Page 51 (1/2)

For two ht and day with the man, sharedof confidences O’Rourke ht have learned to tolerate a Calder, but he hadn’t learned to like one He kept to hiie, but always leaving as soon as Ty or his father arrived There seemed to be a truce of sorts that existed, or, more accurately, a wary neutrality on both sides

13

It wasn’t considered polite to ride a horse into caround where the crew ate Instead of leaving his horse tied at the picket line with the otherthe reins around the rear bumper of a truck

Although it didn’t appear to be deliberately done, O’Rourke approached the open end of the traveling cook kitchen always keeping a vehicle between hi eyes Ty no longer believed it was caused by shyness It see observed O’Rourke didn’t like people watching him

“Hello, Culley,” Ty greeted him when he rounded the cook truck

“Ty” He nodded, his eyes shifting curiously to Tara The outdoors had tanned his skin to a brown shade, ray in his hairO’Rourke was always careful about his appearance, wearing clean clothes and shaving every day After two years, Ty was convinced his uncle was a little on the strange side, but harmless

“What brings you down this way?”

“I got tired of cookin’ for ood Tucker’s food tasted” He looked at Tara again and briefly gripped the point of his hat brim “Ma’am”

With a vague reluctance, TyHis stare remained fixed on her, which made Ty uneasy

“You look a lot like my sister,” he said finally

At a distance, Ty supposed there was a resemblance between Tara and his mother Both had dark hair and a small build He wondered if that hadn’t pro he had an ally in camp, only to discover he’d been mistaken

“Think I’ll find out when Tucker’s going to have lunch ready” O’Rourke backed away at the first opening and ducked around behind the truck

“It doesn’t seem possible that man is your uncle,” Tara murmured

“Culley’s had a hard time of it, one way or another,” was all Ty replied When he heard footsteps, he wasn’t surprised to see his father co toward them

“What’s O’Rourke doing here?”