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“Of course I want them,” said Sarah, pulling out her phone. “Just let me call Will.” She frowned as his line went straight to voicemail. “Let me send him a text. He might still be…what’s with that look?”
“Huh?”
Sarah finished her text and tucked her phone away, chuckling. “You had this look on your face, likewhat’s going on?”
“Just, I think I missed something. Why do we need Will?”
“To pay for the planks.” Sarah cocked a brow. “Unless they’re planning on letting us have them for free?”
Tad blinked. “You mean your paycheck? Like, he has to drop it off?”
“What?” Sarah shook her head, puzzled. “No, that’s automatic, on the last of each month.”
“Then why…” Tad was staring, like she’d said something strange. Sarah ran through their conversation in her head, but nothing stuck out as weird.
“Why what?”
“Why would Will pay for renovations on your house?”
Sarah chuckled. Had Tad misunderstood? “Because it’s his house. Everything on the ranch is in his name.”
Tad’s frown only deepened. “Wait, you don’t own your house? You mean, you’re renting this place from your brother?”
“No, of course not. Mom would kick Will’s ass if he tried to charge me rent.” She laughed, but it trailed off when she saw Tad still frowning. Was he judging her, somehow, for her situation? For living rent-free on her own family’s land? She bristled. “I’m sorry. Is that a problem for you?”
“No, not at all. It’s none of my business.” Tad stuffed his phone in his pocket. “How about a do-over? I’ll go out and knock again, and we’ll take it from the top.”
Sarah nodded tightly. Tad stepped outside and she stared at the door. Her door, on her house. Except, was it really?Shouldshe be paying rent, or a mortgage somewhere? Move out on her own, off the family land? She scowled—why should she? Will hadn’t left, either, or paid for his land. He’d just been the oldest, so the ranch had passed to him. She wasn’t mooching off him, whatever Tad thought. She worked hard, did her bit, and she loved it here. Why move out, why commute, when this house was right here?
Still, Tad’s reaction rankled under her skin. Didhesee Chickadee, and not an adult? She’d thought he saw past that, but maybe—
Tad knocked. Sarah squared her shoulders and opened the door.
“Hey, Tad,” she said. “Ready for trivia?”
* * *
Sarah’s mood brightened, walking into the bar. The place was hopping already, full of family and friends, Mom and Dad, Uncle Vince—and there was Cass, by the bar. Sarah waved at her best friend and she came bounding over.
“Sarah! You’re here!” Cassie hugged her tight, then turned to Tad. “And you must be the ringer. I’ve heard about you.”
“I wouldn’t say I’m a ringer,” said Tad. “We’re more…we’re a team.”
Cassie wagged her finger. “Don’t be modest,” she said. “Amy told me what happened at that snowball fight. How you and the kids put Will in his place. The way she described it, you were Santa and Superman rolled into one.”
Tad grunted something and lowered his head. Cassie spotted their old high school librarian, and her face lit up.
“Oh, hey, it’s Mrs. Baker. I’m gonna go say hi.”
Sarah watched her go, laughing. That was Cassie to a tee—great heart, boundless energy. “I love her,” she said. “We’ve been best friends forever, and…” She trailed off, realizing she was talking to herself. Tad had wandered off and was trailing his fingers along the wall panels.
“What are you doing?”
“Huh?” Tad frowned, as though puzzled. “This is your uncle’s bar? The one he wants redone?”
“One and the same.”
“This place is incredible.” Tad tilted his head back, taking in the rafters, the joists. “It must be a hundred years old. No, older. From the gold rush.”
