Chapter One – Emeline #2
Levi turned, and I took in his muscular build.
He wasn’t one of those guys who hit the gym all the time and had muscles that were too big.
They were earned by hard work, and Lord, did it show in that T-shirt he was wearing.
He got his exercise working on our ranch during the summers and on weekends.
“Sounds good; after you.”
My heart pounded so hard, I could hardly hear a thing, it was so loud in my ears. For some reason I was becoming anxious, and I had no idea why.
“What are your plans for this summer?” I asked as we slowly made our way back up to the house.
He kicked at a rock. “I’m planning on taking Caroline to Belize and asking her to marry me.”
I tripped and nearly dropped the box.
Levi quickly grabbed my arm to steady me. “Whoa, watch out there.”
“Tree root,” I quickly said as I started to walk once again. I looked at him, then focused ahead of me. “You’re asking Caroline to marry you?”
He nodded.
“I thought you were starting vet school this year?”
“I still am, but there’s been a change of plans.”
Stopping, I turned to him. His voice sounded so unsure. I wasn’t positive, but I swore I heard a slight sadness in his tone. “With school?”
He let out a humorless laugh. “No, life.”
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
Levi glanced around as if making sure no one else was nearby. “Caroline is pregnant. She just found out. I’m going to do the right thing and marry her.”
I sucked in a breath. And before I could think better of it, I asked, “Do you want to marry her?”
“I wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t want to marry her, Emeline,” he retorted, his voice cold and distant. Then he closed his eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap. This wasn’t something I was expecting, that’s all.”
“What about vet school?”
“I’m going to keep going. Caroline and I will be moving into a little house her parents found for us in Fort Collins.”
Of course they did. Caroline’s father would do anything for her.
“Well…that’s good that you can finish out school and still work with your dad.”
He rubbed at the back of his neck, and when his eyes met mine, I felt sick to my stomach.
“Why do I have a feeling you’re not going to be coming back to River Falls?”
Levi kicked at the ground once again. “Caroline wants to move to Denver when I finish school. She thinks I’ll make more money there rather than here.”
My eyes went wide. “You’re leaving River Falls completely? What about your dad and the practice? I thought the plan was for you to take over when he retires?”
He shrugged. “Plans change.”
I blinked at him and slowly shook my head. “I guess they do. Is this what you want, Levi?”
“No. But sometimes you have to put your feelings aside for the people you love.”
I narrowed my eyes. “That works both ways.”
His eyes snapped up to meet mine. “You don’t understand, Em.”
It was my turn to shrug. “I guess not.”
We started walking again, and when we arrived at the house, we faced each other. Levi flashed me that dazzling smile of his, and I returned the gesture. Holding up the box, I said, “Thank you so much for the shirt. It really is beautiful, and I can’t wait to wear it.”
“You’re welcome. Maybe I’ll see you around campus.”
The chances of us seeing each other would be rare, but not impossible, since at least a few of our classes would be in the same area.
I wasn’t sure whether I was happy or sad about that, now knowing that Levi was marrying Caroline. Before he’d dropped all his bombs on me, I was so excited for the chance of running into Levi at school. I’d even dared to hope we might get to hang out together.
“Maybe,” I replied. Levi took a step closer and drew me in for a hug. It was an innocent gesture. He didn’t linger or hold me too close. It was the kind you give a sibling. He stepped back, leaned down, and brushed a kiss to my forehead.
“See you around, Em.”
My heart slammed against my chest. No one ever called me Em. Now Levi Tucker just went and ruined my first, and probably last, nickname.
He turned and started to walk around the side of the house. He glanced back, and I lifted my hand and waved.
“See you around, Levi.”
Seven years later
A light knock on my door caused me to look up and Moose, my one-year-old chocolate lab, to let out a bark.
I smiled when I saw it was my mother. I quickly stood and moved around the desk to hug her.
Moose jumped up as well and nearly knocked me over.
My little office was across the hall from her office, which was housed in the horse barn over on the east side of the ranch.
It was close to my grandparents’ house, and was the original barn built on the ranch when my great-great-grandfather settled this land.
