Page 12 of Merrily Mine
“Hey, Mason.” Benson pulled off his gloves, tucking them into his coat pocket as he headed towards me. Dad had hired him a few years back, when he’d been getting older and ready to retire from the more hands-on aspects of managing the ranch. He was in charge of day-to-day operations on site, and I was grateful to have him, especially as I re-acclimated to being here. I couldn’t imagine trying to run this place and all of its many facets without him.
I dipped my head in acknowledgement. “How’s it going, Benson?”
“You getting ready to take Whiskey out?” He was wearing a thick jacket over his normal attire of jeans and a flannel shirt. Inthe winter, I often ended up layering, since some of the heavier lifting meant we’d get overheated quickly.
My horse let out a small snort. He grinned, pulling out a handful of sugar cubes and feeding them to my greedy creature. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
I draped the blanket over his back, making sure it was in the right place before grabbing the saddle. “Figured I’d take him out for a quick ride since we missed yesterday. The snow’s not too bad right now. Sounds like it’s going to be worse tomorrow, and the horses will all be cooped up if the ice is too bad.”
Benson winced, rubbing his hand down Whiskey’s muzzle. “It sounds like it could be pretty bad. I’ve already got the guys prepping.”
I let out a sigh of relief, knowing he had it under control. “What would I do without ya?”
He slapped my back. “Luckily, you don’t have to worry about that. You’re stuck with me, Mase. Midnight Pines is my home.” Benson Sterling started here at eighteen, though he’d grown up in the Bozeman area. “You know I love your momma.” She’d taught him how to ride a horse as a kid. Back in the day, she’d been one of the best horse trainers in the area, and though she’d hung up her stirrups years ago, I still loved watching her ride.
“Thanks, man.”
He nodded, running his fingers over his mustache. “I’ll let you go. Enjoy your ride. Check in when you get back, alright?”
“Sounds good. Don’t work too hard.” I frowned, looking outside. “If the weather gets worse, I don’t want you working out there in it.”
The man just patted his chest pocket. “Don’t worry, boss, I’m dressed warm.”
I resisted rolling my eyes. “Not your boss yet.” Technically, my parents still owned the ranch, even though everyone knewI’d come home and was in the process of learning the ropes to take over.
This was my legacy. Everything I’d ever wanted. And now it was so close, I could almost taste it.
He shrugged. “Soon enough, you will be. We all know the place is in expert hands under your leadership. I’ve seen how hard you’ve worked in the last year since moving home.”
Reaching back, I scratched the back of my head, feeling a sudden rush of emotion. “Thanks. I really appreciate you sayin’ that.”
He dipped his hat, then strolled out of the barn, back into the winter wonderland of the outside, and I returned my attention to my horse.
“Ready to ride?” I asked him, as if I expected an actual answer, and finished saddling him, making sure it sat level and properly behind his shoulders. After he was all fastened up, I gave myself a nod.Let’s do this.
Putting one foot in the stirrup, I slung my other leg over my horse, mounting him quickly before rubbing at his neck. Squeezing my legs, I clucked my tongue, and then we were off.
Whiskey barely needed any guidance or prompting. Not when he knew the trails by heart. We’d been riding them together since the day I claimed him as my own.
One day, maybe, I’d have a partner at my side, riding a horse of her own. But for now, I was fine being alone.
Hours later, I sat in my office, working on my computer, watching the snow fall. Whiskey was back in his stall, happily munching on his dinner when I’d left him, and I was happy to have gotten some time in with my horse.
Especially because… Fuck, it was coming down real hard outside.
My thoughts drifted to Emily, all alone in that giant house. Would she be okay? Was she prepared for the storm? She was so different from what I remembered, and yet… in so many ways, the same. Her eyes still twinkled with delight. When she was warming up to someone, she was quiet, and then after that she would never shut up. But I’d never minded when she talked my ear off.
I resisted pulling out my phone to scroll through her Instagram account for the third time today. Something she’d said yesterday wasn’t sitting right with me. Like people judged her for what she’d chosen to do. I might not have understood it, but I could tell that she put a lot of hours into her work. I didn’t like the idea that someone could dismiss her so easily.
“Did you hear?” Benson popped his head into my office, distracting me. Probably good, because I’d already pulled my phone out of my pocket and was about to open the damn app up again.
“Hm?” I perked my head up. “Hear what?”
He grimaced. “The storm got upgraded to a winter storm warning. It’s going to be bad. I’m trying to get everything ready before I head back to the bunkhouse.”
“Oh, fuck.” My first thought was Emily. And then I cleared my head. Focused on the problem at hand. The ranch. That was my responsibility, my focus. “Do you need my help with anything?”
Benson shook his head. “No. But your momma mentioned something about checking in on the neighbor’s daughter? Said you should go over there since she’s all alone.”
