Chapter 10
We've been sitting on the front porch waiting for hotshot rich dude and his team for the past hour.
Mr. Dupont hasn't communicated that there are any issues, and along with Juniper's increasing anxiety, I can sense Mr. Calhoun's frustration. The dark circles under her eyes tell me she didn’t sleep well, and I want more than anything to ask her how I can help.
I want to take away all her anxiety, at least for a day, so she can rest.
I should have left the kitchen last night when her mom was talking about her sister.
Their family business isn’t my concern, but I swear Juniper’s entire demeanor changed when her mom told her what had happened.
I wanted to go to her, wrap her in a hug.
I know I can’t change the situation or stop what might come next, but maybe I could have brought her some comfort.
Except that’s not what we’re doing. It’s not who we are to each other. We agreed that things would go back to being professional after Friday night, and that’s how it needs to be.
Even if it’s killing me not to touch her the way I want.
Living life on the rodeo circuit was the dream, and I’ve never been one to think about settling down.
A different city every week, a new person in my bed when I wanted companionship.
None of the emotional attachment that comes with being in a relationship.
I saw how my parents’ marriage was, and I don’t want a marriage like theirs.
They’re roommates at best and strangers who live together at worst.
I’ve been in serious relationships before, but the man I was with last wanted me to slow down with barrel racing.
He said he couldn’t travel with me and that I wasn’t a good communicator when I was gone.
It’s not like I never checked in with him, but I wasn’t texting and calling him every hour of the day.
I found out later that he was cheating on me whenever I went to a rodeo, and I haven’t seriously dated someone in almost four years.
Opening myself up to another person only to be left sounds about as fun as stepping on a rusty nail.
Even if I wanted to date Juniper, how would that work when this summer is over?
I haven’t stayed in one place longer than six months, and it’s clear she doesn't want to leave the ranch. I’d never ask her to do something that’s a big source of anxiety.
Would the occasional text and call be enough to keep us going?
It doesn’t matter. You can’t have her.
But damn, do I want her again. Not just sexually.
It was a herculean task to leave in the middle of the night instead of snuggling up with her and falling asleep.
I want to wake up with her. I want to hold her hand during dinner and spend evenings looking at the stars.
I want to know every thought that rushes through her head.
And it’s scary, feeling these things for her.
I have a feeling this Mr. Dupont guy is going to be a problem.
As soon as he demanded special treatment with scheduling, I knew.
This isn’t my business, so I kept my mouth shut.
If he causes problems for the Calhouns, and he dares to show up late, I won’t be nice.
They’re good people; they deserve the utmost respect.
“Let me try his cell again,” Mr. Calhoun says, pulling out his phone and stepping off the porch. “Maybe their flight was delayed.”
“We’re going to be so behind schedule.” Juniper mumbles, checking her clipboard for the umpteenth time. “I need to go tell Landry and Oakley to hold off on lunch until we can get them settled.”
“I can go tell them,” Rusty says.
“That would be great, thanks.” She flashes him a grateful smile, and even though I know it’s nothing more than a friendly gesture, jealousy pinches at me.
I want all of her smiles for myself, even if that sounds utterly ridiculous. She works in hospitality. She’s going to smile at other people.
Rusty heads off in the direction of the dining hall, and Briggs mumbles something about checking on the horses before heading off in the direction of the barn, leaving Juniper and me alone.
She looks gorgeous today in her dark wash jeans and blue Forget Me Not Ranch T-shirt.
Her hair is in a high ponytail, with little wispy bits framing her round face.
I want to smooth the little wrinkle between her eyebrows away with my thumb and tell her not to stress about schedules and lists, but I know that would be insensitive.
From what I’ve been reading, anxiety doesn’t care about logic, and she can’t always control what she gets anxious about.
Maybe I can help ease some of her worries by letting her talk through it.
“Walk me through what’s bothering you the most right now,” I say.
She lets out a long breath, clicking the pen in her hand three times before her shoulders slump.
“If they were here on time, we would already be halfway through our registration and right on schedule for lunch, but since they’re not, we have to push lunch back, which means we have to push dinner back, which means we won’t have enough time to play games tonight before lights out—not that I think this group of white collar rich people will be into playing Doodle Duel Derby.
Honestly, I’m stressed as fuck that they’re going to turn their noses up at everything we have planned, and that sounds judgy, but…
I don’t know. I feel like this week is going to be difficult, and I kind of hope they don’t show up. ”
“I think if they don’t want to play games, that’s their loss. Everything will be fine. They’re paying an exorbitant amount of money to be here, so it’s their problem if they want to waste it. I won’t tell you not to worry, but just know you’re not alone. I’m here to help however you need.”
Juniper blinks at me. “Thank you. That’s kind of you to say.”
She clearly doesn’t believe me, which makes me even more determined to prove her wrong.
