His Ranch, His Rules

by Shanna Handel

  A twinge tugged at my heart, but my resolve was made of stone. I would not allow myself to be hurt again. And I certainly wouldn’t let my life fall apart like I had after my last breakup. I would do my job, finish out my committed timeframe on the ranch, then go back to Boise and beg Darlene for a job. Any job.

  “No, thank you.”

  “I fired Bethany. She’s gone, and she’ll never step foot on this property again. I swear it to you. Louanne’s sister is coming in later to interview for the job. Louanne says she’s been vying for Bethany’s job for the past year or so.”

  Impassively, I stared at his face as he spoke.

  “Can we just—talk? Please?”

  “We don’t have anything to talk about.”

  His face froze. There was a moment of silence as reality set in for him. “You’re serious, aren’t you? Memaw warned me that you wouldn’t—”

  “I have work to do.”

  It took every ounce of my self-control to push past him and make my way into the barn instead of throwing myself into his arms. As I did, my shoulder brushed against his chest. The tiny bit of contact with him immediately brought a sting to my eyes. Burning tears threatened to fall.

  From behind me, I heard Brody’s whispered apology. “I’m sorry, Georgia. You have no idea how sorry I am.” With that, he left the barn.

  Leaning my hands on the workbench, the tears spilled from my eyes. Anger and devastation welled within me as the hot trail of tears ran down my cheeks.

  It was already official—it had been since the moment he’d said the words, we’re done. But the face-to-face interaction after the breakup made it even more so. I was never again going to be Brody’s baby girl.

  * * *

  Somehow, I made it through the day.

  I think I have those precious animals to thank. If they hadn’t needed me so much, I may have gone crazy trying to avoid Brody and wait for the wedding. As Memaw said, the road trip was going to be incredibly awkward, but I was so excited to see Ted and Kaley and Regina that I was able to push my reunion with Jake and the long, sad bus journey back to the ranch from my mind.

  I skipped the other two meals in the Mess Hall, nibbling at what Brody had brought in the picnic basket. Everyone left me alone, respectfully giving me space. I was glad they all knew what had happened. And that Bethany was gone—good riddance. But that didn’t change anything between me and Brody. I wrapped up my day around eight that night and headed to the cabin.

  Around nine o’clock, there was a knock on my cabin door. Freshly showered with wet hair, I paused my packing to answer it. On the porch stood Alice, a worried look on her face and a large package in her hands.

  “May I come in?”

  “Of course,” I answered, smiling and opening the door for her. Alice had been especially sweet to me over the past few days. I think she had also suspected Bethany from the beginning.

  Placing the package onto the porch, she entered the cabin, closing the door softly behind her. Standing before me, she wrung her hands together. “Oh, Georgia, I’m so sorry about what happened! I can’t even begin to apologize—”

  I held my hand up to stop her; my voice broke as I said, “It’s okay.”

  She looked over me with the kind of concern you only find on a mother’s face. It had been too long since I had seen that look.

  I held back a sob. Gathering my emotions, I said, “Have a seat.”

  We sat on the armchairs, chatting about the ranch, the trip, the upcoming wedding. Anything but her son.

  It was soon ten o’clock. Looking at her watch, Alice said, “I should go. But, I have something for you. It was a gift Bro—um, someone ordered for you a few weeks ago. It just came in yesterday. I figured you should still have it.”

  “That’s kind of you, Alice. But I don’t think I want it.”

  “I’ll just leave it on the porch in case you change your mind. If it’s still there in the morning, I’ll have Louanne leave it for the UPS man while we are gone.”

  “That will be fine.”

  “Okay then. Goodnight, Georgia.”

  “Goodnight, Alice.”

  I watched her walk into the dark night.

  The package sat on the porch, untouched. When I was sure Alice was out of view, curiosity took hold of me.

  Sitting down on the rocker, I opened the top of the large box, peering at the contents. Reaching in, my hand brushed material that was as soft and buttery as Alice’s boots. I pulled out a duffle bag, made of gorgeous Sienna leather. I ran my hand over the bag, amazed by the feel of it. Heavy brown stitching ran over the edges—the bag was well crafted. Despite myself, I gave the stout zipper a hearty tug. The bag opened smoothly.

