Cut and Run

by Amy Elizabeth

  She bristled. “Boston, actually.”

  He gave an apathetic shrug. “Same difference, right?”

  She opened her mouth to respond when Tommy interjected. “Rebecca’s interested in a job here this summer. You mentioned last week that you were still looking for help.”

  Onyx began prancing in place, clearly uninterested in their conversation. Alec made the slightest movement with the reins, and the horse instantly stopped fidgeting.

  “Tina can’t make it this year, so I do need the extra help,” he said, fixing his gaze on Rebecca. “But this isn’t a fancy country club like I’m sure you’re used to back east. We do real work out here.”

  Tommy’s right–he is a jerk, she thought, barely biting back a nasty response. “I didn’t belong to any fancy country clubs back east,” she replied evenly. “And I can handle real work.”

  Alec seemed surprised by her tone. He sat back in the saddle, studying her for a moment. “Can you ride?”

  “Of course I can ride.”

  “Can you lift fifty pounds?”

  “Yes.”

  “Can you work the entire summer?”

  “Yes.”

  “How old are you?”

  She figured it was close enough to count. “Eighteen.”

  Alec leaned over the railing and peered down at her sneakers. “I hope you have some boots with you,” he said. “Have all your things out here by noon tomorrow. You’ll be bunking with Allison in Cabin Four. Tommy will show you where it is.”

  With that, he spun Onyx around and cantered off across the corral.

  Rebecca turned to Tommy with her mouth agape, and he gave an apologetic grin. “Sorry ‘bout that.”

  “Geez, you weren’t kidding. What did he mean by bunking in Cabin Four?”

  “Well, we all live on the ranch for the summer. There’s no way you could drive in and out of Jackson every day. You’d never have time to sleep.”

  Live on the ranch for the summer? She knew she was in way over her head, but what could she do now? Apparently, after a ten-second interview from a cowboy on a Quarter horse, she was hired.

  *

  The following day, after a shopping spree for jeans, boots, and riding chaps, Jeff drove Rebecca to the ranch. “I feel bad,” she admitted. “I had no idea I would have to live out here if I got hired.”

  Jeff waved his hand. “Don’t worry about it. I’m glad you have the chance to do something you’ve always wanted to do. I’ll come pick you up on your days off and we’ll hang out. I promise.”

  Tommy was there to greet her and show her over to her new accommodation. Cabin Four was one of eight iconic cabins for the summer staff, complete with bunk beds, a couch, and a tiny but functional bathroom. She smiled as she studied the cozy western décor, from the border of galloping horses around the wall to the bucking bronco lamp base on the nightstand. The view from the window was incredible–a grove of white-barked aspen trees with shimmering leaves and, just beyond them, a herd of black cattle grazing in a lush green paddock.

  Her roommate Allison had yet to arrive, so for now she joined Tommy for the grand tour. They started at the parking lot, which marked the center of the ranch. On the eastern side of the property, a lone hill rose from the otherwise flat terrain.

  “Alec lives up there,” he explained, pointing to the rustic white farmhouse perched on the hilltop. “And Roger has that little cabin down there at the base.”

  He paused beside the corral and indicated the red barns behind them, one considerably larger than the other. “The main barn has forty stalls. We keep the guests’ horses in that one. The smaller barn is for our horses. I’ll take you in there a little later, once everyone’s here, and we’ll get you matched up with a horse for the summer. I have one in mind for you already.”

  Rebecca beamed at the prospect as she followed Tommy past the corral to the long line of individual log cabins. They were larger than the staff quarters, each with a stone chimney, sprawling wrap-around porch, and wooden rocking chairs. It wasn’t until she glanced back at the farmhouse that she noticed how new all the other buildings seemed in comparison. Even the barns looked like they were erected yesterday. She almost asked Tommy about the discrepancy, but she wasn’t sure how to.

  “There are sixteen guest cabins,” he was saying. “Some for couples, some for families. Alec has separate housekeeping and kitchen staff, so we don’t have to worry about any of that. We get to do the fun stuff–working with the animals, trail rides, roping lessons, that kinda thing.”

