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Now that she could breathe again and the danger had passed, she took stock of her body Her right cheekbone felt as though she’d been cracked with a hammer Her scraped pal—whatever it was—had been dislodged from her sole

“There’s your silver lining” Claire rested her forehead on her knees It wasn’t ht now

“What in the hell did you think you were doing? Do you have any idea how stupid that was? How dangerous? My God, Claire, you could’ve been killed,” Hank yelled as the train’s caboose receded from view

She spied Hank at the top of the steep erim frown that matched Hank’s scowl Jake looked toward the horizon, past the train tracks Glancing back, she confir Main Street

She shaded her face against theto help me up?”

Hank glar

ed down at her “You ran after souy who probably set your Jeep on fire Get your own damn self up”

With that bit of surly brotherly love, he turned and stomped away He hadn’t ru Claire knew she didn’t want to hear and came back

Hank and Chris half slid, half sturabbed one of her arry and eround

“Are you OK?” Chris asked close to her ear

She brushed theup, having the wind knocked out ofpunched in the face? Oh, I’m fine”

Relief swept across his face like windshield wipers sweeping away the rain His usual srin returned “Good I’ll be sure to let Mom know you’re OK when I call to update her on this latest fiasco of yours”

“Chris, you call her and I’ll…I’ll…I’ll do so you won’t like,” Claire sputtered

Chris grinned like an overjoyed hyena He’d been i this gaet in trouble and the other would tease and prod to relieve the stress It had alorked in the past, so as she still so pissed?

She shook off her brothers, who both stayed near the train tracks Holding her battered ar forward to aid with balance, she ht of two tan workbooks sent butterflies spinning throughout her sore torso With a sigh, she came to a stop in front of Jake He stared down at her, their height difference made even more dramatic because she was shoeless and still a foot down the embankment