Chapter 1

Parker

I sip my coffee and take an extra moment to breathe in its wonderful smell, mingling with the warm October air and the aroma of leaves and grass. It’s not the same as summer smells, something about the slight drop in temperature makes it all feel different. The leaves still change in Texas, but not much else does. I’m good with that.

The morning sun isn’t quite up yet which is the perfect time for a gallop. I know the farm hands will take care of feeding the animals and mucking the stalls. I have other tasks to take care of, but not until after that ride. While it’s still that perfect temperature before dawn, the dim light is peaceful and quiet.

Before long, I’m galloping through the back 40 acres on Daisy and I’m reminded that this place was close to shutting down just a couple years ago. If it hadn’t been for Casie bringing life back to the dude ranch, Lone Star wouldn’t be here today. She’s a great boss, most of the time.

I slow Daisy so I can better inspect the back fence, another part of my work routine. Wild animals and the weather can sometimes cause breakages, and we need to make sure that everything is sound so the cows can graze out here. And the older horses.

I note the spots that need to be fixed. I’ll come back out when the sun crests over noontime. It’s already getting intense and it’s only a couple hours past sunrise. I head back with Daisy to get some breakfast and get to work on those spots at the fence.

When I put her up, I check in on Sugar, my brother’s horse who’s become kind of a Lone Star Dude Ranch celebrity. She’s a sweetheart and I have to admit I’m a bit protective over her.

“How you doing today, Sugar girl?” I pet her nose. “It’s a hot one today. I’ll make sure the hands give you a hose down, okay?”

She whinnies at me, and I reach into my pocket for my secret stash of carrots. She knows exactly what’s going on and gets excited before I can even reach out my hand to her. She takes the carrot and shakes her head at me in her stall.

“That’s all for now, Sugar girl. I’ll see you later, okay?”

She whinnies in answer, and I pet her nose one more time. Inside the main house, everyone is grabbing breakfast in the kitchen. Casie has a cook for most of the day who takes care of the major meals for all of us that live and work on the ranch. I have a kitchenette in my little cabin, but I like to see everyone and find out what’s going on for the day. Breakfast is always bustling, with the hands and other workers talking about their tasks for the day and communicating between each other.

“Hey Parker!”

People are greeting me left and right and I wave and greet them back while I pile eggs, bacon, and biscuits on my plate. And more coffee, of course. Always more coffee. I see Casie over at the table talking to Clay Walker, the town vet, and I head over to them. Was something wrong with one of the animals or is this a regular checkup visit?

“Hey Casie, Dr. Walker.” I sit down across from them with my plate and steaming coffee mug. “What’s up doc?”

I laugh at my own jokes but neither of them follow along. Seriously, I wonder sometimes if anyone gets my humor at all.

“Just here for the annual vaccine track.”

“Ah I see. It’s that time of year again.”

“Yep,” Clay has never been a man of many words.

“Did you see the breaks in the back fence?” Casie changes the subject.

“Yes, I did.” I dig into my eggs.

“And?”

I take my time chewing and swallowing, then take a sip of my coffee.

“I’ll fix it after I exercise the horses.”

“Please do,” Casie says, “I need to let the cows out there after lunch.”

“I’ll get to it.”

“Parker,” she narrows her eyes at me and I crunch down on a strip of bacon.

“Casie,” I narrow my eyes right back at her.

She breaks her stare first and I smile while I break apart a biscuit and put a big piece in my mouth. She can’t help but smile back and I chuckle with my mouth full.

“Nice,” she says, “just make sure it gets done.”

“Have I ever let you down before?”

We both laugh. She knows my stubbornness and I know her slightly uptight way of doing things. It’s what makes this ranch run smoothly so I really don’t mind. Casie and Clay head off to get started on their work with the animals and I finish my breakfast. By now, the hands should have finished the morning work with the horses, and I can get going exercising and training them.

We have a few spirited fillies in the stables, gearing up to be trained for racing. They’re almost ready, just need some more time learning the bit and pressure commands. I spend the rest of the afternoon galloping out their extra energy and preparing to work on training after lunch.

First, I have to go take care of that fence. I don’t usually eat lunch in the main house. It’s as, if not more, chaotic than breakfast and I don’t like that interrupting my day. I take Daisy out to the back fence again and pull the materials out of the saddle bags I’d brought.

For the next couple of hours, I get into a rhythm of finding the spots I saw needed mending before, getting the materials together, pulling the wires taught, and making sure it’s all secure before moving on to the next spot. In the fall, when the temperature drops at night, we get a lot more critters trying to break through.

Daisy grazes out in the pasture, waiting for me to mount back up to head to the next portion of fence needing to be fixed. She doesn’t ever go too far from my side. I didn’t bring any music or even my phone out here, opting to bask in the quiet as I do my work. This is something I’m good at, something I know how to do.

Before I moved out here a few years ago, I still lived in a small town, but not in as rural an area as Lone Star Dude Ranch. I always did whatever my family needed me to do when it came to working on the ranches. That dedication cost me a lot of relationships, although it’s probably for the best that they didn’t work out if they can’t handle who I am.

The truth is that I love horses more than people. My older brother Ryan loves to make fun of me for it and I let it happen because he’s usually right. The horses are trustworthy. They listen to me. They’re predictable and I don’t have to worry about any of them leaving me because I’m dedicated to my career on the ranch.

Once the fence is finished, I ride Daisy back up to the barn and head to my cabin. I’m not really into having dinner with everyone tonight, opting to read a book in front of the fire on my front porch. I have some great leftovers in the fridge and giant marshmallows for roasting in my cabinet. That and a good beer is all I need for the rest of the night.

At home, I see that my phone has a bunch of messages from my mother and brother. They’re always wanting to stay in touch since Ryan had that health scare half a decade ago. I humored it at first, but it’s been long enough that they should be comfortable with me wanting to be left alone. Ryan has the same habit when it comes to Mom calling so he really should get it.

I send a couple of short replies but leave my phone inside after that. I don’t need the distractions while I’m outside with my book, my marshmallows, and my beer. My little cabin is barely more than a shack, wood panels showing and all, and that’s the way I like it. Give me the sky and stars any night and I’ll opt for that over a roof. Even when it’s raining.

I build my fire and settle in. After a few pages, I sigh and look back up at the stars I love so much. I hate to admit it but part of me sometimes wishes there was someone who understood sitting next to me. Someone who isn’t going to resent me loving my life on the ranch and wanting to work all day. I have no idea if that person even exists. Maybe one day I’ll find out.