Chapter 12

At about six p.m., someone clangs a triangle like I’ve seen in the movies to call us all for dinner. I come out of the cabin excitedly at the sound. How fucking cute is that? It makes it all the more picturesque, large pretty house, mountain backdrop, and the clangs of a triangle to call us all for dinner. I can’t wait until there’s a campfire!

I follow everyone else as they go up to the big house, trailing along. I’m a little nervous to meet everyone. I’ve always hated being the new girl every time I changed jobs. It’s why I loved my last job. I rarely had to go into the office. I just sent emails and tuned into a few video calls, and it was all good.

On the front porch of the house, the dogs all lay, happily sleeping the day away. They wag their tail when I walk up the porch, but don’t rush toward me. I stoop down to pet the few closest to me, and then give in and pet them all so they don’t feel left out. Some of them look like cow herding dogs, but the one is clearly a hound dog. It’s the same one that had run up to my car when I’d pulled in, Ole Red. None of them move even after I pet them, but the hound dog wags his tail with a few happy thumps and stands to follow me inside as I open the door.

Inside the house is just as amazing as the outside. I’m immediately met with a large wood carving displayed on the wall inside. It’s not any wood I recognize. It’s almost black in color rather than the normal woodgrain I’m used to. And it hasn’t been stained. It’s clear it’s the natural wood color. There’s a scene carved into it, of a man riding a horse as it chases down a cow. He has a lasso in his hand, swung high in a circle above his head. I don’t get much time to admire it before I’m ushered inside by the others coming in behind me. Some of them give me a few curious looks, but most just happily come inside.

I follow them all to the right into a large dining room where a table fit for a party is set up with food already. There’s so much food, it feels like a thanksgiving feast, but there’s certainly plenty of us who come in for dinner. I realize quickly I’m one of at least two dozen regular workers.

Dakota stands at the head of the table, a small smile on his face. When I come in, he gestures for me to come over to him, so I do as he says, trailing around the table until I’m right beside him.

“Everyone, we have someone new joining the ranch family. This here is Kate. I expect everyone to show her how we do things when she goes out on the ranch tomorrow.”

There’s a chorus of “welcome” “and “hey” as they all wave. There are a few women mixed into the crowd, each of them wearing a smile at my addition.

“Go on and take a seat next to me,” Dakota offers, pulling out the chair for me.

I blink in surprise and take the seat, accepting his help to scoot it in before he takes his own seat. I can’t remember the last time a man helped me into my chair. Everyone else takes their own seats. Wiley bounces in and takes the seat right next to me, a bright smile on his face.

“I see you’ve still got all your fingers,” he declares.

I wiggle my hand at him. “Indeed. Harry didn’t even try to take them once.”

“Harry?” Dakota interrupts. “Harry Trotter? You were petting that damn horse?”

I nod. “He didn’t try to bite me. He invited me to pet him even.”

Dakota blinks. “Well, at least you seem to have a way with horses, I guess. The only reason we keep that horse around is because he’s a great stud. He ain’t good for much else, though.”

Wiley leans in. “Harry used to be a pretty damn good barrel racer, but he up and one day decided he didn’t want anyone else to ride him after Dakota’s ma passed away. He was her horse, see. I think it broke his heart when she no longer came out to tell him good morning every day.”

My heart immediately swells for the horse. “The poor thing,” I murmur. “No wonder he’s so eager for attention.”

Dakota’s face pinches, but he doesn’t respond. He instead reaches for food in the center. “Help yourself to whatever you’d like,” he tells me. “There’s plenty for everyone.”

The table is set with food of all kinds. There’s an aluminum tin of roasted chicken I take a few pieces of and a whole heaping amount of side dishes. Some sausage sits piled up next to a tray of corn. There’s sweet potatoes and green beans and bread rolls. I hesitate to load my plate too high until I see everyone else takes as much as they want. So, I take an extra bread roll. I’m such a hoe for bread.

Dinner ends up being a vibrant display of family and conversation. I learn about each of those who work on the ranch, including a husband and wife team, Jeff and Gloria, who manage the accounting and the scheduling for events and payroll. I’m loaded up on names that I know I’m gonna forget and have to ask again, but every person introduces them selves excitedly. They each explain who they are and what they do. I don’t even know what my job title will be yet, but they all know theirs well. Everyone seems happy here and well-treated here. All of them have nothing but good things to say about Dakota and Steele Mountain Ranch.

The man I’d seen out in the field earlier sits at the other end of the table quietly and broods, not bothering to speak to anyone. When my attention pulls toward him, Wiley bumps his shoulder into mine.

“That’s just Levi. Don’t worry. He don’t bite,” he whispers.

“You sure? He kind of looks like he could,” I whisper back.

Wiley shrugs. “Dakota would have his head if he did, so you should be fine. Just leave him alone if he asks you to and things should be okay.”

I can’t help my eyes going to him again and again, looking away before he can catch me. He’s incredibly attractive, even with the perpetual frown he wears. His hair is loose and long, hanging around his ears and just above touching his shoulders. It’s pulled back a little behind his ears with a ponytail so it doesn’t hang in his face. His jawline is as impressive as any sculpture and even from this distance, his eyes look like amber. When he looks up at me suddenly and meets my eyes, I look down quickly, flushing at being caught, but trying my best to pretend I hadn’t been.

“Your paperwork all went through okay, and Gloria will take care of your payroll,” Dakota says suddenly. “You’ll be working with Wiley in the morning, and he’ll show you the ropes.”

I nod. “He already told me to wake up at five.”

“No, be ready at five,” Dakota counters. “That’s when the work starts.”

I nearly choke on the water I’d taken a sip of. After I clear my throat a few times, I force a smile. “Absolutely. I’ll be ready.”

Dakota’s eyes sparkle, but the amusement doesn’t reach his lips. “Welcome to Steele Mountain Ranch, Kate. Try not to get hurt tomorrow. I’d hate to call in an insurance claim so quickly.”

Rolling my eyes, I take a bite of my roll. “I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

After all, how hard could it possibly be?