Free Open Skies by Marysol James

chance to see Dave’s office, she told Rob to get a sales presentation done for tomorrow at eight. Maria says he’ll be here all night. She’s gone now to get Gracie’s birthday present, ‘cause Rob can’t go.”
    Jake pushed his black hair back from his eyes with both hands, a sure sign of frustration. He just couldn’t believe that this spoiled little bitch had swanned on to the ranch and treated the people he cared about like shit. Just who the hell did she think she was, anyway?
    Mattie appeared at the stable door. “Hey, guys. Julie’s asked us all to be in the restaurant tomorrow at ten. She wants a staff meeting. OK?”
    “On Saturday morning?” Joe asked.
    “Yeah. Well, it’s her first day here. She wants to get a jump on stuff, I guess. And most of us are here, anyway.”
    They all nodded, but she sensed the tension in the air. “Hey, what’s up?”
    Nobody said anything for a minute then Rosie said, “Well, did you find her very friendly?”
    Mattie leaned against the wall and loosely crossed her arms. “Not so much. But I think the poor little thing was just overwhelmed. I mean, she isn’t in an easy position.”
    “Poor little thing?” Jake snapped. “Seriously?”
    “ She isn’t in an easy position?” Joe echoed. “And what about all of us?”
    “Well, I know. Change is never easy and not always welcome. But it happens. You all didn’t think that Dave would be around forever, did you? And what did you expect to happen when he left?”
    “That’s not the point, Mattie,” Jake said in his deep voice. “The point is how she treats us. Dave was the boss, but didn’t act like some goddamned King of the Castle. I don’t mind a new owner and boss, but I’d like to think that she could treat us all with a bit of respect.”
    “Give the girl some time,” Mattie said. “Let her settle in. Not everyone can make a good first impression. And remember – we can’t believe every single thing we’ve heard about her. Consider the source.”
    “Fine,” Rosie sighed. “I’ll try.”
    “Yeah, OK,” Joe agreed.
    They went off to get the horses ready for an evening ride with some of the hotel guests, leaving Jake alone with Mattie.
    “Look, Jake. I know you’re the most unhappy about all of this, but it is what it is. Just give her a chance, OK?”
    “OK,” he said. “She gets one shot tomorrow at the meeting.” He scowled. “After that, I’ll treat her the same way she treats me. How that’ll be is up to her.”
    **
Julie was up long before her alarm the next morning. After a night of fitful sleep punctuated by bad dreams, at about 5:00 a.m., she admitted defeat and gave up trying to rest.
    She went in to the kitchen and looked through the cupboards, on the hunt for coffee. Mattie had stocked her with instant (bleuch), and a pretty nice selection of ground coffees. Julie lined them all up on the counter and read through the hand-written labels: French Vanilla, Tiramisu, Ginger & Orange, Cinnamon. Hmmm. Tough call, this one. In the end, she decided to have the ginger first, and then follow it up with a cup of the vanilla.
    As she waited for the brand-new espresso maker to boil on the stove, she stared out of the living room window. The mountains were still mostly in darkness, but a few tentative rays of sun were touching the tips. She watched in amazement as the mountains were streaked with purple, then rose, then gold. She got the feeling that they were being gently stroked awake, coaxed to come alive. She’d never seen anything like it in her life.
    The espresso maker hissed behind her as the coffee bubbled up and in to the collecting chamber, and she inhaled the aroma gratefully. She poured the coffee in to a cute mug with black and white stripes and wandered back over to the window. She stood sipping her coffee and watching the mountains again and thinking about her day.
    The meeting with Rob was sure to be interesting. Julie’s nine months as the Head of the New Business