  He continued the tour with the two buildings behind the barns, beginning with the heavy equipment shed. The only item that stuck in her memory was the castration device they used on the less fortunate bull calves. Next-door was the farrier shed, which housed thousands of horseshoes and a dizzying array of clinchers, rasps, and anvil stands. It looked more like a torture chamber than a blacksmith shop.

  When they finally arrived at the guest lodge, all Rebecca could do was gawk. It was a soaring A-frame structure with three-story windows that encompassed a majestic view of the ranch. Twin stone fireplaces graced either end, surrounded by cozy red leather couches and armchairs beneath elk-antler chandeliers. The dining room was located through an arched doorway, decorated as stylishly as any five-star establishment in downtown Boston. Panoramic windows overlooked a large outdoor patio with whitewashed lounge chairs and picnic tables.

  “Don’t fall in love with the lodge,” Tommy warned, sending her a knowing grin. “It’s off-limits for us unless we’re helping out with a party. The staff kitchen is right down there,” he added, indicating the double doors in the far corner. “Ryan’s a killer cook. Makes the best barbecued ribs you’ve ever tasted.”

  Rebecca leaned against the windowpane and studied the view, her eyes once again drifting to the farmhouse. “How old is the ranch?”

  Tommy stepped up beside her. “Well, that’s a two-part question,” he said, following her gaze up the hill. “The part you’re gonna recite for the guests is that the land was purchased right after the First World War and still belongs to the same family.”

  “And the part I’m not going to recite?”

  “That this was strictly a working ranch up until five years ago. That Alec’s grandfather would probably roll over in his grave if he knew we were holding ho-downs instead of breeding cattle like they did for eighty-some years. They still work with cattle, don’t get me wrong, but when Walter had his fall, Alec was forced to expand the business. Turning this place into a dude ranch was probably the last thing he ever imagined, but it turned out to be a pretty good idea. We’re just about booked solid every summer.”

  She frowned. “Isn’t there any family besides him and his father?”

  “Not that I know of. That’s why I said not to let him get to you. There’s no telling how long his father will be around. You’ll see doctors and nurses coming and going all day long out of their house, but you’ll never see Walter himself.”

  “Wait…Walter is here? I thought you said he was quadriplegic.”

  “He is. Why do you think Alec needed more income? I can’t even imagine what the bills must be like for home health care like that, so I give Alec a lot of credit for doing what he’s doing. I’m sure Walter appreciates being out here on his own land than locked up in a nursing home somewhere.”

  Rebecca was about to ask if he ever spoke with Walter when Tommy motioned to the window. “There’s Roger. Come on, I’ll introduce you.”

  She swallowed nervously as they exited the lodge, hoping Roger would prove to be friendlier than Alec was. The old wrangler looked intimidating enough, peering out beneath a black Stetson and rolling up a cigarette as they approached the corral.

  “Roger, this is our new wrangler, Rebecca Sheehan,” Tommy said. “Bec, meet Roger Douglas, the man in charge.”

  Roger guffawed and slapped Tommy on the back, his weathered face breaking into a crinkled grin. “The ancient relic is more like it,” he replied, extending his l
eathery hand in Rebecca’s direction. “Howdy, Miss Sheehan. It’s a real pleasure. Lord knows we could use a few feminine touches ‘round this place.”

  Just as Tommy promised, she liked him instantly. “Nice to meet you, too, sir.”

  “Sir? There’ll be none of that, young lady. The name’s Roger.”

  Rebecca laughed at his wit. “Alright, Roger, you got it.”

  The old wrangler studied her thoughtfully. “You’re not from around here, are you?”

  “What gave it away?”

  “Your shiny new boots, for one,” he teased. “Someplace back east, I presume?”

  “Boston.”

  “Got many cattle ranches around there?”

  She laughed again. “Not exactly.”

  Next to arrive was her roommate, Allison Schiffer, from Salt Lake City, Utah. She was a petite bubbly blonde, with mischievous eyes and contagious energy.

  “We have to stick together, you and me,” Allison said, giving her a big hug in greeting. “These boys all think they run the show, but we know better, now, don’t we?”

