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"We could do subs," Jason agrees. "If we're gonna bring stuff back here anyway. I'm sure we can find something for Kaylee too." Standing up, he picks up Kaylee as he does, setting her on his hip. "Alright, kiddo. Time for a ride." He looks between Katie and Sandy. "We can take my truck so we can all ride together." 

...The rest of lunch and partial afternoon goes well. At least for the most part. There was plenty more laughter over Kaylee's antics and by the time Cindy showed up to take her off their hands, they'd been around the pond at least ten times, fed more ducks and chased more dandelion seeds than one could imagine. Kaylee was visibly tired but too stubborn to slow down, even when Cindy picks her up... 

...Jason groans and flops down on his couch. It would be suppertime soon and he had no clue what was on for the evening. At least they didn't have to go in to work or anything. Katie probably had some idea of how to spend their time - she usually did. 

Tugging on her hand, he pulls her down onto the couch with him so she could lie on top of him and he kisses her head. "I think I might be too tired to do anything at all tonight," he admits. "That kid has more energy than a wild mustang." He was ignoring the earlier slight spat with Katie, and he knew it. But he didn't want to talk about it. He just wanted to have a normal evening and forget about the way he'd felt before.

Eric's eyes widen as Ashlee throws her arms around him, and a grin creases his lips. Laughing, he wraps his arms around her in a tight hug. "You're welcome, Kiddo. You deserve it." 

Looking over at Stacy, his eyes lock with hers for just a moment. And for just a moment, he felt a part of something... something more than he had before...

Pulling away from Ashlee, he flicks her cheek with a finger. "If your mom says it's okay, you can have your first ride this afternoon. Moonbeam's been waiting for you." 

He looks back over to Stacy again. "What do ya say, Mom? Think that'd be okay with you?" 

Off to the side, Mick's eyes watch the scene and he smiles. Was anybody else noticing what was going on here, or was it just him? He wasn't sure. But what he was sure of, was that Eric was starting to have two pretty special girls in his life. 

Glancing at his side to Rosetta, Mick tosses her a wink.

"It's definitely a boat."

"Hippo."

"Boat."

"Hippo."

"Boat."

"Hippo!" Mackenzie flicks sand in Justin's direction.

He grins and remains staring up at the clouds in the sky. He and Mackenzie were both lying on their backs on the riverbank, arguing over just about every cloud that passed. It was all in good fun though, as their laughter proved.

"Okay, okay," he relents. "I kinda see a hippo. But that one right over there..." he points. "That's a squirrel."

"What?!" Mackenzie scrunches her nose, squinting into the bright sky. "It's a dinosaur."

"With a bushy tail? Seriously?"

"No, that's his body!"

"Oh, right right." Justin laughs. "I see it now. I think."

Mackenzie smirks. "Sure you do."

"Mm-hmm." Justin keeps watching the clouds, falling silent for several minutes. "So you still haven't told me what your favorite thing to do is." 

"You didn't ask."

"Didn't I? Oh, well, what's your favorite thing to do?" 

Mackenzie thinks and finally shrugs. "I dunno." 

"You gotta at least know something." 

"Not really. But I guess...well, spending time with my dad, probably." 

"Ken?" 

"No. Carson's my dad. You know that." 

"Right." Justin gives her a sidelong glance. "So what's so great about him?" 

Mackenzie shrugs again. "He's nice. And... he's my dad." 

"Dad's are usually nice."

"Not all of them." 

"Really?" 

Silence. 

Justin turns his head to see Mackenzie staring intently at the sky. "What makes you say that?" 

"Just 'cause." 

Justin knew good and well that she was thinking of the couple who had adopted her and kept her for a short while. He knew the details of the abuse and he wasn't surprised in the least that she was clamming up now. "Kinda hurts when people we trust don't love us like we think they will, huh?"

"I guess." 

...An hour later, Justin was driving back through town after having met Ken to drop off Mackenzie. He'd gotten her to talk just a little bit - but an inch to some was a mile for her, so he was satisfied with the day. She had an awful lot of baggage stored up that she'd never dealt with, and it was going to take some time. 

