Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 63004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Derek, Luke, Ronnie, and Smitty all glanced at each other, then over to my father. Days off from ranch work was rotated among the guys, so for all of them to take the same day off was almost unheard of. Smitty was still dressed in his coat, with his hat and gloves in his hand. I would guess he’d just come in from most likely checking on the other barn, making sure the water hadn’t frozen and the heat was on.
Dad cleared his throat. “We still need to rotate a few tasks, like making sure none of the water troughs have frozen over. I’m guessing everyone who needs to be brought in has been?”
Smitty nodded. “Yes, sir. Derek and I rounded up everyone earlier when we saw the sky turning dark. All the horses who need to be in the barn are in, fed, and watered. All blankets are on and water troughs checked.”
“Dad, why don’t we let the boys have the day off,” David suggested. “Between me, Ladd, Mike, and Jason, we can take turns checking on things.”
My father shrugged, then looked to Derek. “How does that sound to you?”
Derek grinned and nodded. “That would be much appreciated, thank you, sir.”
“Then it’s settled,” Mom said. “You boys take a much-needed break. The rest of you, let’s clean up the boxes and put them in the loft. Then I want everyone to get washed up for lunch.”
Everyone got to work, and before you knew it, the only thing in the barn was the Christmas trees.
“And the horses stay in their stalls all night?” Vivianne asked as I handed David the last box to bring up to the loft to store.
“The ones that come in each night, yes. I’ll give you a full tour of the barn, since you didn’t get to see all of it.”
I glanced up the steps. “You got that, David?”
“Yeah!” he called down. “Just don’t be too long, you know how Mom is when she says it’s time to eat. It’s time to eat!”
“We won’t be late.”
Taking her hand in mine, I led Vivianne out of the arena. “So, typically on this side, there’s ranch equipment and such stored in the arena when it’s not in use. On the other side of that long storage area right there, on the outside, are four run-ins.”
“What’s a run-in?”
“It’s a three-sided shelter for the horses to come and go freely to get out of the weather.”
I unlocked the gate that led from the arena area into the stalls. Opening the door, we stepped inside, and Vivianne drew in a deep breath.
“I love that smell.”
“Shit?” I laughed.
“The smell of horses and hay, and maybe yes, their poo.”
To the right, I opened another door. “This is the barn office, and through that door is a bathroom. There’s also a little table with a sink in here.
“Across from this room is the tack room,” I said, as we moved back out into the central aisle of the barn. “There are six stalls, with an area to wash the horses down on each side of the stables, as well as grain and hay storage through that door. Above all of this is a space to add a small apartment. My father hasn’t done it yet, because he hasn’t seen the need for it. If we expand with the horses on the ranch, getting into breeding and such, he’ll probably add it, and that’s where the ranch hand for the horses would live.”
She turned in a circle before approaching a horse in one of the stalls, running her hand down the white-and-brown paint. “So there’s a ranch hand for the cattle side, and one for the horse side, or will be. Who takes care of the horses now?”
“My mother. Well, her and Derek. He’s doing double duty right now.” I smiled. “Hey there,” I said, giving the paint a pat on the side of the neck. “He must be new, I’ve never seen him before.”
“How many horses are on the ranch?” she asked.
“Last I knew, around forty.”
“Wow! What does your family do with them?” she asked before leaning in and kissing the paint on the side of his face.
“Ranch work. Some have been brought in for future breeding, some are just for the family to ride. Those are the ones who get put in the barns each night, and when bad weather rolls in. When we were younger, our mother used to give riding lessons.”
She turned and leaned against the stall door. “I had fun riding today. I hope the weather will clear so we can do it again.”
I walked up and pushed a piece of hair that had fallen out of her ponytail behind her ear. “We’ll have another chance.”
Looking up at me with sparkling eyes, she smiled. “What do we do now?”
I felt my entire body heat up. “I know something we could do, but it would be risky.”