Lowell asked again, "I see other people''s eagles perched on their master''s arm. Why does Jove always like to stand on your shoulder? Doesn''t he scratch you?"


    "No, Jove knows what he''s doing. He doesn''t extend his talons when he''s on my shoulder, and I wear a shoulder pad."


    "A shoulder pad? Where? Under your clothes?" Lowell curiously reached out to touch his shoulder.


    Dane''s face instantly changed, and his reaction was sharp. "Hands off!"


    Lowell was taken aback for a second, then let out an awkward chuckle. "Is it just me you''re wary of, or are you like this with everyone?"


    Dane said, annoyed, "I told you, I don''t like people getting too close."


    "I wasn''t getting ''too close.'' I just touched your shoulder. What''s the big deal?"


    Dane pursed his lips and flicked the reins. “Yah!"


    The horse, as if given a shot of adrenaline, surged forward.


    The sudden speed threw Lowell backward, then forward again, like a pendulum. "Whoa, whoa, slow down!"


    Dane ignored him and urged the horse to go even faster.


    Lowell felt his soul was going to pound out of his chest. "Slow down, slow down! A little slower!"


    Dane scoffed. "Coward. Who''s not a man now?"


    Lowell yelled at the top of his lungs, “Fine, you''re the tough guy! Now slow down, I''m serious, I''m terrified!"


    Dane bit his lip to hide a smile, feeling much better.


    Lowell howled, "If you don''t slow down, I''m really going to have to grab onto you!"


    Dane''s expression soured instantly, and he slowed the horse. "You''re a wimp."


    Lowell let out a long breath and took several deep breaths before saying, "I can''t ride a horse to save my life but can race cars. If you ever get a chance toe to indale City, take you racing. I''ll show you what I''m really good at."


    Dane''s immediate reply was, "Not going."


    "Why not?"


    "I like my home. I''m not going anywhere."


    Lowell said, "It''s not like you''d be moving there. You could just visit. You can''t stay in


    the mountains your whole life. You should get out and see the world."


    There was a flicker of longing in Dane''s eyes, but he didn''t respond.


    An hourter, they arrived at the Sutton''s house. Seeing Lowell injured, Tarquin frowned. "What happened?"


    Lowell said, "I identally rolled down a hillside."


    Dane confessed, "My friend Wyatt isn''t in his right mind. He pushed him down the slope. I''m very sorry."


    Tarquin''s brow furrowed slightly as he asked Lowell, “Did you see a doctor?"


    "Yeah, I did. It''s just a sprain.


    Nothing serious, just a minor injury."


    Lowell looked over at Djaz and


    smiling, pulled a handful of f?llipops


    from his pocket. "Here, have some candy."


    Dane froze for a second, and so did Diaz. No one had expected him to have candy


    in his pocket; it was clearly something he''d brought for Diaz.


    Diaz looked at Dane. Dane said, "It''s okay to take it. Say thank you to the man.”


    Diaz was very polite. "Thank you, mister."


    “You''re wee." Lowell smiled and patted Diaz''s little head, his grin gentle.


    Dane unloaded the bundles from the horse, exchanged a few brief words, and left with Diaz.


    Lowell opened the packages to find a freshly dressed wild deer, a few jugs of homemade hard cider, and some other local specialties. All things you couldn''t buy in a store.


    Lowell exined, "I brought them a gift when went to their house, and the kid didn''t want to owe me anything, so he returned the favor. The gift for you is because of the school and library..."