Page 32 of Where She Belongs

Tate threw him an irritated look. “I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want to know. I already figured you’re judging me. So out with it. What’s the matter?”

“What’s the matter?” Jason huffed out a laugh. “What’s the matter? The matter is that you filled your truck with all the lumber needed to reframe the back of the barn and then some.”

Tate’s hands were on his hips as he stared pointedly at his brother. “So?”

“So?” He huffed again. “So, I’m not an idiot. You got chicken wire, warming lamps, bedding, sand, and all the fixings for a chicken coop.”

The corner of Tate’s lips twitched with amusement. He continued to wait, knowing full well that Jason wasn’t done.

And building a chicken coop hadn’t been in the original plans. Jason hadn’t signed on for surprise projects, so Tate had expected push back.

Jason threw his hands at the back seat of the truck. The doors were closed but they both knew what was back there. “Chicks, Tate! You got six chicks.”

This time Tate laughed. He couldn’t help himself. “Yes, I did.”

“We don’t need chicks.” He dropped his hands at his sides. “And something tells me that neither does Rylee.”

“How do you know?” Tate shot back. “We’ve been talking a lot lately about what she wants to do with the farm. And she told me…” Okay, she hadn’t said it out loud but she’d made it clear that she wouldn’t mind having chickens. Goats, too. Just not a miniature cow—though he was sure he could change her mind on that.

“You can’t be serious,” Jason muttered. “You haven’t asked her. You don’t know. You’re just going to show up and… what?”

“I’ll say, surprise!” Tate said it with a laugh.

Jason didn’t laugh. “You moved the Dailey boy again.”

That took some of the wind out of it. “One lesson.”

“That’s twice.” His brother was looking at the tailgate, not at him. “He’s eleven. He’s been counting the days. His mama called me, because she couldn’t get ahold of you.”

“Jase—”

“I’m not saying don’t.” Jason lifted one shoulder. “I’m saying you’re spending it. Might as well know what out of.”

Then he shook his head and walked around to the front of the truck. The passenger door opened and slammed shut.

Rylee was going to love the addition to her little farm. The chicks had been her favorite when they were kids. She might not remember, but he did. Tate had been there when Rylee’s father brought home her first flock of chicks.

Yes, she was definitely going to love this little surprise.

Jason wasn’t wrong. He was spending it. He just couldn’t make himself care.

With that final thought, he pushed the tailgate shut and strode for the driver’s side.

Jason refused to speak. He continued to stare out the window the whole way to Rylee’s place. To be fair, Jason was right. He hadn’t signed up for the extra project. And Tate knew better than to throw a curve ball in his path. But Jason didn’t have to help with this project. He could stew all he wanted, it wouldn’t change anything.

When they arrived on Rylee’s property, they set to work unloading the wood. Jason shot daggers his way when he set aside the materials for the chicken coop. There was a stall in the front of the barn where they would be able to set up the chicks in a large trough with the heating lamps. The electricity had been rewired and checked so there would be no additional fire hazards.

Tate put the last piece of plywood down and turned to his brother. “You don’t have to stay. I’m going to work on the coop today. You can head home.”

Jason folded his arms. “I planned to help today. And that means more than just going to Bob’s for the hardware supplies. What do you want me to do?”

Tate’s lips twitched. “You could unload the saw and set it up.”

His brother didn’t argue and they got to work.

About an hour later, a car pulled onto the property and Rylee climbed out. Her eyes locked on Tate and Jason before moving to the partially constructed coop. A slow smile spread across her lips into the most gorgeous grin he’d seen thus far. “And what is this?”

Jason muttered something under his breath but didn’t bother answering her.