Page 25 of The Breakdown

Chapter Ten

Natalie finished eating and offered again to help June clean up, but she refused, encouraging her and Vaughn to go back to the guesthouse to see what she’d come up with as far as a website. Natalie set her plate in the sink and waited patiently for Vaughn to do the same. When she did, Natalie opened the kitchen door and smiled politely at Vaughn as she walked through, perching her cowboy hat back atop her head.

“Why, thank you, ma’am,” Vaughn said with a smile all her own. “Not used to doors being opened for me.” They walked slowly back toward the guesthouse.

“No?”

“Huh-uh. I’m usually the one opening them.”

“Well, maybe that should change,” Natalie said, squinting into the noonday sun. “It’s nice to have a door opened for you every once in a while.”

“Is it now?” Vaughn laughed. “I guess maybe you’re right.”

The day was turning into a scorcher, and Natalie was glad when they reached the door to the bungalow. She let them inside and led the way to her laptop on the small kitchen table. She sat and motioned for Vaughn to sit next to her. Vaughn did so and removed her hat and set it on her knee.

“Let’s see what you’ve got here,” Vaughn said, leaning toward her.

Natalie felt her breath quicken at Vaughn’s nearness. She smelled of sweat and hay and dirt, a strange elixir that seemed to meld with her pheromones. It sent Natalie’s head spinning.

“Again, it’s just a workup,” Natalie said, trying to hide her nerves. “A mock site. It’s not published, but if you like it, all it would take is a press of a key to make it live.” She woke her screen and brought up the website. The first page was a welcome page with a stock photo of a sprawling ranch along with some eye-catching font spelling out Midnight Mine Ranch. She had to admit the page was beautiful. It would really garner some attention if it went live. However, she had another idea before she wanted that to happen.

“This is a stock photo,” she said. “But I think the page would look great with a picture of your ranch.”

“Mine?”

“It’s beautiful here, Vaughn. You should show it off. Maybe a sweeping pic with some of your horses in the background. And on these subsequent pages, we could use pics of the stables and corrals as well as the horses. What do you think?”

Vaughn seemed to be deep in thought. Natalie persisted.

“We could get someone out here to take the pics. A photographer. Do it up real professional like. I have to admit I’m not much of a photographer myself, but it wouldn’t be difficult to find someone.”

“It costs though,” Vaughn said softly.

“It would, yes. But pictures of your own ranch would really sell the place and grab the interest of customers.” Natalie stammered, trying not to lose her. “We would have to pay for these stock images too, you know. So…I don’t know any other way unless you do—”

“I have some photos,” she said, staring blankly at the screen.

“You do? Of the ranch?”

Vaughn blinked. “Yes.”

“That’s great. Can I see them?”

“I’ll have to rustle them up.”

“They’re put away?”

Vaughn finally looked at her and Natalie saw pain in her eyes. Deep pain. The kind of pain that one would try hard to keep down. She knew that kind of pain and recognized it for what it was. She let the matter go.

“Okay, just bring them by when you’re ready.” She clicked on the mousepad, showing Vaughn the other pages. “As you can see here—”

“I’ll have them for you tomorrow.”

Natalie stammered. “O—kay. As I was saying—”

Vaughn stood. “Looks good.”

“But you haven’t even seen all of the pages.”

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