The Hattens had six horses. The men who worked the big farm rode them through the pastures, to the places their trucks couldn’t go.

Beautiful Xander had been Burke’s pride. Hands taller than the other horses and with a strong personality. Xander liked and disliked people, and he didn’t hide his preferences.

As she entered the stall, Xander nuzzled her in greeting. She led him out to the paddock to let him prance around.

“You’re here early.”

Kelly frowned at Adam’s voice, but when she turned to him, she had cleared her expression. “And you’re awake early.”

“Couldn’t sleep.”

“Missing your friends in Africa?”

“At least no one there hates me.”

Kelly blinked in surprise. Adam Hatten didn’t usually reveal anything to her. “I guess you mean Robbie.”

“He yells at me.”

The way he said it, with such deep self-pity, made her smile. “Robbie’s angry at the world.”

“You know him well, do you?”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Are you implying something?”

Adam stuck his hands in his pockets and let out a sigh. “I think he wants to marry you. Unite the farms, that sort of thing.”

At that, Kelly let out a full-blown laugh. “Your dad asked me, too. Robbie would be a pale second.” Adam’s eyes widened.

“It was a joke. He was drunk.” She stroked Xander’s cheek. “If you go out today on Xander, take it slow. He’s not as young as he used to be.”

“Go with me.”

“What?”

“The house is full of paperwork that I don’t want to do, and I haven’t had a chance to look around. I’ve never seen Paul’s tree farm. We can visit it and—”

“No!” she said with too much emphasis. “I mean, he’s busy. He’s going away for...for the summer and...” She turned away. The last thing she wanted to do was show weakness to Adam. He’d tell Vera. Then she’d run to Pauly, who’d tell his mother. By nightfall, Mrs. Carl would have Kelly in a chair, interrogating her.

“Okay.” Adam had moved to stand near her. “No visiting Paul. But I do need to look around this place. We’re going to be relatives soon, so maybe we should spend some time together.”

She’d lived next door to the Hattens all her life, and Adam had been joined at the hip to her sister since they were kids, but she’d spent little time alone with him. And if it was just the two of them, it was usually silent. To him, she was a kid. To her, he was the person who took Vera away so much of the time.

But Kelly needed time away from all of them: her mother, Mrs. Carl, Dr. Carl, Pauly. Everyone!