Chapter 3 #2
My thoughts are interrupted by the sound of the front door opening again. Boots clunk against the wood flooring of the hallway, stopping at the entrance to the kitchen.
“Oh that must be Miles,” Isabella says, turning around.
Of course. Of course it’s Miles. Of course he’s here.
I think to myself, plastering a smile on my face once again as he rounds the corner into the room.
Miles smiles at Isabella, giving her a quick hug as she peppers him with questions about a cattle drive yesterday.
He looks happy, relaxed. Until he turns and looks at me.
His smile falls and I swear I can see lightning crack in his eyes.
Apparently neither of us was told about the extra company at breakfast today.
My breath leaves my lungs when his gaze pins me. His deep brown eyes pulling me closer as my heart whispers, Miles.
“Mac,” he says in that deep voice, nodding a hello at me. Why does he always look at me like I’ve stolen the last piece of pie?
“Autry,” I reply, matching his greeting. Two can play at this game.
“Howdy, son,” Walter says from the stove. Wait, what? Son?
The photo I saw before Miles walked in. How Miles acted like he ran the ranch.
My heart races as I scan around again for any other clues, and that’s when I see it.
Over in the corner near a pile of paperwork on a small desk is a framed newspaper article, headline reading Walter Autry, local rancher, inducted into rodeo hall of fame.
Autry.
Oh my god. Walter and Miles are related. Miles really is in charge of this ranch. He’s not just a ranch hand. I’m totally fucked.
“Sit, sit everyone, let’s eat while it’s still warm,” Isabella says, waving us over to the breakfast nook.
We shuffle over to the big U-shaped bench, Walter and Miles scooting into the back section leaving each side for Isabella and I.
Isabella sits by her husband, leaving me the seat closest to Miles. Great.
“So, Katie, how are you liking Wyoming so far?” Isabella says as I sit down.
“I love it. It reminds me a lot of where I’m from in Idaho, just with slightly bigger mountains,” I smile and reach for the biscuits, bumping into Miles’s arm with my hand.
Sparks pass between us like a firecracker, shocking my wrist. We mumble half-hearted apologies and he lets me have the first pick of the biscuits, pulling his hand away so fast it’s almost like it never happened in the first place.
Funny how now that there is company around, he’s suddenly a gentleman.
“Walter says you run vacation rentals on Bear Lake, tell us more about that,” Isabella says, taking a bite of eggs. Everyone looks at me expectantly. I make brief eye contact with Miles, but he’s the first to look away.
I clear my throat. “I do. MacPherson Enterprises has four properties around Bear Lake. I’ve lived there since I was ten, so I’m really lucky to be able to stick around.
It’s very much a vacation town so you have to be in the vacation business to live there for the most part.
My best friend Hazel actually runs a dude ranch.
Not anything like your ranch of course, this is amazing.
Her’s is amazing too, but you know, just different.
” I take a breath. I’m used to rambling.
I do it all the time, in fact. But for some reason, I’m a little self-conscious rambling in front of these people.
I think I might actually care about what they think of me. That’s new.
“It’s turning into a similar story in these parts, I fear. The tourism industry is definitely taking over,” Walter sighs. “Sure doesn’t help out us ranchers. Visitors come here and want a high-end experience.”
“I can definitely see that from looking around town. Although, MacPherson is kind of counting on that for the new rental property. The goal is to test out the area to see if we can grow here. I’m pretty lucky I get to lead this up, actually. It’s a very desired area in the business,” I say.
“Yeah, that’s what we need. More high-end rentals,” Miles growls, looking down at his plate.
“Actually, looking at last year’s statistics, tourists mentioned not having a wide enough array of accommodations in Jackson Hole.
Hotels are on either end of the pricing spectrum with not a lot of options in the middle, and there really aren’t very many vacation rentals in the area.
Especially not ones that allow visitors to get out into the mountains outside of the city for a semi-affordable price,” I retort.
If this man thinks I didn’t expect some pushback from locals, he’s dead wrong. My entire job is dealing with pushback. I don’t back down once I’ve decided on a project.
“Well I for one am very excited to see how the Old Cabin comes along,” Isabella says cheerily.
“Walter and I looked over your previous work and we were very impressed with your designs, and especially, the way you incorporate the local feel into each one. It takes a special eye to be able to do that. And, the Old Cabin is a very special place.” Isabella looks over at Walter, a knowing look in her eyes. He winks back at her.
Something warms my chest as I try to find words. I don’t think I’ve ever heard such a sweet, positive critique of my work. “Thank you, Isabella. I really appreciate that,” I say sincerely.
Walter hums a sound that might be an approval and exchanges a look with Isabella I can’t read.
She smiles at me and asks how my first night in Jackson was.
During our conversation, Miles is suspiciously quiet.
He doesn’t so much as look in my direction.
But, I know he’s listening and considering everything I’m saying.
His face gives away that much.
I pull my attention back to Isabella’s story about her first time in Jackson Hole.
As much as I’m trying to pay attention, Miles’s attention is resting on me as heavy as a hundred pound weight.
Everytime he readjusts himself my eyes scream at me to look over and see what he’s doing.
