The Tin Star by J. L. Langley

car.”
    Ethan looked up at his aunt from under the sink. “Sure. What’s up?” He tightened the pipe fitting. “There, that ought to do it. It was just a little loose; this should fix your leak.” Ethan slid out, then sat up, pipe wrench still in hand. “Turn the water on.”
    She reached over and did so. Nothing dripped out as far as he could tell. He smoothed his hands over the pipes, but everything stayed dry.
    “Okay, I think you’re good to go.”
    “Thanks, honey. Listen. I need to tell you something. It might come up and since ... well, since you’re involved with Jamie --”
    Ethan grinned and put the wrench back in the toolbox. “Who says I’m involved with Jamie?”
    Aunt Margaret smiled back. “You two are perfect for each other, and if you’re not together, then you should be.”
    Ethan chuckled and started replacing the rest of the tools. “Go on. You were saying?”
    “Blanche wasn’t Jamie’s mother.”
    “What?”
    “Jamie is Jacob and his ex-mistress’s child.”
    Ethan sat on the floor, mouth hanging open. He felt like someone had hit him between the eyes with a two-by-four. Holy shit!
    “Blanche adopted him at birth. She loved him, but she never did forgive Jacob for his betrayal. I think that’s why Jacob has always disliked Jamie so much. He blamed Jamie for Blanche changing toward him. But Blanche, she was such a good woman, she loved that boy despite what her husband had done.” She wrung her hands together and glanced out the window at Jamie. “He doesn’t know. She forbade Jacob from telling Jamie or her other children. I don’t think Blanche told anyone but me. She stayed out at the ranch so much that people didn’t see her, and since Jamie’s got the Killian looks, no one ever questioned it. But now that Blanche isn’t around ... For a while, I’ve been afraid he’d say something, but he hasn’t. Now, with Jamie’s news, it may be the straw that breaks the camel’s back, so to speak.”
    “You’re afraid Jacob will tell him.”
    It wasn’t a question, but she nodded anyway. “Yes, I am. That mean old son of a bitch has never treated that boy right. I suspect he was a little better when Blanche was around, because he did truly love her. I think he figured that if he were ever going to make things right with her, he’d have to accept Jamie. But now that she’s gone, he doesn’t have any reason to acknowledge Jamie. You would think that Jamie was Blanche’s natural child rather than his own.”
    Ethan stood up, shaking his head. This was really messed up, but it explained so much. Old man Killian had never been outright mean to Jamie, but he’d clearly favored his other two children, and John most of all among them. Jamie had always been left out. Hell, John had always acted more like a father to Jamie than Jacob had ... well, John and Hank, the Quad J’s ex-foreman.
    Aunt Margaret leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “I’m sorry to lay all this on you, honey, but I thought you should know. It’s up to you whether you tell Jamie or not.”
    The screen door slammed.
    They both glanced toward the door. Jamie came in smiling, then stopped when he saw them. “What’s wrong?”
    Ethan cleared his throat, “Noth--”
    “Nothing, honey. I was about to get you boys some cookies to take with you. Thank you for getting my car fixed up.” She got some tin foil and starting wrapping.
    Jamie grinned. “You are very welcome, ma’am! Did Ethan fix your leak?”
    “Yup. Was there ever any doubt?” Ethan raised an eyebrow.
    “Nope.” Jamie’s eyes twinkled in what Ethan was coming to realize was a sign of impending mischief. “Ethan’s pretty good with his hands.” Then the flirt waggled his eyebrows at him. Ethan groaned and shook his head. And he was not blushing. He wasn’t. Really.
    Aunt Margaret laughed and swatted Jamie’s behind. “James Wyatt Killian! Shame on you, saying such things in front of an old lady!”
    Ethan snorted. “Give me a