The Stars in the Sky (Giving You ... #2) (3 page)

Animal Lover

THIS TRAIL RIDE WASN'T going to be my first time on a horse. I used to ride as a kid. Exposure to animals like horses, as well as our family dogs and cats, made me become the passionate animal lover that I am. I was so happy to have the opportunity to be around horses and animals all summer.

Before we left, Janine took me on a tour of a few buildings on the property and I met some of my fellow staff. One of the wranglers, Hector Torres, was young, slim, and shorter than me, with a gentle smile and an immediately-apparent sweet disposition.

Jimmy Johnson, another wrangler, had to be older than my dad and he'd been at Headlands since before I was born. He had weather-beaten, wrinkled skin, eyes that seemed like they were permanently squinting, and wore jeans and boots like he never took them off. I immediately pegged him to be the one who knew everything there was to know about the ranch—and perhaps life—and I really wanted to drink a beer with him.

Stephanie Wright, the therapeutic animal specialist, was my other roommate. Brown haired, plain, and a little plump, she moved with a grace and confidence that belied her ordinary exterior. She seemed like she could become a real friend, and had a caring and therapeutic demeanor.

Janine assigned me to a horse named Happy, who was a big draft horse, kind of slow. I gave him a carrot in a blatant attempt to bribe him into being my friend.

Once I got on the horse in the corral, my excitement for this job increased. I'd forgotten how much I loved horseback riding. As we started off, riding past the corral and barn to the trail, I turned to Janine, "I'm going to be sore tomorrow. It's been years since I've been on a long, hard ride. This is going to exercise muscles that haven't been used in a while."

I heard a low, male chuckle, and saw Will, standing by the tack room, cover his mouth with his hand, having overheard me.

Dirty motherfucker. Guess I said that too loud.

Still, perhaps he had a sense of humor?

Dirty humor plus attractive body equaled way more interesting in my way of doing math. I wasn’t sure those things made up for the fact that he was Republican, however. I mean, hooking up with a conservative? That crossed a line. A party line.

Our horses walked along the hilly trail and Janine told me that the program started because Will's mother needed rehabilitation after a car accident. Will's father had brought in a specialist to teach her how to ride horses as a way of exercising. With facilities in place, they decided to form a nonprofit for disabled kids. Then they expanded to take care of kids who lived in urban environments. Janine ran the day-to-day operations of the nonprofit, while Will oversaw the ranch.

When we got to the top of the hill we stopped, still astride the horses. The wind picked up and blew my hair around. I took in the panoramic view of the Pacific, brown hills to the back of us, and appreciated the beauty of the land around me.

I imagined what it would be like for a kid from Los Angeles or another big city to see this, nothing but wild nature next to the vast blue-green ocean. Then, I remembered that my first group were visually impaired kids. So I thought about how I could help them to experience what it felt like to ride a horse, guided by a wrangler holding a rope. Besides the movement of the animal, they’d feel the tang of the wind on their cheeks and smell the dry, sagey native plants.

We headed back after an hour or so on the trail, then put away the horses and tack, ensured that all animals had enough food and water, closed up for the evening, and went to the chow hall for dinner.

Now, since I had been a vegan for years, I was used to all the issues that came up about eating differently than everyone else. I didn't push my choices on anyone, but I also didn't want to be force-fed meat or dairy. Normally, wherever I went, there was nothing for me to eat, so I came to Headlands prepared to take care of myself, stocked with canned tofu chili, soups, crackers, cereals, soy milk, and almond milk. I planned on cooking my own meals.

But this first night, I wanted to at least make an appearance in the chow hall. Janine walked me into the large, industrial kitchen and introduced me to Jaime Gonzales, the ranch cook, nicknamed "Cookie." A wide and tall man, with forearms like hams, he grinned and his huge smile showcased gold teeth.

"Any allergies?" he asked.

"Well, I'm vegan," I replied.

He blanched.

"So, no meat? Shit. What do you eat, girl? No wonder you're so skinny." His brows furrowed and he looked concerned.

I smiled. "Don't worry, I can take care of myself. I brought my own food."

Cookie breathed a sigh of relief. "We'll always have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches."

"Good to know," I said.

I went out to the dining room and surveyed the lines of tables and benches, clearly set up for feeding a crowd. Because it was just the staff, everyone gathered at one table, passing bowls of food, family style. Even Will was there. I picked up dishes and silverware and joined the table, sitting at an empty seat on the bench right next to Will. My jean-clad leg brushed his and he flinched. I intentionally ignored him.

Cookie had made pinto beans, Mexican rice, and salsa that were all safe for me, in addition to chicken and cheese for the others to make tacos. I filled up a bowl and looked around.

"Hi, everyone!" I chirped.

"So, what's this about you not eating meat?" asked Jimmy. "You some sort of hippie?"

"Veee-gan!" I sang. "I just don't want to eat animals. I think they should have rights."

The table stared at me, all except Stephanie, who smiled.

"Fucking liberal," I heard Will mutter under his breath. Such an asshole. A tan, handsome, muscular asshole.

If he was going to be this way the whole time, I wasn't sure how I'd make it through the summer. I needed this internship for my program. So, I reminded myself to be polite to the boss, even if he was rude.

I let out a breath. "I understand that you might not want to make my choices," I said, as calmly and diplomatically as I could, "but they are mine to make." Then I couldn't help myself and hissed, lower, "And, seriously? What is your problem?"

Will just stared at me. But I saw something flash in his eyes, perhaps a thrill at egging me on?

Motherfucker. He is not fucking this job up for me. "I'm so excited for this first group of kids to come," I gushed to the rest of the table, ignoring him and his surliness.

