#rivervale_lodge

Huff huff huff... huff huff huff... weather in the low 40's is not precisely balmy, but it's warm for winter, and Connor has loosened his jacket as he keeps warm trotting back and forth.

From the hay shed to the stables, there and back again. Each time, holding a small armful of fragrant hay that he stands on tip-toes to dump into the trough. ...Star's neck snakes out and she snatches the provender, the armload just about making one decent mouthful. Stormwake waits nearby, though if horses could roll their eyes, he may well have done so.

And, back for another load... trot trot trot.

Gerd takes larger handfuls, and is surprised her little brother got a headstart on her, "Ookaaay"

"Oh hi!" He catches his breath. "This takes FOR-Ev-Er doesn't it? But I'm not s'posed to play with the pitchfork, and I don't know if the loft would hold Stormy if I 'scotched him up there."

"...maybe if he went smaller first? Then he can eat all he wants right at the restaurant rather than wait for delivery!"

He looks proud of this idea.

"I'll take over, little brother if you want. " SHe grabs the pitchfork and goes to work, "Told Dagmar I would."

"So did I!" And he starts hupping the scoops of hay that she pitches down over to the trough, and between the two of them, it does go much faster!

"Okay, far be it from me to hold you back from being amazing helpful Connortastic," She relents as they team up. Of course, if any folks of her own age heard her say such cute terms, she might have to die, "I Miss you, little brother" She admits it "But I hear you've been taking care of Tove. That's nice of you"

"She needs someone to help her eat all the food she makes." He nods. "She bakes her worries into it, but don't worry, you can't taste it at the end."

"As much spice as she laddles into anything, I'm surprised you can taste anything at the end" She says "Though I know she goes easier if you ask."

Food settled, brushing and grooming of the horses comes into play. Gerd has had training on the farm so knows the basics, even if she doesn't flatter Star like she is used to.

Connor sneaks an extra sugar cube to Star to make up for it.

Gerd is working on Stormwake by then, and while she might cast a suspicious eye behind her head, she has not mastered it like Kerri so misses the stealth operation