Page 109 of Unspoken Hearts
And I mean it.
Chapter thirty
Reid
“We’llneedanothertwosacks of bird feed, too,” I say to Grayson, who stands on the tray of my ute.
Hands on his hips, he nods down at me, grabbing the last crate of livestock feed. “Do you want to grab them while I do this?”
“Sure.” I walk back over to the shed where Dan, the owner of Drydale Farm, stands waiting for me. Shorter and rugged, with straw coming out the side of his mouth, he’s the epitome of a born and bred country cowboy. He’s in his mid-thirties now, with a little toddler and another one on the way. He’s one of our best traders. We bring him milk, meat and eggs, for feed and hay bales in return.
“Have you got everything?” he asks when he hears my boots crunching on the gravel ground.
“Two sacks of feed for the chicken and ducks.”
“Gotcha.” He disappears into the large, overstocked shed. I glance around at the stacks of sacks, crates and bales. Dan reappears carrying two. “Done deal.”
“Thanks, Dan,” I murmur, picking up the bags and throwing them over my shoulder. My stomach muscles burn as I carry them back over to the ute where Grayson is waiting for me.
Grabbing the top one from me, I drop the other on the tray and suck in a deep breath, my face dripping with sweat. Grayson tucks them in before jumping down from the metal tray.
I close the tailgate when Dan approaches. “Thanks again,” I say, shaking his hand firmly. I see his son, Tommy, coming out of the farmhouse in tiny shorts and a singlet.
“Daddy! Bugs.”
Dan snorts out a laugh before looking back at me, smiling widely. “Bugs are his latest obsession. You’ll understand when you have one of your own.” His hand squeezes my shoulder.
“He’s getting bigger,” I admit as Tommy reaches us, face flushed and hazel eyes blinking up at Dan.
“Bugs,” he repeats, patting his dad on the leg.
“Sure, kiddo.” Dan picks him up, turning to Grayson and I. “I’ll see you again in a few weeks.”
“You will. We’ll need to start stocking for winter.”
Dan nods in agreement as Tommy clings to his worn shirt. “Us too.”
“Daddy!”
“All right,” Dan drawls before flashing me a grin. “I’ll see you soon. Better go before he throws a fit.”
My eyebrows pump before tapping his arm and moving towards my ute. Grayson slips in the passenger seat as I get in, starting the engine.
Driving along the dirt drive slowly, dust kicks up around the car. I wind down the windows, getting in some of the slight summer breeze. Grayson wipes his forehead with the bottom of his shirt before resting anarm on the door, peering out the open window at the golden countryside beyond.
Reaching over, he turns on the radio to fill the silence between us. Drydale Farm is only a few minutes away from Honey Haven, so the silence is nice and bearable. Running fingers through my damp hair, my finger taps to the beat as we drive along the gravel road, passing sun-drenched pastures, animals and the occasional car.
Parking the car near the shed, Grayson and I get out, the midday sun streaming down in warm rays. I unlock the tray and my brother drops the tailgate.
“Need help?” Holden’s voice grumbles as he strolls over.
“Yes!” Grayson yells, jumping onto the metal tray.
Holden and I take turns grabbing the stock and placing everything in the shed out of the weather until my car is empty.
Locking everything again, I go to get in my car when Dad comes out of the barn. “Ah, Reid. Grayson. I heard you come back. We need to go over some finances when you’re ready.”
I glance over at Grayson, blinking. I nod towards the barn. “Go with Dad. I’ll take the car around and meet you.”
