He frowns. “You’re right. That’s none of your business. That’s like me asking you how y’all can afford to keep this here store. Although I’m getting the picture, literally, seeing as you just made more than two months of my salary in one morning.”
The receipt is printed and I hand it to him. “I can go weeks without making a sale. And some days are just like today. It’s all about balance. So long as I keep fresh inventory, things keep moving.”
He changes the subject. “You bringing some work to that annual Hoedown next weekend?”
“I am.”
“I’ll be there with Digger, one of our horses, offering free rides to kids for Billy. Piper says it’s a great way to bring more business to the ranch and the new resort.”
My response comes with hesitation. “Billy got himself a girl?”
He gives me a strange look. “Why do you ask?”
“Send her on to me. I’ll give her a deal on some artwork for that resort. I can even do some custom things for her with the horses if she wants.”
“I tell you what.” He leans an elbow on the counter. “I’ll hang this here picture at the resort for now. Since it was taken on the property and all.”
“You’re living at the ranch?”
“Darlin’, like I said, I’m hanging my hat in several places right now. But that’s a long story.”
Something behind his eyes tells me that he’s not a man of many words, and those words count. He’s full of mystery and intrigue. A man with no fixed address, a Stetson that looks like he’s had it for as long as he’s had his driver’s license, tattered jeans, boots that look like they’ve been mended by an untrained pair of hands, and yet he walked in here with two thousand dollars cash to buy a photo that he surely doesn’t need.
“You come on over to the ranch later and I’ll give you your first riding lesson.” He hesitates. “Before seven o’clock if you can manage.”
It comes out before I can stop it. “Got a hot date tonight?”
He looks agitated. “More like an early morning tomorrow.”
“My apologies.” I say evenly.
He’s about to turn towards the door. “Hey, don’t forget your picture.”
He’s suddenly distracted, like he’s a million miles away. I notice the way he glances at the photo of a pregnant woman with angels in the background. “Thanks.” He says, walking towards the door.
I stand there, staring at the photo I took and then altered so her face isn’t obvious, almost blurred. Then I look over to Levi, as he loads the picture carefully into the back of the cab. The way he looks back at me is almost haunting. It’s an image I can’t get out of my mind for the rest of the day.
Chapter 5
Levi
All the ranch hands and Billy and Nash are standing around, looking like they’re planning out a strategy or something. They don’t even notice me until after I’ve unloaded Billy’s things and I’m bringing the huge ass box out from the back of the cab of my truck. It’s a specialty box with the store’s logo in a fancy cursive font across the front and back. “A gift for your beloved?” Nash tries.
“No. For the resort.” I go for casual, like I make two thousand dollar purchases regularly.
That gets Billy's attention right quick. "For the resort? What is that, a picture?"
I'm facetious. "No, it's a wheelbarrow."
Billy and Nash follow me to my room, where I open the box and set the gorgeous work of art down on the bed. "Jesus Christ, that just takes my breath away, that does." I murmur to myself.
"Since when are you into shit like that?" Nash comments.
"Normally I'm not. But this is extraordinary."
Billy is studying it. "Where did you get it?"
"In that photography store in town."
