“She’s going to teach me how to paint,” Nell said.
“She sounds like a nice new friend,” Roan said. “What is she? The babysitter?”
&
nbsp; “She’s Uncle Tris’s girlfriend,” Nell said.
“Yeah?” Roan asked.
Jecca thought he had a voice that could easily reach the back of an auditorium. For all that he didn’t look like anyone’s idea of a college professor, he had the sound and the attitude of one. The way he stood, with his shoulders back, the way he was smiling at Nell, said he was a man who was used to being listened to.
“Yeah,” Tris said, and there was a bit of challenge in his voice, as though he were daring Roan to say something derogatory.
It ran through Jecca’s mind that if she didn’t step in there might be an old-fashioned school yard fight. “Hello!” she said loudly. “I’m Jecca Layton.” She went forward with her hand extended.
Roan turned toward her, smiling, but the smile left his face as soon as he saw her. He looked her up and down, as though he were appraising something he saw at an auction. Then he looked from her to Tristan and back again and his handsome face turned into a glower.
“Roan!” Tris said sharply, frowning at his cousin.
“Excuse me,” Roan said. “I wasn’t expecting such beauty.” He took Jecca’s hand in both of his. “Tristan doesn’t usually bring people with him. I just hope our lowly accommodations suit you.”
Jecca pulled her hand out of his big ones. “I don’t mean to impose but . . .” She wasn’t sure what to say. She didn’t like the way the man was looking at her. It wasn’t as though he had lustful feelings, but she got the idea he didn’t, well, like her. Her first thought was that he didn’t think she was good enough for Tristan. “I, uh—” she began.
Nell yelled, “I’m hungry.”
Turning, Jecca looked at Tris who was staring at Roan as he walked around the side of the cabin. Tristan looked ready to fight a duel in Jecca’s honor. “Help me get the food out of the back?” she said to Tris. When he didn’t answer, she slipped her arm through his and pulled.
Frowning, he went to the back of the car and opened the door.
“What is going on?” Jecca asked in a low voice. “Look, it’s his house, and if he doesn’t want me here, I’ll leave.”
“No!” Tris said. “I’ll sort it out, don’t worry. You and Nell get settled and I’ll deal with ol’ Burn Boy.”
Nell came to the back of the car, and Tris loaded her arms with a lightweight box.
“Why don’t you take Jecca inside and show her where everything is?” Tris told his niece.
“Are you mad at Uncle Roan?”
“Yes!” Tris said as he bent down to his niece. “And I’m going to beat him up. That okay with you?”
Nell didn’t smile. “Did you bring bandages?”
“For him or me?” Tris asked.
“You. He’s bigger than you are,” she said, laughing as she ran away.
“Tris,” Jecca began, but he handed her a big box, then kissed her over the top of it.
“I’ll find out what his problem is. You won’t be going home. Now scoot!”
As Jecca followed Nell into the cabin, her arms loaded, she couldn’t help thinking about what she’d just learned ajus">
Roan hadn’t done or said anything nearly as bad as the sister had. It had really only been a gesture, an expression, but even that little bit had made Tris defend Jecca.
Smiling, she went inside the cabin.
“What the hell was that all about?” Tris demanded of his cousin as soon as they were alone. Roan was chopping wood, swinging the axe so hard that he seemed to be taking his anger out on the wood.