Page 105 of Yours To Take
Nods are given as the meeting adjourns for the morning.
It’s been two weeks since Gramps officially gave me the position. Two weeks of hiring a few new staff members to help run the front of the house. Of moving people into positions that they want to be in and hiring help for our new western camp I created.
It’s not even the start of the summer busy season, and we’re booked through the end of the year.
Word of mouth travels fast in this business, and we’ve been lucky. Everyone from town is telling me how happy the guests are when they head into town.
I’vebeen lucky.
I think one of the main reasons I never pushed too hard for this is because I didn’t want to fail. I didn’t want to disappoint my grandfather. He would never admit that to me, but I hold myself to a higher standard.
I love this place. It’s in my soul. The reason I couldn’t take off willy-nilly to follow a boy across the country.
Even though we’ve started seeing success, I don’t want to settle. It could easily all go away with one bad review by an unhappy guest.
Following everyone out of the lobby, the family I’ve been working with is waiting near the barn.
“Hi, West family!” I greet the parents and two daughters.
“Morning, Gemma. We can’t tell you how excited we are for today.”
“We’ve got a great day planned for you. You’ll be horseback riding this morning followed by a picnic lunch before coming back to the ranch. You and your husband will have spa treatments this afternoon while your daughters will have activities with the other kids at the main lodge.”
“That sounds wonderful,” the mother tells me. “I know the girls will be so excited to get some time on their own.”
I give her a warm smile. “It’s one of the many reasons we designed the program like we did. Give the parents some time on their own and let the kids have some fun with the other kids on the ranch.”
“Thank you.” She shakes my hand and then follows her family toward the pasture.
I can see their excitement from here as Buttercup comes up to the fence. The girls are giggling away as she nudges their extended hands.
I know the smile on my face is sad as I head back toward my office. Every win, every bit of happiness I’ve felt these last few weeks has always come with an added weight.
The weight of a broken heart. It’s been there since I left Blake in his cabin that morning.
I couldn’t face him. I couldn’t say goodbye. Because if I saw him that day, I wouldn’t have been able to let him leave. He’s everything I want in life, if only he weren’t a thousand miles away.
And then I wouldn’t be here at the ranch. In the position I once dreamed of having. Getting to put my mark on the place I love so much. The place that’s branded into my soul. I could never leave here.
Some days are easier than others. Most days, I’m busy from sunup to sundown and have hardly a moment to spare a thought as to who isn’t here with me. It’s the moments like right now, when I can slow down, that my mind wanders to what could have been.
If only.
If only Blake didn’t live in LA.
If only I didn’t live here.
If, if, if.
It’s not going to do me any good thinking about him. Of trying to move on.
“Gemma. We have a pretty upset guest out in the lobby. Would you be able to come talk them down?” our newest hire asks as she pops her head into my office.
“What happened?” I blow out a breath.
Is it too much to ask for one minute to myself this morning? The stack of paperwork on my desk keeps piling up with no end in sight.
“Something is wrong with their cabin and they wanted to speak to the manager. Well, with you.”