  The last person she met was Tommy’s roommate, Kevin Frankton, from Billings, Montana. Like the other wranglers, Kevin was fair-haired and blue-eyed, although he was as burly and broad as Tommy was tall and lanky. His greeting was polite, but Rebecca immediately felt a chauvinist vibe. She knew his type all too well–good-looking, knew it, and expected everyone else to know it, too. She could feel his eyes roaming as she chatted with Allison, and it made her uneasy. At least Tommy, Roger, and Alec appeared to be no-nonsense types. She’d already known more than her fair share of the other variety.

  *

  Early in the afternoon, Roger called a staff meeting. Rebecca followed Tommy into the main barn and paused to inhale a long, deep breath. For seventeen years she’d tried to imagine how a barn would smell, but her imagination didn’t come close to the rich, earthy aroma of horses and leather and fresh-cut alfalfa hay. One whiff and it became her favorite scent in the world.

  Roger cleared his throat and took a seat on a hay bale as the wranglers gathered in the barn aisle. “Good to see y’all again,” he greeted. “Has everyone here met Rebecca? She hails from Boston, I’m told. I’m sure we’ll all do our part to make her feel welcome.”

  She blushed as Tommy gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. Roger glanced at the papers in his hand. “It’s going to be a busy summer, our busiest yet. We have five-hundred guests registered over the next fifteen weeks. I’m going to start Alli and Kevin on the morning shift, and put Tommy and Rebecca on the afternoon shift. We’ll trade off the mornings and evenings every other week so you guys have a little variety. Any objections?” He paused briefly. “Good. Riding and roping lessons start at nine and eleven. Alli and Kevin, that’s you to start, along with morning feed and barn detail. Two trail rides daily–the canyon ride at one, and the river ride at four. Tommy and Rebecca, you’re in charge of that end, along with night feeding and barn detail.”

  Rebecca’s heart hammered. All afternoon, she’d started to relax as she met her new co-workers and got lost in the ambiance of the ranch. Now, though, terror rose in her throat as she realized how foolish she’d been to take a job like this, with no qualifications whatsoever.

  “This weekend is Memorial Day–we’ll do the usual cookout for that. Fourth of July week is gonna be our busiest. Big barbecue, live band, fireworks, you name it. Toward the end of July, we’re hosting a family reunion for forty guests from Maryland. From then ‘til Labor Day, we’re booked solid at forty-eight guests per week. Everyone gets one day off per week on a rotating six-day roster. If you have any problems, come to me first and I’ll talk to Alec if I need to. Any questions so far?”

  The barn was silent. At the far end of the aisle, one of the horses let out a loud snort.

  “Well, then, let’s get started. Today before dinner, we all pitch in to get this barn sparkling clean, tack polished, feed and hay put up in the loft, and get this herd ready to go. Tommy, why don’t you introduce Rebecca to our horses, and while you’re at it, check their shoes?”

  “Sure thing, Roger.” He pulled two hoof picks from the nearest trunk and sent a warm smile in Rebecca’s direction. “Ready?”

  Oh my God, she thought, glancing down at the hoof pick. She would probably be more skilled with a samurai sword.

  Chapter 3

  “I think Pumpkin’s the one for you,” Tommy said as they entered the staff barn. “She responds well to female riders and she’s a great cow pony. Level-headed in the corral, but plenty of spunk for the trail rides. You’ll really like her.”

  Rebecca gasped when they reached the first stall and an exquisite Paint mare popped her head over the door. Her blond coat was splotched with large white patches, and when she turned her head, Rebecca saw another striking feature–one of the mare’s eyes was blue. Pumpkin nickered in greeting and pushed her muzzle straight into Rebecca’s chest.

  She hoped Tommy couldn’t tell it was her first encounter with a horse. She nearly had to blink back tears as she rubbed her hand down Pumpkin’s face, marveling at how soft it was.

  “Looks like love at first sight,” he said.

  “It is. She’s beautiful.”

  “You can try her out tomorrow. I’ll guide the rides for the first few days, ‘til you get familiar with the trails. After that, I’ll gladly let you lead the way.”

