Page 32 of Live, Ranch, Love

When I finally get out the water, regret hits me because I realise we have no towels. Aurora’s probably going to sunbathe the water away, whereas I have to use my T-shirt in a futile attempt to dry off. I shuck my jeans back on, denim and wet skin struggling against each other, and rummage through Aurora’s clothes for her phone.

When I turn back, Aurora’s stood waiting, lake glistening around her like stars floating in the water. Ripples sparkle and cast a shimmer over her freckled, golden skin. Aurora loosens her hair from her scrunchie, letting the wet copper waves flow free.

I feel like I’ve stumbled upon some goddamn water goddess, honoured to have the opportunity to see such grace.

“Ready?” I ask.

She nods and smiles, trailing her hands along the water’s surface again gracefully. I snap a few photos, fingers tightening around the phone as I try to will away the reminder of what it felt like being tangled up with her perfect little body.

Because that is a road I know I’ll regret taking.

thirteen

Aurora

“What the hell is going on?” Wyatt’s voice echoes amongst the three ranchers that I’ve currently got in downward dog.

I flick my head up to see him marching towards us like he’s ready for battle, muscles tensed and bulging, so at odds with the happy classical music playing from my speaker. I have to quickly push the reminder of what they felt like against me in the lake the other day out of my mind. He seemed so appalled by us touching, I couldn’t let myself even consider he might have enjoyed it even a fraction as much as I shamefully did.

But who wouldn’t want to have their legs wrapped around a handsome, muscly cowboy?

That’s what Sofia said to me anyway when I video called her straight after to tell her what happened. Just to see if the overwhelming sensation of him would finally leave my brain and body if I confessed about it to someone.

Because the last thing I need right now is for my lonely, still-healing self to get distracted by the reminder of what it feels like to be close to someone again. I’m vulnerable still, and my wounded ego must have just wanted to feel desired, which I shouldn’t give in to. If I need love, I can give it to myself. Besides, with the way Wyatt acts around me, it’s clear he wouldn’t think about me like that.

So, I’ve tried to keep things between Wyatt and I very light and neutral when he’s been helping me with anything to do with the retreat so far this week.

Fortunately, the whole ordeal inspired me to write another article on giving yourself the time and space to heal after experiencing hurt like heartbreak. My boss loved it, surprisingly asking for more articles that feature the raw honesty I’ve been writing with recently. The magic of Sunset Ranch is real, ladies and gentlemen.

The photos Wyatt took of me also served as a great start to marketing the retreat—I could practically feel the happiness and freedom radiating from the picture when I posted it. Which is the exact approach I’m taking when discussing the retreat—a chance to experience freedom, clarity, and joy. A chance to get back to what makes you feel inspired and liberated and happy.

Plus, the brand whose sustainably made bikini I was wearing were super happy with the photos, and how the retreat matched their own core values. They’ve even sent me more to pose in. One of the great perks of influencing.

“Oh hey, boss.” Flynn, the youngest ranch hand with a frantic eagerness to him that buzzes despite it being early morning, waves at Wyatt from his bent over position, grinning.

I lower down to my knees and the three guys follow, all shuffling into a crossed leg position whilst Wyatt makes his way over, huffing. Josh and Colt, the other two ranchers stifle their laughs as they watch Wyatt. They’re both a year younger than me, apparently in the same school year as Wyatt’s younger brother, which I learnt when Wyatt introduced us properly earlier in the week.

Once Wyatt finally reaches us, he crosses his arms, brows raised as he darts his glare between us all.

Josh lazes back. “You gonna join us, boss?”

“We’ve got work to do,” Wyatt responds coolly.

“Come on, Hensley,” Colt chimes in with a teasing grin, his country drawl the thickest. “You’re always so tense. Might help you loosen up a bit.”

Rolling dramatically, Wyatt’s midnight eyes finally land back on me. There go the butterflies in my stomach again. “What are you doing up so early anyway? It’s barely light out.”

“Just wanting to get a head start on the day.”

I press my lips together, feeling a bit like a school kid trying to explain to her teacher why she doesn’t have her homework. But I also kind of enjoy the way that, for some reason, this has annoyed him. Probably because he thinks yoga is pointless, and I’ve got three of his employees proving him very wrong right now.

“The guys came over to say hello when they saw me doing my routine and I invited them to join.”

Since the retreat idea got set in motion, I decided to start getting up at a similar time to Wyatt each day. He’s working hard on the ranch hours before I even get started on any retreat related matters, and it makes me feel like I should be doing more.

Seven in the morning is my ideal wake up time usually, yet, at Sunset Ranch it’s actually been refreshing to get up even earlier. Watching the golden rays of the sunrise bleed down the mountains and through the pastures makes a big difference, but I’ve also enjoyed the feeling of having so much of the day to go. I need to go to bed an hour or so earlier to compensate, but it’s worth it for how much more productive I am in the mornings—especially with making up new social media posts to discuss the retreat in.

“It’s been real fun, boss,” Flynn admits, one corner of his mouth hooked up. “Miss Rory’s really flexible. She’s been showing us all kinds of positions.”

---