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“No. I’m not even sure she likes cats, but they were two strays that she found living outside, and she adopted them. Maybe just doing a good Samaritan thing.”
“Is that in Strawberry Sands?” Jubilee asked. “I know it’s a small town, but is it terrible that I’ve basically been to the beach and to your mom’s boardinghouse? And Davis and Kim’s stable. And that’s pretty much it.”
“And the diner.”
“Oh my goodness, yes. How could I forget that? The strawberry cheesecake.”
“That’s enough said. Man, I don’t know where Griff comes up with his talent, but that cheesecake is just...there are no words.”
“I totally agree.”
“All right. Then it’s settled, after we’re done riding, we’ll put the horses away, and we’ll go get cheesecake.”
“I feel I was suckered into that,” she said, laughing.
“Are you going to turn cheesecake down?”
“Not Griff’s. I’ve never had cheesecake better than his.”
After she spoke, it seemed like they both looked out toward the western horizon, where the sun was exploding in a riot of color: oranges and reds and pinks with delicate blues and yellows along the edges.
Several long, low clouds were bejeweled with a bright orange and yellow glow that was so beautiful it was almost something Jubilee could feel.
“The sunsets are amazing.”
“And they’re better on horseback,” Matt said, and although there was a smile in his voice, his eyes were on the horizon.
She loved that. That he didn’t just take it for granted that the sunset was there. That he wanted to stop and look at it and appreciate it. That maybe he was thinking the same thing she was, that God did it just for them. Just to make them smile, to give them something beautiful to look at, something to admire and to show them His handiwork and His mastery over all creation.
The horses were both quiet as they stood, without moving, listening to the waves, watching the sky, and aware of each other, but not needing to talk to share the moment. She appreciated that too. That she could talk or not talk, and Matt was okay with both.
Finally, as the glow of the sunset faded, the wind lifted her hair, and she shivered.
“It cools down quick after the sun goes down.”
“It always does. Even in the summer, the wind coming off the lake is always a little bit chilly. Which I have to admit I don’t mind. After the heat of the day, it always feels good.”
They turned their horses and started walking back down the beach.
“Are you okay if we stop at the stable, brush these guys down, then grab a piece of cheesecake?”
She should say no. She really should, but she didn’t want to. She wanted to spend more time with him. Wanted to just enjoy being in his company, enjoy chatting with him, smiling, and talking about nothing and everything.
“I’d love to.” And that was the truth.
