Oyin Fakoya

Chapter 1 Skylar’s POV ❦ I grip the steering wheel tightly, feeling the faint thumping of my heart against my chest as I drive through the dirt road. I have no clue where I am right now. The GPS had stopped working miles ago, and I’m starting to worry if I’ll ever find this place. I haven’t got the slightest idea how to work on a ranch. There were no ranches around me growing up and this will be my first time on one. But at the same time, it's my next job and I need it to survive—for me and Jake. Finding the job listings in itself was a miracle, and finding out that it offered on-site accommodation was an even bigger blessing. It'll be a huge lifesaver if this works out, and I'm grateful to be safe away from my ex, even if it's just for a while. Finally, I spot a beat-down, leaf-sprouting wooden sign that reads ‘Blackwood Ranch’ and I heave a sigh of relief, turning onto the property. It’s smaller than I expected, but it'll do. I pull up to the cabin without giving it a second thought, parking close to a rusty old truck. This is home. Our home. For now. “You can’t park there,” a man’s voice cuts into my head, breaking me out of my thoughts as I unlock the door to the back seat and I turn around, checking to see who it is. It's a tall, muscular man with a face full of beards and a cowboy hat. His clothes are worn out and stained with dirt, and his posture is too relaxed for how hot the sun feels. “You can’t park next to my truck,” he says again. “Use your designated parking space,” he continues, pointing a lazy finger to the other side of what will now be my cabin as he rests carelessly against a wooden pole. “Over there.” He must also be a ranch hand, but seeing as his cabin is slightly bigger and has all the parking space, I’m guessing he’s the supervisor or something. “That’s barely a slice of land,” I shoot back, stealing another glance at the sloppy demarcation marking what should be my ‘parking’ space. “You can’t expect me to park my truck there when there’s so much room here.” I turn around and grab Jake out of his car seat, smiling back at him as his little face brightens in a wide grin. “Mummy, wow!” he squeals, wriggling free from my grasp. “Cows!” He takes off, his little legs carrying him towards the nearby pasture. Before I can even blink, he’s pushing against the barricades of the wire fence. “Jake, no!” I shout, chasing after him. And just as I catch him in my hands, the man speaks again from behind us. “You’re Skylar Wilson, I reckon?” he asks me in a deep, imposing voice, and I spin around, Jake clinging to my leg. He's much taller than he looked from a distance earlier. He towers above me now in a way that makes me feel tiny, a deep crease on his forehead. “Yes,” I say, trying to sound more brazen than I feel. “And you are?” I stretch out my hands for a shake and he ignores it. “You parked in the wrong spot. I need you to move your truck.” I blink, feeling a flush rise to my cheeks as I stare at him. “Excuse me?” “I’m sure you heard me the first and second time,” he says, his gaze sweeping over me. “City girl, huh?” I flinch at his harsh tone. “Yes.” “Well, city girl,” he says, emphasizing the words in a condescending manner. “Out here, we do things differently. We have an order, none of those city bullshit.” He turns to Jake, who is watching him wide-eyed. “And kids don’t run wild. It’s not safe.” Jake’s lower lip trembles, and I pull him closer, rubbing the back of his head slightly to calm him. “Don’t you think you’re a bit insensitive? He’s just a child.” “Well? Why don't you learn how to control your kid, lady? And learn how to park your car like a reasonable adult?” I scoff, shaking my head. I can’t have one more minute of this. I look around the ranch quickly to see that there’s no one else in sight. Where on earth is my new boss? And who does this guy think he is to be so condescending and insulting? “You know what?” I huff. “You want the car to be parked so badly? Why don’t you have at it? Show me how to do it the ‘cowboy’ way.” “That’s what I thought,” he says, snatching the keys from my hands. I flinch slightly, feeling a jolt of electricity through my body as our fingers touch. His fingers feel different from what I expected from a man as rough as him. They’re firm and warm, sending sparks through me, but I quickly ignore them, letting go of the keys. I watch him, arms akimbo, as he maneuvers the truck into what will now be my designated parking space. And when he’s done, I roll my eyes. What a show-off. Coming here, I only thought about how Jake and I could possibly survive living on a ranch, but I guess there’s a lot more to be worried about. I’ve just got the most difficult neighbor anyone could ask for, and if I’m going to strive here, I have to learn to deal with him early on. I straighten my back as he walks towards Jake and me to hand back the key. I can’t let this man perceive me as easy to pick on. I’ve been through so much trouble in life to go through that again, and I can only hope that my new boss is much more hospitable. “What do I call you?” I ask him as I take my key back from his hands. “Since we’re going to be neighbors and all.” But instead of responding straight away, his face hardens into a deeper frown, and he scoffs. “Damned city people,” he mutters under his breath, but still loudly enough for me to hear. “Excuse me?” “I’m Ryder Blackwood,” he says, cutting me off. “And I’m guessing you drove all the way here without even knowing who your boss is.” “What?” I ask, completely caught off guard by that piece of information. “Let’s get one thing straight,” Ryder says, his voice still as firm. “I’m letting you live here because I hired you to help with the ranch, not to encroach my personal space and cause me trouble. You’ll need to follow my rules and listen to my instructions if you’re to work and live on my property.” I nod, feeling a spark of resentment as I do not have a choice. Who does he think he is anyway? “Understood,” I say, forcing a police smile. Ryder’s eyes linger on me as if searching for something. Then, without saying one more word, he turns and walks away, leaving me and Jake on the spot. “Well, that was pleasant,” I mutter to Jake, who looks up at me with big curious eyes. “Mommy, why is that man mad?” he asks me, his little voice melting me a little and I hesitate, unsure how to explain Ryder’s gruffness. “Let’s just hope he’s having a bad day, sweetie,” I say to him, holding his little hands. “Come. Let’s check out our new house.”