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“Or as a side, and I can make another batch of the strawberry-spinach salad with the champagne vinaigrette.”
“With hot dogs?” Even he didn’t think they could pull that one off.
“Look, I’m a pastry chef, remember? I don’t usually prepare meals. If you want to feed them cheesecake and croissants, I’ve got you covered.”
Beth rubbed her hands together. “Can she do some sort of fruit salad?”
Grayson switched his phone to speaker. “Did you hear Beth on that?”
“Yeah. Okay, I can use the strawberries for a summer fruit salad. Add some kiwi and maybe find a dressing to jazz it up. I can have Grandma and Sammy help.”
“What about tomorrow’s meals?”
“We’ve got breakfast and lunch covered, and I’ll have time to put something together. I’ll reach out to the Loon Café for an assist.”
“We’ll do what we can—and I do have some cheesecake in the freezer I can thaw. I’ll throw that in too.”
He looked to Beth, who gave him an uncertain nod.
“All right. Let’s do it,” he answered.
“Is everything okay?” Noah stood in the doorway.
“Just a few last-minute menu changes,” Beth said.
Grayson disconnected his call and led the way back to the arena, Noah and Beth close behind.
“Looks like it’s showtime,” Noah said. Three cars came down the drive, the swirl of dust not quite settled when several more pulled in. Parked.
He gave Grayson’s horse a pat on the neck. “I’m impressed. I wasn’t sure this could all come together this fast.”
Beth smiled.
Yeah, they’d fill Noah in after they got back.
Beth greeted each rider, directing them to Grayson and Noah, who paired them up and helped them stow their gear into the borrowed saddlebags they’d attached to each saddle.
John and Mary Kane, joined by their daughters Leia and Ginny. The twelve-year-old twins were only possible to tell apart by their different colored tops. Bright blue for Leia and red for Ginny.
Zero riding experience. Grayson matched them up to two sorrels, a bay, and an Appaloosa.
Beth sent the Jaspers family his way. At eight years old, their daughter, Samantha, was the youngest on the trail ride. He put her on Lexi, Eli’s favorite red roan.
The girl’s wavy golden locks had been tamed by a hair tie. “Will we see lots of wildlife?”
“I hope so,” he answered.
Jessica Jaspers put out a hand. “Not bears though, right?”
Um— “Well, it’s possible, but probably not.” At the furrow on Jessica’s face, Grayson added, “We’re a big group, and we’ll naturally be making enough noise that we won’t surprise any dangerous wildlife.”
The woman nodded. Her husband, Marvin, gave her hand a tug. “Come on, this’ll be fun.”
Beth continued checking in the families and sending them his way. The group included a single mom with her thirteen-year-old daughter, grandparents with their two preteen grandchildren, and another couple with two boys.
Grayson directed several to Noah to be matched up, and he took a little time to tell the riders about their assigned horses.
Seventeen guests plus Colleen, who’d waited while all the families checked in and were matched up to their horses.
