Two days later, the Jeffersons’ descended like a horde of locusts. They’d all driven in for Alyssa’s graduation, which would take place in two days, and they had brought a whole load of her belongings with them. They’d driven three vehicles, all three extended cab pickups, with the truck beds full of Alyssa’s things. One truck pulled a horse trailer with her horse in it.

Rachel laughed when Alyssa burst into tears seeing her family and her horse. She’d known the family was coming, but not her horse. Molly was getting on in years and Alyssa didn’t see any real reason to have her brought halfway across the country. But she was so happy to see her.

The horse apparently felt the same way, because she started neighing before she was out of the trailer. When she finally backed out Alyssa threw her arms around the horse’s neck and sobbed into her mane, while Rachel snapped pictures of the reunion.

When Alyssa had finally calmed down enough to ask why they’d taken the time and expense to bring her horse, her father ran his fingers through his hair and shook his head.

“It was the darndest thing, Alyssa. We packed up two trucks, thinking that was what we would need to get all your paraphernalia here. When all of a sudden Molly started having a fit. Neighing and kicking her stall door. We thought maybe something was wrong with her stall, so we brought her out, so someone could check it. She walked straight over to the horse trailer and butted her head against the door, then she looked back at us, neighed and did it again and again.”

Her brother, Tim, laughed. “We finally figured out she wanted to come with us, so we loaded up my truck with food and water for the two-day journey and brought her along. Once she was in the horse trailer she settled right down. And there was nothing at all wrong with her stall. She just was determined not to be left behind.”

Alyssa smiled through her tears. “Well, I did tell her I would only be gone four years.”

Rachel kept snapping pictures as the two families were introduced to each other until Tim came over and pulled her hair.

She put down her camera and looked over at him. “What?”

“Hey brat, the gallery needs some more pics, asap. Summer is coming, and the town is already starting to fill up. And there are big holes on the walls where your stuff goes.”

Not a surprise, she’d talked to the art gallery owners before she left and promised to send replacements. “I know. I’ve been working on some; the printer has an order that should arrive any day now.”

“Yeah?” Tim’s eyes lit up.

“Want to see?” She grinned at him.

“Of course, but maybe I should help unload Alyssa’s crap first.”

“I’ll help too, and then we can go to my room to play show and tell.”

He raised his eyebrows at her. “Sounds good to me and if you weren’t my adopted little sister it would sound like you were inviting me for something else entirely.”

She shuddered dramatically. “Eww, well, you don’t have to worry about that.”

“Exactly my thought, let’s get this done, can’t wait to see your etchings.”

She smacked him in the stomach. “Knock it off, pseudo big brother.”

He laughed like a loon which drew everyone’s attention. He grinned. “Let’s get this crap unloaded. I have a date with Rachel.”

The Jeffersons’ all laughed knowing the artists were going to closet themselves away to do their art thing. The Kiplings’ looked confused.

Alyssa rolled her eyes. “Tim works in the art gallery where Rachel sells her work, they’re going to do their creative thing.”

Tim said, “Hey, I sell my work there, too.”

The Jeffersons’ all groaned at the same time. Hank said, “Just start carrying, artist. You can geek out in a minute.”

Beau walked over to Adam, “Could you get the horse settled? While the rest of us carry in Alyssa’s stuff?”

* * *

Adam nodded at his brother, glad he had something to do that didn’t force him to interact with the rest of them. He didn’t know why Tim Jefferson’s crack about having a date with Rachel had pissed him off, but it had.

He went over to the mare. “So, you’re Molly, are you?” The horse nodded like she understood. “Well I’m Adam, welcome to the Rockin’ K. I’m going to find you a nice pleasant stall and give you some time to rest after that long journey. Sound good?” Again, the horse nodded, and Adam chuckled.

He led Molly into the barn and found her an empty stall with the rest of the horses. “So, Beau has an old cow named Dolly and Alyssa has you, an…” If she did understand he better not offend. “… a mature horse named Molly. Kinda starting to sound like a match made in heaven. Maybe I was wrong about the two of them.” The horse nodded a third time and then bumped him with her nose.

He laughed. “Fine, I’ll take that as a hint to back off and quit being grumpy about it.” Molly nodded again and whinnied, and Adam decided she agreed with that idea.

He took the halter off and gave her a good brushing. Then he filled the water and food troughs and left the horse. Outside he found Alyssa’s oldest brother Mike unloading the feed and straw from the pickup.

Adam joined him. “You sure you don’t want to take this back? We can feed Alyssa’s horse.”

Mike shook his head. “Nope, we’ve got plenty and it’s a pain to have it in the truck. By the time we drive over for graduation and get back to Washington it’ll be almost two weeks since we loaded it, and that’s too long out in the weather.”

Adam looked at the clear blue sky. “Whatever you want.”

Mike laughed. “I hear you never know about the weather up here in the high country of Colorado.”

Adam nodded. “True, we do have unpredictable weather.” He didn’t want to say anything else, because he didn’t know what all Alyssa had told her family about being caught alone in a late spring blizzard.

He was relieved when Mike started asking him questions about their ranch.

He spent a pleasant time talking with Mike about their respective ranches. The man was knowledgeable and had good insights. Adam took him around to show him their operations near the house, and they compared notes on how they ran things.

Adam said, “If you have time while you’re here we can take some horses out and I can show you around.”

“We aren’t planning to intrude, we booked some rooms in town.”

Adam jerked to a stop. “That’s ridiculous. We’ve got the bunkhouse and four cabins on the property which are prepared for your family to stay in. Or you can all stay in the main house and us guys will take the bunkhouse. Didn’t Alyssa tell you we planned to put you up?”

Mike shrugged. “I don’t know. I just know we have rooms booked.”

“Where?”

“The Singing River Ranch.”

Adam pulled out his phone scrolled through his contacts and selected one.

“Singing River Ranch, how can I help you.”

“Hi Karen, the Jeffersons’ will be staying with us.”

Karen said, “Sure thing, Adam. I thought it was odd when they booked, but I didn’t know what to say, so I took the reservation. Your dad already called to cancel it.”

Adam smirked at Mike. “Yeah, I don’t know where they got that idea either. So, dad already called you?”

“Beau called too, right before you did.”

He laughed and grinned at Mike. “And Beau. You might hear from Emma too, or the twins.”

Karen said, “I don’t have all day to spend my time talking to every Kipling in the family. I have work to do. Can you text the rest of them and let them know they don’t all have to call?”

Darn it, he forgot this was a business transaction. He didn’t want this to be a financial burden on her. “Sure thing. The cancellation isn’t a problem, is it?”

“Nope, never figured you guys would let your soon-to-be in-laws off the ranch. I’m just glad they went there first rather than checking in here,” she said.

He laughed. “You know us too well. Talk to ya later.”

Adam disconnected, sent a text that said, “Karen’s good” and looked at Mike. “Well, now that we have that little issue has been taken care of, do you want a bunk or a cabin?”

Mike shook his head. “I don’t plan to choose. Your parents and mine probably have it all arranged by now.”

And indeed, they had.