  I smiled. He had noticed the half-broken zipper on my old duffle bag. And ordered this one for me, knowing I would need a bag to pack for the wedding. But that was weeks ago—before he broke up with me. There was no way I could keep this bag, right?

  But it was so beautiful, and sturdy. And it was a gift from him. I wanted it.

  I would keep it and make it clear to Brody that I saw it as a bonus from a boss to an employee.

  I went inside to pack my belongings into the gorgeous bag.

  Chapter Seven

  The sky was still dark the next morning as Memaw passed out ham biscuits as we piled onto the bus. We had to get an early start to be in Boise in time for the rehearsal dinner at the posh place Ted’s parents had picked. The Empire was known for their delicious but dainty, heavily seasoned, and expensive dishes. And their wide selections of fine wines.

  I was the last one to file onto the bus, the leather duffle slung over my shoulder. Unfortunately, somehow everyone else had sat toward the back of the bus, filling in all the seats with themselves and their luggage, leaving the first two sets of seats open. It wouldn’t have been a problem, except for their proximity to the driver—who was my ex-boyfriend.

  A few curious gazes from members of the team tipped me off that the available seating might not have been a coincidence.

  Passing by Brody, I didn’t miss the hopeful look that crossed his face as he saw the bag. I flung it into a seat, trying to decide which was worse—sitting directly behind him in the first set of seats, or practically next to him in the other.

  I chose the one with the view of the back of his golden head. It was too late to move seats when I looked up to see that he had a direct view of me from the huge rearview mirror that hung over his head. A flush washed over me from his gaze and my thought, dear God, I hope Colton didn’t see my face when Brody fingered me on the ride to church.

  “Nice bag,” he said.

  “It was a kind employee bonus. Thank you, Boss Man.”

  He cringed at my words.

  I smiled inside.

  The bus got moving and the sun was still an hour from setting. With the early wakeup call and the dark sky, Alice, Memaw, Colton, and Hayes fell asleep. Travis had headphones on, watching a video on his phone.

  It was just me and Brody.

  After about an hour of silent driving, Brody gave a huge yawn. Turning the bus onto the main highway, he said, “Talk to me, Georgia, please. About anything. Just keep me awake so I don’t fall asleep at the wheel and crash this thing.”

  It was a fair enough request. And we still had almost nine months we would be working together. It was time I stopped giving him the silent treatment.

  “Okay. But ranch talk only.”

  His eyes lit up, meeting mine in the mirror.

  The look he must have saw in mine made him look away. “Fair enough, fair enough. Catch me up on how the animals are doing. I feel like I’ve been drowning in the event hosting and vacation side of things. I’m not up to date on the cattle ranch.”

  “Yeah—running the fishing trips, leisurely tubing trips, organizing tours of Jackson Hole, sounds impossible,” I teased. We all knew the truth was that Brody and ‘his boys’ ran themselves ragged day in and day out accommodating all the summer guests on the ranch. My chest
tightened at the sound of that deep chuckle that I missed so much. I looked down at my hands, clasped in my lap.

  “Oh, I’m not complaining. Trust me. I know how rare it is for someone to get to live their dream.” He snuck a glance at me in the mirror. “What’s your dream job, Georgia?”

  Shaking my head, I said, “Uh-uh. Ranch talk only.”

  “So, ranch work isn’t your dream job?”

  “I didn’t say that.” I thought of those precious cattle, though it pained me knowing many of them would become steak and hamburgers. I had quickly fallen in love with the horses, and the other animals that dotted the landscape at CLAS. I adored dogs and cats, but there was something so satisfying about caring for livestock. A connection to the earth, to food. “The truth is, I never thought about what my dream job was when I went to school to be a vet tech. I just knew how I felt about animals and people said I had a way with them. I just did what I was good at.”

  “Makes sense.”

  “Brownie—his leg is healed. And Chipper, the one who showed early signs of pneumonia—he’s all better.”

  Brody looked at me curiously. “You know you shouldn’t name them, right? It’s harder to see them sold if you get attached.”

