Chapter 29

Taking a deep breath, Shayna turned away from Dayton, her eyes fixed on the horizon. "Let's just continue the drive," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I want to see the old Radisson Ranch."

Dayton watched her for a moment before nodding in agreement. “Alright," he said softly. "We'll head over there now."

They climbed back into the truck and Shayna leaned her head against the window, the cool glass a welcome contrast to the heat that had crept up her neck and into her cheeks. She watched the familiar landscape roll by.

The road seemed longer than she remembered, and Shayna found herself lost in thought. She had been so determined to distance herself from the pain of losing him, so focused on building a new life for herself in New York, that she had shut herself off from the very things that had once brought her joy and comfort.

And now, here she was, back at the ranch that had shaped her into the woman she had become, with the man she had once loved and then lost. The irony of it all was not lost on her. She had come back to confront her past, to seek revenge for the perceived wrongs she believed Dayton had committed against her. Yet, in doing so, she had uncovered a depth of feeling and a connection to her roots that she had never anticipated.

"Are you okay?" Dayton's voice broke through her reverie, pulling her back to the present. He glanced over at her, his brow furrowed with concern.

Shayna forced a small smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I'm fine," she said, though the quiver in her voice betrayed her inner turmoil. "It's just... a lot to take in. I didn't expect any of this."

Dayton nodded, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. "I know. It's a lot for me too. I never wanted to hurt you.”

They continued their drive in silence, the truck rumbling along the gravel road that led to the old Radisson Ranch. As they rounded a bend, the familiar sight of the ranch house came into view, its weathered façade standing proud against the backdrop of the open fields.

Dayton pulled the truck to a stop, turning to look at her with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension. "We're here," he said softly. "Take your time. There's no rush."

Shayna nodded, taking a deep breath to steady herself.

"Let's take a look around," Dayton suggested, his voice gentle. "There's a lot to see, and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised."

Shayna was taken aback by the sight of numerous barns and sheds dotting the landscape from the roadside view she had. The sheer number of structures surprised her. The sprawling property extended far beyond what she had remembered from her childhood, revealing layers of activity and life that had flourished here over the years.

"Wow," she breathed, her eyes wide with awe as she took in the sight before her. "I had no idea there were so many barns and sheds here."

The scene was a patchwork of rustic charm and historical significance. Shayna's gaze wandered from one building to the next. The main barn stood tall and proud in the distance, its weathered red paint peeling slightly but still vibrant against the lush green backdrop of the surrounding fields. It was a landmark she had often seen in old family photos, a symbol of the hard work and dedication that had built this ranch into what it was today.

Beside the main barn, several smaller sheds and outbuildings sprawled out, each with its own unique character. One was adorned with a sagging roof and faded blue paint, a sign of the many seasons it had weathered. Another, more modern in appearance, was clearly a recent addition, its sleek metal siding contrasting sharply with the older wooden structures around it.

Dayton stepped closer, his eyes twinkling with a mix of pride and nostalgia. "Yeah, it's quite a sight, isn't it?" he said, his voice warm with fondness. "Each one of those barns and sheds has its own story, its own place in the history of this ranch."

Shayna turned to him. "Did you build any of these?" she asked, gesturing to the newer structures.

Dayton nodded, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "A few of them, yes. Some were here long before my time, though. Like that old hay barn over there," he said, pointing to a large, slightly dilapidated structure at the far end of the property. "That one's been around since the early 1900s. Your father used to tell me stories about how his grandfather built it by hand, piece by piece."

Shayna's heart swelled with emotion as she pictured her great-grandfather working tirelessly to construct the barn that still stood as a testament to his labor. "It's incredible," she murmured, her voice thick with emotion. "To think that so much history is still here, still standing."

As they walked further along the path, Shayna's attention was drawn to a cluster of smaller, more intimate buildings tucked away behind a grove of trees. "What are those over there?" she asked, pointing to the quaint, almost whimsical-looking structures.

Dayton followed her gaze, a grin spreading across his face. "Those are the guest cabins," he explained.

They stopped in front of one of the larger barns, its massive doors slightly ajar, revealing the shadowy interior beyond. "This one here," Dayton said, his voice tinged with reverence, "was where my father kept his prized horses. He used to spend hours in here, grooming them, talking to them. It was like his sanctuary."

Shayna stepped closer, peering inside. The scent of hay and leather wafted out, instantly transporting her back to the times she had spent here with Dayton, stolen moments. "I can still remember the smell," she said, her voice filled with wonder. "It hasn't changed at all."

Dayton smiled, his eyes reflecting the same sense of nostalgia that Shayna felt. "Some things never do," he said softly. "No matter how much time passes."

Rows of stalls lined the back wall of the building, while to the front and the right of them was a closed-off room where, Shayna guessed, feed and tack were stored. To the left of them were more empty stalls.

