Back in the Saddle

New Addition to the Employee List

Nick's POV:

I take Karl back to the main building where Sam's office is, praying that he isn't out for lunch or in a meeting. As we enter, the front desk worker, Eret, looks up at us, but waves us past once he recognizes me. The brunet seems a little nervous as he trails behind me, holding my hand tightly, so I squeeze it gently in some attempt to reassure him that he has nothing to worry about.

Everyone I know who's met Karl loves him, because that's the type of person he is. Sam would be no different, and he would undoubtedly get the job. I wasn't worried in the slightest. I do know why he is, however, and that's why I'm trying my best to make sure that he's confident.

I knock on the door with Sam's name on it and I hear him say 'come in' from the other side. I open it marginally, peeking in to see him sitting at his desk, doing some work, before I open it all the way. He looks up at us, raising his eyebrow questioningly but beckons us in.

Karl and I each take a seat in one of the two leather chairs he has in front of his desk. The brunet fiddles with the rings on his fingers as his eyes flicker between me and the blond, who looks confused as to what's going on. I wonder if I should've called him and told him about Karl or something. Nah, it's fine.

"Sam, this is Karl. He needs a job and I told him I could get an interview for the concession stands with Hannah."

"Oh. Well, nice to meet you, Karl."

"Nice to meet you, sir."

Sam and I both laugh and Karl looks confused. "I'm probably a few years older than you, you don't have to call me sir," he chuckles. "I do appreciate it though. Nick, do you mind?"

"Huh? Oh yeah, right, I'll leave, sorry," I stutter, getting up. "Good luck, sunshine," I whisper to Karl, letting my hand linger on his shoulder for a moment before I leave.

I smirk, knowing I made him blush. I'm really glad that I ran into him at the cafe: I go there every day since Delores is an old friend of my mom's, but it's pure luck that I happened to show up at the same time as Karl. I was even later than normal, since I got held up while helping Alex and Clay sweep the barn.

But now Karl is about to join us on this payroll, and I feel so excited that it's not even funny.

===

Cinnamon stirs beneath me, sensing the nervousness I feel because of Karl. It's only been twenty minutes, but I feel like it shouldn't be taking this long. To be honest I have no idea how long job interviews typically last: this is only the second or third job I've ever had and I got it fairly easily since Clay and Alex were already working here.

Clay and Spirit sprint around the course while I walk Cinnamon back and forth, almost like pacing, because my brain is too occupied to focus on riding safely. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Alex talking with Tommy, who is trying to get Lizzie to jump an obstacle that she's never jumped before. Both he and Clay seemed pretty stoked when I told them that Karl would most likely be working here, but I couldn't help but notice that Clay seemed a bit sad that George still isn't.

And they think that they are so good at hiding their crushes on one another.

Suddenly, I hear a voice call my name and I spin around on Cinnamon, instantly locking eyes with Karl, who is lightly jogging over from the office. I quickly--maybe a little too quickly--slide off Cinnamon, jumping the fence with less grace than I would've preferred, and meet Karl halfway, near the barn.

"Well?" I ask, trying to disguise how eager I am.

"You're looking at the newest employee at Pandora's Ranch!" he says excitedly.