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Apparently sensing someone outside, Zach stilled for a split second, then spun toward the window with one of the guns in his right hand and an expression of cold determination.
He stared at Alex, then slowly lowered the weapon.
Alex jerked back. Stumbled. What kind of guy kept guns like those—and kept them loaded?
Just keep walking like you didn’t see a thing, an inner voice whispered.
Frozen with indecision, jackrabbits dancing in his stomach, Alex hadn’t taken a single step when Zach opened the back door and stepped out onto the wraparound porch.
His air of tension and controlled power, coupled with a black T-shirt that molded to his muscular chest and major-league biceps, reminded Alex of some dude in an action movie. His hands were empty. But the coiled tension in the man’s stance said he wouldn’t need a weapon to take on anyone who crossed his path. He scanned the property, then settled his intent gaze on Alex.
“You should be more careful, son,” Zach said quietly. “I thought you were a prowler. Are you here alone?”
Mom’s every word of caution about strangers came back to him. “Uh...yeah.”
Zach raised a brow. “You hiked?”
“R-rode. My horse Blaze is tied to a rail behind the barn.”
“I didn’t hear you come down the lane.”
“Uh...I came over through the pasture gate between our property and this place.” Alex lifted the sacks in his hands. “Francie wanted me to bring these over.”
“I see.” Accepting the proffered gifts, Zach visibly relaxed. “I’d be neighborly and ask you in, but Katie’s asleep.” He gestured toward two chairs on the porch. “Want a Coke?”
Alex wavered. “Well...”
“Sit. I’ll be right back.”
A moment later he returned, two cans cradled in one hand and a bag of chips in the other, and eased the back door shut without a sound. He tossed one can to Alex and settled into a chair, then ripped open the bag of chips and laid it on the small table between them.
“Nice day to go riding.” Zach gave him a sidelong glance.
“Yeah, I guess.”
“I suppose you have your own horse?”
“’Course. Dad gave him to me the day he was foaled, and helped me start him as a two-year-old under saddle.” It was hard to keep the note of pride out of his voice. “Blaze was the first horse I finished on my own.”
Zach smiled a little at that. “You still in school?”
“Yeah.” Alex slid a thumb along the condensation on the can. “Two more days until summer break.”
Cracking open his own can of soda, Zach took a long swallow. “Late this year, isn’t it?”
Alex gave a self-conscious shrug. “We had like seven snow days, so we had to make up the time.”
Zach laughed. “I used to hope for blizzards when I was a kid. Never much liked having to go longer in the spring, though. Warm weather...baseball...fishing... It would have been better to never miss days during winter.”
“Yeah.” Alex thought about the guns he’d seen through the window. He wanted to ask, but didn’t dare. “Do you hunt?”
“Not much.” Studying Alex over the rim of the can as he took another swallow, Zach eased deeper into his chair and stretched out his long legs, crossing them at the ankle. Just an average guy relaxing on a warm day, Alex thought, except for the intensity of his gaze. “Does this town still have a high school baseball team? Football?”
“Uh...yeah. Not very good, though.”
“So the Fossil Hill Giants haven’t exactly taken the world by storm?”
Alex snorted. “Hardly.”
