"My mother and father - actually, their ashes."
He nodded and turned, catching his breath as he gazed down at the ruins. He whistled between his teeth.
"Now that's a view worth the ride."
For a moment they both gazed in silence at the scene beyond. Multicolored fields of grain and soy beans lay like a patchwork quilt for miles. Beyond them mountain ranges faded into shades of blue in the humid air.
He shook his head in awe. "That's a resting place to die for." His head jerked around, expression startled. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be disrespectful."
Carmen smiled. "I didn't take it that way, and Dad would have been the first to enjoy a touch of humor."
She glanced at her watch. "Oh, I'd better call Felipa and tell her we'll meet them at the barn instead."
Pulling the cell phone from the holster on her side, she called Felipa.
"Felipa, change of plan," she said when Felipa answered. "We took a detour. Where are you now?"
"We're almost to the spring," Felipa said.
"Okay, we'll meet you at the barn instead - in about thirty minutes?"
"Good deal. We'll see you then."
She laid the phone on the tombstone and knelt beside her mother's grave, closing her eyes. After a brief prayer, she opened her eyes and glanced up. Gerald stood with his head down, eyes closed.
He opened his eyes and met her gaze.
"I can see why Alex wouldn't want you to come up here alone - and why you would want to visit. How long has it been?"
"Dad and I buried Mom here about ten years ago, and I buried Dad here about a year later. Yes, I understand why Alex doesn't want me to come up here alone."
He helped her to her feet with a hand on each elbow. "Does he bring you up here often?"
She came up too close to him and took a step back.
"Not too often," she said, her face growing warm. "By the time we could eat supper, saddle the horses and ride up here, it would be getting dark. I appreciate the fact that you were willing to ride up here with me.
"It was my pleasure," he said as they turned to go back to the horses.
Gerald was a decent sort. She was certain it wasn't his intent to be familiar. In fact, he didn't seem to notice that it embarrassed her. She was making too much of something innocent. That was something she needed to get over.