Chapter Nineteen – Colt
Colt
The rest of the flight was filled with laughter and a lot of losing hands of poker. Not for Ensley, but for Lori and me.
“It’s a good thing we were playing with Monopoly money,” Lori stated, as we quickly cleaned up our mess. We would be landing in fifteen minutes.
“That was so much fun!” Ensley said, as she tucked the last bit of Monopoly money back into their slots.
After getting the cabin ready to land, Lori smirked at Ensley and said, “Remind me to give you a call the next time I go to Vegas.”
Laughing, Ensley said, “I’ve never been to Vegas.”
With a surprised expression on her face, Lori said, “Well, you’d most likely have the attention of the house right off the bat with how good you are at poker.”
We soon settled back into our seats, and Ensley’s previously relaxed body started to show signs of anxiety as we prepared to land.
“You okay?” I asked, drawing her attention away from the window.
With a forced smile, she replied, “I’m fine.”
“Liar.”
“Takeoffs and landings were never my favorite parts of flying.”
“We’ll be on the ground before you know it.”
She nodded, then stared out the window again.
Ten minutes later, we’d landed. Once the plane came to a full stop, Lori joined us.
“I have so enjoyed being able to fly you both to Banff.”
“Thank you so much, Lori,” Ensley said, hugging her tightly.
Smiling, she replied, “I think this was the best flight I’ve ever worked. I had so much fun.”
“Will you be flying back with us on Tuesday?” Ensley asked.
“I will. I think we might see each other before then, though,” Lori said, as she glanced my way.
“Really?” Ensley asked, looking between us.
“I was hoping we could swing by the Lazy T and I could show you around.”
Ensley’s eyes lit up. “I’d love that.”
After gathering up our things, we made our way through the airport and to the rental car desk. The drive to Banff was about ninety minutes full of gorgeous scenery. We stopped and ate lunch along the way and got to the hotel just in time for check-in.
“This is stunning,” Ensley said, as we drove down the long drive. “It looks like a castle!”
I smiled as I heard the excitement in her voice.
“Have you ever stayed here before?”
“No, but a good friend of mine is one of the managers.”
I could feel her eyes on me. “You sure made a lot of friends while living in Banff.”
Laughing, I replied, “I guess I did.”
We pulled up in front and handed the car over to the valet before heading into the lobby. Checking in, we received our key cards and were reminded that the suite we were staying in was accessed from outside.
We walked up the steps, unlocked the door—and the moment we walked into the room, Ensley and I both drew in a sharp breath.
“Oh my gosh! Colt!” She spun in a circle when she walked into the living area. “This is…this is…”
“Beautiful,” I supplied.
“I’ve never stayed in a place so amazing!” There was a fireplace in the corner of the room, which Ensley was already bending down to inspect. “I can’t wait to see a fire in this thing!”
A large TV hung above the mantel and was already on, displaying scrolling pictures of the hotel and the surrounding area.
There were two sofas, a coffee table and a chair with a side table in the living room.
One of the sofas was up against a window that looked out over the mountains and a river running through the valley below.
It was so picturesque, it didn’t look real.
A small kitchen sat on the other side of the room. As I walked that way, Ensley made a quick dash into the bedroom. Thirty seconds later, I heard her call out my name.
“Colt! Get in here!”
Laughing, I headed that way. She was standing in the large bathroom, staring out the window at yet another amazing view.
“I want to take a bath tonight and stare out this window at the stars.”
I wrapped my arms around her, and she leaned against me. “That sounds nice.”
Turning her head, she gazed at me over her shoulder. “Will you join me?”
“Oh no…remember what you said?”
Spinning around to face me, she asked, “What did I say?”
“No sex on our second first date.”
Laughing slightly, she blushed. “That’s right. I did say that.”
“I wasn’t sure how you’d be feeling after the flight, and what you might be up for, so I planned a light day for the rest of today.”
Smiling, she leaned against the marble countertop. “What’s the plan?”
“Well, I figured we could take a drive around, see the area. If you’d like to see the ranch I worked on today, we’ve been invited for dinner there this evening.”
“That sounds wonderful.”
Nodding, I said, “Perfect. Dress comfortable and make sure you bring your gloves, hat, and scarf. You never know about the weather around here, so I’d like to be prepared.”
Saluting me with her right hand, she said, “Sir, yes, sir!”
