“Aw, man. I have a feeling this is going to be humiliating. Where are we going?”
“How about upriver a ways to check out the turning leaves?” she asked. “Think you can handle that?”
“I’ll give it a go,” he said. “Be with you in a minute.” He walked down to the first cabin and stuck his head inside. Art was doing exactly as he’d been asked, sweeping debris into a nice neat pile in the middle of the cabin that had been emptied of furniture. “Hey, Art,” Luke said. “I’m going to be gone a little while. You’ll be okay, right?”
“Right,” Art said, not looking up from his job.
“I’ll let you know when I’m back.”
“Okay. Luke,” he said.
Luke went back to Shelby and the horses, cautiously giving Plenty’s neck a slow stroke. She pulled her lips back as if she’d like to bite him, but she managed to control herself. “You have anything with you? Like a gun?” he asked Shelby.
“What for?”
“Bear. They’re still out. Fishing.”
“Oh, I have some repellent. Plus, I’m really fast.”
“Yeah.” He grinned. “I saw that the last time you were here. I’m not. I’m just hoping I can stay in the saddle.” He went to his truck and pulled his Remington .338 rifle out of the rack. “I’ll feel a little better if I don’t have to rely on you to protect me.”
“Ninny,” she said, smiling. “That’s pretty, but way more gun than you need.”
“It makes me feel manly,” he said.
By the time he was tying his rifle onto the saddle straps, Art was standing in the doorway of the cabin, watching them, broom in hand. “Who’s that?” Shelby asked.
“I’ll tell you in a minute,” he answered, swinging into the saddle. “Lead the way.”
He followed her to the river and as they rode away from the cabins, Luke said, “That guy, his name’s Art. I found him camped out in one of the cabins—filthy, hurt and on the run. So he’s working for me in exchange for food and a decent place to sleep.”
“He’s staying with you?” she asked.
“No. I put him in the camper while we get one of the cabins fixed up enough for him, which is why I haven’t been at the bar in a couple of days—I wanted to make sure he was all right on his own. All he needs is hot water, cereal in the morning, bologna-and-cheese sandwiches for lunch, dinner and something soft to lie on. The guy’s pretty incredible. He’s not fast, but he’s careful and he tries real hard. Turns out to be a good helper, but let’s keep it quiet that he’s here until I figure out what he’s up against. Okay? I don’t know exactly who he’s running from, but he doesn’t want to go back. Someone gave him a black eye. He doesn’t have family anymore.”
She looked at him in surprise. “You’re protecting him.”
“He was digging through my trash, like he needed something,” Luke said with a shrug. “I didn’t go out of my way.”
“You could’ve told him to take off.”
“Nah, no reason for that. He has Down syndrome—just a plain old good-hearted soul. But if some asshole who hits him is looking for him, I don’t want word to leak that he’s hiding out here. Not till I figure out what to do about his situation.”
“You know, you try to hide the fact that you’re nice,” she said. “I think it’s natural for you to be kind.”
“Nowww,” he warned. “You’ll ruin my reputation.”
“You haven’t even established one yet,” she said. “No one knows quite what to make of you.” She lifted her chin, looking up at the tall pines, the enormous sequoia, the clear, bright sky. Interspersed were oak and madrone with leaves turning yellow and orange. “Is this awesome or what?”
“Awesome,” he agreed. “How does it compare to living down the coast?”
“So far, a wonderful change.” She looked over at him and her eyes glittered. “I see great potential for this place.”
“Playing with me again,” he teased. “Don’t you worry that you’re biting off more than you can chew, little girl?”
“Aren’t you?” she asked.
He groaned. “I know I am.” And she laughed at him.
As they rode up the river into the hills, Luke couldn’t help but find the horse a good diversion, a real pleasant experience. As long as Plenty was beside Chico and not behind him, there were no bad manners, like nipping. They talked only a little while they rode, and after about twenty minutes along the river, Shelby stopped Chico at the base of a trail that rose steeply into the hills. It was marked with well-worn trail that led to a plateau. “Think you can do that?” she asked. “The view from up there is pretty awesome.”