Page 40 of His Wounded Heart

This was definitely not the same man I’d met last year.

Simon and Renzo were both laughing.

“Did my brother send you?” Renzo demands to know.

“I’m Navy, aren’t I?” Simon asks.

“Damned Jace. He can never just keep his nose out of anyone’s business.”

“Look, I’m fine with leaving grown men to take care of themselves,” Simon says. “NOAA is saying that there’s going to be an ice storm with fifty-mile-an-hour winds. Is your tent up for that? If not, then instead of snowflakes, you’re going to be getting icy rain.”

“I don’t know what kind of pussy Jace thinks I am, but until I was ten, I was living in the Andes. I’m not talking the foothills; I’m talking up in the Andes. Occasionally it was cold, wet, and windy. I’m thinking no matter how bad someone in Tennessee thinks it can get, these hills have nothing on the Andes Mountains.”

Simon grins and looks over at me.

“Don’t be calling the mountains of Tennessee hills,” Azariah admonishes.

“Then don’t be sending strangers to where I’m staying.”

“Normally I wouldn’t, but I have to admit to being a might worried. You were looking a little stringy to me the last time I saw you.”

“Stringy?” Simon and I both ask at the same time.

“Scrawny,” Azariah clarifies. “You been eating, boy?”

“I’ve been eating fine. Seriously Aza, you send them to my place and I’m going to be pissed.”

“My duty was to tell you that you better contact your mother, otherwise Jase was going to sic Polly on you,” Simon said seriously.

“Aw, fuck, he seriously said that?” Renzo asks.

“That’s a direct quote,” Simon answers.

“Tell Jace I’ll call Mom real soon.”

“How soon?” Simon wants to know.

“This is a family thing. But since you seem to be so interested, yes, I’ll call her in the next seventy-two hours.”

“That’s all he was asking, man. That’s all he was asking.”

“Well I’m asking for a little bit more,” I interrupt. “She’s your mother, it seems to me your brother shouldn’t have to send out a rescue party to get you to call her. Shame on you. If she’s a good one, send her some flowers, for God’s sake. Mine’s not, so treasure a woman who’s been good to you.”

I looked around when nobody says anything. “What?” I finally ask.

“Nothing,” Azariah said. “I was just thinking you were right.” He leans over and puts his mouth close to the phone. “You got that? Send flowers.”

“Yeah, I heard the woman. Who are you again?” Renzo asks. “I’ll look you up when I get to Jasper Creek.”

“No need for that,” Simon says. “She’s going to be busy.”

Renzo and Azariah laugh. “I’m not going to be too busy. I’ll leave my card with Azariah.”

“I think it’s time we made some more deliveries. The storm’s picking up.” Simon tells me.

“Aza, you going to be all right?” Renzo asks.

“I’m going to be doing a damn sight better than you since I’m surrounded by four wooden walls, but who’s keeping track?”