“This place is heaven. I forgot how beautiful it was here,” Ensley said, as we drove along the river that followed the road. “I love River Falls, but I can see why you stayed here as long as you did. There’s something very peaceful about Banff.”
“There is.”
“The snow-covered mountains are gorgeous. I mean, when you stand and look down the main street and see that stunning peak just jutting up? Breathtaking! Why do you think they look so different here than back home?”
Smiling, I replied, “I think it’s the jagged edges. Plus, they’re taller.”
We drove for a few minutes in silence before Ensley said, “I’ve really enjoyed today. The Big Bear Trading Company reminded me of my father’s store back home.”
“Yeah, it really does.”
“I think my favorite activity, though, was stopping by the craft beer festival. Gatlin would have loved that. I’ll have to tell him about it.”
The ranch was coming up on the left, so I slowed and put my turn signal on. “We’re here.”
“Wow! This is out in the middle of nowhere,” Ensley said with a laugh.
I pulled into the driveway and stopped as Ensley leaned forward and looked out the window.
“Holy shit.”
I nodded. It was a very impressive entrance, with two large rock pillars flanking the double gates.
Each gate was made of intricately carved black steel.
The landscaping around the entrance was amazing, as well, even in the winter.
The ranch name, the Lazy T, stretched across the top of the gates, and in the middle was the name Murray.
“Pretty amazing, isn’t it?”
“Caden would love to see this. I’ve never seen such a fancy entrance to a cattle ranch before.”
I chuckled. “There’s a reason Judd flies around on a private jet.”
She glanced at me. “I guess so.”
After punching in the code, I waited for the gates to open, then pulled through.
“There are a number of houses on the ranch. The main house is where Judd and his wife, Karen, live. They have four kids—Lori, Lenny, Louie, and Lynda.”
“Themed names, cute.”
“None of them work on the ranch.”
“Why not?”
I shrugged. “Not interested, I guess. Lenny does some work for the ranch. Financial stuff. But nothing to do with the day-to-day running of the ranch itself.”
“So, who will take on the ranch once Judd retires?”
I blew out a breath. “I’m not sure. Judd and I became pretty good friends, but I never asked, and he never shared.
He doesn’t get along with his other son, Louie.
He’s had to cut him off, and I guess he didn’t like the fact that their father made him act like a grown-ass man.
He packed up and left a few years ago and hasn’t been back.
And as far as Lynda goes, I’ve only met her a couple of times, and the only thing she loves on the ranch is her horse. ”
Ensley frowned. “I can’t imagine Caden and Gatlin not being a part of the ranch. Or any of us not talking to our parents.”
“Yeah, me either.”
“Lori seems to have a good relationship with her father, though.”
Nodding, I replied, “She does, yes. She isn’t interested in the ranch, or at least the running of it. She enjoys flying and riding horses…and she’s a big fan of spending money.”
I could feel Ensley’s eyes on me. “How do you know that?”
“Judd. He adores his daughter, though, and because she does work for him when he flies, and she also works for another family, he tolerates her love of his money.”
We drove in silence as Ensley stared out the window at the rolling pastures that were covered in cattle.
My cellphone rang, and I stopped. “Shit. Let me grab this. I don’t want to lose my signal.” I quickly accepted the call. “Hello?”
“Colt, it’s Katie.”
“Hey, Katie, how’s it going?”
From the corner of my eye, I saw Ensley turn to look at me.
“I wanted to let you know the police have found Ryan. He’s been arrested and is going before the judge on Tuesday. He’s been denied bail since they feel he’s a flight risk.”
Closing my eyes, I released a huge breath. “That’s amazing news. Where was he?”
“He was living in a small town in Maine. He got pulled over for speeding…and drinking and driving. Because of the warrant out for his arrest, they got him. The guy isn’t getting out of jail anytime soon.”
I smiled. I wanted this guy to pay for what he did to my father.
“Thanks, Katie. I’m glad to hear they got him. I’m out of town until Tuesday, but I can come in and meet with you and see where things will go next with Ryan.”
That really caused a reaction from Ensley. She turned in her seat to face me.
“Sounds good, Colt. Will talk soon.”
Nodding, I said again. “Thanks so much.”
“Talk to you soon, Colt.”
I hit End and looked at Ensley. “They found Ryan and he’s in jail.”
Her eyes widened in shock. “What? How?”
“Dad and I filed that police report and they put a warrant out for his arrest. He got pulled over in Maine and he’s in jail. I’m going to meet with Katie when we get back. I’m guessing they have to get him back to Colorado first.”
