Page 14 of Wilde Ride

“Perfect! We can also head over to the campgrounds so you can see it.”

Glancing over my shoulder at Caden, I saw him wave at me with his fingers while still grinning. I wasn’t sure how I was going to get him back, but I’d find a way.

Emeline

Levi opened the passenger door of his silver Ford F-250 and held out his hand so I could use it to climb in. I tried to ignore the way his touch caused my entire body to flush with heat, not to mention my traitorous stomach, which felt as if it were doing an endless pirouette.

“Thank you,” I said with a soft smile.

He shut the door and walked around the front of his truck to the driver’s side.

Once he climbed in, I said, “If you’ll just drive around the barn and head south, I can show you the camp. It’s been a while since you’ve been there.”

When he smiled, I swore it lit up the entire cab of the truck.

Turning my gaze away, I looked straight ahead. “Are you happy to be back in River Falls?”

Levi started the truck, and we were on our way down the gravel road. “I am happy, yes. Rhett loves it here. Or rather, he loves being on the farm with my mom and dad. His new favorite thing is to get up with Mom and help her feed the chickens. She’s keeping him busy, which also keeps his mind busy.”

Nodding, I replied, “He has the love for animals like his father and grandparents, I see.”

Levi chuckled. “That he does. I had horses at our place in Denver, since we lived outside of the city and had a few acres, so I got him on a horse early on. He loves it.”

I wanted to ask if Brooke had enjoyed animals but wasn’t sure whether Levi wanted to talk about his daughter. “A boy after my own heart,” I mused. “If I remember correctly, Caroline also liked to ride.”

“English, not western. She won some events she competed in during high school, but that was about as far as her love for the sport went. She thought they smelled, and she despised having to take care of them. Brooke loved to ride as well. She was just starting to learn.”

“I almost asked if she loved animals but I wasn’t sure if you’d be willing to talk about her.”

When he glanced over at me, his eyes were so sad. “I don’t mind talking about her. I try to talk about her often around Rhett. It’s painful, but I don’t want her memory to fade.”

“I’m so sorry that happened to you all, Levi. I can’t even imagine how painful it is.”

He let out a slow breath. “It is, but life goes on. Brooke wouldn’t want us to sit around and cry all the time. She was so full of life, always had a smile on her face. I miss her energy.”

“I wish I could have met her.”

He looked at me again. More sadness. “Me too. Every time we came to town, you were never at the ranch. You would have adored Brooke, and she would have loved you and Ensley.”

“I’m sure I would have,” I said softly. “And I haven’t seen Rhett since he was like three, maybe.”

“He’s growing up fast.”

When the sadness in his voice became too much, I decided to change the subject. “We have one summer session in June and one in July. We’re discussing the possibility of adding an additional week of camp in August, for children with special needs and their parents. It will be a different type of camp for the trial run. Only a day camp.”

“Wow, that’s exciting. So this will be your first year to offer that camp?”

I nodded. “It will, if we can make it happen. They’ll get a fun week on the ranch, and we’ll see if this is something we’re going to be able to offer annually. We’ll have to have properly trained staff on hand, and of course, all the legal stuff that goes along with something like this.”

Levi laughed. “The legal stuff? That’s one way of putting it.”

Shrugging, I replied, “My mother takes care of all that. She’s been doing this a lot longer than I have. I guess at some point I’ll need to learn it all, but for now, she deals with the lawyers.”

He pulled around the barn, and I pointed to a small parking area. “You can park there and we’ll get out and walk around.”

He pulled up and parked. “Wow, this place has changed since I was here last.”

I smiled. “It has changed a lot. We’re still on the small side as far as camps go, but that’s how we like it, and our needs don’t require anything on a larger scale.”