After they ordered, while they waited for the appetizers, Alyssa said, “So since it’s the four of us and graduation is over, can we talk about the wedding? Adam you’re going to be Beau’s best man and Rachel is my maid of honor. So, there’s a couple of things we need to talk about.”

Rachel looked at the guys and they looked like deer in headlights. Alyssa laughed. “It won’t be that bad, but you need to know what your respective roles are.”

Beau said, “Showing up in nice clothes?”

Adam chuckled. “My job is to make sure he doesn’t pass out.”

Alyssa nodded. “Both true, but there are a couple more things you need to do. I want to have Tony be the ring bearer, so Adam if you can handle him when he gets to the front, until we get to the ring part that would be helpful. After we’ve gotten the rings he can go sit down.”

“Sure, no problem.”

“You’ll also be Rachel’s escort down the aisle afterwards and the two of you can drive us from the church to the reception.”

“I can handle that also. Are you planning on using the Grange for the reception?”

“We can, but I’ve also been thinking about having a party at the ranch, outside under the stars.”

Beau patted her hand. “You know it won’t be dark until nearly eight thirty, that time of year. I thought we were talking about a three o’clock wedding. That would be a very long party to last until the stars came out.”

“True, we probably need to talk about that more, Beau. I know we’ve got the Grange on hold and we would need to find out what all would be needed to have it at the ranch, anyway.”

Rachel said, “It would probably be a lot easier to have it at the Grange. If you have it at the ranch, you’ll have to get tables and chairs and set up some kind of dance floor. And somewhere to cater the food.”

“Yeah and the ranch is kind of smelly for people who don’t live on one. We’re all used to it, but there are other people who are not.” Adam shrugged.

“I’m not sure I care that much about other people, both of us are from ranching families.” Alyssa waved her hand. “So, all of our closest people would be fine. Anyway, I’ll give it some more thought. Adam as the best man you’ll need to give the first toast. Both fathers will probably do the same and if Grandpa K wants to he’s welcome.”

“Okaaay, I can think of something brilliant to say.” Adam frowned, clearly trying to think of what to say.

“Rachel, you can take a few pics at the rehearsal if you want, but I’m going to need to find a photographer for the event. I need you by my side.”

Rachel gave her best friend a smile. “I understand, it might make me a little crazy not to be behind the camera, but I’ll do my best. How many people do you think will come from Chedwick?”

Alyssa said, “I’m not really expecting anyone but my family. I’m sending invitations to everyone, but I’ll tell them we’ll have a reception in town after breeding season. Maybe October.”

Rachel wasn’t so sure about that. Alyssa was a favorite around town, but she’d wait to see what happened. It wouldn’t surprise her if half the town made the journey. The October reception would be packed.

Before anything else could be said the appetizers arrived and they all dug in tasting them. The meals came right after that. They had enough food for an army. Rachel decided the pulled pork sandwich was the best she’d ever eaten, but she’d had too many appetizers so only got through about half her sandwich and a handful of the fries. The coleslaw was good too, but she only had a few bites.

She tried to wait patiently for everyone to eat their fill, but wasn’t terribly successful. She wanted to get on the road. There were pictures to be taken and places to explore.

Finally, Alyssa looked at her and said, “Okay Miss Ants in the Pants we can go. As soon as we get the rest of this food in a doggy bag.”

Rachel grinned. “You mean an Alyssa bag?”

“Yes, I do, except for your cold French fries. You can take those with you.”

“Gladly.”

Beau and Adam both looked at her with identical expressions of horror. “Yes. I know I’m weird, but I love cold fries almost as much as the hot ones. So, I will be taking them with me, since I ate too many appetizers to eat one of my favorite foods.”

Adam and Beau shuddered.

The waitress brought some large to go containers so Alyssa and Rachel started divvying up the food. One container per truck. Beau watched the proceedings and corrected them on the brothers’ preferences while Adam paid the bill.

They left the restaurant and headed into the park.

* * *

Adam drove on auto pilot, he was still thinking about what he would say as the best man. How could he give a toast when he still wasn’t sure Beau was making the right decision? Yes, he seemed happy with Alyssa and she with him, but was it really going to last? He supposed it could. They did have a lot in common. Similar families and values, lifestyle and careers. When they worked together as vets it was like they read each other’s mind. He’d watched Alyssa anticipate Beau and hand him things before he even asked.

Maybe they truly were a match made in heaven. He wished he could be as care free as Beau was. Beau didn’t analyze everything to death like he did. Beau took life by the horns and hung on for the ride. Adam wasn’t sure he could ever be that way. He thought about everything, and how every decision would affect everyone else. Maybe he should take a lesson from his younger brother.

