After leaving the station Jeremiaha looks to Diana with concern, "You know it is going to be okay? My aunt and uncle will welcome you with open arms."
Trembling fingers grip the purse before she leaned down picking up the box that held her link to Jeremiah's aunt and uncle. Turning she tried her best to offer him a nervous smile, "I hope you are right Jeremiaha. I am just afraid someone will tell them before I get a chance to."
Remembering that day he bumped into Diana causing her to drop her purse and the box that she carried with her like it was gold. His shock had been audible when he saw a picture exactly like the ones his aunt Alisha and uncle Craven both have on their mantle of them with Hawk. He had demanded the woman that looked identical to Alisha explain why she had it. He was shocked speechless when he heard the woman tell him that was her only family she had left. Had it not been for her looking just like his aunt, Jeremiaha would have argued it. At that point he had decided it was time to return home and take his new friend with him. Wincing at the lie he had told his cousin Jeremiaha hoped she would understand. Making a snap choice Jeremiaha looked at Diana saying, "We can kill time and just go straight to the main house for dinner at 6pm instead of going to dad's first. He will understand. That way you can meet your brother and sister at one time. So you only have to explain it one time?"
Sighing with relief Diana nodded with a sheen of tear in her eyes whispering, "Thank you so much I do not know what I would have done."
Reaching into the car taking the luggage for Maria and herself Shelly watched as her friend pulled out her small bundle into her arms. Smiling as she remembered the laughs from Brison last night when they had stopped at the hotel. "Okay you two ready for a much needed vacation?"
Laughing at her best friend's words Maria looked down to her son noticing he was waking up, "oh yes I am more than ready and I think Brison is ready to eat as well."
Holding back letting her friend go ahead of her Shelly follows her to the door setting down the luggage just as she hears horse hooves racing to them. Turning a smile spreads over Shelly's face as her brother pushes his spotted mustang to race to the back porch. Running to meet him in the yard Shelly hugs him just as Barry her twin jumps down and spins her around. As her feet touch the ground she looks to the porch to see her mom and dad come out the back door both flushed with excitement. Looking from John Whitehorse to Barry asking, "How long did it take you to get him to go shower before we arrived?"
Shaking his head Barry looked to the heavens with an exaggerated groan, "It took me three hours I thought I was going to have to wash him in the stream out in the pasture."
Moving past Maria who had stepped to the side during the small reunion Shelly leaned down to kiss her mother's cheek and hug her. Turning to her dad Shelly wrapped her arms around him having missed the both of them. With eyes bright and lips smiling Shelly turns to Maria, "Mom and dad, I want you to meet my best friend Maria and her son Brison."
With a sound of pleasure as if Maria was her own daughter coming to introduce Brison to his grandparents, Anna moves with the grace younger than her age to were Maria stood. Small arms hug Maria in welcome as she reaches to tickle the baby being treated with a laugh and a look of his handsome eyes. A slight pause in her words of welcome was the only warning that Anna's husband and children had that something was wrong. Not wishing to mind another's business Anna finally ushers everyone inside. "Come in all of you. Barry you need to go wash up. You two ladies should go freshen up. Maria, I can watch Brison if you want."
A prickle of tears at the warm welcome of Shelly's parents caused Maria to blink before looking to Anna and John in gratitude. "I thank you Ma'am, but he is ready for a feeding and needs to be changed." With that Maria followed Anna and Shelly into the house as Barry took up the luggage and John Whitehorse held the door.
Looking to her husband Anna takes a deep breath watching the children go and get ready for dinner. "John did you see Brison's eyes?" With a nod John steps forward hugging his wife, the love of his life. Kissing her on the head he whispers, "We will get through this my love. We have enough love for all they want to bring us. Now let's get the table set in the dining room." With that John and Anna begin setting the table with the vast amount of food and place settings. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just as the truck comes to a stop Toni leans over kissing her dad's cheek before jumping out. " Let me shower and I will meet you and mom over at Grands' for dinner. With hurried movements Toni tries to move quick enough that her father is unable to speak. Leaning to kiss her mother's cheek as they trade spaces Toni loses the race.
Looking through the back window to the man in the bed of the truck Micheal gets out to speak to him, "Boy you get out and wait on Toni to come to the house, you can ride over with her."
Hissing across the seat at her dad's words, "Dad come on he can just stay back there and ride with you two."
Alana wrinkles her brow at her daughter's actions and swats her as she slides into the seat to wait on her husband looking sternly to Toni, "You heard your father now go on hurry and get ready."
"yes Ma'am", without even looking to the guest Toni turns and walks to the kitchen door pausing just inside to take off her shoes.
Jerad jumps down from the back of the truck after hearing the old man. As he walks around to the driver's door the truck pulls off with the couple going to what he assumes was dinner. Looking to the doorway that the ticked off mechanic went Jerad followed her tracks. Knocking on the door trying to peek in as he calls out, "Can I come in?" Not hearing a response as he hears water pouring Jerad decides to step inside to wait on his host.
Rushing into her bedroom Toni hears the man knocking on the door. Pausing in her bedroom doorway she decides to ignore him 'maybe he will go away'. With that thought Toni storms to the bathroom to do a quick shower before going for the family dinner.
Looking around the kitchen Jerad takes in the home feeling of the place. As he walks to the kitchen sink a glance through the kitchen window allows him the view of the pasture in the distance he can make out a herd of limousine cows mixed in with black and white mustangs. Smiling at the antics of a couple mares as something catches his eyes. Leaning forward and looking to the right in a fenced off area he can see a small heard of black and white horses, squinting his eyes trying to see what kind they are he straightens up moving to the backdoor walking outside to the porch he realizes it is black and white mustangs unlike the ones in the pasture to his left which were either black or white.
