Blackhill Ranch (3 page)

Chapter 3

After we settled the
horses back into their stalls, got them hooked up with snacks, and
a quick brush we headed back to the lodge. Cole was telling me
about all the groups that are coming up to visit this summer. We
have around ten Cabins for reservations. Some cabins are bigger
than others, and some just have one room and one bath. Our largest
cabin, The Grande Cabin, is our source of pride. It is amazing with
it’s huge great room and six bedrooms. It is definitely our most
rented out cabin on the property.

We also have cabins for
our ranch hands and workers. That's were I will be staying for the
summer. Dad had one cleaned up and it should be all ready for me. I
am really happy to be back and to see everyone, because most of the
workers have been here since I was a little girl. We are a very
close family and would do anything for each other.

“Dad said Ricky should
have brought all your things to your cabin. You're in cabin W5,
it's right next to mine and Rhet's cabin.” He winked as we headed
over that way.

“Okay, what's up? Rhet is
helping clean up the stalls, tell me now or I'll do something bad
when you’re sleeping.” I eyed him and waited as he stopped and
turned around to face me.

“What? I have no idea what
you’re talking about?” he said as I shot him my most serious look.
“Take it easy, killer. I don't need silicone wrapped over my toilet
again. Rhet has just been through a lot and I think you two would
really be good around each other. Since your douchey L.A. guy is
out of the picture finally, I think you and Rhet could become good
friends.”

“Wait, you want Rhet and
me to hook up? I can’t believe you would want to know that!” I
gagged and pretended to grab my throat like I was choking. “Oh, and
the plastic wrap is classic. I wish I could have seen your
reaction,” I giggled as he nudged my shoulder against
his.

He laughed as he said, “I
didn't say I wanted you guys to hook up, and please don't ever say
that around me again, by the way. I just meant it would be nice to
see you and Rhet happy.”

“I was happy with Brian
and we aren't really technically over. Did you call him a douche?”
I cocked my head towards him.

“You caught that, huh? Who
doesn't come out with their girlfriend on Christmas vacation? He
just rubs me the wrong way and I've only been around him a few
times. I just don't see you settling down with a Cali
guy.”

“I wonder why dad didn't
let me just stay at the house? Does this feel more official to
him?”

“He just wants you to feel
like an adult around here. If you really wanted to stay back at the
house you know he would love it. Speaking of dad, I need to fill
you in on something. This is going to be hard to hear, but he just
got some test results back that his heart isn't really doing that
well,” Cole said as he lowered his head and looked at the
ground.

“What!” I yelled. “Why the
hell am I just hearing about this now? How bad is it? Did he have a
heart attack?” I was gasping for air when I was done with my
rant.

“No, he didn't have a
heart attack. He had been having some pain in his chest. He decided
it was a good idea to drive up to see a cardiologist and make sure
everything was okay. They ran a few tests and found out some of his
arteries were partially clogged, and his heart just seemed weak.
You know dad, he won't let that keep him down. We have really been
on him to let Rhet and me take on the more strenuous jobs.” Cole
took a breath and ran his hand through his hair. You could tell
this was really bothering him as well.

“What now? What about the
clogged arteries?”

“The doctor gave him some
strict guidelines that will help him, and told him to take it easy.
He was close to having an attack, but this should help prevent
that,” Cole said as he let go of my hands and picked up my suitcase
off the ground. “Where do you want this? Good lord, what do you
have in here?” he asked as he huffed and held onto my
suitcase.

I laughed and told him to
put in on the bed. “Stop, didn't Sarah pack heavy?” I asked and
regretted it when her name left my mouth. “I'm sorry Cole. It just
slipped out.”

“No, it's okay. She was a
part of my past and I know you adored her,” he said sadly as he
plopped my bag on the bed.

“Cole, you know you will
always come first. What she did was unforgivable. You had every
right to let the door hit her ass on the way out. We will never
take her side. I haven't talked to her since you called and told me
what was going on. I never would answer her calls.”

“I know, kid. That's why I
love you so much. Wait, she called you?”

“She did a few times, but
I never could answer. I didn't know what I would say to her or that
I really wanted to hear her side of the story. She left a few
voicemails, but I never listened to them,” I whispered as I sat on
the edge of the bed. Sarah was my best friend growing up. I loved
her so much. It's still hard not talking to her and trying to
forget all about her. She did something unspeakable to my brother
and he really hasn't been the same ever since. I don't even know
when the last time was that he has been with another girl, and
frankly I don't want to know about that part of his
life.

“She ended up being a
complete stranger in the end. Let's not talk about her. It's making
me all moody and grumpy.”

I eyed him suspiciously
and couldn't help myself. “You know you probably need to talk about
it sometime, and since I'm back for a while I could be your
shoulder to cry on.” I winked and tried to hold a serious face. I'm
pretty sure Cole has never brought up the situation. It has been
over a year since we have spoken to Sarah, and I can't imagine the
built up tension he is carrying around on his shoulders. I sighed
and changed the subject. “Did I tell you Chloe is coming to
visit?”

“Great, the princess
herself. Will we have to get the red carpet out and call the press?
What is she going to do here? Besides break a few nails and screech
every time she sees some damn mud on her shoes,” Cole huffed as he
got off the bed and started pacing around the room.

Okay, so he is acting very
strange. “Easy, killer. I thought you two got along well, and you
would kind of be excited to see her.” I eyed him suspiciously. They
really did get along whenever they were around each
other.

Last Christmas Chloe's
parents traveled to Paris and she was not really thrilled with the
idea, so she came home with me for a few days. I swear I heard her
and Cole laughing in our great room one night when we were all off
to bed. What's his deal? Now I was the suspicious one.

