Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 86808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Luckily, Sylvie appeases my curiosity by saying, “But she didn’t date him for very long. He traveled a lot and it didn’t work out.”
She sounds neither sad nor regretful. Just matter of fact and I assume Sylvie didn’t have a strong bond with him. Weirdly, that gives me some satisfaction as the thought of someone else being a father to her makes me sting a bit with jealousy. I’ll delve into that later, as I’ve got nine years of history to learn about her. I instead ask, “Do you like any other sports?”
Sylvie shrugs. “Football, or as you Americans call it… soccer.”
I can’t help but bark out a laugh. “Your dad played soccer in high school, or as you French call it, football.”
Sylvie actually smiles and Miranda laughs.
“Do you understand that the show horses we have and train are athletes? They compete in shows with their riders.”
“Kat explained that to me,” Sylvie replies, bending her head over her workbook and answering another math problem.
“Are you almost done with your homework?” I ask.
“Just two more.” She keeps focused and I wait for her to finish. Sharing a look with Miranda, her expression is replete with happiness that they’ve had an actual conversation—an exchange of meaningful words.
When Sylvie closes her workbook, I ask, “Why don’t you come over to the show rider barn with me? There’s somebody I want you to meet.”
Sylvie’s eyes widen. “Who?”
“Ms. DeLeon’s niece Carmen has a lesson with Kat. She goes to a different school, but y’all are the same age and we thought it would be good for you to meet. A new friend.”
I wait for suspicion to arise, but her expression is one of curiosity. “Okay. Do I need to change clothes?”
“No. What you have on is fine.” She’s dressed in jeans, a lightweight sweater and tennis shoes. “Although if you want to get up on a horse, we’re going to have to get you some proper riding attire.”
“I’m not interested in riding the horses,” Sylvie says, but not with any disdain. “They’re a little big for me.”
“If you change your mind, we have the sweetest lesson horses that are very safe. I’ll even ride with you if you want.”
Sylvie shakes her head but stands from the table and repacks her bookbag. When she’s finished, I lead her out of the house where we get in my truck and head over to the lesson barn.
I check my watch as we get out and enter through the side office door. Trey is at the desk, his booted feet propped on it.
“There’s my favorite niece,” Trey says as Sylvie walks in behind me.
Sylvie looks flustered and isn’t sure how to respond, so I help her out. “She’s your only niece. Not saying much that you call her a favorite.”
Sylvie giggles and it’s music to my years.
“What are you doing in here?” I ask Trey.
“My four-thirty training got canceled so I’m just waiting on my next one.”
I nod. “Is Carmen here yet?”
Trey points toward the door. “They just got here. She came with her mom and aunt.”
This surprises me, because while Marcie and I had arranged for the girls to meet today, I assumed Carmen would be here with only her mother. I’m not sure what it says that I have a pulse of excitement over hearing that Marcie is in the barn, but I’m most certainly not displeased about seeing her again. I know the dinner we had together was nothing more than two friends talking, but I had a pleasant time.
More than pleasant. If I’m being honest, I didn’t want the evening to end. I can’t even remember the last time I sat down and had such an easy conversation with a woman. And not just any woman. One who is very attractive in all the right ways.
When we enter through the adjoining door that leads into the show barn, I immediately spot Carmen already mounted on Lady Beatrice. She is battling the classic double bridle that the show rider uses to control not only the direction of the horse but its bearing. The top rein helps keep the horse’s head held high, a natural extension of saddlebred DNA.
Marcie and Michelle are sitting on a bench and I walk over, Sylvie following behind. Marcie smiles at me in a way I like very much and I return it.
Manners dictate I acknowledge Michelle, so I give her a nod. “How are you doing, Michelle?”
She beams at me. “Lovely. Can’t wait to see Carmen on Lady Beatrice.”
“It’s a fantastic match. I expect great things from them in the show ring this season.”
Sylvie pulls away from me and sits down beside Marcie while I take the seat on her other side.
Marcie nods toward Carmen. “That’s my niece. If your dad lets you, I thought maybe we can go do something after Carmen’s lesson.”