Backwoods

Leo had grown several inches since last summer, when Nathan had stopped by to see him after a game at UCLA. Between semesters, he lived with Ray and Lydia in Beverly Hills. They’d converted the pool house into a small studio apartment where he could jam loud music and hang out with his hoodlum friends.

His hair was longer. His shoulders were a little broader. Though he refused to play sports, he was a natural athlete. He had quick reflexes and a quick mind—when he wasn’t under the influence. Someday his dissolute lifestyle would catch up with him. For now he was lean and strong and brimming with health.

“You need a haircut,” Nathan said.

Leo lodged his helmet under one arm, feigning boredom. “What do you want?”

“Your mom and Ray couldn’t make it.”

He swore at them both under his breath, which set Nathan’s nerves further on edge. Leo didn’t appreciate the easy life he’d been given.

“Don’t disrespect your mother,” Nathan said.

“Only you can?”

Nathan hadn’t badmouthed Lydia since he quit drinking, but he’d called her some unflattering names over the years. They’d argued and exchanged scathing insults. Once, Leo had gotten between them, shoving and kicking. Tears streaming down his face, he’d yelled at Nathan to leave his mother alone.

“She called me from the E.R.,” Nathan said.

Leo tensed at the news. Still protective. “What happened?”

“She sprained her ankle. She can’t walk, so she asked me to fill in. She thought we could go hiking together.”

“I hate hiking.”

“Then why did you come?”

Leo fell silent, glowering into the dark shadows beyond the cabin. Nathan already knew the answer. Leo was driving an old motorcycle for a reason. Ray had taken away his car after finding a joint in the ashtray. Lydia was planning to confront him about his drug use this week. His attendance wasn’t optional.

Maybe Lydia’s injury was real and maybe it wasn’t. Nathan wondered if she’d delegated this responsibility because she couldn’t deal with it. She had a certain sense of fatalism, a belief that people followed a set course in life. No one could change their destiny and everything was meant to be.

The upside was that she had a loving, accepting personality. The downside was that she gave Leo very little guidance. He needed boundaries and discipline—tough love. Ray wasn’t a pushover, but he served his own interests and avoided conflict. It was up to Nathan to reach Leo. Nathan hoped he could get through to him before it was too late.

“Your mother wants us to spend time together,” he said, his throat tight. “I want us to spend time together.”

With a scowl, Leo fished his cell phone out of his pocket and stepped away from Nathan to call Lydia. They began a rapid conversation in Portuguese. She was from Brazil, so she’d taught Leo her native tongue and a fair amount of Spanish. Leo could tell Nathan to fuck off in three different languages.

Nathan was proud of that. Sort of.

Apparently Lydia held her ground. She wasn’t going to give his car back unless he stayed at the cabin with Nathan. Leo mumbled goodbye and pocketed his phone.

“Are we clear?” Nathan asked.

Leo strode toward the front door, not bothering to respond. Nathan followed him inside. Brooke was sitting on the couch, her eyes wet with tears. Either she’d spoken to Ray or her mother had broken the bad news. Nathan felt sorry for her. Brooke exchanged a glance with Leo, who glared at Nathan as if he’d made her cry.

Lydia had told him that this trip had been Brooke’s idea. Brooke was the intrepid explorer who loved communing with nature. Abby handed her daughter a mug of cocoa. Brooke sipped the drink, studying Nathan.

“Would you like some cocoa?” Abby asked Leo.

He sat down on the couch next to Brooke. “No, thanks.”

Abby leaned her hip against the side of the couch. She reached out, as if to smooth her daughter’s hair. But instead of following through on the motion, she drew back a curled fist. “We can still go hiking.”

Brooke shrugged, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

Abby’s presence at the cabin was both a relief and a complication. With her here, Nathan didn’t have to look after Brooke. He’d figured that she would stay with him and Leo or go home. The idea of hiking as a foursome hadn’t occurred to him.

Until now.

“Where were you planning to hike?” Nathan asked.

Brooke had a map open on the surface of the coffee table. “There are a bunch of cool places around here,” she said, sniffling. “I wanted to go to Echo Lake.” She pointed to a round blue spot on the map. “The trail splits off from there. It’s a steep climb to Miracle Hot Springs or a gentle slope to Lupine Meadow.”

Nathan settled into a nearby armchair.

“My dad and Lydia would have picked the easier route,” Brooke said.

That was all Nathan needed to hear. He’d endured grueling training sessions throughout his baseball career, and he still exercised every day. Physically, Ray was no match for him. Not that they were in competition or anything. “Then let’s take the hard way.”

Brooke met his gaze. “Really?”

“Sure. There’s no reason to cancel your plans.”

Her face lit up with excitement. “Can we, Mom?”

“We don’t want to impose,” Abby said.

“Not at all,” Nathan said. “If anyone’s imposing, it’s me.”

“You got that right,” Leo muttered.

Brooke slapped his shoulder. “Leo!”

“What?”

“Be nice to your dad.”

Abby went into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. She came back, passing it to Leo. Although he hadn’t asked for it, he untwisted the cap and took a drink. “Brooke and I can hike on our own,” Abby said.

“That’s no fun,” Brooke said, as if hanging out with Abby was a chore.

Leo smirked at her plaintive response. He wasn’t keen on camping with his old man, either, but he might enjoy following Brooke up a mountain. Leo would probably be on his best behavior around her. He also couldn’t take off on his motorcycle if he got angry with Nathan, which was bound to happen.

This was perfect.

“Hiking as a group is safer, especially in remote wilderness areas,” Nathan said. “Lydia told me there was a murder just a few miles from here last summer. They found a guy with an arrow in his chest.”

“I read about that,” Abby said. “It was a couple. The girl is still missing.”