Ronda and Timothy showed up at the front desk this morning, excited about the horseback tour they’d signed up for when they’d booked a room online. I’d even re-checked the calendar three times to make sure the tour had been booked in the first place.
But every time I checked, there it was.
Horseback Riding Tour: Ronda and Timothy Ocean
“Yes? Ronda?” I shook my head back into the conversation as I looked over at her. “A question about the horses. Go for it.”
“Do you think they’ll try to throw us?”
“Not if you follow the instructions, no.”
“Can you guarantee that?” Ronda pressed. “Because I’m a lawyer, you know, back in San Francisco. And if you’re saying that these horses are definitely safe to ride, that becomes a liability on your end—”
“I’m pretty sure the horses are going to be fine, Ronda,” Derek answered on my behalf as he leaned against the barn door. “They’re gentle creatures. Just don’t yell at them or try to touch their hind legs, and I think you’ll be all right.”
Of course, Derek was here. He’d insisted on coming along, even if it was just a trip around the perimeter of the land we owned that surrounded the B&B. He’d explained to me that for all he knew, Mr. and Mrs. Ocean were the people who’d been blackmailing my dad, and they’d only booked the horseback riding tour to get me alone.
Although, as I looked them over out of the corner of my eye, it was hard for me to believe that Ronda and Timothy were blackmailers. Ronda seemed like one of the most uptight people in the world, and Timothy seemed way too busy on his phone, perpetually emailing back and forth with the same talent he’d bragged about working with since the first minute I’d met him.
“Sorry. I’m sorry,” Timothy spoke as he held up a single finger. “I just need to finish up this email loop I’ve got going with Hannah Phoebe. You know, that young actress that was up for an Oscar last year? She’s one of my favorite clients, but she can be so specific about the way she likes her dressing rooms. It’s all tater tots and purple jellybeans with this one. God. Why are actresses so eccentric?”
I grumbled to myself.
“How do you know so much about the horses here?” Timothy asked, putting his phone away and glancing over at Derek. “Do you work here, too?”
“Not exactly, no.”
“Oh. So, you’re like a hired horse guy?”
“I’ve never ridden a horse in my life.”
“Oh.” Timothy frowned. “Well, that sucks. No offense, but I thought I’d finally found a horse guy for one of my clients. He’s the lead singer of Wetter Than Water. You’ve probably heard of him. Anyway, he’s been looking for someone to help him prepare for his next big music video where he’ll be riding a horse—”
“We should get going,” I cut into Timothy’s latest moment of casual bragging. “Here. I’ll make sure everyone’s saddles are on right before we head out.”
“Are you all right?” I spared a look over at Derek who was riding beside me on his horse. There was something slightly off about Derek’s posture, which made it seem like he was holding onto the horse for dear life.
“Yeah, I’m… fine.” Derek spaced out his words as he gripped even tighter onto the horse’s reins. “Is it always this… bumpy? When you’re riding one of these things?”
“One of these things?” I grinned at the description. “You can say the word horse, Derek. They’re not offended by it. I promise.”
“Fine. Horse.” He grimaced as he spoke. “I just don’t get the appeal of this mode of travel, you know? Riding a horse just makes me realize why they invented cars.”
“You’ll get used to it,” I replied with a grin. I then looked behind me, taking in Ronda and Timothy on their respective horses, carrying on what seemed like a rather pleasant conversation.
“They seem happy,” I mused as I turned back around, my eyes going back to the trail.
“Why wouldn’t they be?”
“Because he’s been on his phone pretty much 24/7 since they checked in,” I explained. “I just didn’t think he’d take time out of his busy schedule to talk to his wife.”
“Ouch.” Derek chuckled. “Whatever happened to not prejudging people?”
I raised my shoulders in a gentle sign of defense. “I don’t know. Maybe I just feel like I already know him. My dad didn’t really brag as much as Mr. Ocean does, but he was just as busy.”
“And you feel