by A. D. Ellis
“Then take over the ranch and live here!” Walker thundered.
Reid scoffed, his words muffled into his legs. “Yeah, gay boy turned cowboy. I’m sure that would work out just fabulously.” He lifted his head. “I have no clue how to run a ranch. I stick out like a sore thumb. I’m scared to death of horses. I gag at the smells. And what exactly would I do with my time? Why should I be punished just so others can have a good life?”
Walker raised his brows.
“Yes, I realize how fucking pathetic and selfish that sounds.” Reid pressed his head against his knees again. “Damn Grandpa Jack all to hell and back. He should have just left the damn ranch to my dad and kept me out of his life completely.”
Walker was quiet for a moment. “Ever think that maybe Grandpa Jack had hopes that you’d fall in love with this place?”
Reid raised his head. “Well, his hopes and dreams are going to shatter like glass. I’m not him. He grew up on this ranch. Loved it from the time he was old enough to understand it was going to become his. He was a horse man, a ranch man, a man who appreciated nature and the great outdoors. I’m none of that.”
“How do you know?”
Reid snorted. “Just look at me.”
“No, I mean, how do you know all of those things about your grandfather?” Walker cocked his head.
“Easy. I took pretty much everything that’s the opposite of me and applied it to him.” Reid shrugged. “I am terrified of horses. Nature makes me shiver; bugs and wild animals? No thanks. I don’t love the outdoors; give me the mall or a dance studio any day.”
Walker leaned back and steepled his fingers under his chin again and watched Reid. “It’s a challenge, but I accept.”
“Accept what?” Reid frowned.
“I’ve got three months to convince you to stay or at least leave the day-to-day stuff to me.” Walker gave a wan smile. “This ranch is my life. My heart is here. It’s the horses, the people, the land. I can’t leave here. And it’s my responsibility to save the others’ jobs. So I accept the challenge.”
Reid dropped his knees and leaned forward, elbows on the desk. “Look, I know this place is important to you. I know it’s your life and their lives.” He gestured vaguely toward the rest of the barn. “But I’ve got to take care of me. I’m not going to banish myself to living a life of misery on a ranch just to save others. If that makes me selfish, so be it.”
“Then go back to California and let me run the place,” Walker implored. “I’m the best at what I do. I’ve been here over a decade. I knew your grandpa. This ranch is in my blood. I’d never do anything to compromise its reputation or operations.”
Reid shook his head. “And I get what from that? A small chunk of change every so often from the interest? I can’t imagine this place is making more than enough to pay employees and keep things running. Why should I be left with next to nothing so you and they get their dreams?”
“Give me three months, okay? Maybe you’ll feel better about your options. Or at least feel different about them.” Walker stood from his chair. “Can you give me three months of an open mind?”
Reid nodded and stood, as well. “I have no choice but to give you three months.” He squinted. “But tell me the truth, you’d rather have me hand it all over to you, right?”
Walker cocked his head. “Honestly? I’m not sure. Having the run of the ranch without a damn city slicker around to fuck things up would be great. But I’m a man who likes an adventure, so maybe having you stay would make things a hell of lot more interesting around here.” He winked.
Reid laughed. “No promises. But I can give you three months of an open mind. All I’ve ever wanted was for people to give me an open mind and acceptance, so it’s the least I can do for you and Pine Ridge.”
They shook hands over the desk.
“Come on, we need to head to the main house and get some sleep. Tomorrow comes early on a ranch.” Walker held open the door for Reid.
Reid’s nose crinkled. “Exactly how early is early?”
“Sun up.” Walker slapped him on the shoulder as Reid groaned. “Welcome to ranch life, cowboy.”
Reid simply grimaced. “What exactly will we be doing tomorrow?”
“Nothing fancy, just day-to-day stuff.” Walker led them out of the barn. “I’ll start you with things away from the horses. Let you get a feel for the whole operation before we tackle anything having to do with animals.”
Reid stopped dead in his tracks. “Hell to the no. I’ll help and learn, but I’m not going near the horses. Ever. Period.”
