The Spinster (Emerson Pass Historicals 2)

I didn’t know what he thought he heard in Theo’s tone, as he sounded benign to me. These two knew each other’s subtleties like their own reflections.

“Nothing,” Theo said. “We’ll do whatever you bid us to.”

“It was a question not a bidding.” Flynn’s eyes flashed with temper. “You’re finding fault where there is none.”

“No fault?” Theo asked. “No fault, other than you’ve done this our whole lives.”

“Done what? Suggested we do things other than sitting in our room reading endless books instead of living?”

“Is that what you think I do?”

“If it wasn’t for me, yes,” Flynn said.

“You’re a donkey’s ass, you know that?” Theo strode toward the barn where Oz and Willie waited.

Unsure what to do, I made myself busy packing up the remnants of our lunch.

“Sorry you had to hear all that,” Flynn said.

“Not at all.”

“He wants out of this whole thing.” Flynn squinted as he looked up to the sky. “Believes I pushed him into it, which I suppose I did. I get excited about something and always want him with me. He has other plans. Ones that don’t include me. Growing up, that never occurred to me. I thought we’d do everything together.”

“You two have a bond that goes deeper than most brothers,” I said. “Which complicates matters sometimes.”

“I didn’t know he was resentful until recently.” He took off his cap and ran his hands through his hair. “And now this. I don’t know what to do here.”

“Let him go.” I blurted it out without much thought. “Hire someone to manage the business. I’m sure there are a lot of men who would jump at the chance.”

“I want a partner. Someone with stakes in the game.”

Theo came out of the barn leading the horses. The twins didn’t speak as they worked in tandem to hitch Oz and Willie, each taking a horse. Their movements were almost identical. Yet there were profound differences in their dreams and desires. I hoped, for their sakes, that this didn’t become a permanent divide. No business was worth losing your brother. Having none of my own, I knew that in a way most couldn’t. Parting ways would be difficult, even for Theo. But perhaps it was necessary for them to become the men they wanted to be.

Fifteen minutes later, we came to a stop in front of the lodge built from logs. I squinted into the light, taking in the mountain. The slopes had been stripped of trees for two ski runs that snaked down the mountain in snowy rivulets.

Flynn hopped out of the sleigh. “By this time next year, skiers will be speeding down these runs. Isn’t it a beauty?” Flynn asked, pointing to the gear-and-pulley system for the ski lift. “That takes you up to the top. You won’t even break a sweat. Come on, Phillip. We’ll show you the inside.”

I followed him into the log building. Theo trailed behind us, but joined us just the same.

The large rectangular room was as rustic on the inside as out. Crevices between the logs had been closed with cement. “You can’t imagine how long it took us to strip these logs,” Flynn said, sounding proud. “The Olofsson boys helped us but even so, it took us the better part of the spring.”

“They look great,” I said, feeling as if I’d been asked to comment on a man’s child.

Flynn strutted around, showing me where the bar would be that would serve warm beverages and sandwiches. “Tables will be there.” He pointed to the area closest to the windows. “Where people can eat and drink or just relax and warm up before going back out again.”

“We wanted to serve beer,” Theo said. “But with Prohibition, it won’t be possible.”

“Still possible,” Flynn said. “If my puritan brother looks the other way.”

“I don’t want us shut down for breaking the law.” Theo glared at Flynn. “But my criminal-minded twin refuses to see reason.”

“You know as well as I do that the bar in town will serve homemade brews and liquor in secret.” Flynn pointed to a trapdoor on the floor. “We have a basement for just this purpose.”

Was his plan to serve alcohol downstairs or make it? Regardless, I didn’t think interfering in their argument to ask would be welcomed at this time.

“What do you think?” Theo asked me.

“I…I don’t know. The new law will most certainly be violated. I don’t think people will give up their liquor just because the government tells them to.”