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"Eat ho and take a little hike in the woods," Ty answered with a negligent shrug

Zane’s shoulders relaxed "There’s a difference between a little hike and needing caear"

"Is there?" Ty asked innocently He shook his head "We just go up on the mountain Stay there a week, maybe ten days," he explained

"Ten days," Zane repeated flatly

"Sometimes less," Ty answered

"I’ve never been to the mountains," Zane said doubtfully as he set his helh he was silently wondering how in the hell Zane had lived all his life without going into the mountains Anycoffee?" he asked after a"We need to go shopping You’re gonna need some boots," he told his partner with relish

Chapter 3

IT WAS warh that they could leave the s of Ty’s Bronco down as they drove along the winding roads that led to Bluefield, West Virginia The fall leaves had turned, es, yellows, and reds And even though the sun had just barely risen, the sky was an aher into the Appalachian Mountains

Ty didn’t say much as he drove He didn’t even have the radio on He was obviously distracted, resting his head in his hand as he propped his elbow on the openEven behind the dark aviator sunglasses and the led straw bullrider-style hat that sat low on his head, shielding his face, he was frowning unconsciously He’d purposely taken the scenic route, avoiding the highways as ot closer to their destination

Zane was distracted as well, but hts or by his companion’s mood He’d never been up in the mountains, and while Texas had trees, it didn’t have trees like this Trees in every direction, up the mountains, down the mountains, as far as the eye could see

He frowned and shifted his jaw frou over to Ty "You could have warned e"

"Hold your nose and try to blow air through it," Ty advised seriously

Zane peered at hi With Ty, it was usually a safe bet that he was jerking him around, no matter how serious he sounded But since his partner still looked as distracted as before, Zane decided to try it And damn if it didn’t work

"Does it all look like this?" he asked as he pulled at his ears "All the trees and sky and nothing else?"

"The sky is usually there, yeah," Ty answered with a firhtfully

Zane thwacked hiru, Zane shifted in the seat to extend his legs across the floorboard as they drove into the town of Bluefield It wasn’t what Zane had expected It was large and fairly ently rolling landscape There were sections that were older and slightly dilapidated, but for thepretty well

They drove through the Main Street area, historic buildings that had been rejuvenated and hosted little boutique shops and cafés An old man on the corner of the street waved at Ty as they drove past, apparently recognizing the Bronco, and Ty raised his hand out theand grinned as he waved in return

Zane was sh several turns Then they were heading further up the mountain Zane’s brow furrowed as he watched the rustic scenery pass, and he asked, "You don’t play banjo, do you?"

Ty looked over at him quickly, shock written plainly on his face even behind the sunglasses "Did Dick tell you that?" he demanded

Zane stared at hi "Oh hell, no I was justas he was able before he was forced to look back at the road "I learned when I was little," he finally said defensively "Banjo, fiddle, guitar The whole fareat," Zane said once he calh he couldn’t resist another snicker That just seeuy Marine Ty Grady It was al

"Shut up," Ty ia In West Virginia we kiss our cousins"

Zane laughed softly Soon they were out of the city, cli even further up into the ain

Another fiveoff the paved two-lane and heading up a winding dirt road Ty was gettingin his seat as he put the Bronco through its paces Just when it looked like the road ed wilderness, Ty turned onto a narrow gravel drive that seelanced at Zane again and set a car up here, but you better hope the weather sticks" Then he frowned and slowed the truck further "Here we go," he murmured as they topped the steep incline and a house cay, and it was getting to him He leaned forward to look out the windshield at what awaited them

The house was a classic old far, dorht red shutters, and atin roof A porch wrapped around the entire front and side of the house, co chairs and oversized stairs leading up to the front door The outbuildings were in worse shape, the paint peeling slightly on the clapboard frames; so but cedar beams and tin, while a feere cinderblock and ravel driveere four other vehicles: a crew cab Ford F-150, a Chevy Blazer, an old Ford Ranger, and a brand new black Lexus coupe Ty parked beside the Lexus and cocked his head, peering at it curiously

A man drew Zane’s attention when he cah the screen door and shielding his eyes as he stepped into theto be Ty’s father He still bore a striking resehter, and he was taller and thinner He had to be Ty’s brother Thewith a pronounced limp, and Ty opened up his door and slid out of the Bronco as he caot out as well but stood just inside the door as he looked around at the towering trees that surrounded them He tore his eyes away from the back for now, at least until after the reunion

Ty grinned as he and his brother eave the estured for Zane to coot here," Ty’s brother said to therunted at him "Zane, this is my brother, Deacon," he said with a wave of his hand at his brother "This is Zane Garrett"

"Special Agent Zane Garrett, I assume," Deacon said with e it hard His voice wasn’t as deep as Ty’s, but it still had that gravelly, drawling quality to it that Zane liked "You can call le" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>