Henry nodded. “What is it made of? Plastic?”
It was a puffy jacket made of something shiny. “I’m not sure what this fabric is.” Gabriela cringed at recalling how much she’d paid for the useless thing. “I have to go buy something warmer.”
“Chester’s in town has good ones,” Henry offered, and then turned and went into the barn.
Teeth chattering, Gabriela hurried back toward her cabin. It was early yet so she figured there was enough time to purchase some groceries and a jacket and be back in time for lunch.
Just then, a man on horseback got her attention. It was Jeremy. She stopped and stared for a long moment, taking the scene in of a handsome cowboy atop a beautiful chestnut colored horse with the snowy backdrop. In a thick jacket, gloves and skullcap, she could still tell it was him. It was like something out of a movie or on a Christmas card. She lifted her camera and took more pictures than she needed. Jeremy had stopped and bent over patting the horse’s neck, seeming to talk to it. All the while, Gabriela zoomed in and took another series of shots.
Finally, her trembling made it difficult to keep the camera steady, so she hurried to find warmth in her cabin.
“I have a hair appointment. I hope you don’t mind,” Natalie announced over a delicious lunch of grilled cheese on thickly sliced bread and tomato bisque soup. “Jeremy kindly volunteered to give you a tour of the ranch.” She smiled widely at her son.
When Jeremy looked at her, Gabriela shook her head. “Um, it’s not necessary. I took enough of your time last night going back and forth. I can wait until your Mom has time.”
“Not a problem. I don’t mind,” he said. It seemed to be his favorite reply.
His parents stared at her waiting to see what she’d say next. It was awkward. It’s not like she minded the handsome man’s company, but if she were to be honest, he made her a bit nervous. He was too good-looking, which translated to him being a distraction. What she needed to be was focused on getting every detail to complete the project.
Gabriela shrugged. “I appreciate it then, thank you. Just a couple hours of your time and I’ll do some exploring on my own.”
“Did you get a better jacket?” Henry asked in between bites of his sandwich. A piece of bread plopped into his soup. “She had a plastic jacket on this morning,” he explained to the group.
“Plastic?” Rick asked.
“I’m sure it wasn’t plastic,” Natalie added not looking very sure.
“It’s a shiny fabric. The style was flattering, and the description assured me it would keep me warm.”
“The denim one with thick lining you bought may not be as fashionable, but it will keep you warm.” This time it was Jeremy who spoke, his hazel eyes twinkled, and the corner of his lips lifted just enough to tell that he found her situation funny.
“The plastic one didn’t seem warm, but it was very shiny,” he finished.
“Yes, well, we don’t get much snow in San Diego,” Gabriela replied and bit her sandwich.
“What is that?” Gabriela asked. She and Jeremy stood in front of the house.
“Snowmobile.” Jeremy went to the thing and waited for her to come closer. “It’s like a motorcycle, but for the snow. It doesn’t fall sideways though.”
She neared and studied the seats. There was a back seat, but she’d still be almost against his back. “I need room to take pictures.”
“You’ll have plenty of space. Come on, I’ll help you get on.”
Thankfully, climbing on turned out to be easier than she expected. She settled into the seat, pulled down her knitted cap, tightened her scarf and waited for Jeremy to start it up. “Please don’t go too fast.”
“I’ll go really slow so I can tell you about the place.”
They set off and after a few initial moments of uncertainty, Gabriela relaxed, enjoying the sound of Jeremy’s deep voice.
“Over there was where the first family homestead was located. My great-grandfather built it in the eighteen-eighties. It burnt to the ground in the nineties. Electrical fire. That’s when my parents built the one they live in now.”
“So you got to live in the original house?”
“Yep, for a few years as a kid.”
They continued on, he kept his word and drove at a slow pace. They toured the stables. She found out the open barn-style building was actually the center of the holiday festival.
When Jeremy explained all about the festival, it was as if he were reliving certain moments.
“The festival is very special to your family isn’t it?” Gabriela tapped his shoulder.
“It’s something my grandfather started. He did a couple and then deemed it too much damn work. Mom and Dad however got hooked. They love doing it.”
“I can’t wait to experience it,” Gabriela said, meaning it.
The sunshine showed off the burnished highlights on the tips of Jeremy’s hair. Her gaze roamed from the back of his neck to the wide shoulders. He was built perfectly. When he leaned forward on the snowmobile, it gave her a glimpse of his well-formed tush.
“Gabriela?”
“Ummm- sorry I didn’t hear you.”
“I asked if there was anything else you wanted to see.”
He’d shown her the stables, the corrals, the bunkhouse, several guest cabins, the lake and now they rode away from where the original family home had been.”
“I can’t think of anything else. Can I ask you some questions for the article?”
There was a beat of silence. “All right.” He turned the vehicle back toward his parent’s and her cabin.
“What stands out the most for you when you think about growing up here?”
“The freedom I had as a kid to roam. Time on the lake, running around in the woods, and riding my horse. Basically, the ability to come and go as I pleased on the land.”
She looked around taking in how different her childhood in the city had been to his. “So why do you live in town now? You could have worked here
