Chapter 20
Laying on a Ranch Alone
“It’s looking amazing, Katie. I mean it.
You’ve really been able to breathe life back into this cabin.
Never thought I’d see the day.” Walter stands next to me in front of the fireplace in the Old Cabin.
He stopped by today on his way into town to see the progress after I let him know we are about halfway done.
“Thanks, Walter,” I smile. “It means a lot to me that you approve. I know how special this place is.”
“You have no idea,” he chuckles.
I still feel bad for canceling on Walter yesterday for Sunday dinner, but between my hangover and whatever happened with Miles I wasn’t in the mood to get out of bed at all. Much less spend a couple of hours over at the Autry family ranch house pretending like everything is okay.
I still haven’t seen Miles since that night. I’m avoiding him, and I’m sure he’s avoiding me right back. The Tequila fog was fuzzy at first, but once I sat in my guest cabin and recapped the night to myself, I could have crawled into any hole on the ranch where no one could ever find me.
Even the pine tree drawing I saw branded into the banister wasn’t there the next day.
It’s hard to tell what parts of it I exaggerated to myself due to the booze and the crazy overheating and flashbacks I was having all night.
When he showed up, I thought maybe he was ready to give in to whatever is between us.
I’m sick of fighting it. But instead, I drunkenly climbed all over him and he rejected me.
So embarrassing.
And, because I made a complete and total fool of myself, I’m avoiding him for the time being.
Which has been pretty easy to do since he hasn’t been to the cabin yet.
This week is the Fourth of July, so I’m sure he’s busy with other things or maybe taking some much needed time off.
Maybe I should take some time off. Clear my head.
“Oh Walter, that reminds me,” I say, grabbing my bag from the floor. “I found this the other day, and I think it’s yours. It was lodged in one of the floorboards by the fireplace.”
I fish out the photograph I found of the Autry family when Miles was a kid. I’ve been meaning to give this to Walter, but it keeps slipping my mind. He takes the photograph from me, eyes sparkling as he gets a good look at it.
“Oh yes, this was quite a while ago,” he chuckles, smiling down at the image. “Miles was still a little guy. And I was a spring chicken. This brings back great memories.”
“Did you spend a lot of time out here? I noticed the cabin in the background. It looks like it’s in great shape in that photo,” I ask, my curiosity getting the best of me.
“Yes, we loved taking Miles on horseback rides out here when he was a boy. And he always loved the place. Until a bit ago, I suppose. It’s a special place for Isabella and I too.
When she came up to Wyoming for the first time to work in the national park, she had arranged with my mother to stay with us for the summer.
I’m not sure how they got in contact, something like an exchange student situation I believe.
We lived in the cabin back then. As soon as I laid eyes on her that summer, I couldn’t stay away. ”
“That’s so sweet.”
“She was something, I’ll tell you that,” he laughs.
“She sure didn’t make it easy on me. It was all meant to be in the end, nothing either of us could do about it.
But this cabin had a lot to do with it. Isabella used to say there’s some sort of old magic in the very bones of this place.
It’ll lead you where you need to go, whether you want it or not. ”
His words rattle around in my brain as I soak them in. I’m not one to believe in anything like that, but I also wouldn’t ever discount it just in case it is true. Not to mention, I’ve thought before that this cabin has a mind of its own.
“Anyway, I’m glad someone like you came along to bring it back to life.
As much as I’d like to keep it forever, it was time to pass it along to continue its adventures with someone else.
” Walter pockets the photo, stepping towards the front door.
“I’ll get out of your hair. Thanks for letting me come check up on the place. ”
“Anytime,” I smile, walking him out the door.
A pang of jealousy echoes in my chest knowing that Miles gets to have Walter as a father.
He’s such a good man, cares so much about his family and everyone else he knows.
He’s only known me for two months, yet in that time he’s been kinder to me than my own parents ever have. I’ve never felt so welcome in a place.
“I hope we’ll see you next Sunday for dinner,” he calls out as he walks back to his old rusty pickup truck in the driveway.
“I’ll be there. I just wasn’t feeling very good yesterday.” Technically true.
“Yeah, it seems Miles wasn’t feeling good either. Maybe you had the same bug,” he says with a wink. My cheeks heat as guilt settles in my gut like a rock.
I wave goodbye as Walter pulls out of the driveway and heads back up to the ranch house. The sun is just about to reach its golden hour. I’ve been at the cabin far longer than I should have today, but time gets away from you when you’re reliving one single night over and over again in your head.
I can’t remember the last time I was that drunk. Never, probably. And of course, it had to happen around Miles of all people.
Sighing for the hundredth time today, I turn around and collect my things before walking back up the dirt road towards the guest cabin. I don’t have it in me to run today, and I’m in no hurry to get anywhere.
The sky is a wild array of pinks, reds, oranges and yellows when I finally get back home. I set my things inside then go back out to the small front lawn and lay out on the grass staring up at the sky.
There’s not a more beautiful place in the world to be laying on a ranch alone.