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He’d picked her up as the sun peeked out from behind Mount Hood, then took Highway 219 to 99W.
They passed farms, dairies, plant nurseries. Such a different landscape from Sisters.
He slowed the rig for a traffic light ahead.
“Dad called this morning before you picked me up.” He’d called early due to the nine-hour time difference from Germany, something he still had trouble calculating.
“Oh?”
“He said he’d spent the day at Marksburg Castle. Tomorrow’s stop is a town with cobblestone streets.”
“Quite the world traveler, huh?”
Beth scrunched up her face. “Yeah, right?” She leaned against him. A girl could get used to living like this.
“I had a call this morning too—not as early as yours, though. Noah said Jesse’s back on the job now, and everyone keeps asking about the overnight trail rides.”
“Even after that disaster?”
“A wise person once told me God can use even the disasters in our lives for good.”
He turned the truck and trailer west, merging onto Highway 18, eventually climbing into the western mountains before descending again.
His phone rang and he hit his hands-free button. “Hey, Robin.”
“Hi, Robin,” Beth said.
“Hey—I won’t keep you long since it sounds like you’re driving. Just something to think about. I have this idea for an anniversary party for Grandma and Grandpa. Will you guys be up for a fall trip to Deep Haven?”
“Sure,” Grayson said.
“Perfect. I’ll get you more info as it comes together.”
“Sounds good.”
“I’ll be in touch. Bye.”
He clicked off the call. “Sounds like we might have a trip back to Deep Haven in our future. Their anniversary is in October.”
“You know I’m game.”
“I figured you would be.” He glanced over at her. “So, speaking of the future, I have this crazy idea for my new property.”
Beth rubbed her hands together. “Like remodeling the farmhouse?” Grayson’s new property held a 1950s farmhouse, complete with a saggy front porch and stairs that squeaked. “I think you should do an apron sink and a gas stove.”
He laughed. “Clearly, you have a vision for the place—that’s good.” He winked. “But I was actually thinking about the business side of it.”
The little ranch sat at the end of a long dirt road with scrubby sage and tall pine trees, through which the peaks of the Three Sisters could be seen. The irrigated pasture was an oasis of green. Her favorite part, though, was that it backed up to federal lands, and they could ride for days straight out his back gate. Of course, the barn needed work, the fencing was in terrible condition, and the tractor that came with it had died five hours into clearing brush from the intended arena.
And she never tired of seeing Tally out in the paddock. The buckskin nickered and met Beth at the gate every day. She’d come a long way in rebuilding trust, and Grayson had even taken a few short rides on her.
“Business?”
“I’m going to need a partner to help me run this camp.”
“Really?” Her heart gave a little flutter.
“Someone who knows how to write grant proposals. Organize waivers and payments and advertising.”