By the time I’m almost done eating, my head is pounding.
I excuse myself to use the bathroom once we’ve reached the point in the meal that breakfast has been eaten and we are just chatting. Splashing some cold water onto my face, I sit on top of the closed toilet seat for exactly four and a half minutes before deciding it’s time to head back out.
Even the bathroom at the ranch house is comforting. The teal tiles are bathed in soft golden light coming through the small window. I smooth my hair down in the mirror, fixing my makeup a bit. I know I’m letting him get to me, and I know I shouldn’t be doing that. It’s just so hard to ignore Miles.
I get just about to the end of the hallway when Miles’s angry drawl stops me in my tracks, sending my stomach into a tailspin.
“...just don’t understand why you’re doing this.
She’s just like the developers. You heard her, they’re looking to expand.
We can’t need the money that badly. I’ll get a second job if I have to.
I’ll find the time. There has to be a way out of this deal,” he’s practically growling.
I don’t know what to do. I can’t just walk in there right in the middle of this, they’ll have to know I heard some part of it. My feet stay cemented in place.
“Miles, it is not for you to decide,” Isabella says confidently.
“With the cattle losses we’ve experienced this year and the property taxes the way they are, we had to sell that parcel.
It was time. Let someone else enjoy it. Her company paid a pretty penny for it, and I think it’ll all turn out fine.
Not to mention, you don’t have time for any other jobs.
We need you here. I don’t think Katie is the type to pull anything behind our backs.
I like her.” My heart beats faster, and I shift my feet around nervously in my boots.
“I like her too. I think this will be good for the area, Miles. And, to be frank, I don’t care what you think. It’s time to let that cabin go. I wouldn’t have sold it to her company if I didn’t think it was the right thing to do. It’s what’s best,” Walter says, voice stern and unwavering.
Miles sighs. “I don’t like this. And I don’t like her or her family’s company.
Don’t come to me if this all goes wrong and they’re pressuring you to sell the rest of the ranch.
I’ve seen how these things happen around here, Walt.
It’s not good,” Miles argues. I hear some shuffling, then, “I’m heading out.
I need some fresh air. Thanks for breakfast, Mom.
” More shuffling, quiet goodbyes, then silence.
After a few beats to collect myself again, I step out into the room. Walter and Isabella are standing at the kitchen island giving each other a knowing look. Walter’s brow furrows as he takes Isabella’s hand on the table. Something passes between them.
I shouldn’t have come out yet. I’m clearly interrupting something. I turn on my heels to head back in, but before I can make it all the way around, my elbow crashes into a pile of books on an end table.
“Oh, don’t worry about that, dear, I can get those,” Isabella says as I bend to pick up the books I knocked over. Very smooth, Katie.
I set them back on the table with a nervous laugh. “I’m so sorry, I’ve always been pretty clumsy.”
“Miles had to run, he said to tell you goodbye,” she says with a sweet smile.
Yeah, right. “We won’t keep you here, I’m sure you’ve got lots to do with the cabin.
Please come and have dinner with us on Sundays.
We’d love to have you around. It’s not often we have visitors, and we always have way too much food. ”
“I just might take you up on that,” I say.
With the exception of Miles, I love being around the Autry’s.
Plus, it’s not like I know anyone else around here.
“I better head back to my hotel and work on a few things today. My crew is coming up on Tuesday to start work on the cabin. I’ll make sure they don’t cause any disturbance to the ranch, but please let me know if they do. ”
“Where are you staying?” Walter says.
“Over at the Cascade Inn in town.”
“Well,” Walter starts, pausing to look over at Isabella across the table.
She nods. “How would you feel about staying in our smaller guest cabin on the ranch while you’re here?
It’d have to be just you, it’s pretty small, but it’s closer to your cabin than the Inn by far.
That way you wouldn’t have to drive all the way out here from town every day. ”
These people have no obligation to be this nice to me.
I open my mouth to turn them down out of instinct, I wouldn’t want to impose on their lives any more than I already have.
But, it does sound pretty nice. I’d love to be on-property to watch over the renovation, and it’s so beautiful out here. Maybe this is just what I need.
“You know what, that actually sounds pretty perfect. Are you sure I wouldn’t be imposing?” I ask.
“Never!” Isabella exclaims, clapping her hands together with a grin. “Oh, I am so excited. You will love it here. And the little cabin is far enough from us you’d never be bugging us. I’ll have one of our ranch hands head out there and make sure it’s ready for you. Is tomorrow morning okay?”
Plans are made, and I’ll be moving into the little cabin in the morning.
From what Isabella explains, it sounds like it’s a cozy one bedroom with a bathroom and fireplace.
Perfect for me, and a lot better than the overpriced hotel I’m in now.
Obviously, I plan on paying the Autry’s for letting me use their cabin, but I’d much rather that than a hotel in the middle of town that has no problem selling out every night in the summer.
It’s not until I’m in my car on my way back to town when I consider what Miles will think of this. A smile forms on my face when I picture his reaction, especially after what I overheard today in the kitchen.
The supposed enemy, on his ranch twenty-four seven. The knowledge this will piss him off makes me more glad I agreed to it. I can’t wait to see the look on his face.