Chapter 31

At first Lane thought it cute the boy was in-between them—maybe he was starting to come around. Then Lane noticed he wasn’t trying to hang out with both of them; he was widening the gap between them, keeping Remy and him apart! “Hey,” he started.

“Here!” Braden cried. He rushed ahead of Remy and raced to a blue spruce that towered over him but barely came above his father’s head. He grabbed the nearest branches and shook them. “This one, this one!”

Remy grinned at Lane. “What do you think?”

“I think you’re the one who has to climb inside and check for animals,” Lane said. “I have the axe, remember? I’m cutting it down.”

“He wanted both of us to look,” Remy pointed out.

“You’re his father,” Lane countered. “I think he’ll trust you.”

Remy gave Lane an annoyed smirk. “He said—”

“I trust you, Dad!” Braden called, obviously listening in on their conversation. “Come on, come look!”

Leaning in close to Lane, Remy whispered, “I’m getting you back for this tonight.”