Mr. Calhoun comes back to the porch with a pinch in his brow and a scowl on his face. “Add Mr. Dupont and the people on his team to the list of people who aren’t allowed to come back here,” he tells Juniper.
“What? Why? What happened?”
“Well, first of all, he didn’t answer. His secretary called to inform me that after thinking it through, Mr. Dupont and his team decided a ranch getaway ‘wasn’t their speed’ and they would be requiring a refund.
I told her a refund wasn’t possible since they didn’t give us twenty-four hours’ notice.
Hell, they didn’t give us any notice. They just weren’t going to show up.
Slimy bastards. His secretary said his lawyers would be in contact if we didn’t issue a refund, so we might not have a choice but to give it back. I don’t want a legal battle.”
“We haven’t spent any of it yet, so I’ll move it to a separate account. Should we be worried about backlash or review bombs? Or something worse?”
Mr. Calhoun shakes his head. “No, I don’t think so.
I don’t know what game they’re playing, but I don’t think they’ll do anything else.
I’m sorry, Juniper. I feel awful that everyone worked so hard to prepare the ranch for nothing.
Take it easy this week. Go out again on Friday if you want.
We’ll have our kick-off barbecue on Sunday night and welcome the first real guests on Monday. ”
“Okay, I’ll let everyone know. I’m sorry, Daddy.”
“It’s not your fault, June-bug. Just remind me not to be so accommodating to demanding assholes in the future, yeah?”
Her pretty pink lips tip up into a small smile. “I can do that.”
“Good. I’m gonna go tell your mama the news. I know she was thinking about going to Vegas, and if she does, I might go with her.”
“Okay. Let me know what you decide.”
“Will do. See you around, Addison.”
I give him a nod, and he heads into the house.
Juniper groans, slumping down into her seat, her head tipping back. She looks so defeated, and I don’t know how to help her. A good ride always makes me feel better. Maybe that will help her.
“Come for a ride with me. I need another trail refresher.” That’s a lie. I know the trails, and she’s probably more than aware of that. I don’t know why the thought of going on a ride with her appeals to me, but I’m dying for her to say yes.
“I should stay here and get the paperwork done.”
But it’s not a no.
“You heard the boss. Take it easy. Everything is ready to go for next week. We can go around and update everyone on the situation, then take the horses for a ride since they won’t be getting one this week.”
Conflict flashes across her face. Is she hesitating because she doesn’t want to leave the ranch? Does she truly have that much paperwork to do? Or is she wary of spending one-on-one time with me?
She looks at her clipboard again, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth as she considers my offer. Finally, she nods. “Okay, let’s ride.”
After we made our rounds and told everyone that we wouldn’t have guests this week, Oakley and Landry supplied us with some sandwiches for our ride.
Juniper goes to her place to change into well-worn jeans that look tailor-made to hug her deliciously thick thighs and a T-shirt that appears to have seen better days.
She slathers herself with sunscreen and drops the bottle into a backpack.
When we go to tack up Athena and Daffodil, I learn that Honeysuckle struggles with the trail and gets spooked easily, so Juniper only rides her in the corral.
Daffodil is a beautiful ten-year-old appaloosa with chestnut coloring. According to Shane, she’s one of the calmest horses in the barn, and they always give her to the most anxious riders because nothing can spook her. She knows the terrain like the back of her hand.
Once the horses are ready to go, I let Juniper lead the way. We head east, taking the dirt road that leads to the base of the hill where the trails are. I swear, the farther we get from the main area of the ranch, the more Juniper’s shoulders relax.
I remember her saying awkward silences make her uncomfortable, and I want this to be enjoyable for her. I’ve been making a mental list of conversation topics in case we were stuck in a situation like the trip to Missoula again.
I pull Athena up next to Daffodil, so we’re walking side by side. “Tell me about your favorite part of the ranch.”
Juniper looks taken aback, but she tilts her head, contemplating. “I like the wildflowers. There’s a big field on the other side of the hill, and when the flowers start to bloom, it looks like a postcard. I like to go out either when the sun has just risen or right before sunset and paint.”
“Wait, you paint? Did you paint the picture of the horse in your old bedroom?”
“I… I didn’t know you were staying in my old bedroom. But yes, that was me. I told Mama not to put it up, but she doesn’t like to listen to me.”
“Wow. That painting is stunning. I look at it all the time, wishing I could paint like that. I need to see more of your work.”
She waves me off. “It’s not that impressive.
I picked up painting and drawing because my therapist recommended it to help calm my mind.
I thought she was crazy at first, because I didn’t think I had an artistic bone in my body, and I didn’t know if I’d be any good.
She told me I didn’t have to be good, I just had to try, and she was right.
It helps when things seem too overwhelming, even if the end product isn’t perfect. ”
I’ve already learned so much about Juniper, and I’m greedy and want to learn more. She’s opened up more to me out here among the ponderosa pines than she has on the ranch.
I think I need to get her out on the trail more often.