Summer Sundown *NEW*

One.

I had no idea how I was supposed to feel.

I stood outside the crappy little airport waiting for my ride back to my 'new home.' I had been praying that maybe the airport would be something to look forward to but I'd been dead wrong about that considering it was a little strip of a building. I wasn't surprised by the heat I felt, though I also wasn't sure if I was okay with it yet or not. Despite these disappointments and the bit of confusion I found clouding my mind, I still didn't even know if I was happy about this situation or not.

Of course I was happy as hell to see my family. I hadn't been around since I was seven or eight. Then now here I stood, almost twenty-one and scared shitless of facing these people. I kept thinking that this whole situation could very easily not work out... and then what? Just pick up and move back to Pittsburgh? I'd feel like a failure – especially in terms of dealing with my family. In all honesty that's the kind of fear that eats at your soul and it was scaring me to no end.

My fifteen minute wait came to an end as a big old pick-up truck pulled up to the curb in front of me. A medium sized decal on the passenger door read 'Keifer Horse Ranch' as I pulled my sunglasses up to the top of my head.

"Lil miss Maddy, is that you?!" a middle aged woman drawled from the driver seat. I couldn't help but smile. My aunt Laura had to have been out of that truck in a second flat hugging me half to death.

"Oh honey, look at you. All kinds of grown up!" she me quickly at arm's length.

"Despite the fact that you looked amazing the last time I saw you, you look good yourself. All of the women I've seen actually look really good. Country air, Jesus Christ," I trailed on, feeling a bit self-conscious as we tossed my bags into the back.

"Why, nothing do you better than some country air," she agreed as we pulled away from the airport. I took a deep breath as I watched the shitty little building recede in the rear view. Now I absolutely had to do this.

As we took the twenty minute drive back home, Laura went on through the typical 'how have you been' and 'what have you been up to'-s. It wasn't anything I minded all too much, especially since I figured I'd have to be dealing with it a whole hell of a lot the next few days. The thing is I actually knew what to say to answer these kinds of questions and didn't need some huge all too detail ridden response, so I was more or less at ease.

"Oh... wow." I was suddenly a deer in the head lights.

We were slowing down in front of the ranch. God, there were fences for as far as I could see. A few horses were scattered through the fields here and there. I spotted a few people riding, a few people working. We turned into the long driveway, at the end of which I could see a good sized and off a little further back, a giant .
"Impressive, huh?" Aunt Laura smiled.

"You're telling me," I whispered, suddenly feeling even more impossibly intimidated.

The truck parked right in front of the house and I froze up. I stared at the house like it was Bigfoot or something. I didn't know if I wanted to throw up or cry and I knew it had to be one of the two because holy fucking shit, holy shit, hol-

"Madeline," Laura got my attention easily enough. I glanced over, "Everything's fine honey. Everyone's excited to see ya," she tried to reassure me.

We hopped out of the truck and grabbed my bags as I forced my hands not to shake before heading up to the front door. Stepping inside, we were faced with a wall of delicious smells.

"Your Grandma's been cookin' since she got up. You better be ready ta eat like a pig, darlin'... come on; your room's up here," she told me as she headed up the stairs. She led me all the way up the stairs and down the hall and into a typical bedroom. There was a closet, a vanity, a small desk, a queen sized bed, nice light blue walls, and amazing lighting from the two almost ceiling to floor windows.

"Got the corner room ya know? In my opinion, best views from out those windows." Laura smiled as she placed bags at the foot of the bed.

I smiled a little, "Thanks."

"I'll give ya a moment and all, but don't keep your Grandma down there waitin' too long. She's been waitin' long enough." She laughed as she headed out.

I shuffled over to the window hesitantly, looking out towards the back of the house. It was definitely just as impressive as the front from the looks of it. I could see the stable perfectly too and the constant stream of about a hand full of people milling around there doing work or walking with horses in tow. I took a deep breath as I turned to face the room. There seemed to be hardly any resemblance in this life to the one I knew from the city. All though I had started to feel better about the situation, that single thought practically made me feel hollow.

