seemed completely charmed by it all, and too soon they were through town. The two big boulders announcing the entrance to the ranch lands appeared. A few dozen yards down the bumpy dirt road was a four-sided chain-link-fence enclosure that served as the parking lot for that week’s guests. Three other cars were waiting, folks still in their vehicles thanks to the morning chill likely still hanging in the air.
“I read about this on the website,” George said, leaning forward, eyes fixed on the trail. “They pick us up in a wagon.”
“Yup. It’s something Arthur always insists on, unless the weather is super bad.”
Maybe a minute passed before two horses came into view on the horizon, cresting a small hill, followed by two men riding on a buckboard. Even from the distance, Levi recognized the familiar forms of head cowboy Reyes Caldero and ranch foreman Judson Marvel. Both men wore long-sleeve ranch polos, jeans, boots and cowboy hats.
When other folks started getting out of the cars, Levi shut off the engine and climbed out. They each got their bags from the pickup bed and joined the eleven other folks waiting by the parking lot gate. Levi studied the people he’d be spending time around for the next week. A pair of men and a little girl stood together, the men’s elbows brushing, both obviously excited to be there, and the looks they shared suggested not just best friends on vacation. The girl was practically bouncing on her tiptoes.
A family of four were squabbling over something. The parents looked tired, and their two teenage daughters...well, he wasn’t sure. Probably missed their cell phones. The other group was four older adults, late thirties or early forties. Two men, two women. Couples or simply friends. They were too far away to properly clock their fingers for wedding rings.
Excitement charged the air when Judson brought the buckboard to a stop by the gate. “Ho, there,” Judson said in a familiar, booming voice. “Welcome to Clean Slate Ranch!” A scattering of applause. “Name’s Judson Marvel. I’m ranch foreman. This here quiet fellow beside me is Reyes Caldero, our head cowboy. You wanna work with the horses, chances are you’ll have to face his ugly mug.”
The speech felt slightly canned but that was only because Levi knew the men. Arthur Garrett, the ranch owner, was no longer actively involved in the ranch itself, but he still insisted on a little bit of theatricality for the guests.
Reyes tipped his hat at the crowd and climbed down from the wagon. “You can leave your luggage here,” he said in his lightly accented voice. “We’ll lock the gate and send a truck down to retrieve it all and have it brought up to the guesthouse. Don’t worry, we’ve never had anyone’s things stolen.”
Everyone made a small pile with their luggage. Levi noticed a flash of fear on George’s face but it was gone fast. He lightly squeezed George’s elbow and winked when George met his eyes. George nodded, then let out a long breath.
Reyes helped everyone climb onto the buckboard. It had benches along both sides, and Levi waited until last so he could make sure George was on the end with Levi on his left side, instead of sandwiched next to a stranger. Reyes gave him a knowing smile but didn’t comment. He returned to the front of the wagon, and once he was situated, Judson turned them around.
Levi relaxed into the gentle rolling of the wagon and the easy pace of the horses. The land stretched out all around them in hills, grass and trees, and in the far distance, huge crags of mountains teeming with wildlife. While Levi was familiar with the property, he’d never experienced it as an actual ranch guest before. Not like this, and he wanted to enjoy the experience.
Even the hard parts he expected to face with George and his anxiety.
George looked everywhere, even snapped a few pictures with his phone. Levi sucked in the familiar country air. The other guests chatted amongst their own groups but folks mostly looked. Experienced. Admired the beauty all around them.
Eventually a big, three-story building appeared on the horizon, followed by a smaller, two-story one. A barn and corral. Another barnlike building beyond it where staff hid their cars.
Judson circled the wagon past the main house, which had a sign that read Office over it, and stopped in front of the guesthouse. Patrice, the den mother who took care of guests and cooked all the meals,