It wasn’t as if Jo Harper couldn’t take care of herself.
“Suit yourself,” he said, and fell in beside Devin.
When they reached his truck, Elijah yanked open the passenger door, grabbed Devin around the waist and heaved him up onto the seat. Not that he appreciated the help. “I could have done it,” he said, sullen now.
Elijah ignored him and went around to the driver’s side. Devin had managed the few easier stretches of the trail down to the lane with little difficulty. On the steeper sections, he moaned, swore, complained-as if that gave him energy-and yet refused any assistance. When he stumbled, Elijah steadied him as best he could and let go.
“I can drive my own truck.”
“You’re not driving your truck,” Elijah said.
Five minutes later, he pulled into the lodge and parked as close to the shop as he could. Devin was out of the truck, stumbling for the walk, before Elijah had a chance to get the key out of the ignition.
The kid was getting on his nerves.
“If A.J. sees you,” he said, catching up with him, “he might just call the police. You know that, right?”
“Yeah. Let him. I haven’t done anything wrong.”
Devin limped to the front door of the shop, dug a key out of his jeans pocket and, his hands shaking now, fumbled around with it before managing to get it in the lock.
“You’re a mess, Devin,” Elijah said.
“I guess you should have left well enough alone and worked on your house today, then, huh?”
Devin pushed open the door and went inside, heading straight for the stairs. He hung on to the railing all the way up. Elijah spotted him, but he managed to get into his room and collapse on his unmade bed, his legs hanging off the end.
Elijah glanced around the messy room but saw nothing to indicate Devin had lied about spending the night as Nora Asher’s personal Musketeer. A large multi-day pack was leaned up against the side of his dresser.
He turned back to Devin. “You should elevate your leg.”
“It’s fine.”
“Devin…”
“All right. I’ll elevate my damn leg.” He scooted backward, pulling his legs up onto the bed, and tucked a pillow under his injured leg. “There. Happy?”
“Do you hurt anywhere else?”
He rolled his eyes. “No. You saw what happened. I just slipped.”
“On purpose?”
“Why would I bust myself up on purpose?”
“A diversion. So I’d find you and be forced to help you, and Nora would have a chance to get a head start.”
“Why would she want a head start, especially if she knew it was you? You’re her idol. She has a big crush on you.”
“She took off by herself yesterday. You’d think if she had a crush on me, she’d have come to me after she got the bad news about her stepfather.” Then again, Elijah figured he wasn’t one to be trying to make sense of how Nora Asher thought. “Sure you’re not helping her avoid people?”
Devin’s expression gave Elijah his answer. The kid was tortured by whatever was going on with Nora, and he was completely at a loss as to what to do. He hadn’t given her a head start.
“You don’t trust anyone, do you? Here’s the thing.” Elijah went very still and gave Devin a moment to absorb his tone, his body language, and understand how serious he was. “I know you haven’t told us everything about April. I also know you don’t steal.” He paused, but Devin didn’t speak or meet his eye. “And I know you’re worried about Nora.”
Devin just took in a breath and stared out the window.
“You were worried before her stepfather was killed. What’s going on, Devin?”
“Nothing.”
“You want to help her, don’t you? Then talk to me. I’m not the law. I’m not family.”
“Okay, yeah, I’m worried about her. A lot’s going on. Nora doesn’t like her father’s fiancée. Her stepfather just got run over like a bug. I’m being framed for stealing money.”
“Are you suggesting they’re all connected?”
“I’m not suggesting anything. I’m just saying.”
“Does Nora have a specific reason for not liking Melanie?”
“Instincts. I don’t know. For one thing, she’s a lot younger than Nora’s father.”
“Gold digger?”
“I don’t think that’s it. She has her own business. Nora’s father comes from an old-money family, and he’s a Washington insider. I’m guessing Melanie wants that world.”
For eighteen, Devin had keen insight into people. “So Nora’s afraid that Melanie’s using her father?”
“Yeah.”
Elijah eyed him skeptically. “It’s more than that, isn’t it?”
Devin squirmed, uncomfortable with the question.
“Devin?”
He glanced at Elijah. “I’m not some enemy combatant you pulled out of a cave.” But he slumped immediately after the words were out. “Sorry. That was a real jackass thing to say.”
Elijah didn’t respond.
“You’ve been on my case since you got back here. I’m sorry about your father. As sorry as anyone. I know you feel guilty because you were hardly ever around, but I saw him all the time.” Tears spilled down his cheeks, but he brushed them angrily with the back of one hand. “Think I wanted to find him frozen up on the mountain like a dead porcupine? Think that made me feel good? He treated me like his own son.”
“It must have been rough.” Elijah didn’t react openly to Devin’s emotion. “I’m sorry for that. I wish it had been me in your place.”
“Yeah. I know. Sorry, too.” He sniffled, more under control. “Getting shot-it was bad?”
“Not great.”
“Makes sliding under a stupid boulder seem like nothing.” He gritted his teeth and leaned forward, pulling up his muddy pant leg. “My ankle’s seizing up. I need some ice-”
“I’ll get some from the lodge,” Elijah said. “Don’t move. When I get back, I want to hear everything that you and Nora are up to. Start to finish. Understood?”
“Okay. I’ll stay put. Just get me the ice. You and Jo Harper-hell, Elijah.” Devin gave a weak laugh. “The military and the law on my case. But I’ll tell you everything.”
Elijah stopped at the door. “Including why you were on the north side of the mountain in April.”
Devin looked away and sank deeper into his pillow. “I miss your dad,” he said quietly.
“I do, too, kid.”
Elijah left, barely aware of the cold as he went up the walk. He climbed onto the terrace and slipped into the dining room. No one was around. He ducked back to the kitchen and helped himself to ice from the freezer and a couple of dish towels from the sink. A.J. had fancy ice packs somewhere, but Elijah was satisfied with ice cubes and towels.
He headed back outside. The wind had picked up. He thought of Jo up on the mountain by herself. They were violating basic hiking protocols, but at least it kept them occupied. He didn’t think he could stand just kissing her again. It would lead to something else, and that was probably dumber than hiking in the cold alone.
It would be best if Nora decided one night in the wilderness was enough, but Elijah didn’t think that would happen.
A.J. intercepted him halfway back to the shop. “You wanted to talk, Elijah? What’s up? I got your message.”
Elijah frowned. “What message?”
“Didn’t you call? The front-desk clerk said you did, and I should find you. I was tied up with the kids, or I’d have gotten out here sooner.”
Hell.
Elijah ran back to the shop and took the stairs three at a time, but he was too late. Devin was gone. So was his multi-day pack.
He charged back outside. A.J. gave him a tense look. Elijah sighed, calming himself. “We need to talk,” he said, and gave his brother the rundown of what had happened up at the falls.
“If Devin’s injured-”
“He’s not so injured he couldn’t sneak off.” Elijah felt his thigh tingle and blamed the scar tissue from the bullet he took in April. He breathed, willing his muscles to relax. “He probably ducked into the woods. I can try to find him, but he’s a kid, A.J. I’m not going to hunt him down.”