Well I had to do it didn't I? There's simply no way around heading downstairs.

Stepping into the kitchen, I couldn't help but grin.

"Lil Maddy!" My Grandmother's voice boomed as she hurried on up to me pulling me into the tight hug I remembered fondly.

"Well look at you city girl," she went on as she took a look at me. "Well come on now, hope you're ready to eat darlin'; I made just about everythin' on the menu," she went on in her sweet voice as she went back over to the stove.

It seemed my prayers were answered as I talked with Grandma. She was just the same old nice lady she'd always been and couldn't have been happier that I was here. Three of us sat in the kitchen just talking and eating for a good while. A couple of the hands from the stable had come in to grab some food and they seemed genuinely happy to see me as well; just excited to have me poking around.

One of them had even brought me out to show me the stable quickly. It was even bigger a building than I'd thought it was. We didn't go through the entire structure or anything, but he showed me one particular horse that was Grandma's. As we were admiring the mare whom I had instantly fell in love with, I could feel eyes. Eyes everywhere – directed at me.

Everyone that walked by took their time to give me a bit of a sideways, confused look. They seemed to be processing me and taking note of everything that seemed off by the way their eyes darted around. And well... that just sucked. One particular girl even burst out in laughter at one look of me. I couldn't help but frown a little as I headed back into the house. It wasn't exactly my fault that I wasn't akin to what everyone was used to seeing here in Tennessee. And to be honest, I wasn't exactly jumping at the idea of changing my wardrobe and appearance to what it was they did deem acceptable.

I worked on unpacking a little after that whole episode and arranging the room into the way I figured worked best. I tested out the bed quickly and by God; never had any bed felt hat deliciously soft and perfect. Later on in the afternoon, Grandma called me downstairs and I came shuffling along. Stepping into the kitchen, I found Uncle Sam. We grinned at each other and he wound up practically talking me in a hug.

Oh, I should probably clear some of this up quick. Uncle Sam... yeah, I know, ha-ha... he's my mom's brother. Aunt Laura is his wife. And of course, Grandma would be my mom's and Sam's mom. Oh wait –

"I do believe last time you were around was before Kaylee here," Sam told me as a younger girl stood before him with a grin on her face. "Maddy, my daughter Kaylee – Kaylee this is your cousin Madeline." He introduced us.

"Hi!" she continued beaming.

"Why hello," I smiled back, "Guess it's nice to know I won't be wandering around this whole place being the only kid."

"You're not a kid," she laughed.

"Close enough," I whispered to her with a wink.

"Oh, yeah! I'm gonna show you everythin' though! I promise. I already talked to Papa and made him agree to let me." She continued on as excited as I figured she could get.

"Yeah darlin' but I also told you not till tomorrow after ya got back from your gymnastics."

"I know," she whined a little as she took a seat at the table once again.

I hung around in the kitchen with everyone until dinner wound up being dished out. One of the little things I enjoyed thus far was that everyone ate together more or less. It wasn't anything too incredibly formal, but it was everyone eating and talking happily.

Kaylee and I volunteered on doing dishes, giving us a chance to talk. This fourteen year old seemed to be as sassy as they come. She'd been riding horses for her entire life. She participated in some kinds of competitions but her explanations of what they were for were lost on me. I also learned she'd taken up gymnastics over the past few years and that she had lessons every other day of the week for the entire summer.

She told me she'd take me out riding tomorrow after she'd got home and show me around as she had mentioned earlier. After we finished, we ran up to my room and she kept me company as she told me about this little town as I finished up with my unpacking.

All in all, the day had gone better than I thought it would. I mean it hadn't gone perfectly or anything but at this point? At least I wasn't entirely dreading waking up tomorrow.

*********************

So its summer and I figured it would be a perfect time to post this! just fair warning I'm going to try to upload everyday or at least every other day so I can finish it when summer ends. I know its still early but I'm already thinking of a sequel but I'm not sure yet. So let me know what y'all think and enjoy! 

- Haley