mouth. “But not until I finish this.” She frowned. Where had her manners gone? “Actually, this is too big. I don’t think I can eat any more. Lucas, would you like the rest?”
“No,” Simon cut in. “You choke down the rest of yours. Lucas can have this one.” He extended the other roll to Lucas. “He’s a growing boy, Rae. He needs a whole one.”
Lucas wasted no time taking the roll from Simon. He murmured what might pass as a thank you then took a bite so large it'd be a wonder if he didn’t choke on it. “Come, let’s go shoot,” he said a moment later around a mouth full of food. He brushed some crumbs from his chin then waved them in the direction of the archery setup.
Before Rae could move a staying hand fell on her wrist. “I’ll fulfill my end of the bet if you’d rather not shoot.” Simon said, his voice soft and his eyes full of understanding.
Rae popped the last bite of her roll into her mouth. “No, I think I’ll try for the two hundred pound target.”
Just as she’d hoped, Simon chuckled. “Bloodthirsty wench.”
She grabbed his hand and gave it a little pull. “Just be glad it’s not your blood I wish to spill.”
He flipped his hand over, holding hers, palm to palm. “Is it official, then?”
Rae searched his green eyes. “Is what official?”
“That I’ve gained your favor?”
She nodded once. “I’d say this afternoon’s revelations far surpass you seeing me…” a heated blush crept up her face, “er…you know.”
Simon’s eyes darkened as he did a slow sweep of her from head to toe. “Indeed.”
“We’d better go,” she whispered.
Simon nodded once then allowed her to lead them back to the archery area.
“It’s you again!” said the toothless man standing next to the rack of bows, eyeing Rae in the most unnerving way.
“I’ll pay one hundred and fifty pounds if you shoot him,” Simon whispered in Rae’s ear.
“Do it, Henny, and we’ll split it,” Lucas said excitedly.
“Stuff it, Lucas,” Peter said, a serious expression his face. “The wager is off.”
“Off,” Simon, Rae, and Lucas echoed in unison.
“Off,” Peter confirmed, his expression rigid and unyielding.
Rae reached for her brother. “Peter? What’s wrong?”
A muscle in his cheek ticked. “Nothing.” He looked over her head to Simon. “I declare from this moment on he shall never be referred to as a toff again.”
Rae exchanged looks with Simon over her shoulder. Something wasn’t right. She said her brother’s name again, but he backed away then stalked off.
“I’ll go talk to him,” Simon said.
Simon cursed his quick tongue. He’d barely spoken to a child before this week, now he was offering to go talk to one about whatever it was that was bothering him. Gads, he’d lost his mind!
“Peter, wait,” Simon hollered.
The boy continued on and Simon picked up his pace. What was it about this family and walking away from their problems? Literally.
“Peter, stop,” he bit out.
Peter came to an abrupt stop and Simon nearly slammed into his back.
“Can I talk to you?” Simon asked.
“Can I stop you?” Peter challenged.
Simon grinned. “No.” He gestured to a vacant bench nearby. “What’s troubling you all of a sudden?” he asked without ceremony as soon as the two sat down.
Peter didn’t answer.
“Surely you’re not sore because your sister hit the target on her second practice shot,” Simon ventured.
“No.”
Simon let out a deep exhale and steepled his hands in front of his lips. “I can’t help you if you don’t tell me.”
“You can’t help me any way,” Peter said hollowly.
“Perhaps,” Simon allowed. “But you don’t know if you don’t tell me what you need help with.” He crossed his ankles in front of him. They could be there a while. “Is this about a girl?”
“No.” Peter’s hesitation made Simon’s stomach clench.
“The inability to lie is clearly not in your family’s bloodline.”
Peter scoffed. “I’m not lying. She’s a woman. But it’s not what you think.”
“All right,” Simon said slowly. “Is she here?”
Peter sighed. “You’re relentless.”
Simon didn’t think so, but would take what he could. “It’s my single fault, I’m afraid.”
At that, Peter snorted. “I’m sure you have more than one. You are a toff, after all.”
Shaking a finger at the lad, he said, “I do believe you just broke your own decree.”
Peter threw his hands into the air. “Guilty.” He dropped his hands back into his lap with another sigh. “I wish things could have been different.”
“Different how?”
Peter stared at him. “Can I trust you with a secret?”
“That depends. Is it yours to tell?”
The