There was a nicker, and she found herself around several horses with large, gentle brown eyes. Jasmine took a deep breath, looking around the stalls, stepping towards a Bay colored horse, rubbing its nose gently.

Jasmine: "Hey, Beautiful . . ."

It nickered happily, nuzzling her hand. A sign above read it's name. 'Elvis'. Jasmine couldn't help but smile.

Jasmine: "You're a beauty, aren't you . . . ? I would take you for a ride if I could . . . Wouldn't that be something . . ."

She scratched near his ears carefully.

Becky: "Ah see ya found Elvis."

The redhead with a thick southern accent walked over.

Becky: "Gran'ma sent meh 't check up on y'all."

She reached out and immediately the horse nuzzled her hand. She giggled.

Becky: "Horses always know when someone's a good 'ol soul. Also know when not 't trust someone."

Jasmine sighed lightly, small flashes crossing her vision.

Jasmine: "He's gorgeous . . . I've always loved Bays . . . Probably from that movie, Spirit. That's what really got me into horses . . . I was into them beforehand, but . . . well, I watched it when I was young. One of the few memories I have . . ."

Becky: "Ya know, yet luckay."

She said quietly, wistfully.

Becky: "Mah mind's blank as a canvas. Don' know anyth'n from when ah woke up in 'th middle 'a nowhere 'an stumbled onto 'th ranch."

Jasmine sighed, sometimes wishing she didn’t even remember the things she did.

Becky: "Absent parents and the memory of wanting a horse . . . that's all I've really got and it's all . . . sketchy . . . I started wearing my ring again, though . . . Seeing you with yours . . . Just . . . Made me feel like it was okay again . . ."

Becky smiled.

Becky: "It kinda comforts meh. It tells meh ah b'long 't someone. Lahke ah said, don't 'member anythang, but, ah do 'ave this feel'n..."

Jasmine nodded slowly, sighing. She couldn’t help herself at the moment. Everything was so close but so distant.

Jasmine: "You . . . didn't say that man was going to be here today. . ."

    She admitted softly, staring at the Bay’s muzzle.

Becky: "Ahm so sorray if 'e startled ya. Ah invited 'im 'an a friend 'a 'is as well. Should've warned ya!"

Jasmine nodded, petting Elvis's neck, trying to pretend it didn’t unnerve her as much as it did.

Jasmine: "It's okay . . . I just . . . deja vu, I guess . . ."

Becky: "Tell meh 'bout-"

She was interrupted by a car door slamming. Jasmine jumped, then smiled.

Jasmine: “I suppose that's Akane . . . ready to ream me for speeding . . ."

She snickered at the thought. It would actually be a welcome break from crazy town, where hallucinations were real people . . .

Jasmine: "Oops . . ."

She giggled as he, Ariel and Daniel wove their way through the kids.

Becky: "Howdy y'all!"

She walked out from the barn. Ariel nodded to her, and Daniel wore his typical sunglasses, hair a disheveled mess. Jasmine stayed in the barn, stroking Elvis's coat, trying to relax the best she could.

Becky: "Welcome 't Patch 'a 'Eaven Horse Ranch! Good 't see ya 'gain Akane."

The man shook her outstretched hand.

Akane: "Likewise.”

She smiled at the pair.

Becky: "Becky Hollistah at yer service!"

Ariel nodded, looking around diligently, Daniel looking nothing short of bored.

Ariel: "Very nice to meet you.”

Daniel: "Is it always this dirty around here, Darling?"

He asked, kicking the dirt path with his shiny black shoe. Becky laughed.

Becky: “It's a ranch! Pavement ain't a must."

???: "Rebecca!"

She winced slightly when Granma Roseabelle came marching outside.

Roseabelle: "There ya are! We got more guests?"

Becky: "Uh, yes Granma."

She offered a smile at the short, plump dark woman. She squinted dark, aged eyes at Angela.

Roseabelle: "Yer wear'n too much red lipstick, honey! What, did you kiss a tomato?! It's as red as Rebecca's hair!"

Becky: "G-Granma!"

Sunny, who had gotten 'separated' from Orion, giggled up at her.

Sunny: “She's right!"

Becky: "S-Sunnay!"

Angela laughed lightly, red lips spreading in amusement.

Angela: "Well maybe I did. I love BLTs so why not?"

???: "Eh heh. Sure, honay."

She winked, and Becky sighed with relief.

Becky: "Jasmine's in 'th barn-."

Akane and Ariel charged after her.

Becky: ". . . Should ah 'ave kept mah mouth shut?"

Angela laughed again.

Angela: "That's a good possibility . . . Overprotective as always . . . At least I talked him down from the ten guards he wanted to bring. Like she's gonna run into a giant mechanical bull wanting the taste of blood or something . . ."