“Justice will be served for your parents. This is great news!”
I nodded. “That fucker isn’t going to get away with what he did to my father.”
“I’m sure your father will be happy to hear the news, as well.”
Rubbing at the instant ache in my neck, I said, “Let’s put all of that aside for now. I just want to focus on this weekend.”
A wide smile grew over her beautiful face. “It’s a deal.”
We started back down the drive.
“Where are the horses?”
“They’re usually on the south side of the ranch. Every now and then, you might see a few sprinkled around the pastures near the cattle, but they’re mostly kept to one side.”
“Quarter horses?” she asked.
“The working horses for the ranch are, yes. But Judd has a large number of Arabians. Lori shows them, and she also does show jumping. They have a few for pleasure riding and for trail rides. But they have a few others that are pampered like you would not believe. He has one, Midnight Star, that’s valued at over two-million dollars. ”
Ensley gasped. “Why?”
“Comes from a prized bloodline and is a world-champion show horse.”
She let out a disbelieving laugh. “Do they keep him in a locked barn?”
I turned down the main road. “They do—and there’s an armed guard posted outside of his stall twenty-four-seven. Even follows when they ride him.”
Ensley shook her head. “More money than sense.”
Laughing, I turned down the drive that led to Judd and Karen’s house. “Something like that.”
We were soon pulling up and parking.
“Wow. I don’t know which is more stunning. Our castle-like hotel or this mansion of a house.”
“Let me get your door for you,” I said, before jumping out and jogging around the front of the rental truck. I opened her door and Ensley slipped out, reaching back inside for her coat.
“Hey, guys, I have some bad news.”
We both turned to see Lori walking toward us.
“What’s wrong?” I asked. “Is everyone okay?”
Smiling, she held up her hands. “Everyone’s fine, except for a broken arm and hurt pride.”
I raised my brows.
“Mom fell off a new mare that just arrived last week. Dad brought her to the hospital, and she’s heading in for surgery now.”
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!” Ensley said.
Lori squeezed Ensley’s hand. “Thank you so much. This isn’t the first time my mother has broken her arm, hence the surgery. She was actually barely healed from the last one.”
“What?” Ensley asked, glancing between Lori and me.
“She broke it about six months ago,” I explained, “falling off a different horse.”
“Never fell off a horse in her fifty-five years on this Earth before that fall several months back.” Lori shook her head. “I would have called, but you changed your number.”
“Sorry about that. Your dad has the new number.”
She gave me a warm smile. “It’s okay. I’m going to head to the hospital. Dad said to please show Ensley around the ranch, make yourself comfortable, and if you want to go into the house, I’ll keep it open for you.”
Holding up my hands, I said, “No need to do that. I’ll give Ensley a little tour, and we’ll head back into town and grab dinner.”
Lori exhaled. “I’m really sorry about this, guys.”
“Please,” Ensley said. “Don’t even worry about it. I hope everything will be okay with your mom.”
“I’m sure it will be,” Lori said, before taking a few steps back. “I’m gonna head inside and grab my stuff.”
“Tell your mother I hope she recovers quickly.”
Nodding, Lori said, “Will do! Enjoy your stay here, Ensley. See you both Tuesday morning.”
“Thank you and hope all is well!”
I turned to face Ensley. “We have a bit of sunlight left if you want to drive around the ranch.”
“Yes! I’d love that!”
We drove around the ranch, and I showed her where I had lived the last five years, the barn, and a few spots on the ranch that were my favorite areas.
“It’s so beautiful here, Colt. I can see why it would be hard to leave this place.”
I nodded. “Yeah. I learned a lot about myself and about cattle ranching on this place. If I didn’t love horses so much, I might consider getting into the cattle business.”
Ensley glanced around. “They certainly make a lot of money from it.”
“That they do. Are you hungry? I’m starved.”
“What do you say we grab takeout from somewhere, go back to the hotel, and relax? I didn’t realize how tired I was until just now.”
Ensley could’ve had no idea how amazing that sounded, and I was forever grateful she’d suggested it.
“That sounds perfect. Pizza?”
Her eyes lit up. “If you know of a place that has a stromboli, I’m totally down for that.”
I let out a short bark of laughter. “Do I know a place? Hell yes, I do! I’m about to take you to heaven, Pip.”
A slow smile spread across her face. “With a stromboli?”
“Yes! Just you wait.”