Having showered and changed into a jean skirt and crimson cotton top, Toni walks to the kitchen silently as she notices Jerad walking out to the back porch. Curious as to what he is looking at Toni follows him without saying a word. Smiling softly as she notices he is looking at her brother, Josh and cousin, Daren's newest project. 'Raising mixed mustangs.' Jumping at the sound of the phone ringing Toni jerks around grabbing the phone almost dropping it before lifting it to her ear. "yes Ma'am we are on our way." Hanging the phone up going out the door, "come on we are going to be in trouble if we don't hurry."
Watching Toni come out the door a bit shocked at having been caught Jerad follows the woman walking out to the jeep uncertain what to say as her in a skirt has him spell bound. Coming out of his stupor just before he gets into the jeep Jerad ask, "where are we going?"
Looking to the man standing at her jeep as if he has lost his mind, "did you not hear dad we have a dinner to go to. Now get in." Just as he sit in the passenger seat Toni put the jeep in gear and took off.
Shutting the door as quick as he can Jerad looks over at the woman driving like a crazy woman. Taking a moment to admire the woman and not the mechanic Jerad notices how the crimson shirt closely fits her breast. Unable to believe the difference in the jeans t-shirt and skirt blouse combination Jerad shifts in his seat before remembering this is the woman that is fixing his car. "So why is it you have to wait a week to get started on my car."
Annoyed at the man next to her Toni glances over noticing he did not put on his seat belt, "put that seat belt on or Josh will have my hide." Deciding to ignore his question Toni turns her attention back to the road.
"Josh, who is that?" Looking behind his right side Jerad fastens the seat belt before turning back waiting on an answer.
Pulling to a stop at her grandparents' house Toni spares him with a short glance and answer, "he is my brother now come on." With that small reply Toni jumps down from the jeep walking over to were her brother stood. Smiling at the sight of her cousins she walks around exchanging hugs. As she saw her cousin Daren her steps quickened slightly "I didn't think you would be home for another week."
Looking from his cousin to the man getting out of her jeep with a raise of his brow Daren returns her hug before speaking, "yeah well I decided to take a year off to help Josh get the herd set up and running. I only have another semester. Who is your friend?"
Looking over her shoulder to the new break down Toni rolls her eyes as she looks to her brother and cousin. "some Mr. High and Mighty broke down."
Stepping around his cousin, Daren walks closer as he realizes he knows this High and Mighty, laughing with a shake of his head before approaching his old college buddy from when he first went to college. "I be a monkey's uncle if it's not Jerad Garrett!"
Dusting the dust off his jeans he hears a familiar voice. Laughing at the words he had not heard in years Jerad looks over to his old roommate., "You always went around making strange noises, now I know why." Moving from the jeep with a shake of his head Jerad notices Josh. Quickly reaching out to shake hands with Josh, "Hello Josh. I did not realize you were the Josh she was talking about." With that he motioned to indicate the little mechanic. Looking from Josh to his old roommate before walking to his old friend shaking his hand as a smile of real pleasure at seeing a familiar face or two, "How have you been?"
"Good, good. I hear you are broke down here. Where you staying?" Motioning to his uncle in the kitchen "Word travels fast when there is a stranger in town." Turning to his friend Daren leads Jerad up the steps to stand against the porch railing.
Forgetting about the grumpy woman he had come with Jerad walks with his friend onto the porch shaking his head not able to believe the turn of events. "I do not have a clue where I am staying. Toni's dad said you did not have a hotel in this town and said we would figure out something."
Listening to his friend Daren nods, "yeah we do not have a hotel or boarding house around here. However we could use some help with pulling the mixed mustangs over to the stables between Josh's and my place. How would you feel about using that earlier education to help us get that situated?"
Hearing the mention of mustangs he feels his true interest peeked. "Do you mean the small herd I saw over at Toni's parents' house?"
Nodding at the mention of the small group that he knew was at uncle Micheal's place, "yes that is a few of them. Although everyone has a few here and there in their pastures. They have all been helping us with a few. So when I graduated Josh and I could really get started. Now we just have to gather them all up along with the mare and stallion used for them."
"Well, you know me too well. Count me in I would be more than happy to help. It should make the time go by faster. She says it could be up to a month before my car is fixed."
"Good then you can come stay at my place I built last year. Josh is just about done with his place so he will be helping us when he is off work.
Watching in shocked horror Toni wraps her arm around her brother's waist not hearing what Jerad and her cousin are speaking about only noticing they are behaving as if they knew each other. Looking up to him. "What was that?"
Winking to his sister Josh turned to where Daren and Jerad had walked to the side of the porch before returning to look at his sister, "When Daren first started college he had a roommate named Jerad. I had went to meet them a time or so. We had even spoke of going into business together. I had all but forgotten that."
Groaning Toni followed Josh into the house with one last look to her cousin. As she entered into the main house her heart felt as if it were at her feet when she heard her cousin patting Mr. Money Bag on the back saying, "Good then you can come stay at my place I built last year. Josh is just about done with his place so he will be helping us when he is off work." Walking in the kitchen Toni was mumbling about the turn of events when her uncle Craven winked at her father before speaking to Derek, "So Derek do you know where I can find a 'real mechanic'?" With that both men laughed both giving Toni a hug in turn. Unable to stop it a smile touches her face as she loved her family more than anything and she knew they were only picking on her.