Once the expectations have been presented, he scans our IDs and gives us each two shirts with the Forget Me Not Ranch logo.One is a pale periwinkle, and the other is plain black. He informs us that the blue one is for events where staff are required to be present, so guests know who they can ask for assistance.
“Since Juniper’s not back yet, I guess I’ll?—”
The door swings open, and Juniper re-enters, stealing the air from my lungs. She’s even more gorgeous than I remember. Another weird feeling sizzles in my stomach when I see that her eyes are swollen and her face red.
“So sorry to run out on y’all. Looks like Daddy’s gotten the boring part out of the way, so I can give you a tour of the ranch now. You can leave your stuff here, and we’ll swing by before I take you to your lodging.”
She sounds completely different than before. More calm, more collected. She doesn’t seem anxious at all, which is throwing me for a loop.
Oakley eagerly follows Juniper, gushing about how much she loves her pink and green floral overalls. Overalls that match the hot pink rubber boots she’s got on her feet. I don’t know if I’ve ever met someone who wears pink boots on a ranch. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone in colorful overalls, either.
I hate that I find them endearing. I can’t find her outfit or anything about hercute.
I try to keep my attention on what she’s showing us and not the way her pretty lips tilt up in a shy smile or the way the sun catches her eyes, making them glimmer like two sapphires. I need to know the ins and outs of this place so I can do my job, but she giggles at a joke Rusty makes or lights up talking about the horses, and my attention is drawn back to her in an instant.
Fucking focus.
Apparently, since Oakley and I are the only women on the team besides Juniper and the housekeeper, Kathy, who lives with her husband, we get to stay at the main house instead of the bunkhouse with the other ranch hands.
I trail behind everyone else as she leads us away from thebunkhouse and toward the stables. The big, red, barn-like structure looks like it was built within the last decade and is well-maintained. As we enter, the familiar scent of hay and horses permeates my nose.
Even if the mountains of Montana are a far cry from Nevada, some smells will always remind me of home.
Juniper gives us the rundown of the horses that are the best for inexperienced riders and children, and the ones that are most familiar with the trails. They all have name plates on the gates to their stall, and they look well taken care of, which is a good sign. She stops in front of a gorgeous palomino; the plate on the front tells me her name is Honeysuckle.
“This is my Honey-girl. She only lets me, Daddy, and Shane—our head wrangler—touch her. So, if you try and she backs away, don’t feel bad. She won’t bite, she’s just a little weary of strangers. We rescued her from an abusive situation, and she’s still learnin’ that the world isn’t out to get her. Aren’t you, my pretty girl?”
Juniper strokes a hand gently down the blaze on Honeysuckle’s nuzzle.
“She’s gorgeous.” Oakley coos softly. “Horses scare the livin’ shit outta me, but she sure is pretty.”
“Why did you apply to work on a ranch if you’re scared of horses?” Rusty leans on the stall of a chestnut colored horse named Buster.
“I figured I wouldn’t be around them too often, being in the kitchen and all. I can stand next to them just fine when they’re in their stalls, but you won’t catch me by one when they’re free, let alone riding one.” Her whole body shudders like she’s shaking off a bad memory.
“We won’t make you ride one, promise. As for you three, Daddy’ll let you take them out for some trail rides and see who feels most comfortable with who, then you can decide who your four-legged bestie will be for the summer.”
Briggs and Rusty make affirming noises as Juniper looks at them, and I give a simple nod of my head.
“Well, let’s get y’all settled and then we can meet Mama for lunch,” she says before she kisses Honeysuckle on her nose.
As we walk out of the barn, a name plate catches my attention. I stop in my tracks, peeking into Athena’s stall. She’s stunning. All black with a bald face, like she’s wearing a mask. She looks so much like Artemis, I’d swear it was her if I weren’t the one with her when she was buried. Athena’s deep chocolate eyes seem to be staring right into my soul, and I think I may have just found the horse that’ll be mine for the summer.
That night, I’m unpacking my clothes and putting them in the provided dresser.
The dresser in Juniper’s old room.
Mrs. Calhoun—or Marjorie, as she insisted we call her—led Oakley and me up the stairs and told us to pick our rooms. I let Oakley pick since I don’t have much of an opinion on where I sleep at night, and it’s just my luck that this room happens to be Juniper’s old one.
A soft knock on the door pulls me from staring at a watercolor painting of a horse drinking from a stream. It’s stunning, and the detail is incredible. I don’t see a signature on it, so I make a mental note to ask Marjorie about it later.
I crack open the door to find Oakley standing on the other side, her hands on her hips. “You want to tell me what’s going on between you and Juni?”
I raise an eyebrow at her. “Juni? You’re already on a nickname basis with our boss?”
Oakley rolls her eyes and shoves her way inside, planting herbutt on the bed. “She’s not technically our boss. Mr. Calhoun is. But she’s sweet as a peach, and I’d like to know what all that was this morning when she ran outta there like church was just let out.”
This woman’s going to be a thorn in my side. I can tell.
