“But you’ve trained for those adjustments.” She countered. “You’ve thought of everything that could change or go wrong so that when they happen, you can adapt accordingly. I do the same.”
She did have a point, but there were still some moments we couldn’t predict.
“Alright then, what happens if you can’t follow your schedule one day?” I pushed. “Like something happens to your phone or all the computers shut down on the ranch. Maybe Carl and Lucinda need you to do something different, or they need your help in the stables. What do you do then?”
“I have my week printed out so I always have a backup.” She shared. “And if the computers go down, then there is always paperwork that needs to be done.”
Wow, she really was tied to her plans. “What about the stables?”
She actually laughed. It was the first time I was hearing it and the sound worked its way into my heart. Her head leaned back right on my shoulder. I tightened my hold slightly imagining a different scenario where her head was resting against me.
“I’m the last person Carl or Lucinda would want helping in the stables or the barn.” She shook her head. “I might work on a ranch, but I’m not really an outdoors kind of girl.”
“Then why a ranch? Why not a corporate office?”
Her laughter stopped. “It’s all I know and the Davis’s have always been kind to me.”
“Carl mentioned that you and Lucinda were close.” I slowed the horse down as the building came into view.
“Lucinda is like a mother to me.” Bria’s voice was so light it felt as if a strong wind would drown it out.
“Do you and your mother not get along?”
“She died when I was one.”
Damn. “I’m so sorry.” I couldn’t imagine growing up without my mom.
“It’s alright.” She shrugged one shoulder. “I mean, it isn’t as if I knew her.”
“But she was still your mom,” I said softly.
“Yeah.”
I started to ask about her father, but I suddenly remembered that Carl had told me he died while Bria was in college.
“What about siblings?” I asked instead. “Are you guys close?”
“It’s just me.” Her head hung down.
Well, shit. That meant that other than Carl and Lucinda she was all alone. No wonder she was so close to them. They had to feel like second parents.
“That might not be a bad thing.” I tried to joke. “I have two younger brothers and a younger sister, and there are times I give my right arm to be an only child.”
“I doubt that.” She turned her head so that she could look back at me. “I read up on your family when Carl mentioned you were coming. Y’all seem very close.”
“We are, but that doesn’t mean they don’t drive me crazy. Especially when we were little. I swear I never had a moment to myself, and just when it seemed like I’d gotten used to the new kid, they’d announce they were having another one. It was exhausting.”
“Probably more so for your mother since she had to carry the baby and then give birth, but I’m sure it was hard on you too.” I looked down to she the side of her lip twitch. So, she has a sense of humor. I liked that.
“Fine, I’ll give you that, but being the oldest in my family means you have a certain level of responsibility for the kids behind you.” I explained. “I knew how to change a diaper before I knew how to ride, and that’s saying something.”
“Depends on when you learned how to ride.” She countered.
“About the same time I learned how to walk.” I joked. Truthfully, it was probably more learning to walk, then ride, and then change a diaper, but we didn’t need to get into the specifics.
The main lodge was right in front of us. I was running out of time. Part of me wondered what she would do if I took off andheaded for the back half of the property with her in tow just to prove my point about being spontaneous. I had a feeling she’d either slap the shit out of me when I stopped or fire me on the spot.
“Here we are.” I pulled on the reins when we reached the front of the building and swung my leg down. I held up my arms to help her, and she surprised me by hopping down by herself.
