Riggs could hear his brothers’ laughter on the hill behind the barn.

While he had removed the offending sign, hidden it, and properly stored the ladder, Sage had headed inside to prepare lunch.

Riggs decided to head up the hillside and see what was so amusing.

At breakfast, Arden had assigned his brothers the task of cleaning up the empty bushel baskets for the tourists. He could see that they had a stack of baskets lined up and a hose at the ready.

Drago was in charge of the water and Burton was moving the baskets to be hosed off individually.

But each time Burton carefully placed a basket on the tarp and turned around to retrieve the next one, Drago squirted him with the hose.

Both men were laughing their heads off and Riggs could see that the basket washing wasn’t going very quickly. But he was very glad to see them.

“Hello, brother,” Drago called to him. “May I squirt you with the hose in a playful manner?”

Before Riggs could answer, Drago aimed the nozzle at him and sprayed.

The cool water felt fantastic on a hot day, but Riggs pretended to be angry and charged his brother like a rhinoceros.

Drago yelped and dropped the hose.

Burton promptly picked it up and waved it around wildly as Riggs lifted his brother off his feet and slammed him to the ground.

Riggs was feeling victorious when one of the peach trees seemed to reach out a root to trip him as he turned around.

“No fair, you used your gift,” he spluttered, not mentioning that thanks to his own gift, he was completely unhurt.

Drago just laughed like a wild hyena.

Burton sprayed Drago down, calming him considerably.

Then he turned the hose on Riggs.

“Okay, okay,” Riggs laughed, standing and lifting his hands in surrender. “We give up, Burton.”

Burton smiled and sprayed himself with the hose.

“Did you have fun with Sage?” Drago asked, waggling his eyebrows as he got to his feet.

“Yes, but not in the way you are implying,” Riggs replied.

“I’m not implying anything,” Drago said, feigning innocence.

“Well, your eyebrows are,” Riggs retorted.

Burton laughed and then Riggs laughed too.

Drago waggled his eyebrows again and clapped Riggs on the shoulder.

“Really, brother, how are things with Sage?” he asked.

“I’m not sure,” Riggs said. “They’re going slowly. But she’s my mate. I told her this morning that I chose her.”

Burton nodded, looking impressed.

“You hadn’t told her yet?” Drago exclaimed, smacking him on the shoulder again, this time as if to scold him.

“No,” Riggs said, fighting the urge to shove back. “Sage is not like your mates. She is thoughtful. It will take time for her to accept this idea.”

“Tansy is thoughtful,” Burton retorted.

“I did not mean polite, I meant… ponderous,” Riggs explained. “Sage doesn’t make decisions lightly. But I have faith that she will accept me.”

“She will, brother,” Drago said lightly. “And then we will all be mated.”

Riggs often wished he shared Drago’s easy confidence. The world seemed to offer itself to his easygoing brother. Riggs had to be more patient.

“He’s right,” Burton said softly. “And so are you. Sage will need more time to think it over. She likes to have a plan. Soon you will be part of it.”

The truth of this struck Riggs and he was deeply moved. He threw an arm around each of their shoulders.

“What would I do without you, my brothers?” he asked. “This world only seems to make sense when I have you to help me observe it.”

“We are a team,” Drago said firmly. “We all need each other.”

Someone cleared her throat behind them. He didn’t need to hear any words to know exactly who it was. Riggs spun around to confirm that it was indeed Sage standing behind them, and shot her a sheepish grin.

“I see you’re having fun with this job,” she said, eyes twinkling.

Riggs wondered helplessly how long she’d been standing there.

“I just came up to let you know that lunch will be ready in about ten minutes, so come on down when you finish up,” she said.

“We will, Sage,” Riggs told her.

She smiled and then turned and headed back down the hillside.