Junior kept his hands on my waist until I swung my leg over. I took a moment to get settled, and he stayed right by my side until I was good.
“Very nice.” I lifted the reins up so that I could grab them.
“Thanks.”
He dipped his head and then went over and expertly climbed on top of his own horse.
“I asked around to see where we should ride, but I’m open to going anywhere you’d like.” He offered.
“The lake is nice, but there is also Vista Peak.” I hadn’t been out to either of them is what seemed like forever. “There are a number of riding trails that lead to the peak if that would make it easier for you to find.”
“Where would you like to go?”
“Vista Peak.” I answered.
“Then that’s where we will go.” He flicked the reins and moved so that his horse was beside mine. “Lead the way.”
The ride out was gorgeous. The sun hadn’t fully set so there was plenty of light to guide us, but watching it slowly dip toward the mountains ahead was breathtaking.
“I need to do this more often.” I didn’t know I’d said the words out loud until Junior replied.
“Do what?” He looked over. “Go out with me?”
“No.” I shook my head. It was like he had a one track mind. “I need to take time to ride the ranch more.”
“Oh.” He nodded. “I agree. I think you should always make time for a ride, but I also think you should make time to go out with me more often too.”
“I thought we had a deal.” I reminded him.
“We do, but you didn’t mention me asking you out while we were on our date.” He winked. “A guy has to use whatever advantages he can get.”
“It’s not going to happen.” I told him. “This is a one and done.”
“We’ll see.” He smiled. “On a serious note, why don’t you take time to ride more? I’m sure if anyone could plan it out, then it would be you.”
I shot him a glance to see if he was making fun of me, but he didn’t look as if he were, which was strange. I was used to people thinking I was different for the way that I organized my life.
“I haven’t prioritized it, I guess.” That was the simple answer.
“That’s too bad. I always make sure that I go riding at least once a day.”
I let out a little laugh. “Well, of course you do. I’d be surprised if you only ride once a day. Isn’t it part of your training?”
“Training is different than riding.” He explained. “Riding is more relaxing and gives me space to think. I normally ride around our ranch when I’m back home. Sometimes I ride out to this small pond that we have at the back of our property. It flows to the spring that gives out town its name. Other times I just ride to community garden and check in with the people that keep it going.”
“You ride your horse through the town?” I couldn’t imagine that.
He laughed. “No. My family donated part of our land to the community to be used as a garden and farmer’s market.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “We have more than enough and more than we need. It’s our way of giving back.”
“So you don’t get anything back from the people who use it?” I found that hard to believe. “They don’t pay for the land or give you part of what they earn selling their things at the farmer’s market?”
“No.” He shook his head. “Sometimes people will bring over some veggies for my grandmother, but I think that has more to do with my grandmother than with them feeling they need to do it.”
“I don’t understand.”
