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“I’d like to down the entire thing, but since it’s the offseason, I’m not exercising as much. I don’t want to show up on the first day with a dad bod.”
One of her eyebrows pops upward on her forehead. “As if you could.”
“It’s easy to fall into bad habits, especially overindulging.”
“Are we still talking about food or your other vices?” she teases.
“It applies no matter what the subject. Too much of anything can have repercussions. Too much eating and you’ll gain weight. And on the flip side, too much exercising can cause injuries.”
“Too much cooking for others and you don’t want to cook for yourself,” she says, laughing.
I smile. “Exactly.” Rising from the stool, I collect my plate, fork, and glass and load them into the dishwasher before walking over to her. “Would you like me to take you on a quick tour of the farm?”
“I’d love that. Which reminds me, I brought some treats with me for the ponies and cows.” She rifles through a canvas bag, smiling as she pulls out a large ziploc bag filled with carrots. “I checked online to make sure they’re a safe option for them.”
How perfect can she be?
“They’ll love that. Do you need to do anything before we go?”
“Let me put the casserole away.” Covering the glass dish with a lid, she places it in the fridge. “All set.”
Once we’re outside, I lead her to one of our UTVs and help her in the passenger side.
“Oh, wow,” she says, once she’s seated.
I hurry around to the driver’s side. “This is one of my favorite toys on the farm.”
She places the bag of carrots on her lap. “Do I need a helmet?” she asks, fastening her seat belt.
“We’re going for a leisurely ride, a Sunday ride if you will.” I nudge her arm with mine. “Get it?”
“Yep, because it’s Sunday. Har har,” she says.
“Okay, I admit that wasn’t my best attempt at humor, but they can’t all be winners.” I grab a pair of sunglasses from one of the cubbies below the dashboard. “Look at me for a sec,” I say, slipping them on Calista. The large mirrored lenses dwarf her small face, making her look like the cutest bug I’ve ever seen. “The sun gets pretty intense out here.”
“Thank you,” she says.
I put on the second pair that my dad often borrows. Next, I hand her a pair of noise reduction ear muffs. “You’ll need these.”
“Thanks,” she says, wrapping them over the top of her head while I get mine situated.
At first I keep to the long driveway, letting her get used to the feeling of the ride. In my periphery I see her wave and call out to the minis as we drive by their paddocks. I’ll be sure to stop on the way back so she can visit them and give them the carrots.
Slowing down, I turn left through an open gate that brings us onto a dirt road. Things get a little bumpier as we progress along, but it’s not too noticeable until I cut across a field. There’s something I want to show her, but it’s off the beaten path.
My eyes swing her way, finding her clutching the passenger grab bar as she’s jostled around in her seat, but she’s smiling.
After another minute or two, I park and shut the UTV off. Removing my ear muffs, I hang them on the hook beneath the dash. Calista does the same before she undoes her seat belt.
“What’s the plan now?” she asks.
“I want to show you one of my favorite places.”
She nods. “I’d like that.” She’s already climbed out before I can get to her. Turning her head from one side to the other, she scans the area. “It’s so peaceful here.”
“It is. When I first moved here it took some time for me to become accustomed to the silence. After living in the city, it was a big adjustment.”
“I bet. But it’s not really silent. I love how the sounds of nature are all around us,” she says.
