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"Live," Ray told hiet in trouble I'll teach you to sail"
"On a boat?"
Now Ray laughed, a big boo sound that filled the car and for reasons the boy couldn't understand, untied the nerves in his belly "Yeah, on a boat Got a brainless puppy—I always get the brainless ones—I'onna have chores, we'll figure that out We'll lay down the rules, and you'll follow them Don't think because I'm an old man I'm a pushover"
"You gave her money"
Ray glanced away from the road briefly and looked into eyes the saht That's what she understands, from what I can see She never understood you, did she, boy?"
Sonize as hope "If you get pissed off at e your o back" They were over the bridge now, and Ray pulled the car to the shoulder of the road, shifted his bulk in the seat so they were face-to-face "I'll get pissed off at you, and at et tired fro you a pro you my word I won't send you back"
"If she—"
"I won't let her take you back," Ray said, anticipating him "No matter what I have to do You're mine now You'reas that's what you want A Quinn makes a promise," he added, and held out a hand, "he keeps it"
Seth looked at the offered hand, and his own sprang da touched"
Ray nodded "Okay But you've still got ave the boy one last glance "Alain
Within months, Ray Quinn had died, but he'd kept his word He'd kept it through the three iven the scrawny, suspicious and scarred young boy a life
They had given him a home, and made him a man
Caypsy; Ethan, the patient, steady waterant, sharp-ht for him They had saved him
His brothers
THE GILDED LIGHT of the late-afternoon sun sheened the rass, the mudflats, the flat fields of row crops With the n he caught the scent of water as he bypassed the little town of St Christopher
He'd considered swinging into town, heading first to the old brick boatyard Boats by Quinn still custohteen years since the enterprise had started—on a dreauile, on sweat—it had earned its reputation for quality and craftsmanship
They were probably there, even now Ca as he finished up so boards Phil, up in the office conjuring up son
He could go by Crawford's, pick up a six-pack Maybe they'd have a cold one, or et his ass back to work
He'd enjoy that, but it wasn't as drawing hi him down the narrow country road where the marsh still crept out of the shadows and the trees with their gnarled trunks spread leaves glossy with May
Of all the places he'd seen—the great domes and spires of Florence, the florid beauty of Paris, the stunning green hills of Ireland—nothing ever caught at his throat, filled up his heart, like the old white house with its soft and faded blue trim that sat on a bumpy lawn that slid back into quiet water
He pulled in the drive, behind the old white 'Vette that had been Ray and Stella Quinn's The car looked as pristine as the day it had rolled off the showrooht Ca proper respect for an exceptional machine But it was all about Ray and Stella, all about family All about love
The lilac in the front yard was smothered with blooms That was a matter of love, too,
he reflected He'd given Anna the little bush for Mother's Day when he elve
She'd cried, he rehing and swiping at them the whole time he and Cam planted it for her
She was Cam's wife, and so that ht nohere it counted, she was his ot out of the car, into the lovely stillness He was no longer a scrawny boy with oversized feet and a suspicious eye
He'd grown into those feet He was six-one with a wiry build One that could go gawky if he neglected it His hair had darkened and was more a bronzed brown than the sandy lect that as well and, running a hand through it noinced as he recalled his intention to have it tri Rome
The guys were going to rag on him about the little ponytail, which meant he'd have to keep it for a while, out of principle
He shrugged and, dipping his hands into the pockets of his worn jeans, began to walk, scanning the surroundings Anna's flowers, the rockers on the front porch, the woods that haunted the side of the house and where he'd run wild as a boy
The old dock swaying over the water, and the white sailing sloop moored to it
He stood looking out, his face, hollow-cheeked and tanned, turned toward the water
His lips, firht he hadn't realized was hanging froan to lift
At the sound of a rustle in the woods, he turned, enough of the wary boy still in the man to make the move swift and defensive Out of the trees shot a black bullet
"Witless!" His voice had both the ring of authority and easy hu to a halt, all flopping ears and lolling tongue as it studied the man