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“Most people don’t take long walks around ranches on their wedding day,” he said with a smile. “Put some shoes on though. Not flip flops. We may want to get out from time to time. Any idea how many acres this is?”
“I have no concept of what an acre even is, but I can find the information for you. Give me a second.”
She came back wearing socks and shoes with the figure he’d asked for. “Looks like it’s about three hundred seventy five thousand acres.”
He gaped at her. “Do you have any idea how big that is?”
She shrugged. “Still no concept of an acre.”
“That’s almost six hundred square miles. I’ve never even imagined seeing a spread this big.”
“Hey, I didn’t know this place existed a month ago.”
“I did. It’s one of the ranches people talk about. And you guys raise purebred Angus beef. The good stuff.”
“You guys? I hope you meanweare raising purebred Angus and not just me.”
“Oh, yeah. That’s what I meant.” He grinned at her, taking her hand and pulling her toward the front door. “I’m feeling so much less sleepy with the thought of seeing the ranch.”
She smiled, nodding emphatically. “I’m excited to see it too. I just haven’t taken the time yet. As soon as I found out I was inheriting it, I drove out here to see the house, but not the ranch itself. My bio father wrote me a letter to tell me I should marry a cowboy who could manage it all for me, and I could do the books.”
“It sounds like he really trusted you to make the most of this place.”
She nodded, climbing into his truck. “I’m short,” she said. “Any chance of getting a step installed for me over here?”
He chuckled. “If you can find someone to do it and take it in to have them install it while I’m out working one day.”
“Ugh. I need to find someone who will take care of the lawn and a housekeeper. Like ASAP on both.”
“Who did the lawn for your father?” he asked.
“I asked Joe that same question. He said my dad loved mowing so much he wouldn’t let anyone else do it. He drove around on a riding mower, and just loved every minute of it.”
Kyle sighed. “He sounds like he was a pretty special man.”
She nodded. “And I never once met him. Not even when I was a baby. I almost feel cheated out of half of my heritage.”
“Are you angry with your mother?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No, she didn’t want me to feel like I was less loved than my siblings, which I get, but I wish I could have known him.”
“I understand,” he said, though he was unsure anyone could truly understand. He’d only heard wonderful things about the owner of Tobias Ranch, and here she was, his daughter, and she’d never heard a word about him until she was in her twenties, and he’d passed. “Okay. I’m just going to follow dirt roads, and we’ll see where we land.”
“I just hope we can find our way back when we’re done.”
He laughed. “You never know.” They drove along roads for the next hour, pointing out portions of the herd when they saw them. “There’s a stable?” he asked.
She nodded. “Close to the house. Barn as well. And chicken coop. I’ve taken over the feeding of the chickens, but that’s about all I do for the animals around here. Maybe we need to get a kitten or two. My dad was always allergic so I never got one.”
“I’m not allergic. Go for it, if that’s what you want.”
“Really?” she asked. She’d said it half-jokingly, but she did love animals. “You wouldn’t mind?”
“Nah. And you’re going into town to take all those clothes to charity anyway.”
“True,” she said. “I may just do that.”
“Wouldn’t bother me a lick.”
