“You, my darling,” he said.
Cecily blushed and giggled.
“Oh, Lord!” she said shyly. “Will I ever get used to hearing you say such things?”
He kissed her forehead softly before continuing to lead the way.
“I sure hope so,” he said softly. “I plan to say them so often that you get outright sick of them.”
Cecily giggled.
“I do not think that is possible,” she said.
They continued onward. Birds sang cheerfully as they walked around the gardens.
“There are blue, red and yellow birds out today,” he said. He found that he felt great joy describing the world to his blind wife. Perhaps, it was the sweet smile that brightened her face as she imagined her surroundings.
“The yellow ones are the prettiest,” she said.
Val nodded.
“I think so, too,” he said. “And, interestingly, today, the yellow birds seem infatuated with all the yellow flowers.”
Cecily laughed.
“We just need some yellow butterflies to make the picture complete,” she said.
Val agreed.
“And a young cow distracted by the butterfly,” he said, thinking of the painting in the hall of the mansion.
Cecily laughed again.
“Indeed,” she said. “That would be a precious sight.”
At long last, they reached the back of the garden, their destination now in sight. He took his wife’s hand, moving more quickly toward where they were going. He was unable to contain his excitement any longer.
When they arrived where he intended for them to be, Val began grinning. He knew that she would know by smell where they were. What she didn’t know, however, was why they were there.
“The stables,” she said, smiling brightly. “Oh, I have wanted to come back here. How are Daisy and her little darling doing?”
Val could not keep the smile off his face.
“Daisy and Angel are doing beautifully,” he said. “Angel is already out running like the grown horses do. She is out for a romp now with the stable boy, in fact.”
Cecily nodded.
“That is wonderful,” she said. “And how is Sunshine?”
Val practically leapt for joy. That was the question he had been hoping she would ask. Tom had, indeed, taken Angel out for a trot with her mother. But not before doing him a favor.
“Come and see for yourself,” he said.
Cecily nodded eagerly and Val silently opened the gate to her stall. He walked Cecily around to the side of the horse, allowing her to feel her way around. When her hands touched leather straps, she gasped.
“A ride,” she exclaimed. “Oh, Val, this is wonderful.”
Val embraced and kissed his wife.
