Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 63004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
“Need any help?”
“Mom wants to make sure someone’s holding the reins for each kiddo,” David said as he walked the same paint Vivianne had been petting a few days ago out of her stall.
Derek pointed to the two end stalls. “Those two still need someone to lead them.”
“I’ll take them, and get Vivianne to help.”
Leading the two horses out to the arena, I asked Josh to get Vivianne for me when I saw him. He quickly tracked her down and brought her over.
“Hey!” she said, lifting to her toes to kiss me.
“I thought you could help out with the horses. The kids will be put on their backs and we’ll lead them around the other half of the arena.”
Her face lit up like one of the Christmas trees. “I’d love to. Can I take Logan around?”
“Of course you can.”
My mother, father, and Grams all lined up the kids behind the mounting blocks. I was next to Vivianne and asked if she had any questions, since she’d only ridden once.
“Nope. I paid close attention in my first lesson. Your mother should start up lessons again, by the way. She’s great at it.”
I smiled. She was leading the same horse she’d ridden, Wonder Bread, so I wasn’t the least bit worried. She helped Logan up onto the horse, and we walked them all in a circle around the side of the arena that wasn’t being used as Santa’s barn, as Logan kept calling it.
Vivianne was in front of me, and I smiled as I watched her. She was in her element, and I couldn’t help but wonder what the future would look like, with her as my wife and part of the ranch. Would she jump in and help my mother with the charity event? Would she want to start her own? When did she want to have kids?
All the things I couldn’t wait to find out.
After the younger kids got to ride on the horses, Mom asked if any of the older kids knew how to ride. A few did, so they jumped on and showed us their skills. I could see my mother watching with a practiced eye.
When one of the kids standing to the side mentioned wishing they knew how to ride, Vivianne turned to my mother. “Would that be something we could do here on the ranch for the kids at the center?”
My mother’s eyes lit with excitement. “Yes! That’s a lovely idea, Vivianne.”
Lily and my mother were soon standing together, heads bent close as they spoke a mile a minute.
Vivianne helped us bring all the horses back to the stables. The ranch hands were waiting to take care of the horses so we could get back out to the arena. Things would be wrapping up soon, and Mom would want us all there to say goodbye.
I watched as Vivianne hugged Logan, then Lily. They exchanged what I assumed were phone numbers. She watched as everyone headed out and back to the cars that brought them here earlier this morning. When she turned away and saw me, she made her way over, a wide grin across her beautiful face.
“Ladd, this was the most amazing day of my life. Did you see their little faces when they saw gifts with their actual names on them? I almost cried so many times. And the older kids were so thankful for their presents and kept thanking everyone. It was so heartwarming.”
I took her hands in mine and brought her closer to me. Kissing her forehead, I said, “Thank you so much for helping today, and with everything else.”
“I loved it. Your mom and Lilith are already in the planning stages for next year’s event. I told them I’d do whatever they needed me to do.”
“We have something else we need to plan.”
Her face lit up with a brilliant smile. “Our wedding.”
“I know I just asked you, but what are you thinking?”
“Well, I was kind of hoping we could get married right after we graduate. That way, when we move to River Falls we’ll be married. Otherwise, I’d have to find a place to rent.”
Confused, I asked, “Why would you need to find a place to rent? We can live together on the ranch.”
She shook her head. “No way, Ladd. Your grandmother already nixed that.”
“What?” I asked with a laugh. “When?”
“Earlier today, when David asked if I’d move into the hunter’s cabin with you when we got out of school. She nearly had a heart attack and said we would not be living together until we were married.”
I stared at her for a few minutes. “Viv, that’s crazy. My mother and father won’t care.”
“Maybe not, but Lilith will, and I don’t want to disappoint her.”
She was concerned about what my grandmother thought. Good God, I loved her even more for that.
“Okay, so we get married right after graduation.”