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Renie didn’t answer, but it was a rhetorical question anyway. Blythe already knew the answer.
“I’m sure it’s not as bad as you think.”
She’d see, wouldn’t she?
Tucker was sitting on the front porch, drinking coffee, when Jace and Billy drove up. He saw the question in Jace’s eyes when he walked up.
“You kidnap her?”
“She’s with Irene.”
Billy got Willow out of her car seat and walked right past Tucker, without speaking.
“Mornin’ to you, too,” he said in the direction of the front door after it closed. “What’s up his ass?”
“I told him somethin’ that pissed him off on the way over here. Probably shouldn’t have, but it’s too late now.”
“Jesus, Jace, we’ve been here less than twenty-four hours.”
“It was about Irene. She told Blythe to stay away from me.”
“Sound advice.”
“I told her to back the hell off.”
“And then you told the cowboy.”
“Yep.”
“Where are you taking her?”
“Blythe? We’re goin’ skiing.”
Tucker looked away from him. “You have a good time, then.”
“You okay?”
“Does it matter?”
“Come on, Tuck. I’m serious. Are you okay?”
Tucker didn’t answer.
Billy came back out and walked toward the truck, and Jace followed. “Tell the parents we’ll be back early this afternoon.”
Tucker nodded and raised his coffee cup to his brother.
4
Jace was impressed. Blythe was a damn good skier. Irene was too, but she hung back with Billy, who appeared less angry once they got back to the house.
“Break?” he shouted to Blythe as they skied up to the lift line.
“Um, sure,” she answered and skied toward the racks instead.
He picked up her skis after she released her boots from her bindings, and set them next to his. She handed him her poles, too.
“Having fun?” he asked.
