Chapter 4
Bria
I finished going through the first round of annual reviews.
I’d start calling in our employees next week to sit down with them and talk about ways we could improve over the year.
So far there weren’t any actual problem areas which would make Carl happy.
There were only a few people we needed to see progress from or possibly think about letting go.
That was the part of the job I didn’t like.
I looked at my watch to note the time. I was back on schedule.
Breakfast had run a touch longer than I’d planned thanks to our added guest. I’d tried leaving twice but got pulled back into the conversation both times.
It wasn’t until I mentioned having a meeting with our evening coordinator, Cheyenne, about the barn dance that I was finally able to get out of there.
If Junior was going to keep joining us each morning, then I might need to rethink my days.
My mind drifted back to the few minutes we shared in the hallway.
I had no idea why he was so focused on me, but I didn’t for a second believe it was because he found me attractive.
I’d learned as a kid beauty wasn’t one of my gifts.
I also did my best to give off the impression that I wasn’t interested in a relationship at all times, mostly because I wasn’t.
I liked my life just as it was, and I had no desire to upset the balance.
Adding other people in just opened you up for stress and heartache.
Those were two things I didn’t need in my world.
Still, I guess if he was going to hit on anyone, it was probably best that it was me.
I could hold my own, and it would keep him from hitting on the guests.
I would really hate to get a complaint about our instructors or, worse, a bad review online.
That would suck for our upcoming summer season. That was when we were busiest.
I swung my chair around and glanced out the window.
I couldn’t see the riding ring, but I knew Junior’s class was starting soon.
He was hopefully out there now getting ready.
I wondered if he was already riding his horse or was he setting up the space?
Did he wear chaps like some of the riders or was he planning on staying in the jeans that clung to his thighs like a second skin?
Maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad thing for me to sit in on his first lesson.
My presence would keep him from doing the wrong thing and make sure that we didn’t have any issues along the way.
I’d have to move some things around and possibly stay a little later this evening, but it wasn’t as if we worked regular business hours here.
It also helped that I lived on the ranch so I didn’t have far to go to get home.
The more I thought about it, the better I felt about this decision.
I’d show up and stay for about half an hour.
Just long enough to make sure that our resident Romeo wasn’t trying to find a Juliet, and then I’d come back and get the rest of the reviews done so I could set up a time to meet with Carl.
I pulled up my calendar and rearranged my time to slot in an additional half hour. That should be plenty of time.
An hour later, I wasn’t so sure.
I walked toward the paddock. As much as I hated being late, I was actually running a few minutes behind. At this rate, I wouldn’t get there until right when Junior should be starting his lesson, and I’d wanted to be a good five minutes early.
As soon as the field came into view, I could see him already riding around the barrels that had been put out for his display.
I would never admit this to anyone, but the man was fine.
I’d never really been into darker skinned men.
There was nothing wrong with it, but I just tended to be attracted to the guys closer to my own complexion. Junior was different.
I watched as he rode his horse around each barrel with measured strength.
His muscular thighs hugged the horse tight.
His arms bulged out beneath the edge of his shirt.
The stubble of his beard did nothing to hide the concentration set of his jaw.
I wondered if he concentrated that hard on everything he did.
Heat worked its way up my back, and I blew out a slow breath as I reminded myself I was only here to make sure he didn’t give the ranch a bad name. Squaring my shoulders, I walked forward to where the guests who had signed up for this lesson were standing.
There were a few couples, three guys, and about four women watching him ride.
Each of them wore smiles on their faces, which brought one to mine.
It probably would be a good idea for me to get out and join in with a few of the activities that we hosted in the future.
I read each review and customer survey we collected, but there was something to be said for talking to the people and getting feedback in the moment.
Junior pulled his horse to a stop, and everyone clapped as he jumped down.
“Thank you.” He smiled at the group. His eyes seemed to zero in on me, and his smile turned up into the sly look that I was starting to think might just be involuntary.
“I’m glad you all enjoyed that little display.” He moved his eyes away from me. “I wish I could tell you that you’ll all be able to ride like that at the end of our time together, but my family has been training for years to learn how to compete in the rodeo.”
“What we will work on is learning how to handle a horse, how to lean into each turn, and how to do a few simple tricks that will impress your friends and family.” He winked, and a few of the people laughed.
“The biggest thing that I’ll share with you is just an appreciation for the sport of riding.” He continued. “Most people think it’s just about tricks and speed. Jumps and wearing cowboy hats and spurs. There’s so much more, and I hope you leave here knowing that. So let’s get started.”
The women clapped, and I saw one of them actually twirl her hair around her finger. I wanted to roll my eyes, but I didn’t. I thought girls only did that in movies.
“Will we get to ride with you?” She stepped closer to where Junior was standing and looked up at him with a half smile. Her finger was still in her hair.
“I believe we have enough horses for everyone to ride on their own.” He replied.
“But what if we get scared?” She continued. “They’re such big and strong animals. Anything can happen.” Did she really bat her eyes at him? Suddenly I wasn’t as worried about him hitting on our guest. I was worried it might be the other way around.
