Page 47 of Caffeine & Chaos

“You as well,” Nadia said, returning her smile with as much warmth as she could muster.

“You’ve probably figured this out, Ryan and I are old friends,” Melanie said, shooting a quick glance in Ryan’s direction.

Old Friends, Nadia thought with a silent scoff, ensuring to keep her face neutral. They were certainly ex-lovers.

“Yes, I picked up on that,” Nadia smirked, trying to keep the mood light, despite the growing unease she was feeling. “Thank-you so much for helping out at the ranch while Clara’s been ill, I’m sure you’ve helped to take some of the strain off the family.”

“Melanie has known mom since we were kids,” Ryan said in Nadia’s direction, “I know she’d appreciate knowing you’ve been here too,” Ryan said, nodding at Melanie.

Melanie effortlessly mounted her chestnut quarter horse. “It’s nothing, really. I’d do anything for the family. Well, better get back to it, we’ve got coyotes prowling around the calves in the South field.”

Nadia felt a pang of inadequacy as Melanie spoke. The casual inclusion of “we” highlighted Melanie’s deep bond with Ryan’s family, amplifying Nadia’s sense of being an outsider. She couldn’t shake the feeling. The chemistry lingering between Ryan and Melanie only fueled her insecurity, sparking questions about their past and the possibility of a future between them.

“Coyotes?” Ryan perked up in the saddle, his eyes flicking to the South field, “why are they still alive then? If they kill those calves, that’s thousands of dollars lost.”

“We’ve got some game cameras set up, it’s just been tough with all the rush and focus on Clara. The ranch has been quieter than usual during the day, and of course that’s emboldened some of them,” Melanie flipped that troublesome strand of hair over her shoulder again.

“I’ll get the rifles; we can set up post on the East and West ends and just wait them out. It might take a day, but…” Ryan suddenly trailed off, glancing down towards Nadia.

Now she really felt like a third wheel. Having never even fired a rifle, she had nothing to offer in terms of hunting coyotes.

Melanie jumped in to save him, “Justin and I have planned to do just that tonight at dusk. While some of them have been emboldened during the day, most activity is still happening at night. We’ll get them, don’t worry,” She nodded to Ryan, flicked the reigns and headed off towards what Nadia presumed was the South field.

“Regretting your choice to bring me along?” Nadia asked, attempting playfulness but sounding more wounded than she would have preferred.

Ryan dismounted his horse, tossed his hat aside, and kissed her fiercely. “Never. I’m sorry, I just slipped into cowboy mode and started planning,” he said, sliding his hands down her arms to clasp hers. “I’d rather be with you, always.”

He was something else in that cowboy getup, the rough stubble on his chin, muscular shoulders straining against the blue and white button-up, and his steely blue eyes gleaming in the afternoon sun made him irresistible.

“You’re lucky you look so good playing cowboy, or I might be feeling pretty pissed off about you making plans to spend the day with your ex,” Nadia said, still trying to piece together their history.

“Yes, Melanie is my ex. The ex, really,” Ryan replied, his gaze distant as if he was carefully selecting his words. “We were high school sweethearts, and I guess everyone assumed we’d go the distance. Hell, maybe I did too. But when it was time for me to move on from this life, she wasn’t willing to come with me, and I wasn’t willing to stay.”

“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” Nadia questioned. While she appreciated his candor, it was doing little to assuage her fears about the strong chemistry between Ryan and Melanie.

Ryan slapped her bottom playfully and pulled her in for another kiss, “her refusing to go with me was the best thing that happened to me. I wouldn’t have found you otherwise.”

He gave her one last kiss in an attempt to quell the tension. If only it were that simple for Nadia to silence her doubts. Melanie embodied everything Nadia wasn’t: tall, lean, with dark, exotic features, and a rugged yet graceful aura.

“Well, I suppose we both have her to thank for that,” Nadia said, forcing a smile.

Ryan scooped up his hat, mounted the horse, and extended his hand to Nadia. She planted her foot firmly into the stirrup, allowing him to pull her up behind him. Nestled against him, she felt his lats and abdominals flex as he guided the horse with his body and the reins. Moments later, they were galloping across the field.

Riding behind Ryan was both exhilarating and terrifying. She loved feeling his mastery over the horse and the warmth of his body against hers. But it had been years since she’d ridden, and the experience was rougher than she remembered. Her legs and stomach already ached from the effort.

The view from the field offered a welcomed distraction from thoughts of Melanie and the strain on her long-forgotten muscles. Again, Montana’s beauty unfolded before her: the sun high in the sky, jagged mountains framing the horizon, and wildflowers speckling the field in vibrant hues of yellow, blue, purple, and pink. Having spent her life in New York and other bustling cities, this untamed landscape felt liberating. It was a scene she had only ever read about, a sanctuary from the suffocating demands of her mother and the endless social obligations she was expected to fulfill.

“Why did you leave?” Nadia asked abruptly.

Ryan eased the horse into a gentle walk, exhaling heavily before responding, “Curiosity. A thirst for something beyond dirt and cattle. I needed to prove there was more to me than this,” he gestured vaguely at the field. “Funny thing is, being back here now, I see it differently.”

“How so?” Nadia asked, her curiosity evident.

Ryan pulled the reins to bring the horse to a halt and dismounted, followed by Nadia.

“It’s…quiet. I could never appreciate the simple beauty of it, the stillness, and the vast open spaces. When I was younger, I felt trapped here. Destined to be a rancher like my dad, and I couldn’t stand the thought of it.”

Nadia arched an eyebrow, a playful smirk dancing on her lips. “Oh, poor Ryan, burdened by the rugged charm of ranch life. I bet you were just counting down the days until you could escape to the concrete jungle.”

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