Page 6 of Ella and the Enchanted Bookshop

“Would you like for us to stay for the camp?” Brianna asked. “We’d be happy to help.”

Before I could answer, footsteps sounded outside the barn. I turned to see Casey walk in.

“You’re both off the clock now,” she said with a smile. “Go have fun. Ella and I will handle it from here.”

Brianna took one look at my stepmother’s business attire, and her dark eyes flashed.

“You really did so much already,” I said quickly. “Finishing up tonight will be a lot easier. Thank you!” I pulled Brianna in for another hug. “I don’t know what I would do without you,” I whispered.

When I let go of her, Brianna didn’t look like she was convinced, but Derrick gave me a hug as well, then gently pushed her toward the door. “Let’s go see what your mother is making for dinner.”

As soon as they were gone, Casey whirled around to face me. “Did you promise them extra hours? Ella, you know we can’t afford–”

“I didn’t!” I protested. “They stayed longer to help since they knew it was my birthday.”

Casey huffed. “That’s kind of them. But what if one of them got hurt off the clock? I might still get stuck paying for some sort of work injury claim.”

“They just–” I began again, but Casey held her hand up to cut me off.

“I know they’re your friends. And I haven’t forgotten that he was your father’s friend too. Honestly, it’s why I’ve kept them on so long, even though the ranch isn’t turning a profit. But if things don’t turn around, I’m afraid we’ll have to let them go, too.” She narrowed her eyes at me. “So think about that the next time you’re in a mood to give away extra hours.”

Something inside me boiled over. “And take care of the horses how, Casey? Even with them here, we can barely handle the workload as it is! How could we possibly keep up with all the work that needs to get done around here with you jet-setting off to whatever the next expensive conference is, or refusing to make Harper help out? Or–”

“Or what?” Casey stalked back to me, the click of her stilettos sharp against the concrete.

I glared up at her. “Casey, as much as I love these horses, I cannot run this ranch by myself!”

Casey glared down at me for a long moment before her expression morphed into a smirk. “There are a lot of things we can do that we think we can’t,” she said. “A lot of choices we have to make.” Then she turned and began to walk back toward the barn door. “Like taking classes where we get Bs instead of keeping your parents’ beloved ranch alive.”

If I hadn’t known we had riders set to arrive soon, I would have saddled my own horse and taken her for a long, long ride. Our little town in the upper part of the Colorado Rockies was the perfect place for casual riding. It was one of the reasons my father had chosen the town to start his ranch. Not only could he offer horses, lessons, and trail rides, but he could also stable other people’s horses as well.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have several hours for a good ride. So I said a prayer for patience and did my best to let off steam by saddling the horses as well as I could, focusing on perfectionism rather than escape. And by the time the camp riders began to show up, my mood had already begun to lift.

They were a sassy bunch, which was one of the reasons I loved them. Pearl, Betty Lou, Mazy, Johann, and Bill were all over the age of seventy, and as such, didn’t give a hoot (Mazy’s words, not mine) about what others thought of them. According to Pearl, they were there to get their joints moving and to have a good time.

“Saw you going into the bookstore today,” Pearl said as I walked beside her horse around the main outdoor arena. “And you came out with books! What’s the occasion?”

“Pearl,” Bill grumbled from across the arena. “She doesn’t have to have a reason to buy books! Leave the girl alone!”

“Well, I happened to notice that while you were in there,” Pearl continued as if Bill hadn’t spoken, “a handsome young man in uniform walked in as well!”

I laughed. “It’s my birthday. I always go to the bookstore on my birthday.”

“It’s your birthday?” Betty Lou exclaimed. “And we didn’t bring you candles or anything!”

I laughed again. “You’re not supposed to bring candles to a horse ranch. Now, Johann, it’s your turn. Ready? Let’s try sitting up a little straighter this time.”

But that wouldn’t do. By this time, I’d lost control of the entire group, and they wouldn’t let me continue with anything until they’d all sung me happy birthday.

“But you did come out with books!” Pearl protested loudly as I began to lead Johann and his horse around the arena. “Did you buy yourself some?”

“Miss Margaret gave me a book for my birthday,” I said evasively. “It was a gift.”

“But you had two books in that bag!” Pearl insisted. “I could tell from how heavy it was!”

“Pearl, you’re such a busybody!” Mazy insisted. Then she turned to me. “What about the other book?”

“It was a gift from a friend,” I said. “Bill, it’s your turn now.”