Walker turned. “They are majestic, caring, sensitive, and intelligent creatures. Maybe at least give them a chance?”
“They are huge and they kick. They are dangerous. I have no need to be near them.” Reid crossed both arms over his chest.
“Fine.” Walker turned away, but called over his shoulder, “So much for that open mind and acceptance. What if people were as closed off to you as you are to the horses?”
A horse neighed from the barn behind them.
Reid yelped and ran to catch up with Walker. “I don’t kick and trample and kill,” Reid argued.
Walker snorted as they headed up the stairs of the main house. “Neither do most horses. What the hell have you been watching? Horse horror stories?”
Reid jutted his chin and entered the house, dropping to his knees to greet the dogs who clamored across the floor to tackle him.
Walker laughed. “Remember, sun up. Breakfast will be ready, hope you are too.”
6
Walker snickered the next morning as Reid all but dragged himself to the kitchen table and collapsed in a chair the next morning.
“Coffee, in an IV, stat,” Reid mumbled into the crook of his elbow not even bothering to lift his head.
Norma sat a large mug of steaming black coffee in front of Reid and patted his shoulder. “Sugar?”
“Hmmm?” Reid muttered.
Walker laughed out loud despite the frown Norma shot his way. “She’s not calling you sugar, cowboy.” He picked up the tray of sugar and cream and placed it on the table. “Sugar?”
Reid lifted his head and squinted his eyes as if waking from a long nap. “It’s still dark outside. How is a person supposed to function like this?” He reached for the sugar and put in two heaping spoons and a splash of cream.
“Want a little coffee with your sugar?” Walker teased.
“Don’t start, Mr. I-Like-My-Cream-Flavored-with-Coffee,” Norma scolded and poked Walker in the chest as she went back to preparing breakfast.
By the time food was served, Reid had consumed two cups of coffee and the duck dogs had given up begging at his chair and lay down nearby. He spooned homestyle potatoes onto his plate and accepted the basket of piping hot biscuits Walker handed his way. With a slab of salt-cured ham and a generous helping of scrambled cheese eggs on his plate, Reid glanced around the table at Walker and Norma. “You guys seriously do this every damn day?”
Norma nodded. “Wouldn’t have it any other way. Nothing I like better than rising in time to get a meal prepared and enjoy a hot cup of coffee as the sun comes up.”
“I let you sleep in today,” Walker joked. “Should have been out at the barn an hour ago.”
Reid’s eyes widened. “Wow, you must really want me to leave.” He shot a look toward Norma.
“I know all about your three month stay and the decisions you need to make.” Norma reached over and patted his hand. “I plan to have you so smitten with this place that you’ll not even be able to think of a time when you didn’t want to spend your every waking moment here.”
Reid smiled. “I can’t promise anything. Take the boy from the city, not the city from the boy and whatnot.” He gestured with a biscuit. “But this food is a damn good start to making me want to never leave.”
“Norma’s cooking is legendary.” Walker poured himself more coffee from the carafe and doctored it with cream and a half spoon of sugar.
“What do the others eat?” Reid buttered another biscuit before shoveling in more eggs.
“Many eat at home. Some, mostly the ones who stay on the property, will do their early chores then come up for breakfast before continuing their day.” Walker forked open two biscuits and placed a piece of ham into each. “We need to head out as soon as you finish. But bring a couple sandwiches to eat. You’ll be starving by lunch.”
“This was carb loading at its most delicious. I don’t think I’ll be hungry again even by dinner time,” Reid argued, but he made himself two ham biscuits, as well, wrapping them in a napkin, before draining his coffee. “Norma, can I help in any way?”
“Mighty kind offer, sugar,” Norma teased and Walker laughed, “but the kitchen and house are my job, and what I do best. I’ll be fine. Bring your appetite for lunch, though. Beef Manhattans and three types of pie are on the menu.”
Reid groaned and followed Walker to the door.
