* * *
I’d managedto figure out the parking situation at Stratton Ranch.
No thanks to Virgil.
Once I’d figured out where to park my car, I checked the email they’d sent me about my lodging. I’d opted to stay in a smaller cabin, one that was closer to the edge of the property. It was the perfect amount of privacy while still giving me enough proximity to a few other cabins, though I didn’t know who they belonged to.
The cabin was rustic yet welcoming. There was a small fireplace, with wood already prepared inside. There were also pieces of wooden furniture, which looked lovingly hand-carved and homemade. The bed was comfortable, with just enough pillows and blankets, nothing overly fancy like the five-star hotels I’d been staying in. Honestly, it reminded me of being back at home during the holidays. When Mom would spend all day fussing over the family meal and making sure my bed was made, when Dad would ask-but-not-really-ask if I wanted to go bowling after dessert, a time-honored family tradition.
I smiled to myself at the memory.
Ever since my career had taken off, I hadn’t spent much time at home.
When I made my way back to the main room of the cabin, I let out a gasp. I hadn’t realized that the cabin’s large windows provided such an incredible view of the property, everything about it feeling like I’d stepped inside a work of art. The sky looked painted on, an impossible shade of blue. The fields were rolling and endless, a light breeze blowing them ever so gently.
I wondered what Stratton Ranch looked like at night.
Probably just as beautiful.
“Shit. Shit!” My eyes went wide just as I remembered something. “I’m supposed to be at one of the barns!”
* * *
I’d never run so fastin my entire life.
Before leaving my cabin, I’d hastily changed into what I considered my cowboy uniform, an oversized, tan hat, and a pair of fresh boots. A quick look at my itinerary for the day let me know that I was supposed to be checking out some new equipment that came in, all of it stored in one of the barns. Checking out the equipment would also give me a chance to get acquainted with some of the other ranch hands. Hell, maybe I’d even run into a real cowboy or two?—
Down?
I was going down.
My feet were off the ground, and I was hurtling towards the grass. I landed with a thump, my hat flying off somewhere to the right of me. I groaned as I turned on my side, my body stinging with embarrassment and just a little bit of pain. I spared a look at my feet, wondering what had caused my literal downfall?—
“Gopher hole.” A stranger’s voice was suddenly above me. “You’ve got to be careful about those. They’ll get you every time.”
I looked up at the stranger, narrowing my eyes to avoid the sunlight…
Whoa.
He was about as gorgeous as the rest of the ranch. His eyes were a steel sort of blue and completely focused on me. His dark hair was tousled, either naturally or on purpose, I couldn’t tell. Either way, it looked good on him. His black jeans and black tank top were immaculately clean, whereas his boots were rugged and worn, like he’d put them on a million times before. I knew it was rude to keep looking him up and down like that, but my brain was processing him like a natural wonder.
Of course, I had to get a good look at something so rare.
“You all right?” the stranger asked. “Your fall didn’t look that bad, but you still haven’t said anything?—”
“Cam.”
“What?”
“My name is Cam,” I sputtered out. “I’m… him. That’s me.”
“I’m Levi.” He grinned. “I’m him. That’s me.”
Levi bent towards the ground, offering me his hand. “Do you need some help there, Cam? Like I said, gopher holes will get you every time. They’re a real hassle.”
I took his hand and pulled myself back up to my feet. “Thanks, Levi. Not a lot of gopher holes where I’m from.”
“You’re the volunteer ranch hand, right? The one thinking about getting his own farm?”
