Morning. Thought after last night we should clear the air. And it’s a good opportunity to start moving on with the camp. Get ahead of the game. Say 1030 at the ranch? I’m sorry I misjudged you.
To say I was surprised was an understatement. Gunner Miller didn’t seem the sort of man who would apologize about anything. Least of all to me. I guess miracles did happen. Did I want to accept his apology, though, that was the question I was asking myself. Contemplating it for a few seconds I remembered I had nothing planned. A drive out to the ranch might be one way to spend the day. But did I want to spend a precious day off with Gunner? Arguing and backbiting and being plain mean to each other.
“Yep,” I said to myself, with a grin. “That sounds like a whole lot of fun.”
The old track to the ranch, once little more than a dirt road, was now a smooth gray block road that shimmered in the morning sun. It ran alongside sprawling green fields dotted with wildflowers and flanked by towering cottonwoods whose leaves rustled in the breeze like distant applause. The scent of lavender drifted through the air from the ranch’s deep purple lavender field, its blooms swaying lazily under the weight of bees. The road curved gently past it, rising toward the main house, then stretching on toward the stables—Gunner’s stables, proud and still beneath the wide Colorado sky. Coming to the house, Istopped and parked up. As soon as I got out of my car, laptop bag in hand, the front door was pulled open, and Lily appeared. She was wearing skinny jeans and a thick red sweater which fell almost to her knees and on her feet were cozy suede Ugg slippers. With her hair in a braid hanging over her shoulder, she looked young and happy so different to the quiet, closed off Lily that had come back to town just over two years before.
“Hey, morning.” Wrapping her arms around her waist, Lily beckoned me inside. “Coffee is on, and the fire is lit.”
I looked up at the sky. It was clear and still, eerily so. “I should probably go and see Gunner before the snow starts.” On my way over it came over the radio that snow was coming, but I was practically at the ranch, so it seemed silly to go back.
“Come back here before you go back to town,” Lily told me. “If it looks like it’s coming in before you can get back you can hole yourself up here.” She shivered against the cold, and I pulled my coat tighter around me.
Nearby Telluride retained snow coverage at this time of year because of its altitude and north-facing slopes, whereas in Silver Peaks the weather was getting warmer. It wasn’t unusual, though, to get the odd snowstorm and it looked like today was going to be one of those days.
“I will,” I replied. “But hopefully it won’t take too long.”
Lily grinned. “He’s in a strange mood this morning. Quiet and…” She tilted her head to one side. “Thoughtful.”
“Hmm. I’m not sure Gunner has ever been thoughtful about anything.”
My friend chuckled. “I think you’re too harsh on him and you should cut him some slack.”
“You would say that he’s your family.”
“He is and not really as bad as you make out. Now,” she pointed over to the stables, “go and see him and I’ll have a hot drink and a seat by the fire waiting for you.”
With a roll of my eyes, I watched her go inside and then made the short walk to the stables. When I got to Gunner’s office the door was ajar, and I could hear shouting coming from inside.
“What the hell is going on with you?” Gunner yelled.
“You never think you’re wrong, do you?” It sounded like Charlie, his training assistant.
“I know I don’t always get it right, but on this occasion it’s wrong to try and jump that horse yet.”
Not sure whether to interrupt or not, I did a full three-sixty and looked around. There was someone leading a horse out of the corral and over by the stables some of the hands were cleaning stalls and brushing down horses. It was a hive of activity, and I knew the kids would love being around this place. The argument happening on the other side of the door, though, didn’t augur well for a peaceful, harmonious camp where kids could relax.
“Damn it,” I muttered and lifted my fisted hand to knock. “Anyone in?”
Silence fell and I heard feet shuffling with the door being pulled open a few seconds later.
“Cassidy.” He breathed out my name like it was a blessing. “Come on in.”
The moment I stepped inside I could feel the iciness engulfing the room. It was like the snow had already fallen in there.
When I looked over at Charlie, her face was beet red, and her jaw was tight as she slammed her fingers on her keyboard. She didn’t even look up as Gunner pulled his visitor chair around to his side of the desk.
“Coffee?” he asked.
“No, I’m good, thanks.”
As he poured himself a mug, I watched his chest rise and fall, clearly anger still ebbing through his veins. It felt awkwardand uncomfortable, and I had a ridiculous temptation to burst into song or crack a joke. Anything to break the tension. It was eased a few seconds later when Charlie got up from her desk and stormed out of the office. As soon as the door closed behind her there was an instant melting of ice and sighing, Gunner flopped into his chair and groaned.
“I don’t want to appear unprofessional here,” he said, “but she is testing my last nerve at the moment.”
“I kinda got that.”
He glanced at the door. “Shit. Sorry about that. I just don’t know what’s going on with her. She used to be so reliable, dependable, but the last few months have just been hard work with her.”