Coming to an intersection, Justin pauses. Left would take him to his mother's. Right would take him to the hospital. He sighs. He'd just spent over an hour working with someone on their problems and he wasn't even facing his own. Finally, he turns right. 

"And up and down and out to the side..." 

Jared listens dully to the nurse as he performs his daily exercise for his right shoulder. It hurt a little less every day, but just lying here day in and day out made him stiff and sore. 

"There we go. You're doing great."

Jared smirks at the older lady. He felt as if he were three years old. "Thanks." Not surprisingly, she didn't catch on to his sarcasm. 

"And now your legs..." She pulls back the covers on his bed. "Can you feel this?"

It was the same old routine. "No... no.... and no." He didn't feel anything. He never did. It was hopeless. He was never going to walk again. He was-

"Oh, do that again!"

He looks up at the nurse with surprise. "Do what?" 

"Your toe."

"What about it?"

"It moved."

It had? Jared stares down at his feet and his heart skips a beat. Concentrating with all he had, he suddenly sees his big toe shift slightly. 

"That's wonderful!" The nurse claps her hands. "The doctor will be so pleased." 

So was Jared. But as his smile spreads and enthusiasm builds, he suddenly realizes he's been left alone again. He felt like there should be some kind of celebration here. The doctor had said that any movement was the first sign that he might regain mobility in his legs. And that was something to be thrilled about. So... he looks around the room again. "Yay," he lamely says aloud. 

"Knock knock." 

Jared's head snaps quickly to the door and he's surprised to see Justin. "Oh hi..."

"Can I come in?" 

"Does it look like it's crowded in here?"

Justin grins as little and wanders in to take a seat near the bed. "How's it going?" 

"I moved a toe." Jared nods solemnly. 

"Really? Well that's great, right? I mean that's what the doctor's been hoping for, right?" 

Jared finally manages a bit of a smile. Maybe there was somebody who could share his enthusiasm. "Yeah. It could mean that I'll actually walk again after all."

"Good for you." Justin nods. "Ma will be thrilled to hear that." 

"Yeah she was here earlier today but that was before all this." 

"I'll be heading to her place after this, so I'll tell her." 

"Okay." Jared fiddles with the edge of his blanket, feeling awkward in the pause that follows. "So did you-"

"I need to apologize," Justin interrupts. 

"For...?"

"For the way I walked out last time." Justin really did feel guilty about it. He needn't have cut his brother off when he'd left. There were better ways to handle it. "I know you're trying to remember and I'm sure it's more frustrating than I can imagine. Some of the things in the past still hurt and I haven't figured out yet how to deal with them when I know you can't remember. So it's just gonna take me a while." 

Jared bites his lip. He really did want to know more. He knew it must be something awful that he'd done, and maybe he really would be better off not knowing but... "I'm just trying to rebuild my life." 

"How about building a new one?" 

Jared sighs. "I just don't understand why you won't talk to me." 

Justin tries not to flee again. "For now... how about this... I'll try to talk to you more if you try to not worry about the past." 

It was better than nothing, right? "Yeah okay, I guess." Jared had a feeling that no matter how much Justin talked, he wouldn't reveal what was really eating away at him. "Tell Mom hi for me when you see her, okay?" 

"Yeah..." Justin realized that he was suddenly being dismissed. He hadn't expected that. But he wouldn't push his luck either. Standing up, he gives a little wave. "Good luck with the toe." 

"Right." Jared waves back and watches until Justin leaves. Leaning back into his pillow, he gives a little growl of frustration.

Best Gift

Hearing Jason's mumble Katie quickly looks at him a strange feeling over coming her. It was irritation mixed with a little bit of being upset. She didn't like being upset with Jason, but it was a feeling she couldn't help. Katie would of said more but she figured it was best to keep quiet.

Kaylee's squeal breaks Katie train of thought and for the moment she was glad. She didn't want to think about unpleasant things right now. She wanted to try and think about the good things, and just spending time with Jason and Kaylee.

  Looking out across the park as Jason and Sandy go back and forth Katie gives a small sigh. Hunter's words pop into her head about just waking Jason over the back of the head.  Next time your boyfriend makes you feel like crap, just give him a slap upside the head or something. If only but Katie new that was not the answer and would only make things worse.

