BIG SKY

by Wyatt, Dani

  “Okay. Yeah, I’m supposed to meet with those new ladies and interview them for my article at breakfast.”

  “Good girl.” He turns in the doorway to look back, and my stomach drops. “I’ll be back in a couple of hours, promise by lunch. I’ll even take my phone with me. Call me whenever you want.”

  “Miracle. You’re going to take a cellphone with you?”

  “You’re changing me already, Filly. An old dog can learn new tricks when the treats are right.”

  I smile and shake my head. He’s so corny, but it makes my heart beat that little bit faster to hear him. Looking around the room, I have a sudden image flash into my mind. Of me and him, in this house. A home base. Home. Wow. That’s not something I’ve ever really had—or ever really wanted. Somewhere to come back to...

  It pushes another thought into my mind, one that’s less pleasant and more difficult to shake. The doubts I expressed before coming back.

  “Garrett.”

  “Yeaup, baby?”

  “How are we going to do this?” Reality is poking into my dream as the sun streaks through the window, casting yellow and orange light on the wall above the bed. “I mean, we live in completely different worlds. I love my work, and you love your work. I’m supposed to leave tomorrow. How are we going to—”

  “We’ll figure it out. Anything worth having is worth working for. And fighting for. And you, my sweet filly, are worth the work and the fight. I don’t know every detail of how to tell you it’s going to work, but my heart doesn’t lie. We will figure it out. And as far as you leaving, I want you to stay. Don’t leave tomorrow. Stay another week, and then we’ll go from there. I’ll pay for your ticket.”

  I nod. I don’t have any other travel scheduled at the moment. I’m waiting to hear back from Conde Nast and International Travel magazines, but it’s been crickets so far.

  This whole ‘we’ll figure it out’ thing would have bothered me a couple of days ago. For whatever reason, maybe I’m just being foolish, but the unknown feels exciting, not to know exactly how things are going to pan out.

  I look at Garrett and realize I’ve not asked him some critical questions. “Do you travel? I mean, do you like to travel?”

  He pauses for a moment then nods. “Yeah.” I wait for more, but instead, he licks his lips, shaking his head at me. “God, that bed’s never looked so good.”

  “You’re a smooth-talking cowboy.” I blush because he’s looking at me like I am some long-lost treasure finally returned and I forget about everything else.

  “I’m a truth-telling cowboy.”

  “Okay, well we can agree on the cowboy part.”

  He chuckles, and with that he’s down the hall to get coffee, leaving me feeling as good as I ever have. The practical part of me revisits the fear I’m possibly blinded by lust and fantasy, but for now, I’m content pretending there’s some magic that is going to come along and make any obstacles disappear.

  A HALF-HOUR LATER I’M back at my cabin getting some clean clothes on before heading to meet with the new guests for an interview. Garrett and I showered, he fucked me again up against the wall of the shower then bent me over and took me from that angle, introducing my ass to his finger and making me cum so hard he had to hold me up.

  He left the house to head to the barn and get on with what he needs to do today, while I came back to the cabin to get my laptop and change.

  I’ve got my bag on my shoulder, and I’m on my way out the door. When I turn on the path back toward the dining hall, I see two horses up on the hill.

  I squint, but I immediately know it’s Garrett and one of the new guests. Besides me, in the week I’ve been here I haven’t seen him engage anyone else in real conversation. Just polite head tips and hellos. But as I ease down the path, I raise my phone and put it on camera mode.

  Placing two fingers on the screen, I pull out to zoom in. It’s Garrett on Dorian and one of the new blond-haired guests, Abigail, on another chestnut colored horse. I watch the screen, she’s leaning toward him, her hand on Garrett’s knee.

  “Hey.” A cheerful voice from behind makes me jump nearly out of my skin.

  I spin around to see Harriett’s smile and her freckled face.

  “Oh gosh!” She chuckles. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

  “You scared me.”

