Page 57 of Perfect Enough
SOPHIA
When we pulled up to the Shaw Ranch gate, I had to keep from gasping. The entrance alone was beautiful.
Josh pulled through, and we started down a long, paved drive. Each side had endless views of pastureland and the surrounding mountains.
“This is gorgeous. How lucky were you to grow up on a ranch like this.”
Josh smiled. “Lucky indeed.”
As we drove, he pointed out roads that split off in different directions on the ranch, leading to various relatives’ houses.
“It must be a pretty big ranch to have so many members of your family living on it.”
“It’s not small, for sure, and we’ve acquired land around the original ranch over the years, causing it to grow. Like when I bought land. It’s technically mine, but I consider it part of the ranch. Same with Nathan.”
“I bet it’s even more beautiful in the fall.”
“And the winter, spring…”
Laughing, I said, “Tell me you love your family ranch without telling me you love your family ranch.”
We drove for a bit longer, and a huge red barn appeared. It was probably the most enormous barn I’d ever seen.
“Okay, nowthatis a barn.”
“Yeah, this is the main barn for the ranch. Blayze and Hunter both have offices there.”
“Wait—this was the barn from the reality TV show Hunter was in, isn’t it?”
He laughed. “Seems like that was forever ago, but yes, you’re right. You must have watched the show?”
“I remember reading about it when it came out and yes, Chloe and I watched it.”
After he parked the truck next to a few others, we walked into the barn, and I had to blink a few times as I took in the sheer massiveness of the place.
“How bigisthis?”
“The area for the horses is about ten-thousand square feet. That includes the offices, a bedroom, the loft upstairs for the hay, and an area Blayze and Hunter put in for…downtime.”
I raised my brows. “Downtime?”
He winked. “Fun times when they don’t feel like working.”
I giggled. “I see.”
The supersized barn doors were beautiful wood doors with the ranch logo carved into them. The floors were concrete tiles instead of packed earth, adding a luxurious feeling. The barn looked like it went on forever.
“How many stalls are in here?”
“There are sixteen stalls that are twelve by fourteen. And around the corner, there are four more that are fourteen by fourteen.”
As we walked through, a few horses poked their heads beyond their stall gates in greeting.
“I’ve never seen such a beautiful barn.”
“It was remodeled about three years ago, and they fancied it up simply because it’s the main barn and everyone comes here for business. First impressions and all that.”
The stalls were dark-stained tongue-and-groove paneling throughout. The doors were black iron. When I looked up, skylights above me ran the entire length of the barn, allowing natural daylight to filter in from above. My eyes widened when I saw the massive light fixtures hanging between them. “Holy crap, there are chandeliers in here!”