Lora wandered through the barn in the morning light, her hand drifting over one of the tablecloths. It had been a late night last night. She'd drank more champagne than she’d ever had before and her head was a little muddled today. Chad had imbibed as well, but he seemed perfectly fine as he talked to Jackson on the other side of the space. Jackson looked fine too, though she couldn't remember seeing him drink at all. Probably smart. And surely that was why he looked so vital and energetic today. 

Lora glanced to the fabric shrouded doorway. Emily looked a little worse for wear. Lora knew she'd had several glasses of champagne last night, then disappeared partway through. She was worried about Chad's younger sister. It was obvious she and Jackson had unfinished business. The two of them kept staring at each other, then glancing away when the other looked up.

Emily glared at Cheyenne as the tall woman tossed glass bottles into a recycling bin, lifting her hand to her forehead as the bottles clunked and clinked. Ah, she must have a headache, too and her sister apparently didn't care.

They'd all agreed to meet this morning to clean up the aftermath of the party. It only seemed fair. Brock, Payton and Cheyenne had put so much time and effort into it. It would suck to be stuck with the cleanup as well.

Lora picked up one of the little vases of flowers. She hated to throw them away.

"Maybe we can take them over to the nursing home or something."

Lora smiled up at her handsome fiancé, not surprised that he knew what she was thinking. "I think that would be a wonderful idea. No sense in wasting their beauty."

Leaning forward he wrapped his arm around her neck and leaned down. Lora could see every pore in his skin, every whisker that the razor had missed, and every bit of love in his eyes. "You are the beauty," he told her softly.

She smiled, because she simply had to when he looked at her like that. They'd danced and partied into the early morning hours, then escaped to their room where they'd loved each other into exhaustion. 

It had been such a perfect day, a perfect night.

Now, it was time to clean up.

Cheyenne and her girls were giggling and throwing berries at each other. Lora smiled as Mercy was pinged with a blueberry and she snorted with giggles. Before long the girls were running around pelting each other with fruit, while the adults paused in their work and watched, smiles on their own faces. When Chad was pelted by all four girls, Lora ducked out of the line of fire. Chad took off after them like a shot, tickling and terrorizing. At one point a chair caught his prosthetic leg, but he righted himself and raced on after the girls. They disappeared through the door.

"He's as much of a kid as the rest of them are," Cheyenne murmured from beside her.

Lora laughed and nodded. "You have no idea."

"Oh, I bet I do. Does he still like those stupid late night cartoons?"

Wincing, Lora nodded. "He does. I can't stand them. I'll hear him talking in the night and he and Zeke are watching the damn thing together, then comparing notes over the phone."

Cheyenne shook her head. "Just don't let Mercy watch them. They're kind of raunchy."

Sighing, Lora wondered if she should just turn off the cable now. If Chad loved something, it was almost a guarantee that Mercy would as well. That would have to be a fight for another day. She was in too good a mood to deal with it right now.

Cleaning up that day wasn't as hard as she imagined it would be. Most of the men and their families that had driven down for the shower had stayed. Chad planned on a couple of excursions with anyone that wanted to take part. Mid-morning, about ten o'clock, a group of them were going horseback riding. Then later in the afternoon there would be a trip out to the Oasis, as well as a barbecue lunch. Lora had tried to get in on the planning, but it was already done.

"The men can cook the meat and we'll have the sides and drinks in the coolers. It's all done," Cheyenne reassured her.

Lora would have to take her word for it. They'd all done such a perfect job so far.

Gathering the armful of flowers she had accumulated she crossed to where Shannon was sitting, her feet propped onto a chair in front of her. Shannon was bundling the flowers into groups to be taken to the nursing home by one of the hands. Her long hair was drawn back into a ponytail and she looked totally adorable with strips of fabric laying over her belly to be used for the tying.

Everyone had been watching John's wife carefully, because she was so heavily pregnant. She was literally due any time, and with twins there was no telling if she would be early or make it to full term. Lora hoped she would be a little early from her due date just because Shannon seemed so tired from carrying her heavy belly. "Are you doing okay?"

Shannon grinned up at her and nodded. "I am! I love it when we can all get together like this. Yes, the party was fabulous, but I can actually talk to people today without yelling over the noise."

Lora nodded. Her ears had been ringing when they'd finally left the party and headed to bed. "I know what you mean. I'd only met Kendall and Lilly once, so it was nice to talk to them."

"They're both fantastic, but I feel like they're a little secluded out there in Vail. I wish they lived a little closer and we could get together more often."

Lora nodded. "That would be nice. Maybe with all the relationships getting started there'll be more reasons to get together."

She looked pointedly at Cass and Roger on the far side of the room, rolling up strips of decorative burlap. Their heads were close together and they were talking softly, laughing occasionally. They were the most recent couple to get together and she loved seeing the budding love. Roger looked more content than she'd ever seen him before. The dude was normally laid back, but now he seemed confident and laid back.

Lora looked around. "Where's John?" 

Shannon smiled. "Chad said he had something up his sleeve for the gunny."

Uh oh. It was hard to tell what Chad would get him into.

The clean up went smoothly and quickly with so many people helping out. Jackson and Brock, as well as several of the hands, disappeared to ready horses for the ride. Not everyone planned to go, but enough that it would be a significant group heading out. Shannon planned to stay with Garrett and Francine in the cool house while the rest set out on their adventure. They would head toward some of the rolling hills, then out toward the Oasis. Cheyenne, Sheridan and all of the kids that hadn't gone on the ride would meet them there with a truckload of refreshments. 

Most of the people had ridden before, so it only took minimal effort to get them ready for the adventure. Jackson moved from horse to horse, adjusting stirrups and checking girths. Somehow Emily ended up helping him out. Lora could see the tension between Jackson and Emily, but she wasn't really in a position to do anything about it.

When John Palmer drove up to the group on one of the ranch four-wheelers, he wore a devastatingly handsome grin. Lora had never seen him look so happy.

Shannon's mouth dropped open in surprise as she walked over to her husband, who sat straddled on the machine. A back brace and some additional safety straps had been added to the seat and it was obvious that the Lowell men had taken some time to modify the all-terrain vehicle.

Shannon leaned forward and kissed her husband on the mouth, murmuring to him softly. They rested their heads together for a moment before John reached out and brushed a hand over her belly. Then, making sure she was safely out of danger, he tore away on the bike, flinging dust into the air and laughing.

Lora couldn't blame him for being so excited. To finally have a machine like that to use as anyone else would ride an ATV, to have the wind in your face, had to be an extraordinary feeling for a man like John. Priceless.

She looked at the rest of the people in the barn lot, sitting on their horses, some dashing tears away as they watched his exuberance, and Lora felt so thankful to be a part of them. Her blood family had never been anything special, but these people were her heart.

Shannon walked back to her slowly, wiping tears from her eyes. "He's going to give me a heart attack, but I hope he has fun."

"I think it's pretty obvious he will."

Laughing, Shannon nodded and turned toward the coolness of the house.