   "Hmmm...Oh yeah eating in the park sounds great. I'm kind of in the mood for subs. If you guys don't want that than we can just stop at two places. It's nice outside though so I don't mind eating here."

Doing her best Katie smiles to Jason, Kaylee and Sandy. She wasn't going to run the rest of the day because of one moment, or being a sourpuss about it. She could think about it, and hash it up later. For now it was a nice day and she was with people she loved...that is what mattered.

Still holding her boots Ashlee looks up at Eric and gives a laugh. Maybe this was the start at becoming a real cowgirl. She certainly felt the part helping in the barn with the horses, being up early it just all seemed...right.

 As Eric mentions his gift to her Ashlee sits up a little bit straighter as an even bigger smile spreads across her face and tears of joy start to pool in her eyes. She'd been waiting for Eric to say he would start teaching her. She'd been so pashent and now...now it payed off.

   "Really...you mean it?"

Ashlee couldn't help how over joyed she felt. Giving a little happy shriek she throws her arms around Eric's beck and burys her face into his neck.

   "Thank you so much Eric!! This is the best gift ever!"

She really was going to be a cowgirl after all!
 

Nothing to unwrap

It was a new, odd sensation that Jason felt as Katie responds to him. He couldn't quite read her tone, but her words... stung? Just a little? Whatever it was, it wasn't the most pleasant of feelings. Trying to decide what it was, was difficult, and he wasn't sure he really wanted to, lest he make it worse. But for sure, it did sting. 

As Katie moves on to say she's glad to meet Sandy, Jason wishes he could move on as quickly. But the slight sting was lingering. It wasn't too severe. And he was pretty sure Katie didn't mean it in a negative way. Regardless, it was hard for him to let go of it. 

"Yeah, I'm... glad you got to meet her too. She's a lot of fun." He nods before his eyes lower to the grass as he plucks a new blade. "But I wouldn't go out to dinner with her alone," he mumbles.

Kaylee's squeal breaks the conversation and Jason looks over quickly to see her trying to catch dandelion seeds that Sandy had just blown into the breeze. The little girl giggles and runs around in circles. "Fler fly!" 

Sandy laughs. "Yes the flowers are flying away."

Kaylee spins around, spies Jason and comes running over as fast as her little legs can carry her. Plowing into him, he's knocked off his elbow and onto his back, where she promptly lands on his stomach. 

"Oof!" Jason's eyes widen as his breath is knocked out of him. He has to laugh though, catching Kaylee before she rolls off the other side. "Boy, you're gonna sleep well tonight. Mom's gonna want me to do this again but I don't know if I can handle it." 

Kaylee gives him a cheesy grin and flops down so her head was on his chest. "Nap." 

"Nap?! You kidding me?" Jason tickles her, making her giggle some more. "Later. We gotta find some lunch first."

Sandy was grinning as she wanders closer. "Yeah, I heard her tummy rumble a few times and so is mine." 

"I'm thinking...." Jason takes Kaylee's hands as she straddles his stomach and bounces her a little. "Somewhere we can eat outside." 

"We could just do McDonald's," Sandy suggests. "The one a few blocks from here has that outside patio. Or we could bring stuff back here." 

"Hey yeah, it's close enough." He turns his head in the grass to look at Katie. "What do you think, Babe? Wanna eat here in the park or do you have a hankering for something else?" 

The atmosphere was so warm and fun that everybody had a good time just mingling and watching Ashlee smile. She and Stacy really were becoming a part of the ranch family, and it was just an accepted fact now. Once a part of the family, always a part of it. It's just the way it worked. 

Keeping his distance for a while, Eric just watches Ashlee, enjoying seeing her have a good time. He had a little cake and mingled a bit, but it wasn't until after he saw her open her gifts that he wanders closer. 

Easing down in the chair next to her, he smiles before throwing Stacy a wink. She knew what he was doing, but he'd been successful at keeping it a secret from Ashlee. "Boy, those are nice looking boots," he comments, giving Ashlee a little nudge with his shouder. "I guess that makes you a real cowgirl now, huh?" 