As far as the toast went, he could talk about how compatible they were. That would be easy. He’d need to think about that more. He should put it away for this drive over Trail Ridge, it could be a treacherous road and he needed to be paying attention. He saw Beau pull to the side in an overlook area and followed him, so Rachel could take pictures. Alyssa seemed to know what Rachel would want to take pictures of before Rachel could say anything to him. Almost like sisters.

He stopped, and Rachel swapped out her telephoto lens for her wide angle and started snapping pictures. They were still near the base of the mountains and he knew the girls would both be in awe, up higher where the tree growth stopped, and the views went on and on for miles.

Beau must have been thinking the same thing. He said, “This is just the beginning, trust me you’ll want more time up higher.”

Rachel looked at Beau and then at Adam who nodded. She said, “Well let’s get moving then. I don’t want to miss the best part.”

She took a few more pictures and then hurried back to the truck. She jumped in the truck and fastened her seat belt. “So, what’s so cool up higher, isn’t it the same?”

He shook his head. “Not at all, we’ll hit timberline and then it will all change.”

“What do you mean by timberline?”

“Trees can’t grow above a certain altitude. When we hit that it will look like a ruler was drawn along the mountains and they will be bare of all growth above that line, except for the sturdiest brush and grasses. It might be too early for the flowers that grow in all colors. You’ll see, it’s quite interesting.”

She looked skeptical. “I’ll have to take your word for that, it sounds rather odd to me.”

“It is odd, but once we hit that elevation, which if I remember correctly is a bit over eleven thousand feet, you can see for miles. No trees or anything to block the view. At the very top you can see across the whole mountain range. It’s spectacular.”

“Cool.”

Adam said, “You might want to take another day and really explore the park while you’re here. This drive takes you through the park but there are lots of trails to walk on. There’s also the Old Fall River Road that’s about nine miles long. It’s one way because it so narrow, but you might like going on that, too. You could easily spend a whole day exploring and not venture too far into the park.”

“I’m not sure I’ll have time for any of that. I think Alyssa is going to be keeping me busy with wedding preparations.” She sighed. “Speaking of which, there is one other thing that you and I need to do.”

Something else? He hoped it was something simple. “What’s that?”

“Decorate whatever vehicle their driving to the airport.”

Adam guffawed. “Like soap the windows and tie cans to the back of the car.”

She nodded. “Something like that, but it needs to be done so they can see to drive to the airport, and also be festive enough to draw attention.”

“I see what you mean. I don’t think anyone would appreciate cans and shoes bumping along the road on I-70. They might go flying off and hit the car behind them.” He could imagine a shoe or can winging into someone’s windshield at sixty miles an hour, startling the driver and causing an accident, maybe even breaking a windshield.

“Exactly, but a big Just Married sign securely fastened to the tail gate would be fun.”

“Okay, let me give it some thought. They’re pulling off at another overlook.” He pulled in next to them.

Rachel hopped out of the car and shivered. “It’s colder here.”

Beau nodded. “It’ll be even colder up higher and there is often a breeze. There can be a thirty-degree difference from town to the summit, without the wind chill.”

Rachel frowned and shivered again. “I didn’t bring a coat, it never occurred to me I would need one.”

Adam walked up and handed her a jacket. “I keep a couple in the truck for times like these. It will be too big on you, but it will keep you warm.”

“Thanks.”

Alyssa came around the front of Beau’s truck also in a coat too big for her. Rachel at least had more height to carry it off, Alyssa looked like a little kid in Beau’s jacket. “Well don’t we look like fashionistas?” Rachel laughed.

Alyssa grinned. “Better than being frozen.”

Beau said. “Let’s get to picture taking ladies, we’ve still got forty miles of road to cover.”

Alyssa rolled her eyes. “And three hours to do it in. We could probably walk in that length of time.”

“But you wouldn’t have any time for picture taking,” Beau said gravely. “And there isn’t a lot of oxygen at this altitude, so you’d be huffing and puffing.”

“I was being sarcastic,” Alyssa said.

Beau nodded. “I’m aware.”

Adam crossed his arms. “But there is something to be said for expedience, this park is amazing and I’m sure Rachel could spend three hours taking pictures before we even reached the summit, let alone the continental divide.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right, Adam. She does like to take lots of pictures. But they do turn out beautiful.” Alyssa shrugged like that’s all that mattered.

Adam agreed that she took great pictures, but there was a lot to explore and he didn’t want to be on the road after dark. That would be dangerous, many of the stretches had no guard rails. “I’m sure they do. But we don’t want her to miss anything because it gets dark. This isn’t a fun road to drive at night.”

Alyssa frowned. “I can see that. Rachel, let’s get a move on.”