Colton
Colton raised an eyebrow at his uncle. “Granddad sent this?”
He turned over the well-worn wooden violin case. The one Zach used was absolutely nicer.
“Yep.” Ted nodded. “Said he bought it fifty years ago from some fiddler short on cash. It’s walnut, made in France, and probably a hundred years old or more.”
It certainly appeared a hundred years old to Colton. “Why did he send this?”
“Pa took a liking to your friend. Said he has manners and can play a fiddle like no one he’s heard in decades.” He chuckled. “He had the kids helping him root through the attic until he found it. It’s been sitting up there for years.”
Colton tried not to react to his uncle referring to Zach asyour friend.He and Zach were doing a crap job pretending if his grandfather knew. He slid a thumb under a latch and worked it up. Repeating the process, he popped open the lid. “Christ on a skateboard, that’s unexpected.”
The lush royal blue velvet was almost pristine. He ran a finger over the soft plush fabric and whistled.
“This is sweet.” He shut the top. “Zach? Can you come into the kitchen, please?”
“Be right there.”
Zach arrived wearing the tight black pants and white western-style shirt he wore when he’d played. His bare feet slapped lightly on the wooden floor.
“Yes…? Good morning, Sheriff.” He glanced at Colton, before looking Ted in the eye. “Did you need to see me, Sir?”
“You relax, son. Call me Ted.” His uncle gave Zach a real smile. The kind he usually reserved for friends and family.
“No, Sir.” He shook his head like he’d been asked to drink poison. “I can’t do that.”
“Why’s that?” Ted raised an eyebrow. “You’re a guest of the family, not a prisoner.”
“Maddie always said to be respectful to good people who spend their days helping others. Not only are you the Sheriff, you and your family have been as kind and generous to me as anyone I can imagine. If you don’t deserve respect, no one does.”
Ted blinked over at Colton, his eyes dancing. “You could take a hint from your friend.”
There was that word again—friend. At least it wouldn’t be a surprise if they got together after this whole mess was over. “Oh, kiss off. What’s that old saying? Family breeds contempt or some such?” Colton waved Zach over. “Grandpa sent this over. He wants you to play it today.”
“Really?” Zach’s eyes lit up like Christmas, and he slowly raised the lid. “Oh, my goodness. Look at this angel.”
Colton told himself that he wasn’t jealous about the way Zach lifted the fiddle out of the case and stroked it. It was a lie. Colton could use a little stroking from Zach. It would just have to wait.
“This is….” Zach turned it over and his eyes almost popped from his face. “This is a Guarneri.”
Colton moved closer, not just to see the violin. “Is that good? The case doesn’t look like much.”
“It’s just dusty.” Zach closed the top with his free hand and ran his fingers over the wood. “Nothing a bit of love won’t clean up.”
Where Zach had brushed, the wood seemed brighter, but it still seemed like it wasn’t long for the world. “Or you could buy a new one.”
“Get a… Colton, this case is worth more than my violin.”
He eyed the old thing again, but didn’t see it. “Get out.”
“Most cases today are made by machine and aren’t made to last. This was made by hand to house and protect this amazing work of art.”
The passion in Zach’s voice did things to Colton. Things that made him want to strip the guy and kiss his naked body all….
“Excuse my ignorance, but what’s a Guarneri?” Uncle Ted’s voice hit like a bucket of cold water. Thankfully, he was focused on the violin and not the heat searing Colton’s cheeks.
“Amati and his sons were the first of the famous Italian violin makers. His son had two apprentices, Stradivari and Guarneri. Everyone’s heard of Stradivari, but Guarneri was pretty good too.Hisgrandson Bartolomeo, however, might have been as good or better than Stradivari. This is one of his.”
