Five agonizing minutes of silence later, Daddy finally barrels through the door of the office, talking on his phone. Whoever is on the other end means business because he’s got his stern, Ranch Boss face on. That little muscle in his neck is twitching.
Oh boy.
I can’t wait to hear what’s got him in a tizzy.
“I understand that, Mr. Dupont, but like I said, we’re booked solid that entire week. Even for a man of your status, we can’t change the reservations people have had for months. Let me work out the details we discussed with my team, and I’ll get back to you to confirm.” He hangs up and blows out a frustrated breath. “We need to open a week early.”
My eyes bug out of my head. “What?”
I don’t remember a time we’ve opened early. We have our opening and closing routines down to a science, and opening early would mess it all up. We’d have to push the opening barbecue, and the horses aren’t ready. Our farrier, Cillian, would need to shoe them sooner, and I don’t want to throw a wrench in his schedule. Who knows if he can make time for us?
“Clifford Dupont, some hotshot oil guy from Texas, is insistent on having his company retreat here, and we’re booked up.”
“So, tell him to book ahead for next year.”
“He’s willing to pay double to rent out the entire ranch for the week, but he needs it to be before July. Our only option is to open early for him.”
Mr. Dupont must have deep,deeppockets. That would match over half our projected June income in only a week.
“Are you shittin’ me right now?”
“I’m not shittin’ you—but don’t let Mama hear you talk likethat. I know opening a week early would mess up our schedule, but that kind of money would help us with all those improvements you want to make. New flooring in the cabins, upgraded security, and it would be nice to add to our emergency funds.”
The thought of switching up the schedule makes my heart race.
“You’re the boss,” I murmur. “You tell me what to do.”
Make sure the cabins are fixed up, call Cillian to get him to come early, plan a whole extra week of food, and tell Landry and Oakley. We’ll need to add so many things to the supply list, which will interrupt the budget we’ve set.
Just thinking of the growing checklist makes my palms sweat.
“Thank you for being flexible,” he says. “Now, on to the reason I’ve brought you here, Addison. Thank you, by the way, for meeting me.”
Addison, who I almost forgot was there, nods. “Of course.”
“I figured you’d agree with me, Juniper. Because we’re opening a week early, Shane and Landry need to stay here to make sure things are in order. They can’t waste a day going to Missoula so?—”
My stomach plummets.
“I’m going to need you two to go grab supplies this round.”
“All right,” Addison says.
At the same time, I say, "I can’t do that.”
“You know I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t the only option,” Dad says. “You’re the only other person who has a card; otherwise, I’d send Rusty and Briggs.”
I hate the big stores. The lights are always too bright, there are too many people, and I constantly feel like I’m being watched. I feel rushed, and I miss things on the list or grab the wrong item. Not to mention that pushing one of those big carts full of stuff when I’m only five-foot-one isn’t easy. I feel like I go too slow and hold up the people behind me.
Now Daddy’s telling me, on top of all my other anxieties, that Ihave to spend a whole day trapped in a car with a former one-night-stand who doesn't remember me? I mean, it’s not like he knows that tidbit of information. I told him I thought she was a girl from high school who moved away when he asked about it last week.
I hate lying to him.
But I’m not about to tell him details about my sex life.
“You’re sure there’s no one else? Not Kathy or Mama? Hell, Oakley can take Landry’s card!”
“Oakley isn’t insured to drive the trucks, and Kathy and Mama have their own work to do. It’s gotta be you, June-bug. And I can’t send you alone.”
