Rustic Hearts

Sophie

 

We spend the next two days sorting receipts, scheduling a bank visit, and sitting down with the accountant, who is thrilled that we’re moving to a system that will work with his program so that information can be easily imported to his office. Apparently, the ranch was paying for one of his employees to work overtime every quarter and manually enter everything that Gram had brought into his office. Who knows how much that cost the ranch over the years?

Dallas and I make a quick trip to Denver so that I can purchase a new desktop and printer and sca

I print contract employee forms and have everyone working under the table fill out the proper paperwork. Then, Madeline and I start the slow process of inputting all the information into the computer. We split up the tasks; she enters all the utilities and office supply expenses as I sort all the labor and material goods expenses.

At one point, I have to call a very put-out Braxton in to explain some of the invoices to me.

“So, what’s this one?”

He takes the paper from my hand and looks at the chicken scratch written across the carbon copy invoice from the local hardware store. “Parts for the bush hog,” he states as he throws the paper back down on the desk.

“What’s a bush hog?”

“It’s a type of mower.”

“Why didn’t you just say mower?”

“It’s a big mower, and it has an attachment that’s on hinges, so it can mow a field and go over rocks and stumps and things like that.”

“Okay, so this files under equipment maintenance. What about this one?” I slide another paper in front of him.

“It’s a receipt for fuel.”

“I can see that, but fuel for what?”

“Tractors, mowers, generators, haulers—everything that runs on fuel.”

I look up at him. He’s sitting with his arms crossed over his chest, and he is a

I drop the pen in my hand and scoot back from the desk. “Look, I’m trying to help here. The least you could do is be nice.”

“I don’t have time to sit here all day and spoon-feed you this shit. I have a vet tech coming in a few hours to vaccinate, so we can start castrating calves. I need to get them corralled, and we have a fence down in the back pasture that we need to patch before nightfall.”

“Fine. Go. I’ll try to figure it out myself.”

“You do that.” He stands and heads for the door.

“You don’t have to be such a jackass.”

He stops, puts his hands in the doorframe, and looks back at me. “You can take your ass back to the city anytime you want. We’ve survived just fine around here without your help, and we’ll be just fine once you’re gone.”

With that parting shot, he disappears out the door.

“Asshole,” I murmur under my breath just as Aunt Doreen walks in.

“Where did Braxton run off to in such a huff?”

“Off to do something way more important than what I’m doing.”

“Is he grumpy today? You have to overlook him when he gets like that.”

“You mean, when he gets rude and condescending?”

She purses her lips. “I mean, when he gets distracted and overwhelmed. Ru

“I get it, but he needs to understand that this—the balancing accounts and filing insurance and keeping good records—is a part of that brand too. If you can’t pay the bills, that will do more to harm the ranch’s good name than anything else will.”

“Yes. Well, he is more of a hands-on type of man. We’ll figure this office stuff out.”

“You might need to hire someone once I leave. A part-time clerk or something.”

She considers it for a second. “I can ask around the church and see if anyone is interested. For now, we will count our blessings that you are here. Now, are you at a stopping point?”

“I guess so. Until Emmett or Daddy can come in and help me sort some of these out anyway.”

“Good. These boys are going to be starving after a day of castrating. Let’s prepare a good meal for them to come home to.”

“All right. I’m going to check my e-mails quickly, and I’ll be in to help in a few minutes.”

“By the way, a package arrived for you this morning. Ria brought it in from the front porch when we got home from the market. I think she took it up to your room.”

“Thank you.”

After answering a few e-mails from Charlotte and sca

I place a quick call to Stanhope. I give him an update on our first-quarter sales and the new contract with the boutiques, and I forward it to him, so he can look over the fine print before I sign anything.

“We miss you, Sophia.”

“I miss you guys too. I’ll be home soon though.”

“Not soon enough. Your mother is beside herself. She doesn’t know what to do without her best girl.”

“I know.”

“Are you finding resolution there?”

“I don’t know. Honestly, I think I’m more confused now than I was when I arrived. I was so full of anger, and now, I don’t know how I feel.”

“Just know that your mother and I love you very much, and no matter what, we have your back.”

“Thank you, Stanhope. I love you both very much as well.”

I end the call and head up to open the package Charlotte sent at my request.

I shut myself in my room and open the box.

Surrounded by bubble wrap is a small jewelry box from our shop. I open it, and nestled inside is the necklace I designed and sent to Justin with exact instructions.

I gently remove the delicate white-gold chain holding an elegant water lily pendant with a mother of pearl center. I wanted something to represent a mother’s love, and when Braxton told me his mother’s name was Lily, I knew exactly what I wanted to make.

The actual necklace turned out more beautiful than the sketch. I carefully place it back into the box.

I want to find the right time to give it to Elle without making too big a deal of it.

I hide it in the drawer of the nightstand, and I join my aunts to help them finish di