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Deuce was thankful they’d been able to keep the blankets and extra clothing He was pretty sure they would all freeze if they were still wet, because it was getting colder as the sun set After the trial of crossing the river--and losing theto gear up and get any farther before nightfall Dinner was slow cooking, mainly because they were all too listless and exhausted to mess with it But as Deuce waran to have a fit

So far two men were dead; Zane had shot one and they’d watched one prettyto escape justice Deuce supposed Redjacket could be alive somewhere downstream In his opinion it was unlikely So unlikely that they’d elected not to waste tilanced to Earflaps, sprawled on the ground on the far side of the fire, trussed up and snoring noisily

Deuce looked up across the fire at Earl, who sat staring into the flames with a frown set on his face It didn’t see to his father and Ty, did it? Or was he just terrified of doing it and being in the lanced to the side, where Ty and Zane sat next to one another Ty was hunched over and rocking slightly, just like he always did when he let his self-control slip a little And it was probably serving a secondary purpose of keeping hi Ty and Zane together They fought and they argued, so Deuce would help hi to leap into that river with nothing but duht be able to help Ty They were a study in extremes, and as much as they denied it, they see Zane take Ty’s face in his hands and lean forward to speak to him--when it had very much looked like he’d been about to kiss him--Deuce suspected they were better matched than they knew the up now, either, not in front of Earl

Deuce squeezed his eyes closed anda headache "So, Ty," he finally decided on, tired of the tense silence "That was some distraction ploy you used back in the ca at his brother closely in the flickering light "How’d you know they wouldn’t shoot you?"

Ty looked up at hi not to understand "What?" he asked in confusion Zane turned his chin, watching Ty with a suns," Deuce provided with a s it"

Ty pressed his lips together tightly and then looked back down at the tin plate he held "Yeah," he answered flatly

Deuce continued to look at him So, ood to know, at any rate Just as worrisolanced at him; the froent flat, Zane’s eyes narrowed, and then he squeezed the on Ty again

"You were pretending, right?" Deuce asked Ty

Ty looked up and glared at him

"He’s a du his blanket tighter around his shoulders

Deuce looked over at his father as his head began to pound harder "Dad," he said in frustration "Would you just shut the hell up for one fuckingat Deuce in shock Ty stared at Deuce with ape Zane snorted and ducked his head as he rubbed at his eyes

"Is there a reason you’re on his case e? ’Cause you sure as hell ain’t gettin’ smarter," Deuce snapped

"Deacon," Ty said softly, his voice surprised and full of dread

Deuce didn’t look away froround his teeth Neither of his sons had ever spoken to him like that In fact, Deuce was pretty sure no one had ever spoken to Earl Grady like that and walked away except perhaps for Mara Earl looked as if he was about to say sohed He looked froh he did so with clear trepidation, and he shifted nervously where he sat Deuce thought heon Ty’s leg

"He’s right," Earl said to Ty in a rough voice "I’m sorry, boy," he offered

Ty stared at hi, tense moments before he nodded jerkily "Yes, sir," he responded almost inaudibly

Zane leaned closer to Ty and --he didn’t look at all appeased When Ty just shook his head, Zane leaned back and kept histhat confused Deuce Not many emotions inspired that kind of darkness: fury, desperation… utter devotion

One thing was certain If Zane ever ca

They ate in silence, all of theue any more or try to make idle conversation As soon as Earl had finished, he stood with his bedroll "Night, boys," was all he said as he turned and walked a few feet away to settle down for the night

Deuce waited until his father had done so before he scooted closer to Ty and Zane and lowered his voice "You didn’t have a plan, did you?" he asked Ty It calanced at hi back down at the tin plate in his hand He shook his head in answer Zane looked up as well, but this time there was no erowing anger "Do you two have any idea how completely dysfunctional you are?" he asked theh his voice was low

"You’re both practically suicidal," Deuce pointed out, forcing hi they needed was for Earl or Earflaps to weigh in on this "First Ty goes ballistic and starts begging people to shoot hio off and try to dive into that river without even thinking about how you’d get back out"

Ty flinched and turned to look at Zane questioningly, but Zane atching Deuce Deuce rolled his eyes and looked away "Dysfunctional" was an understate our balls off?" Ty asked sedately as he continued to eat slowly They’d taken all the MREs they could carry from the ATV, and that was all the food they had unless they wanted to forage "Thought I was done with these das," Ty muttered as he poked at the food

"Here," Zane e of M&Ms out of his lanced at it and then up at Zane with a sruffly

Deuce put his chin in his hand and watched theht the htforward When they were visible at all Right now, Zane was focused on Ty, and that anger appeared to be totally gone, replaced by so milder Warmer