Chapter 11

On the inside, the cabin is nice and simple, but it has a charm to it I don’t expect. Most people wouldn’t put much care into a spare cabin for employees. It’s clear someone took the time to make this place homey and comfortable. It’s decorated with a rustic charm I might have never picked for myself, but that I find I kind of like now. There’s a large stone fireplace that serves as the focal point of the living area and a small kitchen. To the right, there are two doors. Both are bedrooms that share a bathroom between them. I assume if another woman comes to work, I’ll be sharing this cabin with her. I haven’t had a roommate in so long, I almost look forward to someone else coming.

Everything is decorated in plaids and browns. The walls sport artwork and photographs of the ranch. Just as I said, someone painted the house with the mountains in the background and it’s just as beautiful as I imagined. There are a few taxidermies that weird me out but not so much that I would ever complain. Above the fireplace, there’s a large deer head with great big horns. William immediately decides he likes that spot and finds himself perched on the head. Thankfully, it seems well mounted on the wall. It doesn’t even move.

“Don’t break anything,” I hiss at him. “I don’t wanna get fired before we’ve even started.”

There’s plenty of places for him to hide and explore. All the wood paneling and carved furniture almost makes it feel forest-like. No doubt, I’ll find him in different places each day. William really enjoys being an explorer. It’s why it was so prudent to leash-train him. Otherwise, I was constantly trying to fight him from escaping the door every time I opened it.

I choose the room on the left, furthest from the door, in case a murderer ever happens to come in. It gives me more time to prepare for a fight. Say what you want, but that strategy has never steered me wrong when it comes to choosing beds. When I test the mattress inside it, I’m surprised to find it top tier, so soft it feels like a cloud. There’s a remote on the bedside table where I can adjust the hardness of it if it’s too soft. Even the comforter is perfect. I couldn’t have asked for a better place to stay.

I spend the next hour putting some of my things away. The dressers are plenty big enough for me to store my clothes. There’s even a wardrobe where I hang up everything I need to. I put away as much as I can before shoving my suitcase under the bed. I set my houseplant on the counter and water it. It’s starting to look a little droopy. Apparently, plants aren’t a fan of road trips, either.

It’s only as I finish putting away the essentials that I decide I should go out and explore a little. I wonder just how big this ranch is. I hadn’t asked how much land they have, but I assume it’s a lot. Twenty acres? Fifty? I have no way to estimate. It’s not like there was a lot of empty land for sale back home that could help me guess.

I breathe in the air outside the first chance I get and smile. The air is so much cleaner out here. It’s refreshing. Back home, it’s all pollution and smells from your neighbors and the local chicken place down the road. Here, it’s just wild mountain air, clear of smog and chicken. For that alone, it’s worth it.

In front of the cabin, there’s a pasture with a few horses and cows meandering around. As I come out, one of the horses looks up and starts walking toward the fence. I find myself wandering over to it as it gets closer. He’s beautiful, prettier than any of the horses I’ve seen before. The most I’ve seen are police horses which mostly seem to be all brown. This horse is white with brown spots, and clearly very well taken care of. He stands taller than I am, but that’s not difficult to do at my five-foot height.

“What a handsome boy,” I coo as I reach out carefully to him. I let him smell my palm before he presses his face against my hand for pets. “I bet you get all the ladies, don’t you? You’re certainly more handsome than all the horses back home.”

He chuffs in answer and leans closer so I can rub his ears. I chuckle at how sweet he is and give him all the pets he wants.

“Well, I’ll be damned,” someone says from behind me.

When I glance over my shoulder, it’s to find the man from town walking up to us, Wiley.

“Hey!” I say, smiling.

“I see you took my advice,” he says with a grin. “I should probably introduce myself properly now that we’re gonna be coworkers and all that. I’m Wiley Carter.”

“It’s nice to meet you officially, Wiley. I’m Kate,” I answer, still petting the horse.

He doesn’t seem to notice that I don’t give him a last name. Instead, he glances at where I’m petting the horse.

“That there is Harry Trotter. He don’t like no one, most of all me. And here he is happy as a clam and letting you pet him.”

“Harry Trotter!” I laugh, looking up at him. “What a perfect name for him! My cat is William Shakespurr. Finding a name with puns is always fun.”

“You and Dakota will get along just fine I bet,” Wiley grins. “He likes puns, too.”

I blink in surprise. I hadn’t expected the name to come from Dakota. He’d seemed nice, but gruff. If I’d expected it to come from anyone, it would have been Wiley.

“He doesn’t seem so bad,” I say, gesturing to Harry. “He’s sweet.”

“You don’t believe me?” Wiley takes a step closer and reaches out a hand toward Harry. The horse immediately snorts and whips his tail. When Wiley still slowly reaches toward him, he jerks forward and tries to bite him. Wiley jerks his hand back with a scowl. “Hey! You mangy beast! One day, someone’s gonna turn you into dog food.”

I laugh at their antics, because Harry immediately turns his face back to me for more pets. “I think he’s sweet. Maybe it’s just you he doesn’t like.”

“Not just me. He dislikes most everyone,” Wiley laughs with a shake of his head. “And I think we both have a different definition of what sweet is.” He winks. “For example, I think you’re pretty sweet. Harry? Not so much.”

I flush and glance back at the horse, not sure how to respond.

“Don’t worry,” Wiley says. “I won’t bother you. I just came to let you know dinner will be served in a few hours.”

“Sounds good. Do I just go up to the house?”

He nods. “Yep. Just come on in. No need to knock.” He turns to leave but pauses. “Oh! And I’ll see you at five a.m. for work.”

“Five a.m.?” I gasp.

The grin that splits his lips is charming and a little bit mischievous. “Round here, work starts when the sun comes up and the roosters crow, darlin’.” He tips his hat. “I’ll see you at dinner. Watch your hands in case that horse changes his mind and decides to eat you.”

I watch him go before looking back at Harry. “Five in the morning, Harry? Someone should have warned me. This city girl never wakes up so early.”

But I’ll do what I have to. So far, it’s not so bad. I doubt it could get much worse than waking up at the butt crack of dawn. Hopefully, I don’t end up eating my words.