It had, of course, been changed over the years, but this barn felt more like home than my own house I’d grown up in.
I was here all the time. The barn by my parents’ house was for the cattle, so I hardly ever set foot inside unless I was helping out.
“I got your note that you wanted to talk to me.”
“It’s about the summer camp sessions.”
She sat down in the spare chair in my office. “What about them?”
“I know we already have one week in June, one in July, but I was thinking we could add another one in August this year—but wait,” I said when she went to speak what most likely was going to be an objection. “I was thinking this third week could be for kids with special needs.”
Her brows lifted. “You’ve always talked about wanting to do that. Have you researched it? We would need the right staff at camp for that week.”
“You know me, Mom. I’ve researched the hell out of it.
I was thinking, what if it was for the whole family?
That way, the parents—or at least one parent—could come with their child.
After speaking with over two-dozen parents of children with special needs, every single one of them loved the idea of going to camp with their kids.
Being there for them while watching them try new adventures.
And you know that equine therapy was something I was fascinated with in college. ”
“I remember.”
“Horses can calm riders with autism, allowing them to be able to focus on learning how to ride. There’s a woman I met at a conference last December who uses therapeutic horsemanship to help campers concentrate on learning how to ride, communicate, and connect with the horses.
It teaches them that they can live life as fully and independently as possible, taking into account each camper’s situation.
And imagine learning not only how to ride a horse, but how to care for one as well. ”
My mother smiled. “Would it only be for kids with autism?”
I shook my head. “I don’t think we need to limit it to just that.
We would, however, need to hire someone trained in therapeutic horsemanship to oversee the program.
I’ve been trying to learn as much as I can for the last several months.
We’ll need to train our volunteers and camp counselors on how to interact with the campers—and by that, I mean, we’ll need them to assist a bit more than they do with the other campers.
“We’ll also need two volunteers, instead of one, to walk alongside the horses, to ensure the riders’ safety.
They’ll need to know how to handle a host of different situations that might arise, both medically and emotionally.
That’s why I was thinking we could have the parents stay as well, because we could learn so much from them.
They could volunteer, and help train our current volunteers.
It would be a test run this summer, with a small number of campers, to see if this is even something we can offer in the future.
Some kids would be day campers only, while maybe a few we can try out for overnight camping. ”
Another wide smile from my mother as she said, “Emeline, that’s a wonderful idea.”
I returned the gesture. “I think so too! Also, you know that new little perfumery that opened on Main Street a few months ago? Wonderland Whimsy, owned by Lilibeth Asher?”
“Yes. Lily and I stopped by there after they opened. The store’s adorable, and she sells the cutest children’s things!
And the candles—did you know she makes them all there?
And does a class where you can make the candles and the perfume?
It’s Alice in Wonderland themed. And she also has an event space above the store.
You remember her parents moved here first. Liam and Whitney.
They’re a lovely couple. Lily and I’ve gotten to know them while helping them get settled in. ”
Lily Waters was my mother’s best friend, a recently retired teacher at River Falls Haven, an orphanage in town. They’d been friends for as long as I could remember. Together, they were such a huge part of the community, and I knew they’d welcomed Lilibeth’s parents with wide-open arms.
“I know Lilibeth appreciates how welcome they’ve all felt.”
Mom smiled and reached out to pet Moose, who was now sitting next to her. “Her name always makes me think of your great-grandmother, Lileth. I miss her something fierce.”
“The few memories I have of her are all happy ones, and most of them have to do with horses.”
We both laughed.
“She was a wonderful woman. You remind me so much of her, Emeline.”
I leaned over and reached for my mother’s hand, giving it a light squeeze.
“I’m sorry I got distracted with tangents for a moment.
Why were you bringing up Lilibeth and the store?
” Mom asked, clearly not wanting to remain on the subject of my great-grandmother.
They were very close. My father said Lileth and my grandmother, Nellie, loved teaching my mom how to ride a horse.
Lileth was still riding horses well into her 90s, and almost right up until the day she passed.