Walker pulled on boots and a hat before giving Reid’s denim joggers and fitted T-shirt a once over. “You got anything to cover your head? The sun can be brutal.”
Reid wrinkled his nose. “I don’t have a hat.”
“What about boots?” Walker put both hands on his hips. “And not those damn excuses for boots you were wearing when I picked you up.”
Reid copied Walker’s stance and jutted his chin. “Those boots were beautiful. Maybe not the best for working,” he argued.
Walker cocked a brow.
“Okay, maybe not the best for walking, either.” Reid gave in with a huff. “But it’s not like I had a ton of time or knowledge to get myself all cowboy’d up before I came out here.”
“Fine, we’ll get you a hat and boots soon.” Walker groused. “Until then, do you have shoes you can get dirty? And anything to cover your head?”
“I’ll improvise.” Reid shrugged and walked to his room. He emerged a few moments later with high-top tennis shoes and a rainbow bandana covering his head as he sauntered down the hallway like he was on a catwalk. “Better?”
Walker harrumphed and nodded.
“Geesh, you’d think you’re the fashion police.” Reid patted Walker’s cheek. “Can’t be out and about on my first day looking like a scrub. I still gotta represent and part of that means looking fine all the time.” He walked through the door and bounded down the steps. “Where to first?”
Walker followed, shaking his head. “Well, one of the first things you need to know is how to drive the truck.”
Reid tossed Walker a sneer. “I know how to drive. Check that off the list. Next?”
Walker rolled his eyes and walked toward a beat-up truck. “That may be, but this here is Bert and he’s a bitch even on his best days.”
Reid curled his lip. “Ugh, Bert, why you gotta be a diva?” He patted the truck. “Although, if he kept me looking as rough as he’s let you get, I’d probably be bitchy, too.” Reid turned to Walker. “A little maintenance never hurts.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Walker smirked. “You know how to drive a stick?”
Reid batted his lashes slowly. “Oh, yeah, I know exactly how to drive a stick.”
Walker cocked a brow. “Really?”
“Mmmhmm,” Reid purred. “I can work a stick over, front and back, up and down. By the time I’m done, that stick won’t know what day it is.”
Walker’s eyes snapped with a fiery glow before his jaw clenched. “Fucking, hell. I mean a stick shift…in a vehicle…a manual…the opposite of an automatic transmission,” Walker sputtered.
Reid winked. “I know. But that was fun.”
Walker huffed. “We don’t have time for this. I’m already behind schedule. Do you or do you not know how to drive a manual transmission?”
“Touchy, touchy,” Reid murmured. “I have driven a stick, a manual, before, but it’s been a very long time. Is Bert temperamental?”
“Yes, the worst.” Walker opened the truck door. “But, I make all the employees know how to drive Bert in case of emergencies. Climb in.” Walker waited until Reid had shut the driver side door before walking around to the passenger side. “Start the bastard up.” Walker gave a nod toward the keys.
Bert roared to life and shook softly.
“Oh, Berty, you are just a hunk of lovin’ aren’t you, big guy?” Reid ran one hand over the steering wheel and the other across the faded gray upholstery. “You just need a man who can handle all that power. I’m your boy, Berty, I gotchu, Boo.”
Walker cleared his throat. “You done?”
“What?” Reid shrugged. “You can’t expect me to just climb in and drive him. He needs prepping and pampering, too. I mean, if I’m going to get anywhere with Bert, I need to lube him up, I can’t go trying to fuck him dry.”
Walker pinched the bridge of his nose. “Bert is a truck, not a trick.”
Reid’s mouth dropped open and he held a hand to his chest, gasping. “Did you seriously just insinuate that I’m a hooker?”
Walker held up a hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend. I just need you to know how to drive the damn truck. And…,” he let his word trail off.
“And what?” Reid demanded.
“And if you could possibly not make every single thing we talk about today an innuendo, that would be great.” Walker raised his brow, waiting.
“Sorry,” Reid mumbled. “I’m sassy and smart-assy, especially when I’m nervous or stressed. I’ll try not to be so raunchy. I didn’t mean to offend your delicate hetero-senses. My bad.”
