Page 39 of A Cowboy Holiday
“In the house?” Axel darted into the adjoining room, his eyes bugging out at the sight of Nellie and her kids sniffing around the kitchen table.
Phoebe heard the commotion and hurried to join us, gasping at the threshold in utter delight, her hands framing her face like exclamation points. “Nellie! Oh, my gosh! We have goats, Daddy!”
“Maa maa maa maa.”
Nellie and her kids collectively cocked their heads as if wondering what we were doing here while Axel lifted a brow, shaking his head in humor…or defeat.
I chuckled and patted his back. “Welcome to the neighborhood.”
CHAPTER 11
AXEL
Living on a ranch was different from just working at one. I was awoken each morning to crowing, mooing, bleating, and neighing in the distance. Not all at once, but in soothing intervals. The rooster’s call meant it was time to get up. When the goats started bleating, I should have been showered, dressed, and ready to wake Phoebe. And if the cows and horses got in on the action, we’d better both be in the truck, heading toward town to drop Phee at pre-K.
I loved everything about it, which shouldn’t have surprised me. I’d grown up on a working ranch, but it had been nothing like Oak Ridge. This was like ranching paradise—or the theme park version, anyway. It was organized to a T. The winery was located at the opposite end of the property—a good couple of miles from the iron gates of the main entrance. The dude ranch and lodge were adjacent to the stables but far from the barns. And the cottages were located somewhere in the middle, situated in a horseshoe design with a walking path along the back side.
Dozens of trails for leisure riding or for transporting goods spanned from one end of the property to another. Oak treesdotted the pastural farmland as far as the eye could see. It was a truly stunning piece of land, and a great place to be a kid.
Phoebe suddenly had a slew of children her age to play with in a safe space where there was always an adult around to supervise. There were rules, of course, but she had freedom to visit the goats and pigs, and she’d even had a few horse riding lessons. She climbed trees, danced with her friends in the yard, and fed the animals. She’d even had a say in naming Nellie’s kids. Socks and Sprinkles, in case you’re curious.
Everything I was hoping to provide in our upcoming move to Texas was right here. And best of all, so was Tanner.
Tanner with his ready smile, easygoing manners, kind heart, and hot body. Tanner with his infinite ability to make anyone feel welcome and valued. He was the sort of person who gave and gave, and never seemed to ask what was in it for him.
Orgasms?
No, he would have offered the bungalow free of charge whether or not we were fucking every chance we got. That was a fact.
Part of me wondered why I hadn’t put up more of a fight. I didn’t need or want charity. Phee and I would have been perfectly fine in our place by the creek for two more months. The drive was an inconvenience, not an impediment. And I knew how to make the best out of a less than ideal situation.
But lately, I wasn’t stressed about money or work. The bungalow was, as Phee said…cute. We had neighbors I trusted ’cause I’d spent time with them and the animals. And let me tell ya, you learned a lot about folks by how they treated kids and animals.
When Angie organized a trip for the girls to go to the beach and stop by Christmas Town for hot chocolate on the way home, I didn’t hesitate to say yes. Sleepovers, no problem. Movie night with popcorn in our living room, sure thing.
And when Tanner invited us to the main lodge for Thanksgiving, I didn’t think twice about saying yes.
We dressed up in our finest and enjoyed an incredible feast prepared by a talented chef. Abby and her family weren’t there, but Phoebe got a kick out of being the only kid in a roomful of fancy adults, most of whom were aunts and uncles of Tanner’s and Jax’s, business partners, old friends, and a few employees.
Like Rich—a pretty, professorial-looking man with a soft smile and a mop of brown hair. He had eyes for Tanner, who was polite as always but didn’t pay his ex any extra attention.
“It’s so nice to meet you,” Rich gushed, pushing glasses along his straight nose. “Tanner mentioned he’d hired a new vet.”
“Did he?”
“Yes, I work for Santiago at the winery. Word gets around,” he added blithely.
“Um…I noticed that. You’re a wine expert.”
“I am, actually. I’m a viticulturist. I manage the vineyards and the harvest. I had a great job with a winery in Napa out of college, but after the fire a few years ago, I needed a change of scenery. I’d heard that Tanner and his brother were growing their own grapes and decided to take a leap. I landed on his doorstep with a résumé and my suitcase, and thankfully, he hired me on the spot.” Rich’s smile dipped slightly. “I’ve been here for four years now. No regrets.”
Something in his expression indicated he might have one regret. I was nosy, but I was a gentleman. Mostly.
“We’re happy to be here,” I commented. “Everyone has been very gracious. Jax, Josh, Hudson, Tanner?—”
“He’s my ex,” Rich blurted.
I winced, unsure how to respond, and decided honesty was the best policy. “I heard that too.”