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and he’d been respectful. Disappointed and a little sulky, but respectful.
    She slowed down to scan the barn. It had been painted recently—a deep, traditional barn red with bright white trim. The roof was new too, and the broken windows she remembered had been replaced. It looked neat and efficient—not at all like the musty, drafty building where dust motes had danced in shafts of sunlight while she and Teague fought their way through puberty, circling each other like wary gunfighters.
    As she and Troy passed the barn, a newer house came into view, set in the shelter of a small rise. It was big but homey looking, with cedar siding and a chalet roof jutting over a tall span of windows. A front porch stretched across the front, bordered by a rustic railing made of twisted lengths of pine.
    The yard surrounding the house was neatly mown, and someone had planted several rows of evergreens on the windward side; the trees would create a windbreak in a few years if they survived the heavy snows and hungry antelope. Beyond was another pasture with dozens of horses grazing.
    A beat-up Dodge pickup was parked in front of the two-car garage. The truck’s body was mostly a dull green pocked with rust, but the driver’s side door was white and the hood was primer gray. Jodi smiled. Between the new duds and the big house, she’d half-expected Teague to have a sports car, or at the very least a swanky new dually. But his truck was pure cowboy. There was hope for the man yet.
    â€œThat’s home,” Troy said, slanting his gaze her way.
    â€œNice,” she said. It was nice, it really was, but it wasn’t what she’d expected. It looked like an Easterner’s version of a Western house. Rustic, rough-hewn, and a little phony.
    â€œYeah, but it’s Teague’s,” Troy said, pouting a little. “I wanted to stay in the trailer, but Teague rented it out.”
    Oh, boy. Troy really was looking to break free. Knowing Teague, he’d never agree to let his brother move out. Troy had always needed Teague, and Teague needed to be needed. Jodi had always figured Troy was the only thing that kept him out of trouble.
    â€œCissy needs the trailer though, Troy,” she said. “It’s nice Teague rents it to her.”
    â€œI guess.” Troy’s lower lip jutted out in a pout.
    â€œAnyway, you and Teague should stick together,” she said. “Take care of each other.”
    â€œI guess,” Troy said, heaving a heavy sigh. “But he’s hard to take care of.”

Chapter 6
    As her truck crunched up the driveway, Jodi saw Teague emerge from the front door of the house, snapping a cell phone shut. He stood on the porch, his arms crossed over his chest as he watched their arrival.
    â€œOh, boy,” Troy said, staring down at his lap and shaking his head. “Oh, boy-oh-boy-oh-boy. He sure is mad.”
    Jodi flashed him a look, concerned. “Teague’s not… mean to you, is he?”
    She never would have thought such a thing possible until today. But the Teague she’d seen in the drugstore wasn’t the Teague she remembered. Hopefully the inside hadn’t changed as much as the outside, but you never knew. She’d been planning to drop Troy off and go, but maybe she’d better stick around and make sure everything was okay.
    â€œNo, but he’ll be disappointed in me. Really, really disappointed.” Troy sighed. “He counts on me for stuff, and then I mess up.” He was breathing hard, as if he was trying not to cry. Jodi patted his shoulder.
    â€œIt’ll be okay, Troy. And if Teague’s a mean old bear, I’ll set him straight. I’ll tell him you were helping me clean house.”
    â€œYou will?”
    Jodi realized her mistake a moment too late. Teague might be a little miffed at his brother for neglecting his chores, but he’d be furious if Troy lied to him. And Jodi had just offered to help