This morning, I woke up extra early for my first official day on the job. I’ve already taken a shower and drunk a cup of coffee, and I still have forty-five minutes before I have to meet with Alex Bishop, the ranch manager. Instead of waiting around and watching the clock, I decide to head out.
The directions Jackson, my new boss, gave me are comical. The map he emailed me does not have any named roads—just barns, curbs, and cactus patches—and it looks like a five-year-old drew it. It’s Southern directions at their finest. After I drive over nine cattle guards, I should see a metal building on the right.
Even though I live on the ranch, it’s so massive it takes me nearly fifteen minutes to arrive where I need to be. The sun hasn’t risen yet, but I’m grateful to see lights on in the shop and an old pickup outside. I park and enter, not sure what to expect.
Alex, who I met previously, is drinking a cup of coffee at a desk. He’s Jackson’s younger brother and about ten years older than me. Two guys in their mid-twenties give each other shit, and he watches them with a grin. After a moment, Alex notices me.
“Alright, if you ladies are done, Gavin’s here,” Alex interrupts them.
They both turn and size me up. By their expressions, I don’t think they knew a new employee was starting today.
“Gavin, this is my son, Riley.”
He didn’t have to tell me because they look nearly identical other than their age. I take Riley’s hand and shake it firmly.
“This is Diesel, he runs the cattle operation,” Alex continues.
“Nice to meet you,” Diesel says with a handshake and a grin.
“He’s new to Eldorado and will be staying in one of the ranch hand cabins. He’ll be working with Jackson on breaking in the wild horses. He has bull riding experience and trains riders too.”
Diesel looks at me with a sly grin. “Bull riding?” His brows raise, a reaction I’m used to from people when they learn what I used to do. “Impressive.”
“Thanks. It was dangerous work, won some competitions, got some trophies, but I’m retired now.” People are always shocked by what I’ve accomplished. I’ve made enough money to do whatever I want, and I stopped riding bulls before I broke my back. However, I keep those details to myself.
“I bet you have some insane stories about traveling to rodeos and competing, huh?” Riley gives me a smirk.
“Or how much ass you got?” Diesel taunts.
The corner of my lips tilts up as I think about the past. It was a wild and crazy time. “You could say that. On both accounts.”
“Maybe over a round of beers,” Diesel suggests. “My girlfriend works at the Circle B Saloon in town and will hook us up. We could meet up after work.”
Riley groans, and I’m not entirely sure why. Might be because Diesel mentioned his girlfriend, but I have a feeling there’s more to this story than they’re saying.
“Uh, sure. I’ve been there a couple of times.” I pinch the back of my neck, thinking about the last time I was in town. Maize comes to the forefront, and I half-wonder if she’ll be there. Wouldn’t that be some crazy shit? I look at him. “How about nine?”
“Sounds good,” he tells me.
One thing I love about this part of Texas is everyone’s friendly, and I know Diesel’s genuinely inviting me to make me feel welcome. It’s just how people are around these parts, and the last thing I want to do is reject the offer and come off like a dick. First impressions are important.
“Alright, now that our team meeting is over…” Alex’s lips tilt up. “I’m gonna give Gavin a tour of the property and get him settled in with Jackson and Kiera.”
Moments later, Alex and I head out the door. Alex unlocks the truck that looks like it’s seen better days, and we get inside. The bumper is bent with large scratches on the side. I buckle in, and as the sun rises, we begin the grand tour of the Circle B Ranch.
“Riley and Diesel like to rag on each other all the time. They’ve been best friends since they were kids,” Alex explains. “And Diesel is now dating my daughter Rowan, something Riley has been against since he was five.”
I laugh. “That actually explains a lot. Dating your brother's best friend…they better get married—or things might get really awkward between them.”
“If he knows what’s good for him, he won’t break her heart,” Alex clarifies. “He’ll be roadkill otherwise. Rowan would murder him herself.”
This makes me chuckle. I’m not a man of many words and usually listen and watch everyone else. Alex doesn’t seem to mind and fills the silence with information about the ranch. I’m amazed they have thousands of acres of land. It’s much different than the Houston area where I grew up.
Alex points out a large two-story home with a wraparound porch that sits off the road, telling me that’s where his parents live. As we continue driving, we pass different barns, and he explains each one’s purpose. Some hold extra feed for the animals while others house the equipment. An hour passes before we arrive at the training facility run by Jackson and Kiera.
When Alex parks, he turns and looks at me. “Jackson’s a known prankster. Consider yourself warned.”
I grin. “Thanks for the heads-up. It’ll keep the days interesting at least.”
“You say that now,” Alex says as we head inside toward the office, where Kiera’s sitting behind a big oak desk with a schedule book open. As soon as her eyes meet mine, she grins.
“God, I’m so happy you’re finally here.”
A minute passes, and Jackson walks in wearing a shit-eating grin followed by two young men. Twins. “Not gonna listen to any complainin’ today,” he warns them both. “Maybe your mom will.”
Kiera groans with an eye roll. “It’s too early for that. Don’t start with me, or you’ll be doing double,” she warns.”
Their jaws lock, but they don’t talk back. I get the feeling they get themselves into a lot of trouble by their parents’ reaction.
Kiera sweeps loose strands of blond hair out of her face. “Oh, Gavin, these are our two boys, Knox and Kane. You’ll see them around doing the guided horse tours at the B&B. They also feed them in the morning and shovel shit in the afternoon, which will be the least of their worries if they keep driving me crazy.”
Their faces contort, but they have manners and shake my hand.
“Nice to meet you,” they say. There’s no way I could tell them apart, even if I tried.
During my interview with Jackson and Kiera, they explained how busy they’ve been with training and how they desperately needed extra help with the wild horses. I went through all my experience, and a week later, they offered me a position. I had some other obligations at home first and couldn’t start immediately, but they were willing to wait. When I got the call, there wasn’t a doubt in my bones about accepting the job. The money was great, I’d have a place to stay, and the landscape was vast and beautiful. Though Houston will always be home, I was ready to escape to a small town away from the lifestyle I’d led. I fell in love with Eldorado the first time I visited. There’s something magical about the ranch that I can’t explain.