Home Free. Claire McEwen

It’s my old attitude coming through. Thinking that whatever I want or need is above the law.”

      “I don’t see it that way,” Todd said. “You drove here because you were worried about Mandy. To me that’s different. Nora has told me plenty of stories about you. But honestly, now that I’ve met you, it’s hard to connect you with that guy.”

      “Oh, I’m him.” Arch felt the bitter taste of it in his mouth. “And he’s me. I live with that every day.”

      “Well, maybe if someone I respected got upset about your return I’d have more understanding. But Connor—what an idiot. Throwing his money around like it will buy him anything. If I didn’t want to get his tractor off my property so badly, I’d take it to pieces and leave it for him to put back together. I don’t need his business enough to put up with him again.”

      Unfamiliar emotion washed over Arch’s skin. “I wish I’d known you when I was younger,” he blurted out. “I could have used a friend like you.”

      Todd’s answering nod was accompanied by a devil’s smile. “You might just change your mind. Because now that I covered for you with that bike story, you have to ride out of here on my bike. I’d bet a hundred bucks that Deputy Norris is waiting around the corner to catch you driving that old truck. You do know how to ride a bike, don’t you?”