The home is a bungalow with an addition on the back and a decent-sized deck. I’m sure the inside will meet his needs, even though he never specified what he wanted. But I know room for Tater is important, and this is fabulous. When he said it was five acres, I assumed it was all field or trees. But that’s not the case at all.
The lawn slopes to a line of trees, and once I get closer, I gasp and take out my phone for another video. The yard has apple trees, four rows of them, and they’ve been meticulously maintained. Past the apple trees lie a small pond and the remnants of an old building, before the forest marks the end of the property. Across from the apple trees is a small row of grapevines. Grapes! I’m not sure how they would taste, but how cool is that?
A substantial area of land lies beyond the grape rows, and if he wanted to, he could build a barn and a space for Wilbur back here.
Noting the time, I rush to get inside since Rhett should be ready to live video any minute.
“Arnie, the yard is amazing.”
“The seller says it’s one of his favourite things here.”
“I can see why.” Glancing around the entrance, I’m surprised to see stonework on the inside of the house. Limestone, I think, as I brush my fingers over it, but it’s a gorgeous feature wall in the entranceway.
“The seller was a mason before he got into cattle. I think you’ll find a lot of fun things in the house.”
“I’m going to start downstairs if that’s okay?”
Arnie nods, and I head down the short flight of stairs just as Rhett calls.
“Hey, cowboy. How was the ride?”
“Great! Scored 91. Won my first event for the year, so not too shabby.”
“Congrats, babe! That’s wonderful!” The endearment slips out, but I bulldoze along and hope he doesn’t comment on it. “I just came inside so we could walk through together, but Rhett—oh my god, the yard is amazing. Tater will love it.”
“Yeah?” His voice picks up, and I hear his smile.
“Yeah. Apple trees, a pond…fucking grapes, Rhett. But let’s look around the basement.”
I flip the phone and start walking, opening closets and doors and answering the questions he asks as we go.
“Is there a bathroom down there?” He asks.
“Um…let’s look.” I had found a furnace room and cellar—still stocked with wine and preserves—a laundry room, more storage, and two decent bedrooms. The large open rec room area has a door off it, and when I flip on the light, we gasp together.
“Holy shit, are you seeing this, Rhett?”
“Oh my god.”
It’s more than a bathroom. It’s a spa. More stone walls, an enormous raised soaker tub, and a walk-in shower with a built-in bench. A mosaic pattern has been laid into the biggest wall behind the tub with different coloured stones. It’s breathtaking.
“This is incredible, Rhett. Arnie said the seller was a mason before a cattle farmer.” The stone walls are just as exquisite as upstairs, and I wonder why the man left his line of work for cattle.
“I just wanted a toilet in the basement.” Rhett laughs, and I spin the phone around to see. He’s still in rodeo gear, with a number pinned to the flak jacket over his chest. His cowboy hat tries to tame his hair, but it’s the way his eyes smile at the sides that gets me. Like he used to laugh a lot, and now he doesn’t.
God…he’s so fucking stunning I’m at a loss for words.
Well, almost.
“We could have some fun in that tub. If you buy this place, we’ll give it a proper welcome. It has jets, or what I call underwater vibrators.”
Rhett blushes. Honestly, can he get any sexier?
“Let’s take the rest of the tour first.” Rhett’s voice is thick, and I know he’s thinking about it. But I continue the tour like the good boy I am.
He asks me a few more questions, and I show him other areas in the basement before heading back upstairs.
“Here’s Arnie.” Arnie waves, and Rhett shouts a hello as I move towards the hallway with the bedrooms.
