Jasper lay on his back with his hands behind his head. “If they weren’t in a hurry, we should catch up in another day.”
Luke nodded and handed him a piece of cheese. They had traveled all night and all day. The sun was setting once again and the brothers had decided they could use a rest if they were to take on three experienced fighters the next day.
“The man you killed, how did he find out you’d been raised by us?” He took a bite of his cheese and passed Luke the canteen.
“Mel and I had gone to town for supplies. I think he overheard us talking while we were walking from one store to another. He knew Mel and had been upset when she’d had her fated dream. He followed us home and tried to use the information to get her to go home with him.”
“But Mel already knew.”
“I know. When she wouldn’t go with him, he challenged me on the basis that I was a traitor.”
“You were just a pup when Dad found you. You didn’t have much choice in the matter. If he’d left you, you wouldn’t be here today.”
Luke shrugged. “I won’t argue that fact. I’m also not upset life dealt me the hand it did. I never felt out of place at home. You never treated me any different because I was a dog. None of you did.”
It was Jasper’s turn to shrug. “You’re Luke. You’re my brother and always will be. I’ve never thought of you as different… I mean, other than the fact that you smell like a wet dog when you get caught in the rain.”
Luke chuckled and tossed a small rock at him. “Do you remember when Klaira found out?”
Jasper grinned. “I still have a small scar on my arm where she bit me. I should have just let her bite you instead of getting in the way. If it weren’t for you, I’d have gotten a kiss.”
Luke snorted. “You didn’t even know what a kiss was back then. Did you ever end up kissing her?”
Jasper was glad it was dark out and his brother couldn’t see his blush. “It’s none of your business if I did.” The thought of kissing Klaira brought back memories of the last kiss they’d shared and the pain of that day settled on his chest like a boulder.
“By the moons, she must hate me right now. She told me not to come; to stay with her.”
“You mean the two of you…?”
Japer shook his head. “Every time I managed to get her alone, I’d lose my nerve.”
Luke took a moment to arrange his thoughts. “Jasper?”
“Hmmm?”
“When you buried them, did you… I mean… You know how Jared was scared to sleep alone…” His voice caught in his throat and he swallowed hard.
“I know.” The weight on Jasper’s chest doubled. “I made sure he had his favorite quilt and I laid him with Jane.”
“I should have never left,” whispered Luke hoarsely. “I should have been there.” He reached up and wiped the tears from his eyes with his arm.
Jasper didn’t bother getting rid of the tears. “I was ten minutes away and couldn’t do a damn thing to stop it.”
Luke reached over and put a hand on his younger brother’s shoulder. “We might not be able to control what happened, but we can control what happens tomorrow.”
Blue eyes met brown. Jasper nodded then rolled onto his side and slowly fell into an uneasy sleep.