"Brooke! Hello? Anyone in that little head of yours?" Her brother, Jeremiah waves his hand in front of her face.

She jumps when he snaps his fingers loudly. "Yes! Sorry I just zoned out, I guess."

He nods. "I see that. What are you working on?" He steps around behind her a bit to see the screen of her computer, but she quickly snaps it shut.

"Oh it's nothing!" She quickly flashes a smile and hops up from the recliner.

Lowly he chuckles. "You keep saying that, baby sis, you'll tell me before too long."

Shaking her head she steps into her room and flops back onto her bed. The memory foam molds around her body as she stairs out the window at the lone mesquite tree in the yard. It sways back and forth in a soothing motion and before long her eyes flutter closed and she drifts off into a light sleep.

"Brooke, you are a very talented young lady, don't let anyone tell you different," Her mom, Tina, says with a smile. It is the day of graduation.

Throwing her arms around her mom's neck Brooke shakes her head. "Momma, I don't know how to thank you for all the time and love you have invested in me."

Holding her at arms length Tina grins. "Give me some grandkids to do the same with," she says with a wink.

Suddenly a crashing sound comes from the kitchen jolting Brooke from her nap and off of her bed. "Jeremiah! What are you tearing up in here?" As her gaze travels around the glass scattered across the floor and then up to her brother's saucer sized eyes she can only shake her head.

"I may or may not have been trying to make cookies and knocked the bowl off the counter?" He says sheepishly.

Looking up at her older brother she can't help, but to smile. "My brother Jeremiah Kendall was making cookies? No wonder the world stopped spinning."

He frowns. "Hey! I was trying to be nice."

She smiles and starts to pick up the large pieces of glass. "I know, you always are. Can you grab me the broom, please?"

In a few short seconds he has come and gone from the utility room and has the broom in hand. "Brooke, you don't have you act like it isn't a big deal I know that was Grandmomma's favorite bowl to cook in, your too."

"Accidents happen, even with twenty-six year old men. It's not your fault that it fell off and shattered." When she sees the look of pure guilt in his eyes she stands and wraps her giant of a brother in a hug.

"I miss her," he mumbles.

With her head against his chest she nods the best she can. "I know, me too."
***

Gary stabs the pitch fork into a mound of hay and lifts what sticks into the wheel barrow to his left. A few more times of that and it is brimming full with the fluffy substance. He stabs the pitch fork into the hay one more time, but this time he leaves it there and takes the wooden handles of the wheel barrow in his hands. Briskly, he strolls towards the barn. Once inside he stops in the tack room and fixes buckets of feed for each horse that is in either one of the six stalls or five pens.

When the eleven buckets have the perfect amount of oats and alfalfa pellets in them he takes them and deposits them in a red wagon. Tying the rope attached to the wagon handle to his belt loop he shakes his head and mumbles to himself, "I look like an idiot right now."

Absent-mindedly he takes hold of the wooden handles of the over loaded wheel barrow and starts his nightly routine. First, he starts with the therapy horses that stay in the stalls most of the time. Then he moves to the pens in the back. One of them holds a mare and three week old colt who is just getting over the scours. While the other is opened up to a small trap where four horses come up for a nightly supplement to their daily grazing.

As he is putting out the last of the hay he hears tires rolling on the dusty road, but pays no attention to it figuring that it is only Tyson coming home late from a surgery or field call. When light foot steps sound behind him he cocks one eyebrow upward and turns around in question. A glowing smile takes place on his lips as soon as Brooke's figure meets his view. "Hello, Miss Kendall."

As she walks closer she giggles girlishly. "You really have to stop calling me that! Just Brooke is fine."

"Okay then, Just Brooke."

Rolling her eyes she still smiles. "I was looking for Jaelyn and figured you couldn't keep from out here."

He chuckles and throws the last bit of hay over the stall door. "Well, it is quite a chore, but I manage to kick her out for a couple hours a day. She's in the house cooking I think."

She nods. "That sounds about like Jaelyn. I'll catch her later, though I don't want to interrupt supper."

He frowns at her as he walks by her to put the buckets, wagon, wheel barrow and pitch fork up. "That's nonsense and you know it. Anyone that has spent five minutes, let alone five years, knows that nothing interrupts supper. You only add to it."

"Okay, now I know for sure you two are related, you sound just like her."

He chuckles and motions for her to follow him. "I'm not too sure if that should be taken as a compliment or an insult."

