Renegade: A Taggart Brothers Novel by Lisa Bingham

from his apple to find Bodey staring at him.
    “Annie?” his brother prompted.
    Jace scrambled to remember what Bodey had been saying, but his brain seemed intent on reviewing the events of the morning—Bronte standing in the sunshine of Annie’skitchen, her acceptance of Barry, her tenderness toward her youngest daughter.
    But when Bodey continued to eye him expectantly, he finally managed to say, “Annie’s holding her own, but she’s still in critical condition.”
    “That must be tough for the visiting relatives.”
    Jace tossed the ringlet-like peel onto the counter and cut a slice of apple. “You’re not kidding. When I explained what had happened that first night, Bronte looked at me like I’d pushed Annie down the stairs myself.” He slipped the apple into his mouth with the tip of the knife. “I think she was already at the end of her rope and the news threw her over another cliff.”
    Jace realized he should have kept his mouth shut, because the curious gleam reappeared in Bodey’s gaze. But all he said was, “No wonder you’re whistling.”
    Jace instantly bristled. “What the hell does that mean?”
    “Sounds like a stray in the making,” Bodey muttered.
    Then, thank God, Bodey’s phone rang, giving Jace the perfect excuse to walk away. Because, sure as shit, if he didn’t leave the room right now, Jace
would
be pounding his brother into the ground.

S IX

    “L ET’S go, Barry!”
    It was a little after four that afternoon when Jace finally managed to break free from his ranch duties—all with the intent of making good on his promise to meet Bronte that evening.
    He didn’t allow himself to think too much on his reasons for making it a priority. Heaven only knew that after speaking with Bodey earlier that afternoon, the Fates had conspired against him. Equipment failures, muddy fields, and running short on seed had nearly upset his plans. But, uncharacteristically, he’d delegated the remaining problems to the hired men and had hurried back home.
    Jace had barely turned the key to the truck when Barry came running out of the house, his hands filled with miniature ranch toys and plastic cows and horses.
    “Do you think Emily will play ranch with me?” he asked excitedly as he juggled the tiny tractors, balers, and combines so that he could open the door and clamber inside.
    Again, Jace felt a shock at Barry’s use of their sister’s name. Emily had been Barry’s twin sister. She’d been killed,along with their parents, in a horrible winter accident oh so long ago. A lifetime ago, it sometimes seemed to Jace. For years, Barry had called out for her in his sleep and it worried Jace that Barry was using her name whenever he spoke about Lily.
    “I don’t know, Barry. Some girls aren’t into playing with ranch machinery, you know. They like dolls and stuff like that.”
    Barry shook his head. “Emily likes to play with me.”
    Jace didn’t bother to argue—didn’t want to argue. He prayed that Barry was right and Lily wouldn’t mind hanging out with a boy who towered above her and had already begun to show the beginnings of a beard. Jace had done his best to try to provide Barry with everything his brother needed. But friends couldn’t be so easily supplied. The neighbor kids were loving and accepting, but they were interested in cars and jobs and girls. Barry still wanted to get down on his knees and till the carpet with his toy tractors.
    “She sure liked that swing, didn’t she?” Jace said, simply to see his brother beam.
    “You ain’t a-kidding, Jace. I got her goin’ high, too!”
    “But be careful, okay? You’re almost a man and men have to watch over women and keep them safe.”
    “Even if they’re still girls?”
    “Especially if they’re still girls.”
    “Okay, Jace. I’ll take care of Emily.”
    “Lily. Her name’s Lily.”
    Barry blinked at him with wide blue eyes. “I know that.”
    “Then why do you keep calling her Emily?”
    “ ’Cause it’s