“That cat sure loves to pose. Now hold the book up, Leeann.” Ellie crouched and took a photograph in front of her cousin. She took more photos from different angles and paused to scan the digital images from the small screen on the back of the camera. “These are terrific.”
Ellie showed them to Leeann, who pointed to an image. “I think that’s the best one.”
“Agreed.” Ellie started for the stairs. “Hold on while I get my laptop.”
When she returned, she uploaded the photos, and they looked at them again, only this time in a much larger format. Leeann sat beside her on the couch and pointed to the screen. “Yes, that’s the best one.”
While they chatted, Ellie logged into a social media manager, picked her cousin’s file from a list of clients, and uploaded the photo. She copied hashtags from a file on her home screen, pasted them below a caption they agreed on, and added a few more tags.
“There you go.” Ellie opened a file labeled Rawlings Ranch. “Check these out.”
She scrolled through the photos she had taken with her phone. “This is a client I picked up yesterday. These are just pics from my phone—I still need to go out with my camera and take more professional photos.”
The first image was of the sign at the ranch’s gate. “I’ve heard of Rawling’s Ranch. It’s in Gold Canyon, isn’t it?”
“Yes.” Ellie waited for her cousin to come to the picture she wanted Leeann to see.
When she reached it, Leeann pointed to the screen. “Oh, my God. Is that gorgeous hunk of cowboy your client?”
“Yep.” Ellie grinned. “Even better, I spent time with him at the Renaissance fair when I only knew his name was Tucker, and he was a horse rancher. When I went to the appointment yesterday, I had no idea it was his ranch.”
Leeann perked up. “Oooh, tell me everything.”
Ellie told her all that had happened that she could think of about the fair and her visit to the ranch. “And he invited me to a barn dance and chili cookoff at his place on Saturday.”
“That’s fantastic.” Leeann gave Ellie a teasing grin. “I thought you’d sworn off cowboys.”
Ellie flopped back against the couch and smiled. “That’s true. But I’ve never met a man like Tucker, and I want to get to know him better. You never know, I might find being on a ranch again attractive.”
“If he’s as fine as his picture in all ways, it could happen.” Leeann scrolled through the other photos. “His ranch looks so nice. I love the black mare.”
“It is a beautiful place.” Ellie took the laptop from Leeann as she handed it over. “You wouldn’t believe how many trees are around his home.”
“I’d love to see it.” Leeann cocked her head. “Porter might shoe his horses. Maybe that’s where I’ve heard the name of Tucker’s ranch.”
Leeann’s husband was a sought-after farrier in their region. She had met Porter the year before last when he shod her horse.
A wistful feeling washed over Ellie. “I’d love to travel with someone I love like you did with Porter when you went to Europe for your honeymoon. I love the photo of you two kissing in front of that church in Budapest.” She shook off the feeling. “But I’d like to go to Germany to meet my relatives on my mom’s side while I’m there. One of these days.”
Leeann smiled “When your career in voice acting takes off, you’ll be able to travel all you’d like.”
“I need to hire someone to handle my social media business.” Ellie sighed. “It’s too successful to let slide while I do voicework projects.”
Leeann turned so that one knee was on the couch, and the opposite foot was on the floor. “What about your YouTube channel?”
“That I’ll have to keep up on myself.” Ellie considered it. “‘Tips and Tricks for a Great Social Media Presence’ brings in clients that I wouldn’t have found otherwise. But it’s almost too much business.” She nodded to herself. “Yes, I’ll have to hire a part-time employee soon.”
Leeann furrowed her brow. “Autumn’s sister, Reese, works in advertising for a firm in Phoenix. Maybe she’d be interested in a side job.”
Ellie brightened. “That’s right. Autumn told me that Reese wants to put away extra money so that she can travel. I haven’t seen Reese for a long while, but she’s wonderful with people, and I know I can trust her with my business. She’d be perfect.”
“That’s settled then.” Leeann smiled as she pulled her phone out of her pocket. “I’ll text you her number.”
“Great.” Ellie waited for her phone to ping. “I’ll call her this afternoon.”
* * *
“Thanks for coming so fast.” Tucker talked with Porter Gann, the farrier who had backed up his truck in front of the barn. “We’re on your calendar for the rest of the horses, but Katydid decided she needed to see you sooner. I know your schedule’s probably full.”