Walker frowned, but quickly went on, nodding. “Thanks. That would be great. Let’s take a few rounds in Bert and then get to the other chores.”
“Grab your grub, if you want.” Walker indicated the napkin-wrapped biscuits on the truck seat. “You can eat while we watch the men turn out the horses.”
Reid reached for his food, but his wide eyes flashed to Walker. “Told you I don’t do horses.”
“If you’re going to be on a ranch, whether three months or forever, you gotta get used to them.” Walker climbed from the truck and met Reid at the driver’s side. “I ain’t asking you to saddle one up and ride.”
Reid sighed and glanced at Walker for a brief moment before jerking his gaze away. Do not think about riding him. Just don’t.
“Yet,” Walker amended and chuckled at Reid’s glare. “But you need to see how things work around here, and get to know the guys.”
Reid bit into a biscuit. “So why do none of the women work out here?” he asked as he chewed.
Walker shrugged. “Just never been that way. The men work out here, and the women work in the houses with the others and help with the kids.”
Reid narrowed his eyes. “What if Elise gets her daddy’s skill with horses? You gonna expect her to cook and clean or you gonna let her work with the horses?”
Walker frowned. “You make it sound like I’m some old-fashioned, misogynist.”
“If the boot fits,” Reid drawled.
“When I started running things, I pretty much allowed the ranch to run as it had been. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, ya know?”
Reid popped the last bite of biscuit in his mouth and chewed. “Well, if I stay, things are gonna change around here.”
“You gonna make the women work out here?” Walker scowled.
“No, but it should be an option.” Reid folded his arms over his chest. “And if any of the guys have an interest in creating items to sell, running errands, helping with the cooking, taking on some of the responsibilities with the kids, then it should be a choice.” His jaw clenched as he waited for Walker’s reply.
Walker shrugged and held up his hands. “I’m not against it. I won’t fight you.”
Reid’s shoulders relaxed, and he nodded. “Good.” He glanced at the barn. “Fine, show me around and teach me oh, wise one.”
They walked to the barn and stood at the corral as the men let the horses out to run.
“So, they just stay in this fence all da
y?” Reid wrinkled his nose as pounding hooves kicked up dust.
“No, some will be exercised while others are let out to pasture to graze and walk. Some are used for ranch chores. Some will be working with a trainer. They all get something different, but exactly what they need. And it varies day-to-day.” Walker lifted a hand in greeting to the men with the horses. “Don’t worry. They are all very well taken care of. Your grandfather put the top priority on the horses. It’s one of the ways he turned this place into what it is today. He took his business mind, and added it to his work ethic, his integrity, and his kind heart, and made Pine Ridge into something to be proud of.”
“Do all the employees have one job they do all the time or does it change up?” Reid rested his elbows on the fence.
“Just depends on what needs done.” Walker pushed his hat up on his forehead a bit. “Wes works the most one-on-one with the new horses, the ones needing broken or rehabilitated or trained. I work a lot with the horses, but Wes is a master. The other guys do whatever needs to be done. Mucking the stalls, mending fences, running into town for supplies, baling hay and all that goes along with it, helping if a foal is on its way, painting sheds, moving the small herd of cattle from pasture to shelter and back to pasture. The ranch jobs are never ending; definitely never going to be bored.”
Reid gasped and his entire face softened. “Ohhhh, look at them.”
Walker turned to see the foals emerging from the barn and beginning to frolic in the corral. “Well, lookie there, maybe you don’t hate all horses.”
“Those aren’t horses, those are babies, and they are cute as fuck.” Reid moved to the other side of Walker to get a better view of the young ones.
“All big horses start out looking cute as fuck.” Walker chuckled. “We’ll start you with the foals and move from there.”
Over the next hour, Reid was introduced to and chatted with most all of the men. Some lived on the ranch, and some commuted to the ranch daily. A few he remembered from dinner, but he worked hard to learn and retain their names.