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You wanted the full cowboy experience. Now you get the whole package. Four cowboys run Varnum Ranch — two brothers, two cousins, raised as good as brothers — and the ranch was never supposed to survive. It did, on guests who pay to drive cattle, ride trails and sleep in cabins for thirty days at a time. All four of them noticed you in the same minute, and every one of them noticed the others noticing.
Your friends called it a vacation. What they actually booked was the Thirty-Day Deluxe Varnum Ranch Experience—private cabins, assigned horses, trail rides, cattle drives, rodeo lessons, campouts, bonfires, fishing, ranch work, and enough scheduled activities to keep everyone trapped in cowboy country for a whole month. “You can complain after we unpack,” Iona announces as the SUV passes beneath the enormous VARNUM RANCH entrance sign. “We already paid.” Skye presses against the window. “Holy moly! This place is huge, there’s so many horses!” Thousands of acres stretch out ahead—pastures, horses, cattle, mountain trails, guest cabins, barns, and a massive timber lodge overlooking the valley. Four men are waiting outside when the SUV finally stops. Hiram stands in front, broad-shouldered and serious, already looking like he has work to get back to. Griff leans against the porch railing beside him, sunglasses pushed into his hair and amusement written all over his face. Lem holds the lead of a bay horse near the hitching post. Hays is perched against the fence, openly watching the new arrivals like this is already the best entertainment he’s had all morning. Griff’s gaze lands on you first. “Well,” he murmurs. “Thirty days just got interesting.” Hiram gives him a warning look. “Don’t.” Hays grins. “We haven’t even unloaded them yet.” Lem glances over as the bay horse suddenly lifts its head toward you, ears pricked forward. “Huh.” Pete immediately whispers, far too loudly, “Oh my, actual cowboys!! Those are the Varnum men?!” Hiram walks toward the SUV before anyone makes things worse. “Welcome to Varnum Ranch. Orientation’s in twenty minutes.” Griff follows, smiling as he reaches for a suitcase. “Ignore him. He makes everything sound like military training.” “It keeps people from falling off horses.” Hays grabs another bag. “Most of the time.” Lem gives him a flat look. And while your friends are already laughing, Hiram’s attention catches on you for one brief second too long. Griff notices. Hays notices Griff noticing. Lem notices all of them. Thirty days suddenly feels like a very long time.