It was a tidbit of personal information he found fascinating. “Want us to move your suitcases and bins in there?”
Her smile returned. “That works for me! I don’t mind reliving my chicken-watching days.”
They stacked her three suitcases and plastic bins against the wall, but the room was otherwise empty. No furniture. No bed. He wracked his brain and decided the best temporary solution would be to offer her the use of his guest room furniture. It would leave his sister hanging upon her return. Then again, Halle would leave around the same time, so it should work.
He caught her eye. “I have a spare bed and dresser I normally toss in the guest room. You’re welcome to it.”
“Yes, please,” she said quickly.
“Consider it done.” He stepped into the hallway and found Jensen chugging down a bottle of water beside the stairwell. “No hurry, but I could use a hand with the last set of bedroom furniture when you get a chance.”
“Let’s do it. My break time’s over!” Jensen made a rally sign with his empty water bottle and followed Owen to the moving truck.
Halle climbed aboard behind them and picked up one of the two nightstands.
Owen eyed her with concern. “You sure it’s not too heavy?”
She rolled her eyes at him. “I’m a farm girl. I can handle an empty nightstand.” She spun around with it in her arms and marched down the ramp with it.
Jensen stared after her, grinning. “Farm girls are the best kind of girls, if you ask me.”
Yes, they are.Owen watched her for a moment to make sure she didn’t have any trouble carrying the bulky nightstand by herself. She didn’t. She’d even had the foresight tocarry it with the drawers flush against her to avoid having them fly open in transit.
As he and Jensen carried the headboard for the guest bed across the front yard, they passed Kenny running around with both arms outstretched, making airplane noises.
“That’s his best imitation of a crop duster.” Jensen spoke in rueful undertones. “I know he acts a lot younger than his age, but I assure you he’s worth his weight in gold as a farmhand. Folks around town call him the chicken whisperer and claim we get more eggs from our flock because of it.”
Owen could only hope the last part was true. He didn’t know much about raising chickens, so he was depending on the Carters to educate him. Now that Halle was sticking around, she might prove useful in that area as well, but only if she was willing. Their situation wasn’t a normal one. He didn’t intend to push her to do anything her heart wasn’t in.
Since he and Jensen had spoken over the phone a few times prior to his arrival, Owen was already aware of Kenny’s developmental issues. He didn’t feel the need to rehash the topic. Instead, he focused on the simple enjoyment Kenny was getting out of the beautiful weather. “If my boys see what your boy is up to, they’ll join him.”
No sooner had Owen spoken than Ryder and Cooper erupted out the front door and began twirling around the yard with their arms outstretched like Kenny’s. They made loud engine-droning noises, collided with each other, and ended up in a snickering pile on the ground.
Owen watched Kenny amble up to the boys and plop down on the ground beside them. “We need to find the black box to see why you crashed,” he declaredsomberly.
Ryder and Cooper rolled apart in mid-snicker. “What black box?” Cooper demanded.
“Oh, there it is!” Kenny lunged Cooper’s way and tickled him beneath his armpit.
It was like a declaration of war. In seconds, Cooper and Ryder had Kenny stretched out on his belly, riding him like a horse.
“Careful, Kenny,” Jensen warned, but Owen shook his head to stop him from intervening.
“I think my boys are holding their own just fine. Unless you’re worried about Kenny getting hurt?”
“Hardly.” Jensen snorted. “He’s indestructible. It’s another one of his strengths. He’s also a gentle giant with kids. A couple of years ago, they recruited him as a water boy at the baseball park, so that’s where we spend a lot of our evenings and Saturdays.”
“Nice!” Owen and Jensen stepped inside the house and carried the headboard down the hallway. “Fair warning. We may bump into each other there since I’m raising two future major league baseball players. Or so the twins tell me.”
They reached the guest room and found Halle nudging the nightstand into place. “I’ll get the other one.” She smiled shyly at the men and darted from the room.
Jensen was silent for a moment after setting down his end of the headboard.
Assuming he needed a rest, Owen took his time leaning it back against the wall.
Jensen spoke in a hushed voice that wasn’t designed to carry farther than the room they were standing in. “When word gets out that she’s single again, this place is going to be buzzing with cocky young bull and bronc riders. Mark my words.” He glanced furtively at the door to ensure theywere still alone. “She’s been voted Teacher of the Year more times than you can shake a stick at. The elementary school couldn’t snap her up fast enough when they found out she was moving back to town.”
“That’s good to know.” Not the part about Garrett Farm being overrun by hopeful single guys, but Owen did appreciate hearing about all the Teacher of the Year awards Halle had won. After hiring her on the fly, it was nice to receive yet another confirmation that he’d made a wise decision.
