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The boy made a face. “He didn’t like me much. That’s why he and Mom broke up, you know. Because of me.”
“I thought it was over June July.”
“April Mae.” A brief grin flashed. “Naw. She wasn’t the real reason. It was my fault.”
What had prompted this? Something was sticking in the boy’s craw and it had been there since they’d first met. Perhaps the time had come to get it sorted out. “Why do you think you’re responsible for their breakup?” Ty asked conversationally.
Hutch kicked at a rock. It ricocheted across the yard and dinged the hubcap of Cassidy’s rattletrap. “I heard him. It was the day Mom got my test scores back. The ones that told her how smart I was. Iwas only five, but I have a really good memory.” He slanted Ty a quick look from beneath his lashes. “That’s one of the things the tests discovered. About my memory. Well, anyway, Iremember what Lonnie said and...”
“And?” Ty prompted.
Hutch lifted his shoulder in a casual sort of shrug. “I did tell you I was smart, didn’t I?”
“Yeah, kid. You did.”
“Scary smart. Itold you that, right?”
Ty’s gaze sharpened. “I believe you may have mentioned it.”
“And it doesn’t bother you? Not even a little?”
“Nope. In fact, it’s one of the things I like best about you.”
A flush crept into Hutch’s cheeks. “You do? Really?”
“I wouldn’t lie to you about something like that.” He waited a beat, but the boy remained stubbornly silent. “Five years is a long time to have something eating at you. Might as well get it out into the open where we can have a look-see. What happened when the test results came in?”
“Oh, you know. Nothing much.” Light, breezy, unconcerned... And lying through his teeth. “Mom put together this big party. She used some of her meat money to buy balloons and bake a cake, and hung up decorations and everything. Ithink she knew people would treat me differently when they found out I was a brainiac and this was her way of making me feel good about myself.” Hutch made a production of adjusting his glasses. “When Da—Lonnie came home, Iwas in my room getting ready for our party. But I heard him. Mom told him all about how smart I was and he said... He said...”
“I gather he didn’t like it,” Ty offered gently.
Hutch gathered himself, his jaw clenched so tight it was a wonder his teeth didn’t shatter. “He said I was a freak and he didn’t want no part of me.”
“Aw, Hutch...”
The story came tumbling out “That’s when Mom took his plate and glass from the cabinet and told him to get out and never come back. That stupid ol’ April Mae was welcome to himsince between the two of ’em they might come up with half a brain, which was all either of them were ever likely to need.”
Go Cassidy, Ty thought fiercely. Damn, he wished he’d been there to cheer her on. With any luck at all, she’d have had all twenty-six inches swinging fast and furious. And her bastard of an ex would have tumbled out of there sorer, if not wiser. But that still left one small kid nursing a world ofhurt.
Slowly, Ty stooped until they met eye to eye. It took every ounce of self-possession to answer calmly. “Good thing you inherited your smarts from your mom’s side of the family. Otherwise I suspect you’d have been as dumb as a rock.”
Hutch blinked rapidly and offered a watery grin. “Guess so.”
Ty nudged his Stetson to the back of his head and chose his words with care. “Hutch, this world is peopled by all sorts of folks. Some don’t like anything that strikes them as different, and when they come across it they take fright and run. Or they say stupid things even if they don’t mean them. Isuspect your father is one of those types. Maybe someday he’ll grow out of it and you’ll be man enough then to let bygones be bygones.”
“Maybe.”
“But, kid, you can’t color your world with Lonnie’s crayons, if you know what I mean. Especially when he’s only using one color. You can’t allow his views of you to determine your views of yourself. Try not to let one mean, thoughtless remark scar you. It’s not worth it. We’re what we make of ourselves, not what others tell us we are.”
“Then...” Hutch’s chin trembled for an instant before he brought it under rigid control. “Then it’s okay with you that I’m smart? It won’t make you leave?”
“Not a chance,” Ty said emphatically. “Your mom won’t ever have to hand me my plate and glass because of you. Know why that is?”
Hutch’s blue eyes clung, afraid and wary and desperate. “Not ’zactly.”
Ty dropped heavy hands on the boy’s skinny shoulders. “Because I love you as much as I would my own son. And I’m proud of you, kid. Proud and honored to have you as my friend.”
Hutch’s head dipped in acknowledgment. “Okay. That’s good.” He peeked shyly up at Ty. “You’re not going to hug me or anything?”
