Page 13 of The Cowboy and His Beauty
As I get closer to the house, I start to get notifications on my phone. I don't have service as I get further from the house, which is part of the draw of going for a ride. I check the notifications to see that Sarah has called and listen to her voicemail voice mail to see what’s going on.
"Hey, girl. I’m just checking in and making sure you're doing okay. I know you’re getting settled in your new job, but I figured someone should check on you to make sure Dash is the good guy everyone says he is. Give me a call back. We're making plans to head up to the lake in the next few weeks."
I've got a bit of time before I have to return to the house to start dinner, so I call Sarah to set her mind at ease.
"At least you're not dead, so there's that. How is the job going?"
"The job is good. Being on this ranch without his family is a weird feeling, but I get the afternoons to go riding, which is what I was doing when you called. I didn't have service. Everybody's friendly and laid back. All in all, it's a pretty easy job."
"I always figured you'd end up on a ranch instead of in the city. Have you had any thoughts about what comes after since I know you were planning on this only being temporary?"
"To be honest, I haven't even given it a thought or started looking. I think I need some time to decompress. I'm not sure if I want to get back into the tech world or find something a little closer to home."
"Take your time. Don't rush into anything,” Sarah advises. “So, how's your boss? "
"Better than I expected." I can't help but smile when I say that.
"I can tell there's something there. You're not falling for him, are you?" Sarah asks in a slightly teasing voice laced with concern.
"He's not anything like I expected. He sits and has breakfast and dinner with me. He doesn't talk much, but he asks questions and listens when I talk. It makes me think the town giving him The Beast nickname is based solely on his long hair, beard, and his scar. It seems unfair because he’s a good guy if people would take the time to get to know him. "
"You know as well as anybody that it goes both ways. He has to be willing to let people in as well, and that's not always the case. Just be careful."
"Oh, I am. When are you guys thinking of coming up to the lake?" I change the subject and thankfully she lets me.
"We're starting to make plans. Is there a time that works better for you?”
"Not really. My schedule is wide open other than work."
"Okay, good. We’ll get some plans together and I'll let you know. "
We chat for a bit longer about what’s going on with her and in Rock Springs until I reach the barn and have to say goodbye.
I pass Hershey to one of the ranch hands, who’ll take care of her and give her a good brush down.
I head inside to start on dinner, surprised to find Dash sitting at the dining room table with papers spread out.
"I'm sorry. I have to get these taken care of and mailed out and then I’ll be out of your way," he says.
"Take your time. You're not in my way," I tell him as I remove my shoes and get ready to cook.
I get dinner going and we both work in comfortable silence. Neither of us seems inclined to fill it with needless conversation.
Dinner is almost ready when there's a loud knock on the door. I look at Dash, who’s looking at me. Neither of us is expecting company.
Dash grabs the shotgun on the way to the door while I stay in the kitchen. I can't see the front door from here, but I can hear the general tone of the conversation, and there's no mistaking that Dash is angry. It's only when his voice rises that I can hear every word.
"I’ve told you and the people who work with you I'm not interested in selling and to stay off my property. This is the last time I’ll be polite about it. Next time, I’ll be shooting a hello because you’re now considered trespassers. Spread the word. You have sixty seconds to get off my land."
The only sound is Dash pumping the shotgun. I can't see what's happening, but I hope the unwanted visitor is running for his car. A moment later, the front door closes, and I turn to face Dash.
When he sees me, his eyes go wide, almost like he forgot I was here.
Dash
I watch the guy scramble to his car faster than I thought possible for someone in such expensive shoes. If I wasn't so pissed that he was trespassing on my land, I'd find it comical how he shoves everything into his car and heads down the driveway without even putting his seatbelt on.
I turn and head inside, only to be faced with Sky.
