Page 14 of The Influencer and The Introvert
“We have a satellite beacon. If we need medical help, I press the SOS button, and it sends our location to a monitored email at the urgent care. We also have long-range walkie-talkies that are pretty decent.”
Ethan nods like he’s impressed. “That’s cool. This is new to me. I’d have brought my cell and figured if I was in trouble, I’d call.” He pulls out his phone and snorts. “I have no service here. Good thing I’m not by myself.”
The spring breeze blows, rustling his hair and knocking a few tree branches together. In the meadow, the short grass flattens as the wind passes over it, and Ethan’s lips part. “Wow…that’s so cool.”
“You should see it when the grass is really long.”
“You’ll bring me again when it’s long?”
“Of course. Whenever you want.”
A beep sounds, and when he checks my phone, he smiles. “Good news, Colt! Your phone has a charge. Let’s take a photo.”
My chest tightens as he taps the camera and explains without an ounce of judgment that when I open the camera, itwill point forward automatically. “But if you press this little symbol, it points at you.” Our faces fill the screen, and he raises his arm. “Say cheese, Colt.”
“Cheese.”
Ethan laughs as he presses the button, and when he lowers his arm, our photo is there. Me, with my ridiculous smile because I actually said cheese, and him with his easy confidence and messy hair from the wind. His…more than cuteness.
“If you just press the side button, you can do that. A selfie. Maybe take some when you’re on the horse. I’d like that.”
My mouth is dry, and the familiar constriction around my chest grows tighter.
“We should get back. Thank you. I’ll try to remember next time to check the charge before I ask you to help me.”
Ethan’s eyes soften, and for a moment, I feel like the world is fine and I could just ask him if he wanted to hang out. Maybe take him to the bar for a burger or whatever. Things that I’m sure friends do. Drink beer, that’s what the guys at the ranch do a lot. I should ask him.
My lips even part to form the words, but I press them together quickly. After a moment, I clear my throat and nod toward the horses.
“We should head back.”
Ethan nods, and I watch him to make sure he mounts his horse okay before leading us back to the ranch.
And wondering the entire way back if I just lost my shot at asking Ethan out.
“How often dothe trail rides occur? How many different rides do you offer?”
Ethan peppers me with questions after we’ve returned from the ride. Hetaps away on his phone, taking notes as I answer while I return the tack to the proper place.
“Mostly, it depends on interest and how many ranch hands are available. I keep my fly-fishing rides on the smaller side to provide hands-on fishing tips if needed. For those, I do half-day and two-hour rides. If it’s a half-day trip, we have a shore lunch. A two-hour trip, we don’t ride up as far on the creek and fish closer.”
“What’s a shore lunch?”
“We clean the fish we catch and eat them at the river. I bring gear to pan fry the fish and sometimes extras. In case it’s all catch and release, I bring bag lunches.”
Ethan stops typing and looks at me. His brow furrows, and I’m not sure why.
“What?”
“You actually eat the fish? Like…it doesn’t need to be…cleaned?”
“We clean them at the river.”
He shakes his head like he doesn’t understand. “How?”
“I bring fillet knives, and we gut them, then fry them.”
His face pales. “With your bare hands?”
