common ground of what each of us expects and requires from this relationship we’re entering into, but the conversation can wait until we’re home in Eternity Springs.” She folded her arms and added, “In the meantime, I expect you to be respectful to Sheriff Turner. Got it?”
She took his shrug to be an affirmative answer, decided they’d work on “yes, ma’am” and “no, ma’am” pretty quickly, and headed for the truck. TJ shuffled slowly behind her, so she and Zach had a moment alone. “You okay?” he asked.
“What was it you said earlier about my being able to meet challenges?”
“I didn’t say anything about it being easy.”
The back passenger door opened, and TJ threw his duffel and backpack inside, then climbed in. He didn’t say a word, but in the wake of the comments he had made earlier, Savannah considered that a good thing.
They stopped at a Mexican restaurant for lunch before heading back. Savannah didn’t have much of an appetite and only picked at her taco salad. Both males seemed to inhale their meals. Nobody wasted much effort with conversation.
She and Zach made small talk during the first portion of the return trip to Eternity Springs, but once they made the turn onto the two-lane road that would take them over Sinner’s Prayer Pass, Zach gave her a reassuring wink, then glanced into the rearview mirror and asked, “Do you like to fish, TJ?”
It took him a good thirty seconds, but TJ finally responded, “I guess.”
“Angel Creek is a stone’s throw away from Savannah’s house, and fishermen pull some nice trout out of there. Our friend Cam can get you fixed up with gear and a license.”
Savannah watched her nephew in the vanity mirror mounted on the visor and noted interest that the boy tried to hide but couldn’t. Good instincts, Zach. Following his lead, she brought up other outdoor activities that Eternity Springs and the surrounding environs had to offer. Zach picked up where she left off, and they basically tag-teamed TJ like tourist office employees. He acted disinterested, but Savannah could see through that look.
She knew that look very well. She’d seen it in the mirror a million times. TJ was interested in the possibilities that awaited him here in Colorado, but he wasn’t going to get his hopes up over anything. He’d been burned before. Until he stood at the banks of Angel Creek with a rod in his hand and fish on his line, he wouldn’t believe he could go fishing. Same for camping, zip-lining, snowmobiling, and skiing. However, she and Zach had successfully planted the seeds, and the boy would think about it.
One they’d exhausted the activities travelogue, Zach struck up a conversation with Savannah designed to pique TJ’s interest in the people of the town. He spoke about Celeste and Nic Callahan, and when he talked about Jack Davenport he made sure to drop those three little letters guaranteed to catch a boy’s interest: CIA. He mentioned Colt’s summer baseball league team, but it wasn’t until he mentioned basketball that TJ abandoned all pretense of disinterest. “Basketball camp? With Coach Romano? Which one? There are two of them.”
Finally, he speaks, Savannah thought.
“Both Anthony and Lucca Romano will be here,” Zach said. “They are my deputy sheriff’s brothers. The basketball camp is a fund-raiser for the summer camp the Davenports are opening later this year. It’ll be sometime in August, right, Savannah?”
“It’s actually over Labor Day weekend. Gabi said it was the only time both her brothers could arrange time off together. Apparently basketball recruiting season has become a year-round thing, just like football.”
“I’ve played some one-on-one with Gabi Romano. I’m no slouch on the hardwood, but she can whip my butt. She helped me with my hook shot, though. She wants to get me into shape for a pickup game with her brothers.”
“I suppose this camp is just for high-school-age kids?” TJ asked.
“Yes, it’s for varsity-level players.”
Crestfallen, TJ slumped back in his seat. Savannah twisted around and studied her nephew, sensing that she’d been handed a golden opportunity. Gabi had already offered to help Savannah with TJ in any way she could. It appeared she’d just been handed a bargaining chip. “Gabi Romano has become a special friend of mine, TJ. I expect we could arrange a private lesson or two with the Romano brothers if that’s something you’d be interested in.”
He went still, then narrowed his eyes. “What’s the catch?”
She couldn’t help but grin. Of course there would be a catch. For