  Rebecca nodded, unable to believe that tomorrow she would finally ride a horse. She was dying to confide in Tommy that she had no idea what she was doing, but she couldn’t make a sound.

  He led her down the aisle and introduced her to his buckskin Quarter horse, Joaquin, who stood as solid as a tank. Alec’s stallion, Onyx, was at the far end, looking even more magnificent up close. Across the aisle were Twister, Apache, and Joker, respective mounts of Allison, Roger, and Kevin. Rebecca watched intently as Tommy picked up each hoof and examined the shoe, ensuring that all the nails were intact. She knew she’d be doing the same thing in a matter of minutes.

  Dozens of curious faces popped over the stall doors as they reentered the main barn. “Why don’t you go down the left side, and I’ll go down the right?” Tommy said. “Everyone’s pretty quiet, but watch out for Jack, the big bay in the fourth stall. He can get a little nippy. Gimme a shout if you need anything.”

  I need to have my head examined! she wanted to scream as she stared uncertainly at the hoof pick. She’d just watched Tommy check the shoes on six different horses–it couldn’t be that difficult, could it?

  Miraculously, she made it through the rest of the day without being kicked, bitten, or trampled. She even managed to locate two loose shoes, which Tommy expertly remedied. Then they climbed into the hayloft to organize the feed and the supplements into their respective storage bins. So far, she was pulling off her act very well. She’d read enough horse magazines and books to have a good idea–in theory–of how to do everything. The challenge would be forcing her mind and body to coordinate.

  “So what brings you all the way out here from Boston?” Allison asked as the girls cleaned up before dinner.

  Rebecca frowned when she tried to remove her boots, amazed by the stiffness of the new leather. “Change of scenery,” she replied, grunting as she finally yanked the boot off. “My brother teaches at the high school in town and he invited me to visit for the summer. How about you?”

  “Oh, I was born and raised in Salt Lake. More skiing than horses around there, though.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’ve been working here for the past four summers now. This is my last year of college coming up.”

  “What are you studying?”

  “Business. I know, boring, right? But you can do anything with it. I’d love to be a trainer one day, maybe even run my own riding academy. Are you in college?”

  “Not yet. I start this fall at Boston University.”

  “Wow, so you’re only eighteen, then? You look a lot older. In a good way,” she assured her. “Do you kno
w what you’re going to major in?”

  “Psychology. Maybe criminal psych. I’ve always been fascinated by it.”

  Just then, there was a knock on the door. Rebecca opened it to find Tommy standing on their porch.

  “Alec sent me to find you,” he said. “He wants to see you up at the farmhouse.”

  Inwardly she cringed. She hadn’t seen Alec since her ‘interview’ yesterday, and she’d been hoping to avoid him as long as possible.

  “Thanks. I’ll be right there.”

  Once Rebecca shut the door, Allison let out a sigh. “I think he likes you.”

  “Tommy? Please. I just met him two days ago.”

  “So…?” her roommate replied, sitting cross-legged on her bunk. “Do you have a boyfriend back home?”

  She figured Allison would want to gossip, so she’d planned her answers in advance. “I did. It ended not too long ago.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  She waved her hand. “Don’t be. It wasn’t anything serious. What about you?”

  “Me? No. Not since my sophomore year.” Allison gave a sly grin and lowered her voice. “If you can keep a secret, though…I totally have the hots for Alec.”

  “Alec? You’ve got to be joking. He’s such a jerk.”

  “Nah, not really. He’s just not very good with people. But you have to admit, now…he’s awfully easy on the eyes.”

  Rebecca grunted. “Whatever you say, Allison.”

  *

  As Rebecca marched up the hill towards the farmhouse, she noted again how dissimilar it was to the other structures on the property. The lodge and the cabins were designed to stand out, it seemed, but the farmhouse was modest and unassuming, blending right in to its alpine surroundings. She could envision it covered in golden leaves during the autumn or blanketed in snow during the long winters, a trail of smoke rising from the chimney. The weathered steps creaked beneath her feet as she ascended to the front porch and paused to glance over her shoulder. If the view from the lodge was beautiful, the view from the hilltop took her breath away.