“The only time I keep all the horses in the barn is when the weather is as bad as it has been the past couple of days,” Dayton told her as he guided her over to the nearest group of animals.

“Where do they stay in summer?” she asked.

“In warm weather, all the horses are turned out to pastures. Except for the stud. He has to be separated from the rest for his own safety, as well as that of the herd.”

She cast him a curious glance, “You raise horses, too?”

He nodded, “I’ve got about six or seven new foals coming this spring. Not a great amount. What we don’t keep to use here on the ranch, I sell to other ranches.”

As she and Dayton approached the stall nearest to them, a tall black horse with a blazed face hung his head over the metal gate that served as a door. Dayton gave the animal’s jaw an affectionate pat.

“This is Raven. He’s one of the smartest cow ponies here on the ranch. I wouldn’t sell him for any amount of money.”

“What is a cow pony? He looks a lot bigger than a pony to me,” Shayna said, carefully standing a good two feet away from Raven’s head.

Dayton chuckled as Shayna shot him a defensive look, “Obviously my ignorance about ranch life amuses you.”

Frowning, he shook his head, “I don’t think you’re ignorant about anything. As for your question about the cow pony, that’s just a term we cowboys use for a horse or mare that can be used on a ranch to head or cut cattle from another herd. Or if need be, we can rope off them.”

Shayna’s chin lifted a fraction higher, “Well, something is making you laugh.”

Dayton grabbed hold of her hand and pulled her toward him and the horse, “I’m laughing because you’re standing back there like Raven is going to take a bite out of you.”

“How do you know he won’t?”

Before Shayna could protest, Dayton took her hand and placed it on the horse’s face. “This horse wouldn’t bite a fly. Unless that fly was biting him. Go ahead, give him a good pat. He loves it.”

Cautiously at first, Shayna stroked her hand down the horse’s nose. Raven didn’t bare his teeth at her, so she rubbed his face again. However, the moment she drew her hand away, the horse nudged her shoulder.

“Is he trying to tell me to keep petting him?” Shayna asked with surprise.

“Sure he is,” Dayton answered. “Most horses are very affectionate. They’ll follow you around like a dog.”

“I didn’t realize that,” Shayna admitted, moving closer to the horse. “But then I don’t know anything about horses. Or dogs, either, for that matter. Except for the strays I encountered on the city streets.”

“You never had a pet? Or you just don’t like animals?”

With a shake of her head, Shayna said, “I never had a pet as such. We had the animals on the ranch. And after I was out on my own, I moved to an apartment where pets weren’t allowed.” She shrugged one slender shoulder, “I always thought it would be cruel, anyway, to house an animal up all day by itself while I was away at work.”

“Having four thousand acres, it’s hard to imagine not having a yard big enough for a dog to run in.”

“I’m sure it is. But to me, having four thousand acres to care for would be mind-boggling.”

Dayton guided her to the next stall. As they walked, he said, “It’s a challenge. But I wouldn’t want to do anything else. I guess raising cattle and horses is in my blood. My grandfather first started the ranch. Dad took over after he died. Now it’s mine.”

Even through the material of her coat, Dayton’s arm against the back of her waist felt warm. Shayna tried to tell herself she didn’t like it, that she wished he’d quit touching her altogether. But she knew she’d only be lying to herself. Having him walk beside her like this made her feel secure. Something she hadn’t felt in a long, long time.

“You don’t ever feel like the ranch is too much for you?”

The two of them paused at the next stall long enough for Shayna to see a sorrel mare bedded down in the loose wood shavings covering the floor.

“The ranch has never been too much for me,” Dayton said as he guided her down the alleyway. “But I have to admit that it’s sometimes been a little rough trying to take care of Mother and Charlene. Especially after Dad died. They both turned to me and there wasn’t any way I could take the place of a husband and father.”

“It must have been an awful time for all of you.”

He sighed, “It was. Mother was desperately depressed and nothing I did seemed to help bring her out of it. Charlene was just a fourth grader, who thought her big brother could work miracles and bring her father back. I’m sure I let both of them down back then.”

Shayna couldn’t imagine a man like Dayton thinking he’d let anyone down. He seemed so strong, so sure of himself and his family. “As long as you stayed here on the ranch and tried to help them, then you couldn’t have let them down.”

Dayton didn’t agree. He’d always felt as though he’d let everyone down. Especially Mel and his unborn daughter. She’d loved him, expected and depended on him to take care of her. Instead, he’d let her die giving birth to his child. The wound of that went so Martha inside him, he doubted a lifetime would heal it.

His hand slipped away from her shoulder and Shayna knew he’d set himself apart from her now. He was back in his own private thoughts. A place where she wasn’t welcome. And though Shayna tried to ignore it, a cold, deserted feeling began to seep through her.