Page 47 of Come Home to Me

“That thing costs more than all of the vehicles on this ranch together,” Mal murmured beside me.

“Oh, for sure. Dear lord.” I shook my head fondly. “I keep forgetting that money really can buy anything.”

Mal snorted. “I’ve sure learned a lot about millionaires on this ranch.” He clapped my shoulder and walked off to go continue his workday. Snarky bastard. I loved him like I did everyone else here.

Ville emerged from the house, and then Milton and his brood burst out of the RV and the surprisingly organized chaos started. Jenn came to greet them all, of course, and she was immediately charmed by the Wilkinses. Once the initial introductions and other mandatory things were handled, we had a little meeting in the kitchen.

The kids were all named after their various grandparents but went by nicknames.

Will, the youngest one at ten, was interested in the local fauna and ended up wanting to know more about the corvids. Payton was so damn excited and happy to get to show an older kid something they didn’t know. Crew and Mal were so proud of their boy and for a good reason.

Dory, who was twelve, wanted to know all about the Event Barn and organizing events, so Fern would probably have a little shadow. She also wanted to learn more about how Fern chose the Instagram photos for the ranch. The kids weren’t into social media and seemed to have a healthy relationship with screens in general.

Ellie, the second oldest, was a serious fifteen-year-old who immediately latched onto Gemma. Ellie wanted to know more about horse rehabilitation and training, and Gemma and Hawk practically kidnapped her from there on for the next five days.

Then there was my biggest surprise in various ways. Freddie, a jovial with a side of seriousness sixteen-year-old, was interested in veterans’ issues. Apparently April’s brother was a veteran and had had a rough time after he came back from the service. When Freddie learned about Bodhi’s plans, he very politely asked to shadow Bodhi and was very interested in everything he did on Yellow Ribbon. To nobody’s surprise, Bodhi took the boy under his wing, and he, too, was gone most of the time he could.

April and Jenn shooed Milton and me away as soon as we were done with the little meeting slash coffee break.

“You go do your thing,” April told Milton and kissed him with clear affection.

I averted my gaze and tried not to feel a pang in my chest. Bodhi, who surely would’ve had plenty to do on Yellow Ribbon, was ushering Freddie out the door, but he caught the boy’s parents’ interaction and then my gaze before they left the house.

I smiled at Milton. “Horses or truck?”

He laughed. “Let’s take the truck. I’ve sat enough in the last few days that while getting on a horse would be great, I think I need to adjust to moving around before I try that.”

Abigail, who had been on the sidelines, perked up. “If you’re taking the truck, can I come with you? I haven’t seen your property yet.”

I knew what she was doing and narrowed my eyes at her, but since I could tell she was also being genuine, I nodded. “Sure, but you’re sharing the back seat with my lady Nyx.”

Abi laughed. “That’s fine; we get along great.”

“Can you show me where to park the RV first?” Milton asked when we got outside.

“Sure. Let me get Nyx—oh there you are.” I grinned at the dog who again materialized from behind the corner of the house. “We’ll go in the truck and drive ahead of you.”

I showed him the way to where some of Demi and Luke’s friends had stayed in the rental RVs for their wedding. Mike had taken me to the spot when I’d told him I was considering getting a trailer or something, just to have my own space.