Jasmine smiled, kissing the muzzle of Elvis, petting the side of his neck.

Akane: "MISS BROOKES!"

Akane rushed in, opening his mouth to speak . . . When a horse, pitch black nuzzled his cheek. Becky, quickly checking on them, smiled.

Becky: "Ah see ya made friends with Personah!"

Jasmine laughed as Ariel joined her side, quickly checking her over.

Ariel: "She's unharmed, Akane."

She rolled her eyes, patting the bay horse's cheek. How typical. Becky chuckled, and quickly led Ariel to a lovely white mare.

Becky: "Meet Miskah."

Ariel smiled lightly, patting the mare's nose gently.

Ariel: "She's lovely . . ."

Jasmine quickly glanced around, stopping short at the sight of a nearly scarlet horse.

Jasmine: "Beauty . . ."

She strode over, patting Elvis's nose one last time before sliding her hands over the red horse's nose and cheeks gently.

Jasmine: "You're gorgeous . . ."

Becky laughed.

Becky: "Tha's Sunny's horse. Syde."

Jasmine smiled.

Jasmine: "Lucky girl . . ."

She let out a small sigh, slightly envious. The stable still wasn’t finished at home, and she desperately wanted to have those horses brought in.

Jasmine: "You've got lots of horses here."

Becky chuckled.

Becky: "Oh, jest 'nuff. But some 'a 'em are valuable. Mah special gal AJ.”

She patted the black mare.

Becky: "Is a pure-bred Fresian. She's worth 'round twenty-five 'undred."

Jasmine sighed, nodding, wishing she already had the stable done and filled at home.

Jasmine: "Yeah . . . They're all very sweet . . ."

Becky: "Hmm, tell y'all whut? Aftah suppah, ah'll take y'all on a short ride through 'th trails!"

The southern girl smiled at them. Jasmine smiled slightly.

Jasmine: “Sounds . . . Nice . . ."

She glanced around again, then shook her head. Just then, a loud dinging noise echoed.

Granma: "COOOOOME 'AN GIT IT!"

Every kid outside stopped and cheered, hurrying inside, Sunny dragging Orion in. Orion smiled softly, glancing back outside for a short moment. Jasmine looked to Becky, oblivious of his short search for any sign of her.

Jasmine: "I take it that's dinner . . ."

Becky: "Yep! C'mon y'all!"

She led them out to a side door with a large room and a long picnic-table styled table where the kids were gathered. Poor Daniel was sandwiched between two soaked boys. He grimaced at the situation, his scarlet shirt receiving a few dark stains from the water. Jasmine sat down, trying to keep her eyes on her food, feeling an unwanted gaze every so often. She wasn't sure if it was the mystery man or Akane. She wasn't sure she wanted to know. Orion threw her a few glances, Sunny babbling at his side. Ariel flanked Jasmine on her right side. Sunny was in between her and Orion, then she looked up at the pair, and as all eight-year-olds did, came to their own conclusion.

Sunny: "Are you two married?!"

Jasmine winced, looking away. Orion's mouth fell slightly before he regained himself.

Orion: "Of course not."

Jasmine: "Never seen him before in my life."

Orion and Jasmine said simultaneously, a slight blush creeping over the woman's cheeks. She quickly took off her ring under the table, shoving it in her pocket, not wanting to give the girl more ammunition. Orion watched her carefully before turning his attention back to Sunny.

Orion: "We've never met before, Sunny. How could we possibly be married?"

Sunny: "Oooh . . . Then you gotta be in love!"

Becky: "Sunnay-."

Granma: "AHEM!"

Gramma Roseabelle stood up, and everyone bowed their heads quickly.  Jasmine sighed, obeying the cultural norm for a short moment, pondering more than listening.

Granma: "Heavenly father, we thank ye for this day -no matter how hot ya made it- 'an for the company we have received. Please bless our time together, and the meal you've set before us. In your name, we pray, amen."

"Amen!" The voices echoed around her. The kids reached for their food. Granma: "HOLD IT! Guests first!"

A series of groans erupted across the table. Jasmine winced.

Jasmine: “I'm . . . Really not hungry . . ."

Ariel, Angela and Daniel reached for food quietly, the blonde woman throwing her a glance cautiously, but she shook her head.

Jasmine: "I think I need some fresh air. Is that all right?"

When no one answered but Becky nodded, she got up and hurried out. Sunny watched her leave and chased after her . . . Just as Grief and Missy charged and bounced around her. She sighed, brushing against them as she passed, leaning against a nearby tree and sitting down, closing her eyes, taking deep, slow breaths.

Ariel looked to Akane, not sure if this situation called for a tail on their charge. Becky placed a hand on his shoulder when he began to stand.

Becky: "Let 'er be."

She told him. He opened his mouth, closed it, and . . . sat down.