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“I hope not.”
This hurt her heart. This man was working so hard, sacrificing so much to make his ranch work. “Can I do anything to help?” When he didn’t answer immediately, she said, trying for levity, “Make me earn my room and board!”
He shook his head. “Nah, I don’t want you wasting your energy on my problems.” He took a breath and looked at her,seeming to jolt himself out of his sulk. “I can show you your room so that you can put your stuff down, but don’t feel like you have to stay in your room.”
“Okay. Thanks.” She followed him up a rickety stairwell and down a dim hallway.
He seemed a bit embarrassed when he opened a door to an empty bedroom. There was a thin layer of dust on the floor, and there was no furniture in the room. She must have accidentally shown her surprise because he said, “Sorry, I forgot to mention that there’s no bed, but we have an air mattress that I can blow up for you. It’ll only take two minutes.”
She felt bad making him go to the trouble. “I have nothing against air mattresses, but it’s only one night. I can also just crash on the couch.”
He looked uncomfortable. “It’s up to you, but you won’t have much privacy on the couch. That would put you between the bedrooms and the bathroom—and between the bedrooms and the fridge.”
She stepped closer to him and lowered her voice. “Are your hands ... unsavory characters?” She was certain she could handle them, but she didn’t want to be harassed either.
“Honestly, I don’t know. They do good work, but we’re not friends. They haven’t been here long.”
“They had references, right?”
He nodded. “They did. I’m not saying they’re criminals or anything, but I just want to make sure that you feel safe.”
This warmed her heart. She couldn’t remember the last time anyone had worried about her safety. Maybe no one had since her mother when she was little. “I do feel safe,” she said and meant it. “Okay, air mattress it is, then.” Maybe she should try to stay for more than one night. He certainly wasn’t using this room for anything. Maybe she could rent it from him? She would try to find a way to bring that up.
She dropped her stuff and turned to the door. “Can I go see the goats now?”
“Sure. Oh, one more thing ... I have a rule that there’s no drinking on the property, but they frequently break that rule. So ...” He stepped out into the hallway and pointed to the closest room. “That’s me. If anyone gives you any trouble, please wake me up.”
“Good grief! Who are these guys?”
His face fell. “Sorry, when I invited you, I didn’t really think about these details. I lived alone for so long, I’m still adjusting to my new circumstances. I can give you a ride somewhere else if you want.”
She reached out and squeezed his arm. “Will you stop? I am so happy—and grateful—to be here.” And besides, she had literally nowhere else to go.
She followed him back down the stairs, through the cluttered living room, and into a messy kitchen. Dishes were piled in the sink, and it smelled like smoke. A man stood with his head in the fridge.
“I asked you not to smoke in here,” Gunner said.
“It wasn’t me,” the man said. He pulled his head out and then startled when he saw her. He gave her a goofy lopsided smile as he looked her up and down. “I’m Rocky.”
She glared, telling him with her eyes,No way on earth.
Gunner cleared his throat.
Rocky looked at his boss. “Do you know that there’s no food here?”
“I just filled the fridge yesterday.”
Rocky shut the door, and bottles rattled inside. “Well, I guess we ate it.”
Gunner ran a hand over his face. “I’ll go get some more.”
Rocky tipped his hat to her and went back outside.
“You’re not going to save money having them here if they eat a million dollars’ worth of food,” she said under her breath.
“I know.” Gunner sighed. “I need to limit them to three meals, but so often I’m not here at mealtime, so it’s been a free for all.” He looked at her. “But you’re right. It’s not ideal. But in my defense I have no idea what I’m doing. My father never hired hands. He had me.”
Maybe she should ask Gunner for a job. She couldn’t cook to save her life, but she could clean a kitchen and keep a fridge stocked. And surely there were other things around here that she could manage. Maybe Old Yeller breaking down had been an act of providence. Maybe she shouldn’t have gotten so mad at it.
