Chapter 371

Dinner was served right on time. Pearl walked downstairs to find the crew in line, getting their trays of plates. She walked behind Dylan and grabbed a tray. He smiled at her and helped her get everything. They walked outside to several large tables where everyone sat to eat. Pearl sat down and looked around. There were several men around her. An older man smiled as he removed his hat.

"Hey there. I'm Danny." He said, taking a drink of his water.

"Pearl." She said.

"I know sweetheart. We have the queen of England visiting, you bet your ass we are fully aware of it." He said with a smile. She nodded.

"Pearl hopes to learn from you all here. She is going to participate in the program just as you do, to have a better knowledge of how it all works. We may be something the royal family wants to promote for charity." Dylan said. He glanced a quick side wink to Pearl.

"Yes. Please just treat me like anyone else." She said.

"Good. 'Cause you're in my seat." A man said from behind her. "Get up."

Pearl looked behind her and saw a tall man who looked like the sun had leathered his face into a permanent squint. He was dark and brooding and intimidating. He looked like the kind of guy that always wins the gunfight in the westerns her grandpa always made her watch as a kid.

"Oh, I'm so sorry." Pearl said, getting up and moving to a seat across from where she was.

The man nodded and sat down.

"Pearl, this is Gil. He is the ranch foreman. Gil, this is Pearl." Dylan said.

"Pleasure." Gil said, eating a bite of a bread roll and rolling his eyes. Pearl could already feel his disdain for her being there.

"Pearl?" She heard a familiar voice say. She looked ahead and saw Erik, about five feet from the table, looking directly at her.

"Well this should be interesting." Gil said under his breath.

Erik sat down a few chairs away from them, still a bit stunned.

"So, queenie, I hear you want to learn about us." Gil said.

"Yes. I am interested in how things work here." She said.

"That's just the thing. Things WORK here. I don't think that manicure of yours is going to hold up much and you definitely will get dirty. Probably would be good just to observe." Gil said, chuckling. "Wouldn't want to tarnish your crown or golden spoon."

Pearl flashed him a scowl. "I wasn't born a queen. I have worked my whole life. Hard. And let me tell you, I wouldn't let monarchs push me around and treat me like shit, I'm not about to allow a ranch hand even think he might be able to. Watch how you talk to me." She said.

"Or what?" Gil asked smugly. Cheyenne, who was seated next to Pearl, covered her mouth.

Pearl looked over at Erik and then slowly back at Gil. "I don't think you want to know the answer to that. And for your sake, I hope you never do." She said, taking a bite of bread.

Cheyenne stifled a giggle and the rest of the table was silent.

"Yeah well I don't take kindly to threats." Gil said.

"Oh it wasn't a threat." She said, cutting her meat. "So take it however the fuck you want to." She looked up and made eye contact with him and then looked over at Dylan. "So what's on the agenda for tomorrow?" She asked.

"You will be on stable duty with Cheyenne in the morning. After lunch, you will be helping with the supply shack. Inventory and getting things refilled." Dylan said.

"No fair! I wanted that job!" Cheyenne said.

"Well maybe you shouldn't be so good at breaking and riding horses, then." Dylan said. Gil nodded in agreement. Cheyenne folded her arms in protest but she knew it was true. She was the best rider out of them all, showing horses at a young age in 4H. She loved them.

Erik kept his head down and ate. When he was finished, he took his plate and got up. Pearl wasn't sure how to act or what to say. She felt Dylan could handle it best and decided not to try to talk to him right away.

"Alright, everyone tuck it in for the night. Busy day tomorrow. Get some rest. You all did a great job today." Dylan said. And with that, they all formed a circle and held hands.

"We are thankful for this day, for it is a day we have worked hard, fought against our addictions, stayed sober and found a closer relationship to nature, to god and to ourselves." They chanted in unison. And they all stood for a moment of silence and then gave each other high-fives and smiles before heading to their bunks for the night.

Inside, Pearl followed Dylan to the living room. He knelt down and started a fire.

"It does get chilly at night out here." Pearl said. Dylan smiled.

"Well, what did you think?" He asked.

"I think I will be able to answer that after a few days." She said. He stood up and stopped in front of her, pulling her into his arms and holding her.

"I'm glad you're here." He said.

"Me too." She said back. He let go and kissed her forehead.

"Goodnight, Pearl."

"Goodnight Dylan."