Page 1 of Caleb

CHAPTER1

Caleb Burnett stared at the computer screen as sun glinted off the polished wood desk he’d inherited from his grandfather. His mind flitted like a butterfly, knowing he was running out of time. Tomorrow morning, he would fly to Washington, D.C., to attend the largest marketing convention in the U.S. where he hoped to find an advertising agency to help him market the Burnett Dude Ranch.

With only him being the entire marketing department, everything that had to be done for effective marketing strategies was too overwhelming. He needed help and this convention would be the perfect place to find exactly who he needed.

But until he partnered with an agency, he was on his own.

He sat in his chair, a mug of black coffee cooling next to his laptop, the screen filled with a half-finished social media campaign. Caleb’s fingers hovered over the keyboard, but his thoughts wandered, tugged by the weight of everything he carried. The Burnett Dude Ranch depended on this campaign. On him.

And yet, it felt likehewas the one who would benefit most from the campaign. How long had it been since he’d had success in his life?

His aunt Rose had given him free rein to advertise their ranch, their business, and their very livelihood, unlike his father, who had lived off the money generated by the family business. His father had believed in living life to the fullest, even if it meant hurting those you loved. And no one had better try to get in his way.

But Caleb would never be like his father. Never.

He needed this launch to be perfect—the tagline, the imagery, everything. Perfection was his armor, proof to the world that he could take the chaos of the past and reshape it into order. He was unlike his old man, who just lived for the moment.

The alternative—failure—was not an option. This promotion had to be flawless. It wasn’t about the money—the Burnett Ranch was doing just fine in that department. For Caleb, it was about something far deeper: pride.

He wanted the world to see the ranch as he did—a place steeped in tradition, built on hard work, and offering a piece of Texas that was as authentic as it got. Every detail mattered, every word and image needed to reflect not just the ranch’s beauty, but its soul.

“Not bad,” he muttered, studying the sleek photo of the ranch’s horse barn lit by a blazing sunset. But not great either. The wordsWhere Adventure Meets Traditionstared back at him from the screen. Too cliché. Too hollow. He deleted the line with a sharp tap of the backspace key, exhaling hard through his nose.

What aboutHeritage You Can Feel, Adventures You’ll Never Forget?

It was all about heritage—the deep-rooted traditions that the ranch carried on with every sunrise over the rolling hills, every hoofbeat on the trails. Caleb wanted visitors to feel that legacy, to experience the pride and authenticity that made the Burnett Ranch special.

But it wasn’t just about the past. When families came to the dude ranch, he wanted them to create new memories that stayed with them long after they left. He wanted parents to laugh with their kids, bond over horseback rides and campfire stories—things he’d never had with his mother and father. That was the lasting impression he wanted to leave: a connection, a sense of belonging, a reminder of what family could be.

Frowning at the blinking cursor, Caleb wrestled with the words, knowing exactly the message he wanted to convey to prospective guests. He needed to capture the essence of the Burnett Dude Ranch in a way that left them yearning to experience it for themselves. The open skies, the camaraderie, the simple joys of slowing down—it had to leap off the page and into their imaginations.

“You’re going to give yourself wrinkles” came a soft, musical voice, startling him so much that his coffee sloshed over the edge of the mug.

Caleb’s heart slammed against his ribs. He jerked his head toward the empty corner of the room, knowing exactly what—or rather, who—he’d see.

Eugenia Burnett hovered there, her hands on her hips and her lips curled into an impish smile. She looked as she always did—radiant in a high-collared blue dress that shimmered faintly, her silvery hair coiled into an elegant bun. Her eyes sparkled with the mischief of someone who had long ago decided the rules didn’t apply to her.

“Damn it, Eugenia,” he said, slapping his palm on the desk. “Could you not sneak up on me like that?”

At first, he’d thought his cousins were crazy when they mentioned seeing a ghost. But now she appeared at every wedding or celebration to announce her next victim. And he had not been on her radar the last time they’d seen her. What was she doing here now?

“Do what?” she asked innocently. “It’s not my fault you’re so easily startled, Caleb.”

“I’m not startled. I’m working.” He gestured at his laptop, trying to ignore the way his pulse was still racing. “You know, doing something useful. You should try it sometime.”

She chuckled, the sound light and teasing. “Oh, Caleb. What fun would it be if I announced myself? Besides, I’ve been standing here for at least five minutes. You were too busy brooding over your silly little slogans to notice.”

“I’m not brooding.” He wiped the spilled coffee with a tissue, refusing to meet her gaze. “And they’re not silly. They’re vital for the ranch’s success.”

They were vital forhissuccess.

Eugenia floated closer, her ghostly form shimmering as if she were made of mist and moonbeams. The ghost crossed her arms, her translucent form glistening with indignation. “Oh, please. The ranch is fine. Your aunt Rose ensured that long before you became marketing director, whatever that is. What’s not fine is you, Caleb. You’re like a cactus in a pot—prickly, self-sufficient, and completely alone.”

He groaned, rubbing his temples, wishing she would leave. “Do you rehearse these speeches, or do they just come to you?”

“I’ve had decades to practice.” She leaned over the desk, her expression softening. “You’re afraid, Caleb. Afraid to let someone in. Afraid of repeating the mistakes of the past.”

Her words hit too close to home, stirring memories he’d spent years burying. His parents’ toxic marriage. His father’s affair. Their deaths left a trail of unanswered questions. Caleb had sworn then and there that he’d never let love turn him into his father.

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