“And Alex, what’s your impression of ranch life?”
Alex laughed. “I’m definitely not built for it. Finn keeps offering to teach me ‘ranch skills,’ but I think we both know I’m better suited to running my company than herding cattle.”
“What have you managed to show her so far?” Elena asked me.
“The important stuff,” a small smile played at my lips. “Which trails are best and easiest for hiking, how to avoid getting trampled by guests who think they know how to ride.”
“And Maggie,” Alex added. “Don’t forget introducing me to Maggie.”
“Oh, I think Maggie took the introductions upon herself,” I chuckled, relaxing more as I covered her hand with mine for a moment.
Elena raised an eyebrow. “Maggie?”
“My family’s dog,” I explained. “She’s decided Alex belongs to her for now.”
“Except she’s got her eye on you now too,” Alex nodded at me.
“She does.”
“Smart dog,” Elena smiled. “Animals often have excellentinstincts about people. What else?”
My smile widened slightly. “Been teaching her to fly in my granddad’s Cub too. She’s getting pretty good at it.”
“Oh?” Elena’s eyebrows rose.
“It was my idea,” Alex answered quickly. “It just looked like it could be fun. Finn told me he wasn’t supposed to, but I insisted. I needed something for my mind to focus on while I...”
She trailed off and I squeezed her knee under the table.
Elena waved her hand as if dismissing the concern. “We can talk about all that later. I’m less concerned about his license, and you appear to be a very competent woman.”
“Alex is one of the smartest people I know.” My hand covered hers again. “It was important to find her something to get her mind off work for once.”
The server returned with our entrees—we waited until he left again.
Elena cut into her short ribs, considering. “How many lessons have you had so far?”
“Maybe a dozen or so?” Alex glanced at me for confirmation. “We’ve been going up most afternoons.”
“And you’re comfortable instructing from the back seat?” Elena asked me directly. “Given your medical considerations?”
I took a deep breath. “Teaching is different than being a passenger. I know exactly what maneuvers we’re practicing, when we’ll turn, when we’ll climb or descend. The unexpected movements are what get to me most.”
“That makes sense,” Elena took a sip of her wine. “And Alex, how are you finding the learning process?”
“Terrifying and incredible at the same time,” Alex admitted. “The first time Finn handed me the controls, I thought there was no way I could actually do it. But he’s a really good teacher. Patient, clear instructions, never makes me feel stupid for asking questions.”
“She’s a natural,” I said, and I couldn’t keep the pride out of my voice. “Landed on her first try like she’d been doing it for months.”
“That’s impressive,” Elena looked between us. “It sounds like you’ve both found something meaningful in those lessons.”
“It’s the best part of my day,” Alex said honestly. “Everything else just falls away when we’re up there.”
Elena set down her fork, her expression shifting to something more professional but still warm. “Since we’re all here together, maybe this is a good time to talk about what the next few weeks will look like. Alex mentioned wanting to understand expectations and methods.”
I straightened, ready for whatever parameters she was about to set.
“I’ll be here through the end of the month,” Elena continued. “My approach with you, Finn, is going to be a bit different than our video sessions. I want to observe how you’re functioning in your actual environment. How you manage stress triggers, how you interact with family, what your daily patterns look like.”
