Page 28 of You Shouldn't Have Come Here

“You got all that from my Airbnb profile?” He tilted his head.

“No. I got all that from social media. People basically put their diaries online for the whole world to see,” I said with a laugh.

“So, you researched me?”

“A little. It’s a dangerous world we live in, and I had to make sure you weren’t some creep or crazy person.”

He finally smiled back. “You’re smart, Grace. I like that about you.”

“Why’d you start doing Airbnb in the first place?” I asked. “Doesn’t the ranch keep you busy enough?”

“It does.” He nodded, continuing to keep George’s stridein-linewith Gretchen’s.

He paused the conversation and had me turn Gretchen to start walking along the bank. Between the sounds of birds chirping and the babbling river, I finally felt relaxed. The sun’s rays warmed every inch of my exposed skin.

When Calvin was beside me again, he continued. “It costs a lot of money to run a ranch, so Airbnb helps keep the whole thing afloat.”

“Ever think about giving it all up and starting over somewhere else?” I asked.

“No.” His answer was curt, and I think it had to do with his parents.

I noticed he didn’t say much about them, just that they’d passed and they had wanted him to take over. His shoulders would tense and his body would briefly stiffen at the mention of them. I could tell he was carrying a darkness inside of him. But I guess we all were though. Calvin just didn’t carry his well.

“Ready to trot?” he asked, changing the subject.

I reminded myself to ask him more about his past and his family. It felt like he was hiding something, something sinister or shameful.

I looked at Calvin and then Gretchen. “I think so.”

“All right, you’re gonna want to get loose like a noodle so you flow with Gretchen’s movements.” He shimmied his upper body dramatically. “Sit deeper in the saddle. Hands are still soft on the reins, and the cue is applying pressure with the legs or a little tap with your heels. You ready?”

I followed all of Calvin’s instructions but was still rigid. Gretchen went from a slow walk to a trot, bouncing me up and down as she scampered. It was jerky and uncomfortable, so I tried to loosen up and flow with her—but my body just wouldn’t. Calvin caught up, trotting alongside us. He moved with George nice and smooth—not like me. I held onto the horn tightly, trying to keep my balance and make the ride smoother.

“You got this, Grace. Loosen up a little more. You’re doing great.” He smiled.

I appreciated his encouraging words, but they weren’t working. I couldn’t seem to get in tune with the horse’s movements. Gretchen’s ears swiveled, and she started trotting faster.

“Woah, girl,” I said.

All of a sudden, she burst into a full run. I pulled back on the reins, but she just ran faster and faster. Nature had resurfaced.

“Gretchen,” Calvin yelled. “Yah, yah,” I heard him say, trying to get George to catch up to us. He sounded like a cowboy in one of those old John Wayne films my dad used to watch.

“Pull on the reins!”

“I am!” My voice was panicked.

“Pull just one side then,” he yelled.

I did, and Gretchen reared, lifting her front legs off the ground. My eyes went wide, and I screamed as she bucked me off. My body hit the ground first with a thud, followed by the back of my head smacking against the hard, dry dirt. I saw stars, and the world around me faded quickly. The last thing I saw before it went dark was Calvin standing over me.

16.

Calvin

“Are you okay?” I knelt beside Grace, pushing her soft blond hair out of her face. She was stiff like a board and covered in dirt. Her lids slowly opened, revealing those blue, blue eyes—now clouded with confusion.

She winced when she tried to sit up.

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