"What's with the duck?" I ask, curiosity piqued. I’m a girl who has to know all about things and if I can’t find out myself, I ask questions.
Toby chuckles. “So somethin’ wedon’tadvertise is that we have somewhat of aduckproblem here on the ranch.”
"Ohh. So a flock has made the ranch their home or somethin'?"
"If only that was true,” he says with a shake of his head. “Unfortunately not. Maybe sayin’ it’s a duck problem is the wrong way to explain it. It’s more like a problemduck."
My brows bunch. "OK... I love ducks. Surely he can't bethatbad..."
Toby throws his head back and bursts out laughing. “You have no idea. Duck Dickward Dilbert Norris is as crazy as his name suggests, and even that is bein’ kind. He’s always gettin’ into mischief and if he's not, he's creatin’ havoc just for fun."
"You sure he's a duck?" I'm both confused and intrigued as to how a tiny duck could cause trouble for the big burly ranchers. I mean, it's aduck...
"Oh yeah," he replies as he navigates his truck down the bumpy driveway. "There’s also Landry and Star’s pet goat kid, Nelly Nosy Parker She's been led astray by Duck Norris too."
The ranch comes into view like an oasis nestled at the foot of the imposing peaks. There are wooden fences lining the pastures where a few horses and alotof cattle are grazing.
Despite dusk approaching, I lower the truck window and suck in the much-welcome scent of hay and earth that reminds me of home. It evensmellslike home. It’s familiar and comforting. It’s exactly what I’d hoped for on this adventure.
Toby brings us to a stop outside the main ranch house and I find myself cataloguing everything I can see. There are outbuildings scattered in the distance, the biggest being a white barn then large wooden corral with covered stables not far away from it. No doubt I’ll find a lot more buildings and maybe stockyards somewhere tomorrow too when I start exploring. Funnily enough, even seeing just this small part of the land has me excited.
"Knew the place would be big, but seein' it in person is somethin' else," I say.
I catch Toby staring my way, his gaze so intense and full of meaning that my chest tightens and I’m left breathless, confused and a little nervous, all at the same time. Those butterflies have returned ten-fold and I find myself staring straight back at him, wondering what he can see shining back at him.
"Welcome to Bull Mountain, Dee."
"I think I might be in trouble,” I whisper.
His smile turns gentle and curious. “Why’s that?”
“Well, I’ve only seen parts of it and I’m already in love. You show me the rest of the ranch and I’m gonna be a goner.”
Toby grins, looking strangely happy about that. "Our mountain seems to have that effect on people. You'll get used to it.” He looks out the windshield toward the house. “How about we get inside and introduce you to the rest of the family. Then we can show you to the bunkhouse.”
"Nowthatsounds good. I was tellin' Mom how much I was lookin' forward to gettin’ settled. Not that I'm not excited about the work too. It’s just–”
He waves me off. "I know what you mean, don’t worry,” he says just as the front door to the house swings wide open and two men and a gorgeous blonde woman step out. There’s no doubt that the men are two of Toby’s brothers, so I just need to work out who is who now.
"Let me guess, that's Austin on the right and Rhett and Cora on the left?"
"Right on both counts. You wanna meet them?" he asks.
"I'll race ya," I say with a wink before I grab the door and hop down to the ground, leaving a shocked Toby still sitting in the truck. "C'mon, Slowpoke. You comin'?"
Toby's surprised expression quickly turns into a playful smirk as he jumps out of the truck and catches up to me in a few strides. "You're on, Skippy.”
The nickname stops me in my tracks. "Skippy? That's a new one."
"You literally just skipped out of the car and bounded toward the ranchhouse.” He shrugs. “Seemed to fit you, but I can stop if you don't–"
I shake my head. "Nah, nothing like that. You just caught me by surprise, that's all. Did you know there was a television show called 'Skippy the Bush Kangaroo'?"
"Really? I had no idea. You just seem very…"
"Skippy?" I giggle. "Yeah. It’s not the first time I've heard that and probably won’t be the last. I like it.” We start walking towards the amused little crowd waiting for us. “You know what this means though, right?"
"What?" Toby asks, sweeping his arm out as I climb the porch steps.