  I shrugged. “I know. But I can’t help it.” We sat in silence for a bit. Then I said, “Tell me about when you opened CLAS.”

  His brows raised in surprise, as if I’d given him a gift. “Really?”

  “Sure. Why not? It’s a long bus ride. I think we are the only two awake. And… I’ve always been curious.”

  “It’s kind of a sad story. You sure you want to hear it?”

  If there was one thing I was getting good at handling, it was sadness. “Yes.” I leaned comfortably against my new bag, using it as an armrest, prepared for a long story.

  I was not prepared for Brody’s voice to get husky with emotion.

  I was not prepared for my feelings for him to all come rushing back as he spoke.

  “It started with my prom date. Her name was Cass. We were best friends all through high school—probably about like you and Ted are. We did everything together and so, naturally when prom came up we knew we’d have the most fun if we went together. Afterward, we were driving—I was driving us, back home from prom. At this point in time, my entire family lived in Jackson. We were city folks. Anyway, I was driving, we were talking and laughing, telling stories about our friends at prom, and out of nowhere, there was a sound like an explosion. A car plowed into the passenger side door. Cass’s door.”

  It hit me. Brody’s abhorrence of alcohol and substances. “It was a drunk driver,” I whispered.

  “Yes.”

  “I’m so sorry. You must have had to relive that the night I came on the ranch and told you about my parents.”

  “I admit, I felt a deep connection to you after you told that story.” His eyes met mine in the mirror. “Still do,” he said quietly, causing me to look down. Then he continued. “Anyway. Of course, even though everyone told me it wasn’t my fault, I carried an enormous feeling of guilt. I dropped out of school—I couldn’t hack being there, Cass’s absence loomed at every corner. I started working for my dad’s landscaping company, tried to mend. I’ll admit there is a piece of me that is still broken.”

  And still trying to mend that broken piece by creating a utopia where no alcohol was allowed. Being the boss. Keeping his employees safe.

  Continuing his story, he said, “Once I had some money saved, I started thinking about what I wanted to do with my life. I knew Cass wouldn’t want me to spend my days mourning her, stuck in a rut. Then I had the idea for the ranch. My great-grandfather was a rancher and it ran in our blood. Memaw grew up on a ranch and knew a ton. She told me she’d teach me. So, I got my parents and Memaw to go in with me and we bought the acres for the ranch. They were all on board with my rules—clean living and sunshine, and we spent the next fifteen years making CLAS what it is today.”

  A mental image of the monthly expense spreadsheet I had seen on his computer pricked at my mind. “Cass, charitable donations,” I murmured.

  “What’s that?”

  “Oh, nothing. Just a line item I saw in your spreadsheet that day.” My face flushed at the memory of me and Brody that first night in the Mess Hall. “It’s like a memorial to her, isn’t it?”

  “Yeah—I guess you could call it that. In Cass’s memory, every month I let an employee choose a charity for ten percent of that month’s income to go to. Next month is yours.”

  We got quiet then. A heaviness fell over me. Next month. When we would be on the ranch, no upcoming road trip to push away the fact that we were no longer together, just an employee and her boss.

  Brody was an all-time good guy.

  And he had a sad story that completely cleared up why he reacted so strongly to my drunkenness.

  But that didn’t change the fact that he had broken up with me.

  * * *

  Soon everyone was awake and chatting as we made our way down the road. An ease spread over me when familiar landmarks begin to appear. I was back in Boise.

  With all the stops we had to make for Memaw to use the restroom, we still made it to the hotel in time to check in and chill for a few hours before changing for the rehearsal dinner. The Empire was just a short walk from our hotel.

  I started squealing before I even slid the keycard and opened the door to room 426. “Regina!” Throwing my bag down, I wrapped my arms around her, her red hair flying behind her. “Oh, my God, it’s so good to see you!”

  She squeezed me tight, shouting, “Georgia! I can’t believe you’re back here!” When she pulled away and our eyes met, I knew time healed all wounds. We were once again the very best of girlfriends. Linking arms with me, she said, “Cute bag,” and drug me over to the beds. Sitting beside me, she demanded, “Tell me everything.”

