Page 36 of Doran

That would give me time for a quick breakfast, and permit me a quick escape in case any drama brewed with my new “in-laws” as Darren called them.

“I’ll be there,” I promised.

It didn’t take long to carry the arch into the backyard and find a spot to put it, one angled so you could see rolling prairie beyond it and not the greenhouse’s foundation site. Then the prince and his mate were off and I went inside to find Sarah anxiously making up beds for the kits

“I’ve already made a room upstairs for my parents,” she said, “and I’ve got a cake cooling that I still need to frost and write ‘Welcome Home’ on. Ohh, we should stop at the general store and get them each one of those kid’s comms. And do you think Kaelor can pop back so we can wheel their bikes over so they see them first thing?”

I laughed. “Slow down! They can wait to see the bikes until they’re ready to go join the boys on a bike ride. And I think a walk will do you good, help calm your jitters some. We’ll go to the general store and get those comms which you can give them while they enjoy some cake.”

“I just want everything to be perfect,” she confessed.

“It already will be. They’re getting to see you again, meet me and the rest of our friends and family, and settle into their new life.”

She nodded vigorously. ”You’re right. Not even my parents can say anything or do something else stupid now that can ruin any of that.”

We put Laura in her stroller, leaving a note for her fathers that we’d just gone to the store so if they came back for lunch before we got back, they’d know where we were. I needn’t have worried; they were both sitting outside the sheriff’s office, playing a game of checkers on the porch. They spotted us and waved, and we waved back.

“Paht-huh! Da!” Laura crowed, opening and closing her fist in a gesture meant both a hello and a goodbye with her.

“Yes, that’s your pata and daddy,” Sarah told her, as we strolled past.

Reaching the store, Sarah bit her lower lip as we went in. “Can we get the kids some clothes? I think a suit like yours for Caleb and a Stetson and a pair of boots. Oh, and slip on boots like the ones you wear with your suit. And for the girls, hats and boots.”

“I think they’d love that,” I agreed.

“And how about one of those prairie dresses and apron things and a sunbonnet for each of your girls?” Kelran asked, overhearing. “Folks have taken to the whole Little House chic thing, and several of the females have come to get the replicator pattern for those very items to wear as festival wear.”

She blinked. “Sell us the patterns, and they can decide if they want to wear them. I’ll make an outfit like that for me to wear at festivals. I’m sure the tourists and any guests we have will love it.”

“Any booked in yet?”

“I had an inquiry yesterday. A journalist and her film crew are coming here for a week as part of a small docu-series about life on the Dragonii frontier. Hopefully it’ll get us some more medical staff so there’s enough to run a proper hospital.”

“That would be nice, wouldn’t it?” Kelran replied. “I see the kits are all enjoying their bikes and scooters. I’ve seen them all over.”

“Yes, well, when Nicky had them all come over to his house for the big reveal, they could barely contain themselves.”

That had been two days ago, and it was true. Every child in the settlement had been presented with either a bicycle or a scooter, and most had already learned to ride the contraptions. I was still working on my own skills with the bike I’d ordered. I was looking forward to going on a family bike ride with our kits soon. Sarah had explained the concept of a picnic, and that sounded like a perfect way to enjoy a break before riding home.

“Oh, I have something here for you both,” Kelran segued. “And it's not just your rings. Johree and Jesse ordered a gift for you, and it arrived yesterday. It’s in the back.” Instead of going into the back, he turned and called out, “Daisy, come on out.”

Sarah gasped as a household bot floated out from the stockroom.

“That looks like it's straight out of the Jetsons!” she squealed.

Kelran nodded. “Jesse said the same thing and calls his Rosie. He had yours named Daisy, so it wouldn’t get confusing, and ordered the little apron and hat.” Then, addressing the bot, “Daisy, this is the family you’re going to.”

“Hello,” Daisy said.

"Oh my gosh, it even has Rosie’s voice!” Sarah gushed.

“My vocal patterns were chosen by my original purchaser.”

“She had to be expensive; we can't accept this,” Sarah continued.

“She can’t be sent back,” Kelran informed her.

“I don’t think we should refuse a gift from the prince and his mate,” I added.