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“Good morning.”
Delaney looked at Gage. “You look hungry.”
“Well, now that you mention it.”
“Let me finish this and I’ll make you both some breakfast.” She looked at Sydney again. “My son has yet to learn how to buy groceries.”
“I’ve noticed that.”
Gage poured two cups of coffee and handed one to Sydney. Then they sat at the table. “Is that brisket?”
“Your father’s favorite. He wants it every Saturday night. But we’ve compromised at every other Saturday.” She glanced over her shoulder at him. “There will be plenty if you want to stay for dinner. Or come back for it. Do you have plans for the day?”
“I’m going to show Sydney around the ranch. She’s been here, but I’d like her to see what you don’t see on a casual visit.”
“You can gather the eggs if you want. I haven’t gotten out there yet.”
“We’ll gather the eggs.”
Delaney put the brisket in a plastic bag, then put it into the refrigerator. She took out a carton of eggs and a package of bacon. “Your father and Rand are out with the herd. And Cooper and Cabe rode out to the summer pasture to make sure it’s ready for the cows.”
Gage nodded. He sometimes felt guilty for not having more interest in the ranch. But it had always been pretty obvious he wasn’t destined to be a rancher. No one ever thought he’d be mayor either. They didn’t seem surprised, though. He had a very supportive family, and he was grateful.
Breakfast was wonderful, as everything Delaney cooked was. And when they finished, they left the house and headed for the barn. Their first stop was the chicken coop. Gage handed Sydney the basket his mother used to gather the eggs, then held the coop door open for her.
“You want me to do it?”
“It’s not hard.”
She laughed. “I know. I’ve just never spent much time around chickens.”
“They’re harmless. Just steer clear of Captain Jack over there.” He nodded toward a big black rooster.
“He looks…terrifying.”
Gage grinned. “He can be. Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.” He took her arm. “Just check the nests.”
They found fourteen eggs and put them in the basket. Then they left it on the back porch before heading for the barn. “I wasn’t much help with the ranch. I did what I was told, of course. But I never really liked it. I love the barn, though. Especially the hayloft.” He went to a ladder leading up to the loft above the horse stalls. “Ladies first.”
“What’s up here?”
“Hay. Thus the name.” He smiled. “And a long buried treasure.”
He climbed up after her. The loft had standing headroom near the edge, but the barn roof sloped down, making it only five feet near the wall. Gage went to the back corner, hunching down as the roof got lower. Then he knelt and looked at Sydney. “There’s a loose board here in the wall.” He pushed on the board and it creaked, pivoting to reveal a hidden space. Gage reached in and pulled out a metal lunchbox with Batman on it.
Sydney smiled. “Batman?”
“Batman is cool.”
“Right. Of course.” He set the box in the hay, then put the board back. Sydney looked at the clasp on the box. “It doesn’t lock.”
Gage opened the box to reveal a smaller metal box with a padlock on it. “But this does.” He took a breath, then opened the padlock. He glanced at Sydney and she put a hand on his knee. He opened the box.
There were three things inside. A red Hot Wheels truck Seth loved because it looked like the one Uncle Rand had at the time. A huge blue marble Seth thought looked like the earth. And an unopened pack of Blackjack gum.
He picked up the gum. “He loved this stuff.”
“Did you?”