  And I did.

  Gina laughed at all the right parts, looked absolutely horrified at others. And cried with me at the end.

  We dried our eyes. Pulling sticks and wands of makeup from her huge hot pick cosmetics bag, Gina worked magic on my puffy face. She curled my hair into long, tumbling tendrils that she set with a half a can of sticky spray. From the closet she pulled out a pale blue wrap dress that was dotted with tiny flowers. “Just your size. And the perfect color for your hair. If you hadn’t gotten so tanned on the ranch, you’d look like Snow White.”

  “Thanks, Gina.” I changed in the bathroom while she changed in the bedroom. When I came out, she was looking stunning in an emerald green dress. “Oh, I can’t wait for Travis to meet you!” I growled.

  “Stop it,” she laughed. “After what you told me about what his brother did to you in the Mess Hall, I don’t know if I can handle a Jenkins man.”

  “Let’s go,” I said, linking her arm and leading her from the room.

  At least Jake wouldn’t be at the rehearsal dinner. I could face him tomorrow. Tonight, I would laugh with Gina and enjoy watching Ted and Kaley overjoyed by their upcoming nuptials. Luckily, we were the last ones in our party to leave the hotel, so I could put off introducing Regina to the crowd. I needed a pinch more time—just the two of us—before I could brave her meeting Brody.

  Laughing and chatting, we walked down the city streets, just like old times. Too soon, we reached the tall building, a black and silver sign that boasted The Empire. A man in a black suit held the door for us, Gina and I giggling as he said, “Welcome to The Empire, ladies.”

  Our giggles changed to ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ as we entered the most exclusive eatery in the city. Marble floors lead to a grand curving staircase where an elegantly dressed waiter smiled, saying, “Please follow me.”

  Gina and I exchanged wide-eyed glances as we made our way up the stairs. The beautiful dress Gina had picked out for me suddenly seemed too casual for the setting. I breathed a sigh of relief when we entered the dining room and saw that the rest of the guests were dressed as we were.

  Ted, Kaley, and Ted’s
parents stood by the entrance, greeting their guests. “G!” Ted shouted, grabbing me in a big hug. It felt so good to have his arms around me. There was a flurry of hugs and kisses and ‘hellos’ with his parents. Then Gina and I went to find our seats.

  There were four long, rectangular tables forming a square in the center of the room, so everyone sat on the outsides and faced inward. I looked around at the familiar faces. In our excitement and chatter, Gina and I were the last two guests to arrive. Serendipitously, or more likely the handiwork of two dominant-natured men, the only two seats that remained—besides the four open ones at the front that were obviously for the bride and groom, and parents of the groom—were two seats in between Travis and Brody.

  “No way,” I whispered, more to myself than Gina. Why on earth did Brody want me next to him? He had broken up with me.

  “Oh, my God, is that him?” Regina whispered, clutching at my arm.

  “Yep. That’s Brody,” I said.

  “No—the other one. That must be Travis.” I kicked myself for describing Travis to her in such detail back at the hotel room. Gina traitorously let go of my arm, stepped before me, and hurried over to Travis’ eager face.

  Rolling my eyes, I held my head high and made my way to what would now have to be my seat, right next to Brody. Of course, like a total gentleman and making my tender heart pitter-patter, Brody stood, smiled his dimple smile, and pulled my chair out for me.

  Gina and Travis were already chatting like old friends, Gina flipping that long red hair over her shoulder and giggling. She would be no help to me while I was trying to avoid Brody.

  “Thank you,” I mumbled as I took a seat.

  “You look—breathtaking,” Brody replied.

  I gave him the look.

  He quickly sat down beside me.

  Luckily Ted and Kaley made it to their seats and between entrée after entrée and speech after speech, I managed to say very few words to Brody. The conversation consisted of me politely answering ‘yes’ or ‘no’ as he asked me questions like, How is your steak? I know you don’t like shrimp—want me to sneak it off your plate? Did you like the dessert? Would you like me to ask a waiter for some more water for you? I love that color blue on you. Your hair is really pretty—did Regina do it for you?