  “Sorry. I was just heading back to the dining hall, saw you walking and thought I’d say hi.” Her eyes follow mine as I look back up the hill.

  “Yeah, I’m supposed to interview those two new guests for the article.”

  “Great. The one, Tabitha, was there when I left to run and grab my phone charger from the office.” She looks at me for a moment as we start walking. “I guess we both know where the other one went.”

  I glance back up the hill, but now they’re gone. A sense of dread covers me, but I try not to let on.

  We walk together, and despite my misgivings, I find her manner easy. As we walk, she starts chatting like she wants to get to know me. “So, you’ve been a lot of places I guess.”

  I smile, despite myself. “Yeah, you could say that.”

  “I haven’t traveled much. Went to a business conference in Colorado for dude ranches and whatnot when I wanted to start this up here. I went to Texas once. I want to travel, but I’m sort of tied here, and I’d like to find someone to go with.”

  “I go almost everywhere alone. It’s fine. I have so many airline miles by now, if I did have someone, they could go with me free for a year.” My mind immediately surges with the fantasy of Garrett and me traveling the world together.

  “You know, Garrett’s never even been on a plane.” Harriett looks at me as we walk and raises her eyebrows.

  “No?” I look over, and she nods.

  “Scared to death to fly. Says he’d have to be dead and in his casket to get him on a plane, and even then he’d fight it. Says he’ll die a happy man never leaving Big Sky.”

  “That so?”

  She laughs. “Sure as we’re standing here. But you never know, stranger things have happened.”

  I try to smile and nod, and look like I’m reassured, but that dark feeling is wrapping tighter around my shoulders as we approach the dining hall. When we get inside, I see Tabitha, at a table, sitting alone and draining the last remnants of a mug of coffee.

  Harriett excuses herself, and I try to keep my head level as I approach the table.

  “Hi there. Tabitha, right?” I pull out a chair, set my computer bag on the table and extend my hand.

  “Hi, yes.” She looks up and smiles, shaking my hand. “Mary Beth?”

  “Yep.” I press a smile to my lips, trying not to dwell on the thought of the other woman up on the hill with Garrett, or that he said he had to be straight away to move the cattle when he left the house this morning. “Thanks for giving me some time.”

  “Sure. I’m on my own for the next few hours. My friend Abigail got sidetracked.” She gives a weird look and tight smile. “Some good looking cowboys in these parts...” She giggles, but I swallow back the lump in my throat.

  I try to keep myself from freaking out, open my laptop and pull up my interview form with the questions I want to ask.

  “Do you mind if I grab some more coffee before we start?” She holds up her mug. “Or, do you want to wait until Abigail comes back? Not sure how long that could be.”

  “No, go ahead.” I do my best to sound pleasant as she pushes her chair back and walks over to the buffet where the coffee set up is always available.

  I blow out a deep breath and check my email while she gets her coffee.

  My head is starting to pound already, and there’s an email from my contact at Conde Nast.

  Mary Beth,

  I tried your cell, but it went right to voice mail. I’m hoping you get this soon, as we have an opportunity that has come up.

  One of our contributing journalists had to back out of a trip due to a medical emergency. This is a feature article on a three-w
eek trip through Thailand. We have made some very special arrangements for exclusive hotels and sites that we do not wish to postpone.

  You’ve been on our radar, and this may be the opportunity we both need to see if a more permanent position with Conde Nast would be a good fit.

  The details are in the attachment, but I need to hear back from you within the next couple hours. You would need to fly out tonight in order for our arrangements and itinerary to remain in place as planned.

  I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible to secure flight reservations. I know it’s short notice, but as we discussed previously our journalists need to be ready to drop everything when the right opportunity comes up. I know you said you’re always flexible, so I’m hoping that’s still the case—I’m really looking forward to bringing you on board.

  Best,

  Jeffery Conway

  “Are you ready?” Tabitha is staring at me, and I realize I didn’t even know she had sat back down.

