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THE RIDE HOME WAS PLEASANT, and not in one of those types of situations where you feel like you’re hanging out with a friend.
My attraction to Jeremy was sincere, and as we allowed ourselves to get closer to each other, I could see us with a more permanent setting to our relationship. We pulled up to his ranch and he parked. As we walked towards the house, he pointed towards the porch swing that I had missed my first day there. “Do you want to sit with me for a bit?”
“I would love that.” And I would. Just to sit with him and be. I was enjoying our day together more than I thought I would. We closed the distance to the steps in seconds and reached the swing at the same time.
He waited for me to sit before he sat down as well. Pushing off with his toes, he swung us back and forth, the movement soothing as we watched three hummingbirds whiz around the red feeder hanging from the post by the swing. The hum from their wings grew loud and then quiet as they buzzed around us.
“Those are ruby-throated hummingbirds. See, the males are the ones with the reddish necks. The ones without are females.” He pointed out the neck of a smaller bird that paused long enough on the little perch of the feeder to sip the nectar inside. “I add to that every day. They always drain it. Usually, they’re out here in the evenings the most.”
“They’re gorgeous. I’d seen hummingbirds before, but never in such close proximity. They’re loud, aren’t they?” I didn’t bother hiding my fascination with the tiny birds.
He chuckled. “Yeah, they have a tendency to move those little wings rather fast.” We quieted and watched the birds for a few minutes.
“What are you planning to do with your dude ranch? Are you opening soon, or is it in its off-season?” I drew up both legs and sat Indian-style on the swing. That way my feet wouldn’t slow down the motion of his pushing.
I watched him as he looked at the barn. His profile was like that of a cowboy from one of the old Westerns. He didn’t have his hat down low, but enough to cast shade on his face when he was in the sun. Thankfully, we were shaded at the moment from the porch covering.
“I’ve been open for over a year. Akers’ Dude Ranch.” He cast me a side glance, and shook his head. “I can’t get it to take. I can’t get any sales. I have plenty of bookings to show people what I can offer, but...” His eyes widened, and he slapped his leg. “Lovely, I have a showing in just a few days. I forgot all about it with the excitement of your arrival.” He lifted his hand and rubbed his eyes. “I don’t know what to do different this time. They all say this isn’t what they’re looking for. I’ve done everything I can think of. I don’t know what else they want from me.”
“What can we do? Can I help you?” I had more than enough experience running businesses, managing, and planning things. As a photographer, I knew what to set up to make things more aesthetic and more appealing. “I have a lot of experience with these things. You can use me. Let me help you.”
He considered me and my offer for a minute, as if I might be suggesting something he wasn’t sure about. Finally, his face relaxed and he nodded. “I would appreciate that more than you know. I’ll take all the help I can get. I just don’t want to lose this place. Which I could do, if I don’t start booking things. My severance is almost out.”
That was one thing I had never worried about with Larry. He always seemed to have more money than he knew what to do with. The worst thing was, he never needed me. I was expected to give up my dreams and stay at home, like a good wife.
“We can stage it. Can you walk me through what you’re expecting to do with your business? I know a lot of dude ranches are like bed-and-breakfasts, but with a theme.” I put the relationship questions on hold and redirected my attention on his business he desperately needed to work.
“I had a plan, that people would come here and ride horses. But I only have two horses, so there’s nothing I can do there. They’re really tame mares, too. So, there’s no horse training going on for people to come and see. I don’t even have cows for milking.” He leaned back, disappointment rich in the downward slant of his lips.
“I know, it’s not a lot. I’m used to managing a company that’s already developed. Starting one isn’t something I have a lot of experience with.” He hung his head, as if he had a reason to be ashamed.
“Hey, don’t be embarrassed. You’re trying, which is more than most people can say. I’ll do my best to help you out.” I had more experience than he did, and that was a good thing for both of us.
Where would I start? I always started with a business plan and a presence. “Okay, so first off, do you have a business plan which includes a marketing plan and a web presence? The last is most important, so future customers can get information about you?” His quizzical look made me consider. “Like a website? Are you sticking with Akers’ Dude Ranch? Is that all you’ll consider?” I tried not to cringe at the name. It was not a good name.
His last name was great to use, and there were a lot of things he could do to play on the name Akers, but as it was Akers Dude Ranch was not appealing in anyway.
“I don’t know how to do all that. And I really don’t have the money to invest in that part.” He pushed the swing slower, no longer looking at the barn, but staring at the painted wood of the deck railing. Jeremy’s shoulders slumped forward as if defeated.
“What do you want to do with your life?” He folded his hands in his lap and glanced at me, probably to re-divert the attention off himself.
“I’m really good at event planning and taking pictures. I told you this yesterday, but I would love to do something like that. Plan weddings, or maybe anniversaries, or bar mitzvahs. I don’t know. I just know that event planning is one of my favorite things. Pulling all different types of aspects of it together into one really smooth day, making someone’s memories.” I glanced down at my knees and scrunched my nose. I glanced at him. “I probably sound like a dreamer, right?”
He turned more to face me on the swing, drawing up one leg and continuing to push off the deck planks with his other. “It’s good to be a dreamer. My problem is, I don’t know how to implement my dreams. Sounds like you have a lot of talents.” He peered at me from under his lashes admiringly.
“Thank you. I hope I don’t sound boastful. I know what I can do and what I can’t. Those happen to be the things I’m good at.” I chewed on the inner skin of my bottom lip. Wrapped up in the intimacy, I shared something with him I didn’t share with anyone else. “I love doing so many different things, I’m worried I’m not really good at anything. Like I’m a dabbler or something.” I peeked at him and hope that I didn’t see judgment on his face.
He reached out and touched my shoulder, leaving his arm to rest on the back of the porch swing. “You’re good at a lot of things. It’s nothing to be ashamed of or to hide. Some people aren’t even good at one thing.”
I tilted my head and narrowed my eyes at him teasingly. I wasn’t uncomfortable flirting with him, emboldened even by his comment by the falls. “Thanks, that’s really sweet, but you’re not getting me to sleep with you.”
Jeremy reared back with a teasing look of mock horror on his face. “I would never try to do that.” He winked with a slow suggestive speed which made me laugh even harder.
It was nice to sit there with our walls down and get to know each other better. We still hadn’t addressed the issue of his mother yet, but the day without her in the way was definitely a plus for Team Akers.
