Page 28 of Big Booze Boss

"Hmph," I sass him before we exchange my sundress for the rope and then quiet my mind for the foal.

Mookie Duke's nostrils flare and his ears stand alert as Blaze moves away. I choke up on the rope, not for control, but just in case he panics. Then I follow along beside the foal as he follows Blaze as if I were in control.

Blaze glances back and smiles. He unlatches the pasture's gate and swings it wide enough for us to walk through. Then he says, "Unhook him. He won't go far. He's just learning manners right now."

I unhook the rope, and the colt stands still. Not sure if he's free or not. Then he realizes he is and bolts. Sprinting across the field.

I laugh, watching him. He's beautiful!

Blaze cranks the Jeep and drives it to the gate. I swing it wide, and he pulls it inside. He climbs out and says, "Remember not to follow too close. Mookie Duke will run circles around me."

I climb in, adjust the seat, and grin. "No one is dying today."

Blaze says, "Ready?"

"I'm ready."

Then he turns and sprints after Mookie Duke. His long stride stretched out as the colt does indeed run circles around him. Then he slows and catches his breath, jogging around the Jeep.

For the next forty minutes, I follow along after them. Enjoying myself more than I have in years. It's always been that way, though. There is something about hanging out with Blaze that makes everything fun.

When we reach the tree line, Blaze stops and waits for me to pull alongside. "Come on. I want to show you something." He holds his hand out to help me out of the Jeep.

We enter the forest and begin an upward climb over the rocky terrain. Mookie Duke doesn't follow. Instead, he lays down and rolls over and over, scratching his back. I laugh at him and tell Blaze, "He is the most adorable thing ever."

He chuckles. "He's been an unexpected joy in my life."

"What are you going to do with him when you return to baseball?"

He shrugs, "I haven't thought about it yet."

I'm fascinated by his answer. "How can you not plan for that?"

He shrugs, "Until I have to make the decision, I don't worry about it. I've learned to live in the moment and enjoy what life offers."

I stop and stare up at him. He waits on a ledge for me to step up to join him. His eyes are soft. His face is unconcerned. His expression relaxed. I marvel at his peace. "You're the most content person I have ever known."

He shrugs as he leans down, offers his hand, and pulls me up. "If I didn't let go of the things I couldn't control and didn't choose to live in the moment of the life I have, I would be miserable, Breezy, and lonely."

His confession pinches my heart.

He turns his back and says, "Let's go for a swim."

Startled by his words, I gaze around him and see an incredible sight. Steam rising off a large pool of crystal clear water the size of an Olympic size swimming pool.

"WOW!" I murmur, stunned.

He kicks his shoes off and dives in, leaving me gawking. When he surfaces, his head slings the water off, and instantly I'm transported to the summers when we were two kids who lived in the moment without a care in the world for what the future held. I kick my shoes off too, and dive into the warm water without another thought.

Swimming under the surface to him, he kicks his legs, treading water, until I'm almost there, then he sinks, grinning at me under the surface. We surface together, and our laughter echoes around us.

"God, this is incredible!" I giggle, looking around at the beauty of it.

He says, "I couldn't believe it when I stumbled on it. The previous owner didn't have a clue it was here."

"Wow!" I say again.

He dives and swims away, and I follow. For the next twenty minutes or so, we float, and swim, and kiss, and hug, and do nothing but enjoy ourselves.

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