  Heat floods my face as I stutter. “Um, do you mind? On second thought, I actually think it would be better if we waited for your friend.”

  She shrugs. “Okay. Not sure how long she’ll be.”

  I slip my laptop back into my bag and stand, slinging the strap onto my shoulder. “It’s okay. I’m sorry. I’ll catch up with you both when it’s convenient.”

  She takes a sip of her coffee and gives me a dismissive wave, and I turn, my stomach nearly coming up in my throat as I make my way outside and nearly run up to my cabin.

  I need to talk to Benjamin. I rush inside the cabin and grab my phone from the charger, kicking the door closed behind me as I see I’ve missed two calls from the Conde Nast number, and I curse under my breath.

  I dial Benjamin and tap my foot, looking at the ceiling and leaning against the dresser as I try desperately to talk myself out of crying.

  “Hey.” His voice comes through. “How’s the cowboy?”

  At the sound of his voice, the floodgates open.

  I pour out where I spent last night. What I think I saw on the hill. What Harriett told me about Garrett’s disinterest and inability to travel.

  Then, about the offer from the magazine.

  “And you are asking me what exactly?” Benjamin’s voice is sympathetic but pragmatic. “How many little things do you need to see before you realize there are huge flashing arrows telling you which direction to go?”

  “I don’t know.” I sit down on the bed in the cabin and rest my forehead in one hand. “Benjamin... I just... Garrett just felt so amazing. I’ve never felt like this.” There’s a gaping hole in my chest that is spreading and taking over.

  “Let’s dial back the feels for a second.” His voice turns stern. “You have the opportunity of a lifetime. One you’ve been working for and dreaming about for years. Years. Are you telling me you really don’t know what you should do here? Because that doesn’t sound like you.”

  “I know.” I wonder how in a few short days the solid, independent woman I’d become has turned into this lovesick, crying ball of confusion.

  I look at the time, and I only have about twenty minutes to get back with Jeffrey from the magazine.

  “Listen, sis. If things are meant to be with the cowboy, they will be. But you can’t give up your life on a person you barely know. As well, a person that has no interest in living the life that you’ve dreamed about. Could you imagine staying in one place for the rest of your life? You’d die.”

  The truth of that statement hits me. I was born with this wanderlust. I ran away from home more times than I could count before I was twelve years old, just dreaming of being in exotic places. I felt trapped even back then.

  “No, I can’t imagine it. Would make Mom happy though. Me, settling down, pumping out some babies, getting my first apron.” I answer, and I feel like my insides are being turned inside out.

  “Mom has one version of what makes all women happy. She loves you, but she just has limited ability to see past the end of her own nose. Her life chose her, but you have choices of your own. Call the magazine. Opportunities knock, but you have to have the courage to open the door. I love you. You know I’d do anything for you. And, I want the best for you.”

  I nod, unable to choke out any more words.

  I say my goodbye and drop my head to my knees, my hands gripping the back of my neck as I sob, looking down, the sight of my cowboy boots blurred by the tears.

  TEN

  Garrett

  WHEN I GET BACK FROM moving the cattle, Harriett is sitting on the stoop outside my house, glaring at me.

  “I know that look. What’d I do now?” I brush the dust off my shirt and the tops of my legs, before leaning against the porch post and waiting to hear what I’ve done to anger the Gods.

  “You’re about the biggest idiot I’ve ever met.” Harriett’s eyes flame and I rack my brain, trying to figure out what I could have done.

  “What the hell did I do?”

  Her fury has my curiosity piqued, but all I want to do is find Mary Beth.

  “How long have you been gone?”

  I think, look up at the sky. “Took a little longer than I thought. Cows had gone all the way up and around Murphy’s curve.” My stomach growls and I start to think my sense of time is off as usual. I reach up and scratch my forehead. “But I’m not sure how long. Couple hours, plus a bit, I’d guess.”

