Page 60 of Perfect Enough
I laughed. “I see a moose. Why do you think he’s down here?”
Josh glanced around. “There’s a small lake not too far from here. Maybe he’s making his way there.”
We both watched as the moose walked away from us toward what I assumed was the lake.
“In all the years I’ve grown up on this ranch, I’ve never once seen a moose,” Josh stated.
“I’ve seen a couple, but never one this close up.”
We sat on the horses and watched as he meandered away. Every once in a while, he would turn and look back at us.
“That is crazy. Wait until I tell everyone.”
I smiled. “He’s so beautiful.”
Lou Lou snorted, and I reached down and gently rubbed her. “Not nearly as beautiful as you, though.”
Josh chuckled. “Well, he’s heading to whereIwas heading. Not sure we should follow him.”
“Change of plans?” I asked.
He nodded. “Change of plans, indeed.” Josh turned Charlie in the opposite direction, and we headed back down the trail we’d just come from.
“Where to now?” I asked.
“I think we’ll head to one of my favorite spots.”
As we went on, the trail widened, and I was able to bring Lou Lou alongside Charlie. Josh and I fell into an easy conversation as we rode. We talked about our jobs and what we both loved about them.
“Is it hard to teach little kids how to dance?” Josh asked.
Shrugging, I replied, “It can be a challenge, but seeing how happy they are once they finally get it and can perform in front of their families is so worth it.”
“So, did you get into dancing because of your mother?”
“Partly,” I said with a slight frown. “At one point in my life, I wanted to move to New York City and try out for the Rockettes.”
“Really?” Josh asked. “Why didn’t you?”
“I don’t know. Self-doubt was probably one of the reasons. I didn’t want to leave my parents, either. And my mother’s dance studio was really taking off when I was in college. I thought I could work for her a while and then try my hand at New York later.”
“Is that something you still want to do?”
For the last few months, I’d struggled with the idea of leaving Montana and trying to make it in New York. To be honest, I wasn’t completely happy teaching dance. A part of me longed for a change. When I looked at Josh, the confusion I’d always felt over the decision seemed to float away.
“No, I don’t think so. I like my job, but it isn’t something I see myself doing for the rest of my life. Dance is great, but I think I’m longing for something different. I can’t leave my mother either right now. Even if she butts into my life more than she should, I know she loves me. With my father gone…well…I think she just feels like she needs to be…more involved in my life.”
Josh laughed. “I can’t imagine her being any more involved in your life than she is now.”
“You probably think I’m insane for lying to her about us.”
“Like I said before, I don’t think that at all and don’t forget, it was my idea. You’ve had a lot going on and needed your mother to ease up on her pressure to get you to date. Nothing wrong with that.”
“I take it your mother isn’t breathing down your neck to find a wife?”
“She drops hints, but at the same time, I think she’s glad I don’t have a revolving door of women coming and going.”
“Blayze seemed to be pretty surprised by my appearance today.”