Page 1 of Ranch Life At Heart
CHAPTER ONE
– ROSETTE –
Swallowing hard, I take the man’s hand and shake it. “Gene, thanks for coming.”
“Rosette,” Gene rumbles. “Sorry to see you again so soon.”
I go for half a shrug and barely manage to croak, “It’s the way of life.”
We both stare down at the dead horse at our feet. My friend Daphne steps closer to me and grabs my shoulder to show me support. The death of my father’s horse Bronco has left me lost and brokenhearted.
It’s been exactly three weeks since my father died. This morning it was hard enough to drag myself out of bed and start the long day of work around the ranch. The cup of coffee I held in my hand when I stepped out on the porch fell to smithereens when I saw Bronco lying flat in the pasture.
I ran, knowing damn well he wasn’t sleeping because that horse was always up at the crack of dawn to welcome my father. He kept going to the same spot after my dad died, and I tried to hold up the same routine. It was as if the horse lost his heart when my father died. Heartbreak. Maybe he died of heartbreak, who knows?
“The way of life indeed,” Gene rumbles. “Still sucks balls.”
I nod in agreement. Gene was here ten days ago as well to pick up our other senior horse who died of colic. You can say it’s been one hell of a month.
“This time, it’s no colic,” I tell Gene who is here to collect Bronco’s carcass.
Daphne gives me another squeeze. “Bronco skipped out on us so he could join his owner up in heaven.”
Gene nods. “His best buddy, I know. Abel birthed the horse himself, pulling Bronco straight into the world when the mare had difficulties.”
I can feel a small smile tug at my lips. “He would always tell the story to anyone who’d like to hear it.”
Gene releases a deep sigh. “The reason why he walked in your grandfather’s footsteps and kept this ranch exactly the way it was.”
Fuck. I feel tears stinging my eyes. One would think I don’t have any left to cry since it’s all I’ve been doing for weeks. Sadness is just too overwhelming at times.
“Shit will get better, kiddo,” Gene gently states. “He taught you well.”
I bob my head, knowing I have to push through.
“Want some help?” Daphne offers.
Daphne has been my one and only friend through life. We met in kindergarten and became best friends from that day forward. She lives in town with her husband and two kids. Where I work with my hands, taking care of the horses and teaching kids how to ride, Daphne sits behind a desk crunching numbers.
“I got this,” Gene easily states.
While the man walks back to his trailer, I drag my feet to say goodbye to Bronco one final time. The beautiful PalominoQuarter horse lies frozen on the warm pasture where he always ran, filled with energy and joy.
I pull away when Gene comes closer with the equipment to pull Bronco into the trailer. What comes next is the same process we did just ten damn days ago. I can only hope the next time Gene has to show up is years from now. There’s no way I can handle another death so soon after losing my father and the two horses.
More tears fall once it’s done. Gene drives away and I keep staring, watching the cloud of dust rise and follow him into the distance.
“I hope it rains soon,” I murmur.
“Tomorrow,” Daphne states. “Preferably during work hours and not when I need to drive home. I hate driving in the rain. Tonight, we’re going out and I don’t want to be drenched when we’re drunk.”
My attention slides to the pasture where my four horses are grazing. I already mucked the stalls this morning and called off the only horse-riding lesson I had this afternoon.
“Getting drunk sounds perfect,” I agree and walk back into the house.
I walk straight past my father’s office. The last time I was in there, I put his belongings in the drawer of his desk and closed the door. I can’t bear to go through everything right now. Maybe one day soon I will, but it won’t be today.
Daphne is right behind me when she watches as I grab my keys, phone, and wallet.
