Page 61 of Adam's Rising

He sniffed.

“Did someone hurt you?”

He shrugged, then his lips quirked up. “Tried.”

“Ahh… You showed them how tough Belgardes are?”

Peter looked up at her. “I didn’t start the fight — I never start the fight. But I finished it.”

Claire felt the same way. “Yeah, I had to defend myself Saturday night.”

He whipped his head up, similar to how Adam had the previous evening. “Who hit you?”

“My boyfriend — well, ex-boyfriend now.”

“Some guy hit you? Does Ad — Thomas know?”

Claire’s chest lifted with an emotional ache for the chivalrous Belgardes. Even Peter, two years younger than her, had a protective streak.

“He didn’t hit me,” Claire explained. “He tried to get fresh, though, so I used a climbing technique, then thrust my wooden heels into his ribs.”

Peter laughed almost as heartily as Adam had earlier. “Cool! I hope you broke several.” He sat back, his demeanor finally relaxing. “I didn’t know you climbed.”

“I have a rock wall in my barn. Do you like to climb?”

Peter’s head lifted quick and to the right, just like Buttercup when she was excited. “Yep! It’s the one thing I’m better at than most guys.”

Claire decided to share something she rarely did, but she felt Peter needed to confide in someone. So if she shared one of her secrets, maybe he’d feel comfortable to open up to her.

“I hope to work search and rescue one day. With my small frame, I think I can get to people others can’t.”

“That’s so cool! And exactly what Ad — damn.”

Claire touched his shoulder. “It’s okay, Peter. I know the truth.”

“It’s weird. I haven’t messed up once. But being here with you…”

“I get it,” Claire said. “We all spent a lot of time together in school.”

“He said you lost your parents, too.”

“Yeah, but my grandparents took me in.” Claire leaned back, looking at him. He looked better. “Hey, wanna come over to the house after school sometime? We can climb together.”

Peter nodded. “I’d like that.”

“Right now. Let’s get you home before your brother comes looking for you.”

Peter sighed. “Home. It’s a hole in the ground.”

Claire smiled. “Maybe not anymore.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your brother beat up one of the hands.”

“Adam beat up someone?”

“Yeah, Clara Mae was firing Frank…” Claire figured this was the time to head to the ranch. Peter would be excited to talk with Adam about what happened, which hopefully would segue into how Peter got his scrape. She shifted into drive. “It was the coolest thing ever. But I’ll let him tell you about it. I was so shocked. I didn’t know he had it in him.”