After dinner, in the bunkhouse, I picked up my phone, thinking about the day. Only I could have two naked (or almost naked) run-ins with my hot boss within a matter of minutes. I laughed to myself and checked my messages.

How was your first day of work?

This was Amelia, texting me.

I rode a horse. I saw my sexy but right-wing asshole boss naked. And he saw me topless in a thong.

I thought this was summer camp not a nudist colony.

You don't seem surprised by my misadventures.

I know you. Let me know how he is in bed.

Girlfriend . . .

Legally, you'll need to sign a love contract before you sleep with your boss.

No need for legal advice yet.

Well, it's only your first day.

How Many Acres?

"GOODNIGHT, JOHN BOY," I called to Janine, who laughed at
The Waltons
reference. I think she was old enough to have seen that show on TV. I'd never actually seen it. My parents had always said that to me and my siblings before we went to bed. "Goodnight, Ma," I sang to Stephanie, who giggled.

Given the sleepy atmosphere, instead of having a nightcap of the tequila I’d brought with my food stores, I finished unpacking, put on my jammies and crawled into the bottom bed of my bunk. Janine and Stephanie beat me to sleep, Janine sleeping in a long sleep t-shirt and Stephanie sleeping in frumpy granny pajamas.

It was wholesome. Quite. Novel, really, for me to be so wholesome. I normally drank a beer before bed and slept nude if I could pull it off. Not here, though.

As I lay in my bunk bed in the dark, I couldn't help but think of Will and his impressive body. A sexy man? Yes. But not one who respected me or my core beliefs, apparently, given the name-calling. That said, he was serious man candy and thinking of him made me tingle in all the right places on my body. Since there was no privacy, however, I just curled up. I must have been worn out from the day because I fell asleep immediately and did not dream.

The insistent clanging of a triangle—seriously, a fucking metal triangle straight out of the old west—woke us up the next morning, and the wranglers groused and put on jeans and went to take care of the horses. I slipped on shorts and a t-shirt, pulled my hair in a ponytail, splashed water on my face, and headed out. Cookie had set out coffee for us in urns in the chow hall. After eating breakfast and taking a cup of Joe to go, I went to work in the bunkhouse office.

The small, comfortable room featured a large window to look out. I fired up the computer, logged on with the password Janine had given me, and went to work planning sessions for the upcoming weeks. Janine stopped by mid-morning to give me information that I needed to go over with each group, like how to deal with emergencies, such as earthquakes, fires, and animals such as rattlesnakes or mountain lions, in addition to other rules.

The clanging of the triangle, signaling lunchtime, surprised me. I'd spent the entire morning absorbed in planning, and I had no idea how the time had passed. It was the best feeling to be absorbed in your work; I'd just known that I'd love it here.

I stood up to go to the chow hall when I heard footsteps and two male voices passing outside, close by the office window. One was Will's low voice, saying, ". . . Hamilton Development."

"What do those bastards want?" This sounded like Jimmy, the older, wizened wrangler. I peeked out the window. I was right.

"For me to sell so they can develop Headlands into ranchettes. They made me another offer. This one ten percent higher than their last." I heard their feet stop.

"What are you gonna do about it?" asked Jimmy.

"Say no. But with the costs of berries going up and the prices staying where they are, they think they'll get me one of these days. I heard that people have contracts for four grand an acre—without guaranteed water. It's crazy."

"Yeah, it's crazy these days. But they don't have you to run it, Will. This place is in your blood."

"No, they don't," Will agreed. "But with the government taxing the hell out of you and then getting squeezed on labor costs and worker's comp insurance and whatever the fuck else, you never know what's gonna happen."

Listening to them talk, I realized that Will had a lot going on. If a developer was offering him money, maybe he was worried about the future of the ranch. Headlands was such a big operation and had been around for so long, you'd think that it was a self-perpetuating institution, but I could understand why it could be tempting to sell and get out of it. It was a lot of work. That would be a shame though, because the area was so naturally beautiful. I'd hate to see it developed.

And as I heard him talk, I thought that maybe he wasn’t the capitalistic conservative I pegged him to be, out to get money however he could. Maybe he was different.

“What're you gonna do about the new one, Will? She's not yer type, but she's a looker."

Then I heard Will's rumble. "Yeah. She's fucking hot. Too bad she's an elitist left-wing."

A smile spread across my face. I already knew that Will hated my politics. I hated his. All the more reason for me to stick my heels in the ground and dig. He didn't have to like what I believed.

More interesting to me was that Will thought
I
was hot. He wasn’t boyfriend material, but a summer fling? Maybe. It felt dirty. I mean, how naughty would it be to fuck your political opponent, literally?

I kind of got turned on by that idea, actually. Or maybe it was his junk. Or abs.

Pushing those thoughts to the side, I left for lunch.

At the tables, I made sure to sit next to Will, just to fuck with him. I was acting like I was still in high school but I didn't care. As much as he repelled me with his surliness, he attracted me with his hot body. I made sure to brush up against him as I sat, just to see his reaction, which was to flinch like he did before. His jaw ticked when I reached over him to get the water pitcher and his breath hitched when I leaned down to pick up the napkin I dropped.

As I finished my peanut butter sandwich, which Will looked at in disgust, Janine asked if I wanted to take a tour of the property.

Of course I wanted to. As I nodded and opened my mouth to ask her when, Will interrupted. "I'll show her around."

I looked at him in surprise.

"S'my ranch.”

"True," I said with a smile. "I'd love to see your ranch. How many acres do you have?"

He blinked at me and asked, "How big are your jugs?"

What the fuck?

"What?" I censored, but I was still taken aback.