I close the door gently behind me and turn to find Rhett loading Maverick into the truck. His skin shimmers with sweat from walking around in the hot sun. Once Maverick gets situated, he sticks his head out the open window, and Rhett gently scratches behind Maverick’s ears. Despite what he says, I can tell he already really likes this dog.
At the sound of my footsteps, he turns to me. “Are you two done gabbing?”
“We weren’t gabbing, you grump. She was just welcoming me to Roots. I like her. I can see why you would’ve hit it off with her so quickly.” I’m not sure what I’m hoping for when the next words slip from my mouth, but they escape me anyway. “She’s pretty too.”
“Yeah, Callie’s great.” His facial features don’t give away a morsel of anything. “Should we head to our next adventure?”
ChapterThirteen
Rhett
After drivingup and down Roots Road to point out all the businesses and stopping for lunch at PorkScrew Barbecue, we finally pull into Copper Hill’s gravel driveway. A large copper gate at the front with the letters “CH” in the center welcomes us as I punch in the code.
Olivia takes in the scenery around us. The entry to Copper Hill looks incredibly rural. You can’t see the barn or the main house from the road. It’s just sprawling green fields on either side.
“Where are we? What are we doing here? Did you take me here to murder me?” Olivia’s eyes go round in fake horror. “This must be where you keep the supplies and dump the bodies! I knew something was off with you.”
I pull up to my usual parking spot near the barn. “No, I didn’t bring you here to murder you. If I was going to do that, I would’ve brought you way further from town, and I would’ve left Maverick at home.” I give her a sly smirk as horror crosses her face. “You’ve been watching too muchDexter. I just thought I’d help you see the beauty of Roots.”
“And this barn is where it’s all hiding?”
“Stop being a smartass and come see what I mean.”
I leap out and open the truck door for her and Maverick, leading them toward the barn while I remind myself that it doesn’t matter how much I enjoy her witty remarks or the beautiful smile on her face whenever she catches me off guard. Nothing will ever happen between us. These feelings I have are only temporary. Love doesn’t exist, at least not for me. It doesn’t matter how hard I try, I can never be good enough to keep love in my life, so my best option is to keep today about doing a favor to Jack and Mandi. That’s all this is. That’s all anything has been with Olivia since she came to town.
“Where are we?” Olivia asks
I slide the giant barn door open and try not to let it go to my head as I catch her ogling me out of the corner of my eye.Nothing will ever happen between you two. Stop caring.
“This is Copper Hill, the largest ranch in Roots, and the whole county. This is where I work and where your parents got the steaks for your welcome dinner.”
She nods, silently taking it all in and eagerly peering past me inside the barn. Maverick follows her every move, his nose to the ground sniffing like it’s his job.
“Have you ever ridden a horse?”
“A couple times when we would visit my grandma and grandpa, but it’s been ages since I’ve been on one. I wish I’d had the chance to do it more. I think you’ve learned by now that I love pretty much anything with fur,” Olivia says as she strokes the top of Maverick’s head.
“We can get you set up on Maggie. She’s the sweetest, most mellow horse you’ll ever meet. She won’t take off on you, and she obeys orders better than any horse I know. We teach all the beginners how to ride on her. I want to take you out on the trails around here, and we can’t take my truck up them, so we have to go by horse. There’s a— you know what, I’ll let that be a surprise.”
“What is it with you and surprises? Just tell me what it is now.”
“Can you please just let this be a surprise? I promise it’ll be worth it. It’s not like I let you down with the last surprise I had for you.”
I walk to the far-left stall in the barn and lead Maggie out. I washed her beautiful tan coat and brushed her blonde mane yesterday, so this is a perfect day to take Olivia out on her. She gives me a gentle whinny in greeting as I stroke the crooked white line down her snout and hook her lead to get her tacked up.
“Olivia, come say hi to Maggie.”
Olivia’s eyes light up, but I can sense a little hesitation. I slowly lead Maggie to her, tying her lead up, and showing Olivia how to approach her. The second Olivia strokes her snout, I can tell she’s in love.
I grab my horse, Archie, a dark Appaloosa with a white rump hosting dark speckles. Once both the horses are tacked up, I help Olivia get into the stirrups and onto Maggie. She’s a complete natural on a horse, needing very little instruction on how to sit or how to hold the reins. She looks like she was born to be on a ranch. I guess her visits to her grandma and grandpa couldn’t have been too long ago.
To my surprise, Maverick also looks like a seasoned vet on the ranch, gently sniffing Maggie and Archie before leaving them alone.
I lead Olivia and Maggie around the arena out back until Olivia’s comfortable giving Maggie commands on her own. Then, I grab Archie and lead us toward the trails, whistling for Maverick to follow.
The trail we take winds up around the hillside. It’s shady but hosts a beautiful view of the ranch below. Olivia takes it all in with awe.
“It’s incredible, huh? The Rhodes family has owned Copper Hill for five generations.”
