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Sebastian eyed her curiously.
Genevieve got Charisma trotting and then suddenly took off in a full gallop, letting out a loud whoop. “Race ya to the woods!”
He laughed and got Buddy going, then let him loose, following the rest of the open path until they neared the place where it narrowed and disappeared into a wooded trail.
Genevieve slowed Charisma to a walk again, and he slowed Buddy to a trot until he caught up to her.
She was laughing, her hair falling out of the bun it had been in all afternoon. “That was such a rush. I haven’t done that in so long.”
Her laugh was like magic. It made him feel things he’d never felt before. The more time they spent together, the more he was falling for this woman.
They moved on through the wooded path slowly, talking as they rode.
“I’m sorry to hear about your dad,” Sebastian said.
“Thank you. It was his heart. One day, he seemed perfectly healthy, riding around the field in the combine like he loved to do, and the next day he was gone.”
“When did he die?”
“A little over a year ago.”
“Your mom doesn’t do the farming now, does she?”
“Oh, heavens, no. She rents the land to area farmers. My mom never wanted to be a farmer’s wife to begin with, and she made that fact well known my whole life. Rhonda’s more like her in that way. She wasn’t into farm life. But I was Daddy’s little girl, always out here working and helping wherever I could.” She grew quiet as they rode. “Daddy and I went riding together a few days before he passed. It was our thing.”
The sorrow in her eyes made Sebastian’s heart ache. He wished they were standing on solid ground so he could take her in his arms and comfort her.
“I miss him.” She touched Charisma’s black mane. “We both do, don’t we, girl?”
“You really love horses, don’t you?” He already knew the answer, but wanted to hear her talk about them some more.
“So much. I love the connection people can make with them, how trusting they can be. And so loving. If I was upset, I’d go see Charisma, and she always seemed to pick up on how I was feeling. It’s a bond that’s hard to explain to someone who hasn’t been around horses much.”
Sebastian thought about that for a few moments. “I don’t think I ever really experienced that, but I did love riding. Did you ever think about working with them as a career?”
“Actually … don’t tell the boss, but Schultz Chocolate was not my first choice of job.”
His eyebrows lifted when he looked over at her. “No? Where would you rather be working?”
“There’s this great company out in Montana that rescues horses. I went when I was in high school and helped for a month one summer. I’ve always wanted to go back there and work. There’s so much to do. So many horses are mistreated. I applied for a position there, but never heard back.”
He could tell by the expression on her face that she was disappointed, and that saddened him, but he was secretly glad she hadn’t gotten that job.
“Maybe one day you’ll get to go back there.”
She shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe. My family would hate me living so far away.”
He fixed his eyes on hers. “They’re not the only ones.”
Her cheeks turned a soft shade of pink, and her head dipped shyly.
They rode on in silence for a few minutes.
“What are your parents like?” she asked out of the blue. “Are you close with them?”
A nervousness settled in the pit of his stomach. If her questions turned too personal, he didn’t want to lie to her. He remembered the pastor’s sermon about honesty in church on Sunday. He wanted to be honest with her. He really did.
“My parents are the best. Loving and supportive to us kids. Generous and kind. We’re very close.”