Page 43 of Smoky Mountain Dreams

Christopher tried a different tack with her. “I like yourjacket, Brigid. Purple is my favorite color.”

Her eyes narrowed even more. “I like yellow.”

“Brigid, the right response is, ‘thank you,’” Jesse said,running his hand over her dark hair and sighing.

She turned to Nova, moving away from her father’s touch, andwrapped her arms around her grandmother. Then, almost contradicting her earlierstatements, she said, “Grandma, can we go see the eagles soon, please? They’remy favorite. I want to see if February’s leg is better yet.”

Nova slid her fingers through her granddaughter’s hair, bentdown, and whispered something to her. Brigid sighed and held on to hergrandmother tighter, resignation and frustration warring in her eyes. Then justas suddenly Brigid let go, reached into her pocket and took out the damagedpaper crane again, smoothing it with intense concentration.

As Christopher rose from his crouch and wiped his sweatypalms on his pants, he met Gareth’s gaze over the short, open wall of theforge. He swallowed quickly at the hostile, appraising interest he saw there,and turned back to Jesse and Tim. “So, what brings you all to Smoky MountainDreams today?” he asked, though he already knew.

“Nova’s celebrating her sixty-fifth,” Jesse said. “Timthought a family day here at the park would make a nice gift.”

“And cheap too,” Tim said. “We’ve got season passes, whichjust means paying for snacks and dinner. Though, don’t get me wrong, the priceson those aren’t anything to sneeze at. Melissa Mundy must make a pretty pennyon those overpriced hot dogs and bags of popcorn.”

Nova smiled fondly at him and said, “Sweetheart, please don’tembarrass Jesse.”

“Oh no, it’s fine. I understand,” Christopher said. “If Ididn’t get free meals, I wouldn’t be able to afford to eat here either.”

He only felt a little uncomfortable acknowledging that theprices were high in the theme park. He knew Melissa Mundy did make a niceprofit from Smoky Mountain Dreams, but she also paid all of her employees aliving wage, gave them great insurance benefits, and used a large percentage ofSMD profits to expand the operation—creating new jobs for an area that waswithout question poor and in need of opportunities. He was getting ready to saysomething in Melissa’s defense when Jesse did it for him.

“What this place has done for the community is worth it. Ifthe hot dogs cost four-fifty each, it’s money well spent, and the tourists don’tseem to give a damn.”

“You said ‘damn,’ Dad,” Will said gleefully, turning awayfrom Gareth finally.

Christopher glanced Gareth’s way and saw that the mostinteresting part of smithing was over, and now he was cleaning up his work. Washe listening in on the conversation? Christopher couldn’t tell, but there was astiffness to his body that implied he was.

“I’m allowed to say it, Will.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m not nine and no teacher will make me sit out ofrecess for saying it around the other kids.”

Will laughed. “It’s gonna be cool to be a grown up. I’mgonna say damn and other stuff all the time. I can’t wait.”

Jesse rubbed his hand over Will’s shoulder and hugged him upagainst his hip. “Yeah? Well,Ican wait. You andBrigid can just take your time. No rush, kiddo.”

“What are you going to be when you grow up?” Christopherasked Will.

“A baseball player.”

“You can’t be a baseball player,” Brigid said, her voicedripping with disdain. She slid the paper crane back into her coat pocket. “We’vecovered this, Will.”

Will shrugged. “Why not?”

“Because you’re just not that good,” Brigid said, tossingher chin and crossing her arms over her chest.

“I’m good enough.”

Brigid slapped a hand over her face and turned away fromthem. “Forget it. I want to see the eagles.”

Will ran out from under the eaves, whooping in a loud voice,and called out, “Maybe I’ll be an eagle trainer instead, B! I’ll be the besteagle trainer ever!”

“Yeah, B,” Jesse said. “The best eagle trainer ever.”

Brigid turned to Jesse and said, quietly, “Don’t encouragehim, Dad. He’s embarrassing.” Then she followed her brother with extremedignity and a huge dollop of sisterly irritation.

“She reminds me of Jackie,” Christopher said. At Jesse’squizzical expression, he added, “My sister. She’s older than me and thoughtevery idea I had would break the stupid-meter.”