Why hadn’t I thought of that? I’d just admitted he was a handsome man.
He was wearing gloves right now so there was no way for the women to know if he was single or married.
Now that I thought about it, I didn’t even know if he was single.
I mean, I’d like to think he was single considering he asked me out.
But on the other hand, I did accuse him of being promiscuous.
Maybe it didn’t matter to him if he was single or not.
“I’m sure everything will be alright.” Junior took a step back. “And I can assure you that we will make sure you all are comfortable with the horses before we get started.”
Thank goodness someone else asked another question, and he moved on to answer.
The whole time was taken up with questions as Junior explained the rules of rodeo riding and why it is considered a sport in the field.
All in all, it was a very interesting lesson.
I did indeed learn a few things that I wouldn’t have expected, and I even thought about looking to see when the next rodeo would be coming into town.
Not because I wanted to see him ride in it or anything like that.
More so because I felt I would appreciate it now.
The time flew by so fast that I didn’t realize I had been out here longer than I planned. I started to head right back to my office, but I noticed the same girl hanging off to the side while Junior talked to one of the couples.
“Did you enjoy the lesson?” I went over to ask.
“I definitely enjoyed the instruction.” She looked past me at Junior. “And to think when my friends suggested a dude ranch I thought they were crazy, but I’m glad they talked me into it.”
“So you’re liking all the activities here?” I pushed.
“What?” She brought her eyes back to me. “What did you say?”
“I asked if you were enjoying all the activities here?” I repeated.
“Are there any other activities?” She laughed. “I will say I am enjoying the show.”
“The show?”
“All the rugged men that are everywhere.” She bit the side of her lip. “It’s like a buffet. All you have to do is pick your favorite and I’ve got a taste for that one right there.” She pointed to Junior.
“The workers aren’t really supposed to get involved with the guests.” I mentioned.
“Involved?” Her laughter was louder this time. “I’m not really looking to settle down here, but if he could ride me like he did that horse, I might change my mind.”
Good gracious. What the crap was I supposed to do?
Should I tell her that I work for the ranch and we couldn’t have that sort of thing going on?
Would that cause her to leave a bad review?
Have women been throwing themselves at all our employees and I didn’t know it?
I started to rethink the upcoming reviews.
Perhaps I needed to ask a few additional questions if this was what was going on.
“There you are, beautiful.” Junior walked up beside us. His arm went around my waist as if he had done it a hundred times. “I was worried you wouldn’t make it.” His gaze was completely on me.
“I..um…I…” I had no clue how I was supposed to respond.
He looked back at the other woman. “I hope any additional questions you have can wait until tomorrow. I really need to get Iron Rocket cooled down and back in his stall.”
“Um, sure.” She looked between us.
“Walk me back?” He faced me with that signature smile.
“Okay?” That seemed like the right response.
We turned towards the stables, and I fell into step beside him as he walked the horse.
His arm never moved. “Sorry about that,” he said when we were far enough away and he finally dropped his hold.
“I know you think it’s all me, but you’ve clearly never been on the circuit. Women like that are easy to spot.”
“Like what?”
“The ones that are only invested in one night or the Thorne name.” He explained.
“When you first start out it’s a little exciting to have all these girls come up to you and act all interested.
They throw out flattery and hype you up.
As a guy it’s fun, but it gets hollow real quick.
Especially as a Thorne.” He let out a little chuckle.
“But as annoying as it can be, I could never be rude about it. My momma and my grandmother would hand me my ass if I disrespected a woman.”
“Really?” I had a hard time believing that.
“Oh, yeah.” He nodded. “With five female cousins and a little sister? Absolutely. Plus, we are far too protective of the Thorne women to ever treat any girl badly. That isn’t how we were brought up. My family believes we were given the blessings we have to bless others. It’s how we live.”
“Oh.” I wasn’t expecting that.
“Ten bucks says that girl doesn’t show up tomorrow.” “And if she does?”
He chuckled and looked over at me. “I’ll keep it to the lessons and move on. Maybe direct her to some of the guys I know in the rodeo that still find the whole act worth it.”
My feet stumbled, and he was right there to make sure I didn’t trip.
“You okay?” He held onto my waist as if I was the reins of the horse he’d been riding. The same heat from before warmed my skin, and I jumped back, almost losing my footing again.
“I need to get back to work.” My voice squeaked out louder than I intended.
“Are you sure?” His hands tightened, but I backed away. “You don’t seem all that steady.”
I nodded. “I’m sure.”
“Alrighty then.” Before I knew what was happening, he picked me up and swung me onto the horse.
“What are you…”
He hopped up behind me. “You said you needed to get back to work.” His foot touched the side of the horse, and we were moving. “I’m taking you back to your office.”
“I can walk.”
“You almost fell twice in front of me. Walking might be debatable.” His chest moved behind me, and I could hear the rasp of his laugh beside my ear. “And we’re already up. Might as well enjoy it. I know I will.”
With nothing else to do, I let him take me back to my office without another word.