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“You met her online?” I asked Thad. “What app?”
“Doesn’t matter,” Thad said evasively.
“Are we getting chicks?” Chloe asked, beaming with obvious excitement.
“Weshouldget some chicks.” Soren leaned against the back of the sink.
“What was she like?” Sammie cracked an egg with a violent flick of her wrist.
Thad shrugged. “Pretty, I guess. Nice enough. I think, anyway. We had an easy time talking, so I might ask her out again. Not sure there’s chemistry between us, though. I don’t know. Dating’s hard.”
“Does she live in Bluefern?” Soren’s tone sounded like a police interrogation.
“No, Bozeman. Which explains why I’m so tired.” Thad rose up from the counter to steal a piece of toast from the stack. “I had to drive all the way there to take her to dinner. She works at some hotshot attorney firm there.”
“What kind of attorney?” I asked.
“Family law,” Thad said. “Nasty divorces. That kind of thing.”
Sammie looked up from whipping the eggs around a bowl. “She’s a divorce attorney?”
“That’s right.” Thad watched her, cautious curiosity glittering in his eyes. How Sammie didn’t know he liked her was beyond me. It was so obvious with all the stolen glances and goofy grins whenever she was around. Or maybe she did know and for whatever reason, she wasn’t interested.
“Sammie, do you need her number?” Soren asked in his blunt way.
Sammie paled and busied herself with turning on the gas stove. “No, I was just curious.”
No one said anything for a few seconds until Chloe asked for juice, to which her mother replied, “Drink your water.”
“Are you going to ask her out again?” Soren asked. “The hotshot attorney?”
Thad got up and strode to the coffeepot for a refill. “I haven’t decided.”
“Either you like her or you don’t,” Soren said. “Shouldn’t be a big decision either way.”
“If that’s true, then I probably won’t.” Thad returned to his stool next to Chloe, sinking into the cushion as if he weighed a thousand pounds. “She lives in Bozeman with a great job. She’s never going to move to Bluefern for a guy who works at a dude ranch for tourists.”
I studied my youngest brother. I’d never once heard him sound defeated about his life. Maybe small things here and there, but for the most part he always seemed delighted with his work. Helping guests have an enjoyable experience or doing acts of service for his family appeared to be great motivators and sources of satisfaction.
Was he reevaluating his life? Did he want more than the simple existence he had here?
“We should go fishing,” I said. “It’s my afternoon off, and the weather’s glorious.” The late-spring day promised a warm afternoon. Wildflowers bloomed in every color imaginable, and grasses that had yellowed and broken off in fall and winter were now green with new growth. I’d wakened to the sound of birds chirping.
“I don’t think I can get away,” Thad said. “We have several big parties arriving later.”
“Arabella’s coming out to check on Matilda,” Soren said. “She’s been acting lethargic.”
Matilda, Soren’s favorite horse, was getting up there in age. As much as I hated the thought, I didn’t think she’d be with us much longer.
“Sammie?” I asked. “Any interest?”
“I promised to help your mom with the church bazaar.” Sammie brightened and clapped both hands against the countertop. “That’s what you should do with Elliot. Take her on a picnic this afternoon instead of dinner. Maybe the picnic turns into an evening here for a movie and drinks. The boys and I will give you guys the family room. Right, guys?”
“That’s actually a brilliant idea,” I said.
“You’re taking Elliot out on a date?” Soren asked.
“When did this happen?” Thad sounded hurt. “Why didn’t you tell us?”
