Dappled sunlight shone through the trees on the dirt country road. Peter supposed he could have driven, but the mid-morning air was crisp and he wasn't in a particular hurry to get where he was going. He had been told how important it was to introduce himself to the neighbors in a small town. But he wasn't keen on showing up unannounced and uninvited, especially when meeting people for the first time, so he was grateful for the chance to take his time. Dust and mud were gathering on his shoes. They were probably too formal for the day's mission, he thought.

Before he could dwell too long overthinking a simple introduction, the trees gave way on his left, revealing a sprawling field, and beyond it a barn, a house, and some other structures. The property went up over some hills and out of sight. Black and white and brown cows dotted the scene. This must be it. Peter leaned on the wooden fence that bordered their property and the road, taking in the weather. Out in the field a young woman and four children were playing an odd form of tag. They ran around and hollered and laughed. Peter started to walk again, but the woman noticed him and waved.

She made her way across the grass. The oldest two boys of the four children ran up ahead and met Peter at the tall fence. "Hi there, Mister," the oldest said.

"Hi," Peter responded. "Nice day isn't it? What's that game you're playing?" The shorter of the two precocious boys had sandy hair, and a look on this face that said, gee, this man's an idiot.

"You don't know sharks versus dinosaurs? Everyone plays sharks versus dinosaurs." He turned to his brother. "Ben, can you believe he doesn't know sharks versus dinosaurs? Only little babies even more littler than Lottie can't play sharks versus dinosaurs. Basically it's like tag except there are two teams, see, and the first team—"

"That's enough for now, Liam," the young woman said with a grin. Peter thought if she hadn't shown up that Liam could talk forever. Her progress had been considerably slowed by a little girl and boy trailing her, each grabbing either her tee-shirt or jeans and trying to spy on this mysterious stranger and hide at the same time.

"Good morning," she said, politely waiting for him to explain why he was on the edge of her property. Peter noticed right away she was too young to be the mother of these kids; the oldest seemed to be eleven or twelve, and she in her early twenties. Unfortunately, the thought didn't make it from his brain to his mouth in time. "Uh, hi. I'm from," he gestured vaguely where he had walked from. Peter had never been good at introductions, let alone with four distrustful children staring him down. He managed to continue. "I just moved in. You must be Mrs. Phillips." He knew he was mistaken before the words left his tongue.

She laughed warmly, "Oh no, no, that would be my mother. I'm just Ellie. You must be our new neighbor, Mr. Reid? We heard from the Thompsons that they were finally selling the old ranch."

"Yes!" he responded, glad to know his presence wasn't too much of a surprise. "Although, I can't say I've ever been called Mr. Reid. Please call me Peter."

"Well it's nice to meet you Peter." She stuck out her hand to shake his and a warm smile spread on her face. It was contagious; he could feel himself smiling right back. She had to reach out far to shake hands, seeing as she still had a kid clinging to each leg and he was on the other side of a fence. Ben and Liam clambered up the fence and stuck out their hands to shake as well, forgetting any suspicions they had about their new neighbor.

Ben shook his hand firmly, doing everything in his power to seem grown up. Liam grabbed on with both hands and shook until Ellie laughed and told him to knock it off.

"These are my siblings," Ellie said. "You've met Ben and Liam. This little monkey on my left leg is Emerson and on my right leg is Charlotte." Being called a monkey prompted little Emerson to climb up with the other two and shyly shake Peter's hand.

"It's nice to meet all of you." Peter said. "I was just on my way up to your place to meet you and your parents."

"Hmm, well, you won't find them now, they're way out with the cows." Ellie said, then her face brightened. "Come over for dinner tonight! Nothing fancy, I think we're having chili. They're real excited to meet you."

"If it's not an imposition.."

"I insist! See you tonight at six!" Ellie finished, and before Peter could protest, she'd somehow gathered up the gaggle of children and was making her way toward their house. Peter turned and started back up the dirt road. When he got home to his little ranch, he realized he had been smiling the whole way.