Leaning in a little closer, it's hard for him to control his smile. This was a bit out of his box. It had been a long time since he'd taught anyone how to ride, and that was usually Mick's deal around here. This was awkward for a few reasons, but he hoped it would be worth it.

"So, um... I don't have any gift for you to unwrap," he admits. "I ain't very good at that kind of thing. But..." He eyes the boots again. "If those there fit... how would you like for me to start giving you riding lessons?"

Boots

Turning to Jason and searching his face Katie could see the there was something there. He was upset? Jealous? Confused...and for a moment Katie wondered why to herself. She didn't understand it, and it was slightly confusing.

   "Well I figured it would be ok since you potentially would of been spending time with Sandy today. Doubt I will be the one calling him again, That might be just a little much." 

Turning to watch Sandy and Kaylee again Katie couldn't help but feel this strange feeling. It was almost like Jason didn't trust her, but why wouldn't he? She'd never give him reason not too...so it made no sense. Maybe it was just one of those new things with there new feelings.

   "Anyways I am happy I got to meet Sandy. She seems nice!"

Feeling her stomach grown Ashlee decided it was time for lunch. She had worked up and apatite this morning and was now starving. Looking around for Eric and not finding him Ashlee figured he was already waiting for lunch so she might as well head there too.

Getting up to the dinning hall and entering Ashlee stops in the door way and just smiles. She wasn't exasperating this much to be going on. She figured maybe a cake, and lunch but not the decorations and all the added on stuff. It made her feel good though and she liked it.

...It wasn't long after getting there laughter rolled through the dinning hall and lunch had been eaten, Cake was served and Ashlee was stuffed. Now starting to open her gifts Ashlee couldn't stop smiling. Everything was so wonderful and this had been such a suprise it was nice.

Coming over with the bag Stacy sits down next to Ashlee. Putting her arm around her daughter she hands her the bag and gives her a kiss on the head.

   "Happy Birthday Hunny."

Gently taking the tap off the bag and pulling the paper out before reaching in and taking a hold of the boots.  Pulling them out and setting them in her lap Ashlee's fingers go over the stitching on them. They were so nice Ashlee could only dream of having something like this.

Looking to her mom she smiles before giving her a hug. They were so nice and her mom had thought about her.

"Thank you so much mom. I love them."

"Your welcome Ash. I figured they might come in handy sooner or later."

That'll teach me

Jason lifts an eyebrow, hearing that Katie had gone out with someone... someone she'd arrested just recently... a guy, no less. He props himself up a little straighter on his elbow, turning his eyes from his sister to Katie. She was... smiling. He hadn't realized until now how rarely he saw that anymore. 

"So you... went out to dinner with Hunter... Hunter Maxwell... the drunken disorderly?" He couldn't help it that he was surprised. He knew nothing was wrong with it, it just felt... strange. That just didn't seem like something Katie would do, and... maybe if Jason was completely honest, he might admit that he was a little bit miffed that she'd gone out with a guy alone like that.  If it had been a friend, like one of the guys in the band or something, it would have felt different to him.

"I guess I'm... kinda surprised you were out alone with another guy..." He lets a fairly tense pause linger for a moment. "Glad you had a good time though. Guess that'll teach me to hit the hay early, huh?" He smiles... kind of.

"Okay." Dylan nods. "I'll, um... I'll be ready." Heading back to his work, he glances over his shoulder once, watching Ashlee walk away. She really was sweet. He wasn't so sure he was going to like tonight, but he'd do it for her.

By the time lunch rolled around, the dining hall had filled with most of the ranch men and women - maybe just a couple more than usual, making an effort to be there to celebrate. A small table off to the side held a few packages and some cards, and balloons and crepe paper had been strung up in various places around the room. Build-your-own sub sandwiches were on the menu today, and Becky had prepared several platters of various meats and cheeses. 

Off to the side, Eric sits in his usual spot, looking forward to Ashlee having a good time. Whenever she opened her gifts - right after, he'd give her his. He couldn't wrap it... but he was pretty sure it would make her happy. He'd wait until after she'd opened her boots though.