thoughtful and informative, talking about soil preparation and seasonal care routines, with useful tips about encouraging late-season blooms.
They were stunning. Dahlias had always been my favorite flower, the way they were simultaneously delicate and dramatic, all those layered petals creating complex geometric patterns that I found completely mesmerizing. And Lou clearly knew what she was doing.
I scrolled through more posts, finding a well-curated mix of family life, North Star Ranch, outdoor adventures, and garden progress updates. Her captions were engaging without being try-hard, and she seemed genuinely enthusiastic about her interests rather than performing enthusiasm for likes.
My phone buzzed with a text from Tabitha about setting up a video call at the end of the week. I confirmed the time and sat back again to do more people watching from behind my sunglasses when someone appeared in my peripheral vision.
“How are you feelin’ today, Alex?”
I looked up to see Nolan approaching with the same smile he’d shown yesterday when we arrived.
He was dressed in worn denim and a western shirt, with a cowboy hat and boots to complete the look.
A couple of people called and waved hello to him as they passed.
He nodded his greeting before turning back to me and gesturing to the chair near mine.
“Mind if I join you for a minute? I was heading back from checkin’ on a couple things and saw you sitting here. ”
“Of course,” I smiled, tucking my phone away. “I’d love the company.”
I watched him settle into the chair and sigh. “I heard this morning was a bit rough.”
“It was, but I’m doing much better, thanks to Elowyn and Bridget making sure Finn could take excellent care of me.” I gestured toward Maggie, who had lifted her head to assess the new arrival before deciding he was acceptable. “And Maggie’s been an excellent nurse.”
“She’s good at that. Has an instinct for when people need comfort,” he reached down to scratch behind her ears, earning a single lick against his wrist. “Are you planning to take some time off work while you’re here, or will you be trying to manage things remotely?”
“I’m learning to take time for myself, but I’ll still do some remote work.
I’ve got a good team back in Salt Lake, but there are always things that need my direct attention.
” I paused, considering how much to share.
“…And I’m in the middle of reducing my ADHD medication, so maintaining some routine helps keep me functional. ”
Nolan nodded with a knowing look in his eye. “That sounds challenging. I seem to recall Finn mentioning you were in the middle of finding a new way of doing things. Are you able to find quiet space to work at the lodge, or would it help to have somewhere else to set up?”
“The lodge room works for long video calls and confidential stuff, but...” I trailed off, trying to decide how much more I wanted to tell him.
“But?” He prompted gently.
“Sometimes it helps me focus when I’m sharing space with another worker. My assistant back home is really good at that, but obviously she’s not here.”
“Ah,” Nolan’s expression brightened with understanding.
“I’ve got an office in the main house with an extra desk that never gets used.
Extra monitor, decent WiFi, coffee maker.
You’re welcome to claim’em if it would help.
I’m usually there working, so there’d be someone around if you need the company. ”
“That’s incredibly generous,” my eyes clouded over at the unexpected offer. “I’d hate to be a bother.”
“No bother at all,” he smiled, standing and brushing dust off his jeans. “Think about it. No pressure, but the offer stands for as long as you’re here.”
“Thank you. I just might take you up on that.”
“Good. I’ll be around if you have any questions about the setup.” He paused, looking back toward the main house. “We might have a third most days. Penny usually shows up to color at some point. Six-year-olds don’t always worry about office boundaries.”
“Penny is…?”
“Oh!” Nolan’s cheeks brightened slightly. “Penny is Lou’s daughter. She usually comes to work with her mama during the summer.”
“Oh, I see,” I swallowed before fixing a smile on my face. “I’m sure it will be great. I’d love to meet her.”
“Excellent. Well, I’ll let you get back to your afternoon. Glad to hear you’re doing better.”
I watched him walk away. A secondary space with body doubling sounded superb. Getting to work around Nolan felt like an extra bonus.
Maggie shifted beside my chair, settling back into her relaxed position now that Nolan wasn’t scratching at her ears.
The afternoon was warming up, and more guests were filtering through the area.
Families heading back from trail rides, others setting out on whatever outdoor activities the ranch offered.
I spotted two women walking from the restaurant toward the main house, right by where I’d set up my observational camp.
“...need to check the linens in the east suite before the Hartwell party arrives,” Elowyn was saying as they got closer. “And make sure the champagne service is set up properly for their anniversary—”
She spotted me mid-sentence and immediately changed direction, a warm smile spreading across her face. “Alex! I was hoping I’d run into you.”