“I have some errands to
run. I'll catch up with you later. Rhet said to head over to the
lodge in an hour or so, and he'll meet you down there. He has some
ideas he wants to run by you before you start working on the new
website. Please be nice, or I guess not any weirder than you
already have been around him. He really could use a nice person in
his life.

“Yes sir, and if it counts
at all, I'm not the one being weird anymore!” I yelled just as he
shut my door. Well, here it is. Time to face the music. I should
jump in the shower before I head over. Yes, that was a great idea.
Maybe even a cold one...Or does that only work on guys?

**

After my shower, I blew
out my long Auburn hair. I have the same exact hair color as my
mother. In fact, everyone says I'm a spitting image of her.
Sometimes I catch my dad looking at me with a sadness in his eyes.
I'm sure it's hard to have someone who looks like the love of your
life sitting right in front of you. He always tells me he loves it.
He is so proud of me and loves that I look like her.

Cole on the other hand has
dark brownish black hair just like my dad used to. He looks more
like our uncle Mick though, who is a very handsome man.

When my hair was finally
dry, I did a quick side fishtail braid and slipped on a cute
sundress that went perfectly with my sassy brown cowboy boots.
Maybe I'm putting a little more effort into my appearance than if I
was meeting say... Ricky. Not that Ricky isn’t a great guy, but
he's a fifty year old man that has been more of an uncle than a
friend of the family. Rhet definitely isn't fifty.

Why do Cole and I always
go after each other's friends? I guess it didn’t matter, because it
was time to face the music.

I made my way down to the
lodge and greeted a few workers with hugs and promises to see each
other later for dinner. I still needed to get with Tina about a new
menu for the summer. I was already feeling the pressure of being
back at the Ranch. With all of this new business, it meant more
work for everyone, which was wonderful.

I walked into the main
entrance of our lodge. About five years ago my dad renovated the
entire lodge, and it's gorgeous with it's log cabin feel and the
huge vaulted ceilings. I made my way through, and waved at Molly
and Kim behind the front desk.

“Hey, have you girls seen
Rhet?” I asked as I stepped up to the counter. Molly and Kim were a
few years older than Cole. They are sisters and are so sweet. They
make the perfect receptionists for our lodge. They are very good
looking, but I wasn’t worried about them. They are both happily
married with children, and they both have babies on the
way.

“Did we see Rhet, or did
we drool over Rhet?” Molly asked as she giggled and nudged Kim. Kim
laughed and gave me a dreamy look and held her hands over her
heart.

“You noticed that, too?
Has he gotten better looking over the years or is it just from
working on the Ranch? Man, I'm getting distracted. Has he been by
here yet?”

“Yes, honey. He just
walked back into the office. He said to tell you to come on back
whenever,” Molly said with a wink and Kim started laughing and
grabbed her belly.

“Kim you better calm down
or you’re going to send yourself into pre-term labor,” I said as
they both started laughing. “No, I'm serious. We are not delivering
a baby here.” I waved goodbye and headed back to the
office.

There he was. Sitting at
the desk looking amazing. Man, I had it bad already. What did my
brother say? Be nice... Be his “friend” or whatever that meant. He
needs someone nice in his life. Well, I could definitely do
that.

I hid behind the door for
a second to stalk him a little more, and then I decided I would
break out of my weird shell and scare the shit out of him.
1...2...3.. “AHHH!!” I screamed at the top of my lungs.

“HOLY SHIT!” Rhet hollered
as he flipped backwards out of his chair. He got up quickly and was
holding his chest. “Jesus Lexi, you scared the shit out of me! What
the hell?”

“I wish I would have
recorded that!” I said and wiped a few tears running down my face.
“That was great, and I'm sorry but it was just too perfect to pass
up. I'm also sorry for being a little weird with you in the barn. I
guess you just took me by surprise.”

“Took you by surprise?
How?” he asked as he finally got his breathing to
normal.

“Well, for starters you
didn't have a shirt on, and second you didn't have a shirt on. You
shouldn't just go prancing around with your ‘Brad Pitt, Fight Club’
chest,” I said as I sat down in the chair across from
him.

“My ‘Brad Pitt, Fight
Club’ chest, huh? So you think I'm sexy?” he said with a completely
straight face. Was he joking with me? Is he still mad I almost made
him pee his pants? Well, two can play at this game.

“I have eyes,” I winked
and started to grab the computer to turn it around. Just as I
touched it, Rhet grabbed at the computer as well and our hands
touched. No spark. Damn again. “Did we have a spark the first time
we shook hands?” I asked and instantly cursed myself for saying it
out loud.

Rhet
cocked his eyebrow and looked straight at me. “A spark? Like static
electricity?”

I looked away as a crimson
color creeped up my cheeks. “Never mind. Let's get going on this
website.” He really is good looking. I could keep my dirty thoughts
and magical signs to myself. As long as he kept his shirt
on.

Chapter 4

Talking with Rhet was
relatively painless. He only brushed my arm twice and we had one
awkward eye contact. Other than that, it was really easy. He is
very easy to talk to and we have a great start on the website. I
couldn't help but notice his flirtatious comments and him always
leaning over towards me. That might have all been in my head. It
probably was. We did come up with some good ideas. We decided we
are going to cater more towards large groups like reunions or
weddings, but we will also take the smaller parties like we are
used to now.

One thing I finally did
realize was that I have to quit with this lust towards Rhet. I saw
what it did to my brother dating one of my close friends. He not
only lost a very important person, but I did, too. It was so hard
losing Sarah because she was like a sister to me. I knew my brother
loved her when we were only ten years old. He would sneak in my
room and they would laugh and joke for hours. It would piss me off
and I thought he acted really goofy around her, but I had no idea I
was looking at a budding romance. Cole and I have always been
close, and losing my mother only brought us that much closer. I
have always chosen him, and I always will.