Read Online The Seacroft: a love story (Paines Creek Beach Book 2) by Aaron Paul Lazar - Free Book Online Page B

even back up her mount, she said she was ready to head for the beach. “It’ll be cooler there, that’s for sure.”
    “Right. And when you get comfortable with this big lug, eventually we’ll go bareback so we can jump in and out of the water without ruining the saddles.”
    When I get comfortable? Eventually? Does that imply there will be more rides in our future? She let Popeye follow tail-to-nose behind Serendipity down the narrow path to the beach. When they got to the boardwalk, Cody turned off onto a lesser sand path that meandered through the dunes down to the shore.
    When they reached the azure-colored surf, he motioned her forward, so they’d walk side by side. Seagulls soared overhead, screeching and diving toward the water. It was low tide and acres of rippled sand stretched toward the frilly whitecaps of the deeper sea. Vivian marveled at the colors beneath her—from rust to magenta to amber to pale pink to blazing white, it changed and spread before her like a rainbow-hued landscape stretching toward the horizon. Little holes in the wet sand squirted water up when they walked nearby, courtesy of clams hidden beneath the surface. Crabs ran sideways to avoid the horses’ hooves, and hermit crabs luxuriated in the warm tide pools.
    They walked all the way to the end of the low tide section, their horses’ hooves squishing in the wet sand. Popeye obeyed when she tweaked her little finger to move him away from the water. The waves were good-sized today, cresting in white frothy peaks that crashed near their horses’ hooves.
    “Good boy.” She leaned down to enthusiastically pat his neck. “He listened,” she said with a grin.
    “He’s well trained,” he said, “unlike this one who will throw you off if a plastic bag floats across her path.”
    “But she’s so pretty,” Viv said, glancing across at the elegant mare.
    “So are you,” Cody said suddenly. As if he’d surprised himself, he backpedaled. “I mean, you look really good up there, Vivian. Like a natural.”
    Did he really just call me pretty? “Thanks,” she said, feeling tongue-tied. She clicked Popeye on and he went into a little trot, surprising her. She grabbed the saddle and held on, but before long, she realized she could sit to his little jog and not fall off.
    She called back to Cody, who’d stayed behind. “This is fun!”
    In a sudden rush, Cody urged his mare into a fast canter, catching up in seconds. “Wait’ll you try cantering through the surf,” he said. “That’s even better.”
    “Whoa, boy.” She slowed Popeye to a walk and relaxed her grip. “Maybe next time.”
    Cody leaned sideways, clinking his stirrup iron against hers. “It’ll take a few more lessons, but pretty soon, we’ll both be racing through the water.” He touched her hand, sending shivers down her spine.
    They walked in silence for a while, enjoying the salty breeze that blew across the beach. On this private stretch of sand, there were no bathers, no fishermen, and just a few boats in the distance.
    “Vivian?” he said.
    She turned to catch a worried expression in his eyes. “Yes?”
    “What do you think of Uvi?”
    She paused, meeting his intense gaze. “Um. In what respect?”
    He looked lost for a moment. “I don’t know. I just—”
    She jumped right in. “I think she knows exactly what she wants in her life. She’s demanding, has high expectations, and little patience if she doesn’t get what she wants.”
    He studied her, still solemn. “And?”
    “And,” she cleared her throat. “I don’t think we’ll work there for more than a year.”
    “What?”
    “That’s what Deidre said. I ran into her in the village.”
    “What? Really?”
    “Yes.” Viv gave a brief account of their morning conversation at the Brewster Store. “So, she thinks it has something to do with the husband.”
    “Mr. P?”
    “Yes. The man no one’s seen in ten years.”
    “Whoa. That’s pretty heavy stuff.”
    “I know,” she said.