  “Really?” She shakes her head, pressing her hands to her thighs, then stands and saunters over to take my hat off my head, then smacks me in the arm with it.

  I snatch it back, opening my mouth, but she cuts me off.

  “I don’t claim to be an expert on romance. I haven’t had much experience myself. But I thought you were one of the good guys.” Her words are clipped, and she crosses her arms.

  “Would you please just tell me what the hell is going on?”

  “I’m not dumb. I see things. I notice things. You took up with Mary Beth, you both looked about as happy as two mice in a flour sack last night. Then you took off with that Abigail earlier. I saw you riding off with her, and so did Mary Beth. An hour ago, Mary Beth came and found me to ask me where you were. Said she’d been trying to call you for hours.”

  Shock centers in my brain and I reach around to pull the flip phone out of my back pocket. I draw it around and open it up, but the screen is gray. I start pushing buttons, but nothing is happening.

  “I had my phone. I didn’t get any calls. And what are you talking about me taking off with Abigail? Who the hell is Abigail?”

  “The blond, dumbass. Came in yesterday. The one you rode off with.” She raises her voice and her eyebrows. “What’s the fuck’s the matter with you?”

  My head is spinning. “I didn’t—” The spinning is replaced by anger. “Where is Mary Beth? Is she okay?” I pound the keys on the phone, frustration tightening the muscles in my neck, and my head is suddenly pounding.

  “Give me that.” Harriett snatches the phone and presses a button on the side for a few seconds, then I hear the thing beep, and she shoves it back toward me, the screen lit up showing four missed calls.

  “Fuck.” I start scanning around behind me. “Where is she?”

  “Gone.” Harriett throws up her hands in frustration, then reaches into her back pocket and pulls out a piece of paper. “Said to give you this.”

  She stomps off, and I put my hat back on with one hand and flip open the piece of paper with the other as I start to read.

  Cowboy,

  There’s so much I want to say. I’m a writer, and I’ve tried to write this four times, and nothing is coming out quite right. So, here’s the abridged version...

  I left. I’m not sure what happened today with you, and honestly, we barely know each other, and I have no claim on you. However, I did see you riding away with another guest after you left me this morning when you said you were going out alone to take care of the cattle.

  Second, I tried to call a bunch of times. You promised to have
your phone with you, and I guess that may have cramped your style with your other ride along today. I get it.

  Third, even if items one and two weren’t an issue, I don’t belong here, and you don’t have any interest in my world, from what I know. I think fate took over, I got a call about an opportunity I’ve been waiting for, and it was very clear I needed to leave now or lose what I’ve been working toward.

  I did try to call, as I said. I would have preferred to talk to you in person about this. Leaving a note wasn’t my first choice but came to be my only option besides leaving without a word, and I’m not that girl.

  I guess I added everything up that happened this morning and came to the conclusion that maybe this isn’t what I thought it was. Don’t worry, my article about Big Sky Ranch will be positive. I’m a professional, after all.

  Take care, cowboy. In the immortal words of Rod Stewart, “You stole my heart, but that’s a pain I can do without.”

  Mary Beth

  I bring a hand up to cover my mouth, trying to hold in the choking sound that rips from my throat. I crash through the door of the house with one thing I need to do. One thing I need to get.

  I’ve had a glimpse of heaven, and now it’s gone?

  Nope. Not if I have anything to say about it.

  And I have a lot to say.

  ELEVEN

  Mary Beth

  “EVERYTHING OKAY?” JESSIE, the young lady who helps cook and also drives the airport shuttle for the ranch, looks back at me with a sympathetic smile. When my phone rang a minute ago, I was sure it would be Garrett.

  My heart had been in my throat but the number on the screen wasn’t Garrett, it was Conde Nast.

  The van jostles and jerks as she makes our way down the dirt road, leading away from the ranch. We’ve been driving only about five minutes, but with every minute little shards of my heart are left in a trail behind us.