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“You told her about me?”
“Of course. I told her the whole story about finding the body and the fire.”
“Did you tell her about the stick figures?”
“No. I’d rather see her reaction.”
He got off the bike and planted one booted foot on the ground, cranking his head to the side. “Nobody’s going to come after me with pitchforks, are they?”
“At least you didn’t say tomahawks.” She nudged his shoulder. “What are you so worried about? Nobody remembers what a bigot your dad was.”
“And Dax. Don’t forget him.”
“He seems to have reformed and mellowed. Besides, Granny always was one to make her own judgments of people.”
“My kind of woman.”
She squeezed his biceps. “You’re her kind of man, too. Don’t let her sexually harass you.”
Jim laughed, but Scarlett just raised her eyebrows before turning and striding toward her granny’s house. She tapped on the front door and called out, “Granny?”
A strong voice answered. “I’m here, Scarlett.”
Jim followed Scarlett into the house, already warmed by a blaze in the fireplace. Scarlett’s grandmother waved them over. “C’mon over here. I don’t bite, but I might make an exception in your case.”
As she laughed, her thin shoulders shook.
“Granny, behave yourself or you’re going to scare off Jim.”
The old woman gripped the arms of her chair and sized him up through large, dark eyes that took up half her face. “He doesn’t look like a man who scares easily.”
“Yeah, well, he’s never met someone like you before.” Scarlett crossed the small room and dipped down to kiss her grandmother’s cheek. “Granny, this is Jim Kennedy. Jim, my grandmother.”
Jim joined Scarlett and took her grandmother’s thin hand in his. “Nice to meet you, ma’am.”
“Nice to meet you, too, young man and you can call me Evelyn. Granny this, granny that—makes me feel ancient.”
“I brought you the yarn.” Scarlett waved it in the air.
“Drop it in the basket. Would you two like something to drink? Tea? Coffee?” Evelyn winked. “Something a little stronger?”
“Jim doesn’t drink, Granny, and it’s a little early for me.”
“Nothing like Slick, are you?”
“No, ma’am, and some water would be fine.”
“Go make us some tea, Scarlett, and bring Jim a glass of water.”
“Okay.” Scarlett rolled her eyes at him before she headed for the kitchen.
Evelyn patted the cushion beside her. “Have a seat, Jim.”
He sat down, turning his body slightly to face her and her penetrating stare.
“War hero, huh?”
“I just survived is all.”
“Did you?” She curved her bony fingers around his wrist with surprising strength and closed her eyes. Her frail body bolted upright and her eyelashes fluttered.
“You did more than survive. You helped the others, but—” she squeezed harder “—you have guilt. So much guilt. They took the other three but left you.”
“The other three?” Jim licked his lips. She couldn’t be talking about the cell in Afghanistan anymore. He’d been held there with more than three people.
“Do you mean the Timberline Trio?”
Evelyn’s eyes flew open. “Is that why you’re here?”
“Granny, are you reading him?” Scarlett walked into the room with a tray in front of her.
Evelyn released his wrist. “Why are you back in Timberline, Jim?”
“Going through my father’s things.”
Evelyn narrowed her eyes as she took her cup from Scarlett. “Don’t try to fool an old woman, Jim.”
“Especially an old woman who has the gift.” Scarlett sat down next to him and put his water and her tea on the table in front of them. “Why don’t you tell Granny what happened to you as a child?”
“I thought—” Jim pinged the water glass with his fingernail “—that topic was off-limits here.”
Evelyn’s dark eyes focused on Scarlett over the rim of her cup. “Is that what you told him?”
