“You’ve all met our head cowboy, Reyes Caldero,” Judson said. “He’s in charge of the horses, and he’ll help guide you through the process of learning to properly saddle, mount, and ride your assigned horse. Most of the animals are rescues, but they work extensively with them down at our horse rescue facility, so they’re safe to work with.
“This pretty lady to my right is Miss Patrice, and she’s in charge of the guesthouse. She’ll be cooking your breakfasts and most dinners, and we’ll offer cold sandwiches and salads for lunch.”
Patrice stepped forward and commented on about various things, from food allergies to guests cleaning up after themselves and leaving the common areas tidy. A pickup carrying their luggage arrived right as her welcome speech wound down. Judson invited everyone inside to get their welcome packets and room assignments.
George started tapping his fingers against his thigh. Levi leaned in and whispered, “Don’t worry, we’ve got our own room. No strangers.”
The tapping stopped.
A younger horseman named Hugo and an older veteran of the ranch named Ernie were already inside the bunkhouse, and Reyes went to stand beside them. Because of Robin’s motor mouth, Levi knew they were on standby to carry luggage for the female guests. The first group called to sign things was the older quartet. The Sanchezes and the Porters. Two couples, probably friends on vacation together. Reyes and Ernie carried the two ladies’ suitcases up the stairs on the far left. Straight ahead, beneath the stairs, was the entrance to the dining room.
He and George were called next, so he didn’t learn the names of the other guests yet. They signed the appropriate spots and got their packets. “It’s nice to see you taking some time off, Levi,” Patrice whispered. “You enjoy your week here. Both of you.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” Levi replied.
Hugo guided them to the second floor. It had four rooms with four bunk beds and a private bathroom each. Every door had an animal symbol on it, and Hugo gave them the room with the coyote. The rooms weren’t huge but they also weren’t cramped for personal space, and theirs had a huge window with a gorgeous view of the land. George gravitated to the bunk beds on the left and put his bag on the bottom mattress.
“You probably know the spiel,” Hugo said with a friendly grin, “but make sure to look over your welcome packets. Meet the other guests but don’t wander beyond the main yard yet. A cold lunch will be ready downstairs at noon.”
“Thank you,” Levi replied, mindful George hadn’t spoken a word since they’d gotten on the buckboard.
“Enjoy your vacation, man. You, too, George.”
George startled, apparently not expecting Hugo to know who he was. “Um, thanks. You too?” Awkward but he was clearly outside of his comfort zone and struggling.
“Yeah, thanks. Uh, I’ll see you guys in the corral later.” Hugo left with an imaginary tip of a hat.
Levi put his bag down on the other bunk then closed the door. Put both hands on George’s shoulders. “Breathe for me, okay? I know this is new, this isn’t what you’re used to, but you are perfectly safe. I’m right here.”
George sucked in a ragged breath, held it, and released. His color got a little less pasty and more lifelike as he took a few more long, cleansing breaths. “I’m not used to this.”
“I know. And the good news is, all the activities are voluntary. If you need to stay in the room until lunch, do it. The only thing is if you want to ride this week, we do have to be at the corral for today’s first lesson.”
“Right. I think, uh, maybe I should stay in here for a little while. Get my bearings.”
“If that’s what you need, then do it. The ranch Wi-Fi password is in the welcome packet. Make sure you get it and text me if you need anything. Unless...you’d rather I stay?”
George hesitated before shaking his head. “No, you go explore. If we both stay in here behind a closed door, people will talk.” His wry smile was somehow both worried and teasing.
A fresh wave of tender feelings warmed Levi’s chest. “Wouldn’t want rumors on the first day.”
“No. They’ll figure out I’m a basket case soon enough.”
“You are not a basket case. You’re George Thompson and you are a fighter. We’ve got this.”
They held eye contact for a long, lovely moment in time, and Levi really, really wanted to kiss George. But he wouldn’t. He was along on this vacation as chaperone, nothing more. George needed a friend, and Levi would give him friendship and support.
George took a small step back and broke eye contact. “Thank you, Levi.”
“I’ll see you in the little while.” Levi didn’t want to leave him alone this early in their trip, but he had to trust George to know what he needed.
With a sad sigh, he went downstairs to meet the other guests.
Chapter Nine
George hated that he needed a break less than an hour into their vacation, but being alone inside the room, door shut against the world, helped immensely. He sat on the floor beneath the window and concentrated. He breathed in and out. Noticed the brown and gray shades of the wood floor and walls. The simple ivory blankets on the four bunked beds. The scents of detergent and something vaguely floral. The creaky sounds of the old guesthouse as people moved around inside it.
Those things grounded him.
He pulled out his phone and did a voice-to-text because his fingers were shaking too hard to type. “I’m here. Settling in. The place is beautiful. I miss you already.” Send. He played a word puzzle on his phone for a while. This particular game relaxed him because it forced him to focus on making multiple words out of a jumble of letters. It took all his concentration to complete each level, and he could block out everything else.
Orry replied about fifteen minutes later: Miss you too, bro. You okay?
Had a minor panic attack but I’m okay now. Handling it.
He could only imagine the face Orry was making. The conversation seemed over for now. George set an alarm for eleven fifty so he didn’t miss lunch, then continued playing his game. Managed quite a few difficult levels before the alarm went off. His ass was numb from sitting on the hardwood floor for over an hour. He stretched carefully as he stood and popped a vertebrae in his neck, too.
Then came the new challenge: opening that door and going downstairs alone. He stared at the door handle. And stared. And stared. Somewhere outside, a loud bell clanged, probably the call for lunch. But George still couldn’t open the door. Too many strangers out there. Even after the opening speeches, even knowing he was in a perfectly safe environment, he couldn’t—