She smiles and follows him out of the barn and towards the medium size hay barn not too far away. Walking slightly behind him she notices the way he takes long strides making it just a bit tough for her to keep up. "I think it should be taken as a compliment."

"I'll keep that in mind," he says before sending a wink her way. "Really, though, you should join us for supper."

After a moment of thought she nods. "Alright I will, but if I interrupt some lovey dovey couples moment for them two it is your fault."

"I've been doing that since I met them! It's no problem."

The giggle that escapes her mouth makes a blush creep up her cheeks as she shakes her head. She watches, pretty much, his every move until he nods in the direction of the house with a grin on his face. Something about his free spirit, care-free personality made her smile, a lot. That is one thing that a guy has not had the ability to do since high school.

Gary holds the front door open for her before taking his hat off and entering himself. Even though she knows the house quite well and it is easy to get around in anyway she waits for him to lead the way farther into the house. As he strolls forward he winks at sending a blush up her neck and onto her cheeks.

Just as they enter the kitchen dining room area Jaelyn places a couple bowl on the table. She pops her head up and her face lights up so bright it gives the full moon a run for its money. "Brooke! I didn't know you were coming. You have to stay for supper!"

As she chuckles and wraps her friend in a hug Brooke replies, "I guess I don't mind moochin' a delicious meal off of you. How are you, Tyson?"

Tyson nods with a smile. "Just fine, you?"

"I'm good. Now, Jae, what can I help you with?"

With a grateful smile she says, "I could use a hand making the tea glasses if you don't mind."

Brooke throws an arm around her friends shoulders and nods determinedly. "Lets go then, we don't want to keep these hungry men waiting, do we?"

That makes all of them laugh. It isn't but just a few minutes before everything is on the table and everyone in their places. Of course, with a table of four and the married couple sitting beside one another that leaves Brooke right next to Gary. That, also, means that while they bless the food her small smooth hand is in his.

When Tyson says 'Amen' signaling that it is time to dig into the delicious food Brooke isn't sure if she is happy or sad that she has to let go of Gary's hand. However, before she has to he squeezes her hand just a little bit and grins at her making her heart flutter. Everything is happening in slow motion, but at the same time way too fast.

"So, Jae, have you thought about a baby shower?" She asks to get her raging thoughts in order.

Jaelyn stops mid bite and stares at her friend with a blank face. "A baby shower? Umm, no, I haven't"

A small smile plays with the corners of Brooke's lips. "Well, guess who has?"

Jaelyn playfully rolls her eyes. "You, of course!"

"Absolutely! So I was thinking we could do green and yellow as the colors since y'all aren't finding out what y'all are having. What do you think?"

Jaelyn immediately looks to Tyson who throws his hands up. "Don't look at me, I don't have a clue about any of that. It's way out of my league, cactus."

"Brooke, I tell you what, because I know how you are when you set your mind to something you do whatever you think is best just don't go over the top." Jaelyn quickly holds up her finger and looks around the table. "And please for everyone's sanity do not make me wear a dress."

Gary grins. "Come on, Little Lynn, your poor husband hasn't seen you in one since your wedding day!"

Jaelyn slams her hand down on the table. A little harder than she intended. "That is not true! I wore one to our cousin's wedding!"

Brooke jumps in before the pregnancy hormones and the natural temper combine, of her dear friend, and make this an all out war between the siblings. "Jae, I promise a dress is not a requirement."

After everyone is full of food and the leftovers are in the fridge Brooke says goodbye, but Gary follows her to the door. "Do you mind if I walk you to your car?"

She smiles at him. "I don't mind, but you don't have to."

"Maybe not, but it is getting dark and," he looks over his shoulder, "I should probably let the love birds have some space.

She chuckles and nods. "Alright then."

They start out at a leisurely pace and in a comfortable silence, but that's not enough for Gary. "So, what do you like to do in your free time?"

"Well, probably photography and read."

He raises an eyebrow. "You hang out with my sister and you aren't into horses? That's a miracle, I figured she would have converted you to the official horse lovers group by now."

She laughs. "No, no I like horses I just don't get the chance to ride them much is all."

"Oh I see."

She nods and keeps her gaze on him. "How about yourself?"

He shrugs. "I like to ride and be outside."

By now they are at her car and she is wishing they weren't. "That's nice."

He nods and quickly grabs her door handle and opens it when her hand moves in that direction. She slides in with a smile and looks up at him.

"Drive safe."

"I will. Bye, Gary."

"Bye, Brooke."

A/N
Anyone have thoughts?!

I want to know your favorite character so far!