TJ gave her a playful smirk. “Told you.” He found a rag, wiped the freezer down, then peeked inside. “Let’s take it out and clean it in the driveway.”
“Sure,” she said.
He opened the garage door, hefted the freezer onto one shoulder, and hauled it out. Once he got the hose going, he looked at Lila. “Grab some cleaner from the kitchen.”
It didn’t take long to wash and wipe everything down. When the freezer gleamed to his satisfaction, they crossed the wide barnyard to the biggest indoor arena. The scent of hay and horses hung in the cool dusty air.
Sure enough, his brother Ethan was on a tractor, raking the footing.
“Do your folks still give lessons?” Lila asked.
“Oh yeah,” TJ said. “We hold a lot of events here and plenty of training clinics.”
“It’s so quiet today,” she commented.
“Probably because everyone’s at another ranch for a clinic. I heard Mom and Dad talking about it this morning.” He cupped his hands around his mouth. “Ethan!”
His brother was rounding a corner, saw them, and waved.
“I haven’t seen your brothers in ages,” Lila said.
“Neither have I,” TJ admitted.
“Well, of course not, you’ve been gone.” She smiled. “Is it strange coming back after so long?”
He nodded. “A little. But not much changes around here, you know?”
“Oh, don’t I.” She rolled her eyes. “That’s why I’m bored.”
He glanced at her as Ethan slowed the tractor as he approached, dust swirling behind him. “Bored?”
“Yeah.” She leaned against the rail. “Nothing happens around here. Sometimes I wonder if I should move away.”
“What would your parents think about that?”
“Probably the same as yours,” she scoffed. “My mom runs into yours at the grocery store now and then, and all your mother talks about isyou.She mentions your brothers too.Usually about how she wants to marry them off. Then my mother brings up me, and it turns into a matchmaking session.”
TJ laughed just as Ethan reached them and shut off the tractor.
“TJ, bro! What do you need?” Ethan climbed down, opened the gate, and slipped through. “Hey, Lila, what are you doing here?”
“We came to pick up the freezer from the garage,” TJ said. “We’re taking it to Pleasant Beans to keep ice cream in it.”
“Ice cream?” Ethan asked, eyebrows up. “Since when is Pleasant Beans selling ice cream?”
“Since Tilly hired elderly folks to help while she’s in Hawaii,” Lila said, crossing her arms. “They’re baking pies.”
“Pie?” Ethan grinned. “Yummy! I’m heading to Pleasant Beans!” He started toward the wide door, then groaned. “Oh, wait. I’m working.” He winked at them and turned back. “So what brings you out here, other than the freezer?”
“Mom’s big air popper,” TJ said. “And I need your truck.”
“Oh sure, bro.” Ethan fished a ring of keys from his pocket and tossed them over. TJ caught them easily and tucked them away.
“So, what else is happening?” Ethan asked, swinging his arms.
“We’re manning the Pleasant Beans booth at the Harvest Festival this weekend,” TJ said. “That’s why we need the truck. We have to pick up a few things for the booth.”
“Okay, just don’t scratch the truck.” Ethan headed for the gate. “Gotta get back to work, bro. See you at dinner.” He waved, hopped back on the tractor, and rumbled away.
