CHAPTER 13

	“What do you want, Cole?” Ty asked, as he glared at the man.
	Ty had been cutting lengths of wood on the lawn beside the house.  The steps
leading off the back porch of the house had, up until this point had no railings on them at
all.  After making several other repairs to this porch, Ty was now preparing lumber for
the new railing that was going to be installed along the sides of the back steps.  Ty had
seen the other man walk around the corner of the house, and had spoken without
stopping what he was doing.
	“Just protecting my investment,” the older McKinley commented. Then he
continued, a sly grin on his face.  “Aren’t you even going to say hello?”
	“Hello.” Ty said curtly, his voice laced with sarcasm.  “So you’ve come all the way
over here to see if I’m just lounging in the sun, have you? Maybe I shouldn’t have ever
called to tell you where I was.  I should have just let you stew, wondering what had ever
happened to me after you sent me out into the cruel world?” The impatience was clear in
his gruff tone, and he worked on without stopping.
	“Well, I haven’t seen any pay deposits in you bank account so I was beginning to
wonder if you were actually working.  I have to know, you know, before I hand over half
my company.”  Cole’s tone was level but Ty knew there was laughter hidden
underneath.  He was pretty sure that his brother thought he had him cornered, and he
lifted his eyes in a stony glare before he finally spoke.
	“Nobody said I had to deposit my pay in the bank account back home.  Silverside
has a bank you know, this is not just some hick town in the middle of nowhere,” Ty
commented, reminding himself that even though his statement may be somewhat
misleading, it was not actually a lie.  He hadn’t, afterall, said he was depositing money in
Silverside, nor that he even had an account, merely that the little town did have a bank. 
He cut through another plank and tossed the scrap end off to the side in a pile of other
similar pieces of wood.  
	Not some hick town in the middle of nowhere?  Ironically, that had been exactly
what he had thought it was when he had found himself stranded there a few short weeks
earlier!  Now he was looking at it with a completely different light. Silverside was a place
where he wouldn’t mind spending a lot more of his time.  He picked up another plank
and prepared it for cutting.
	“True.” Cole nodded.  “So this woman is paying you a good wage, then,  is she?”
he asked, probing more as he looked around.
	“Look, Cole, I told you I’d hold up my end of the bargain, and I will.  You just
worry about yours,”  he said, glaring at his brother over the saw just before he sliced
through the piece of wood.
	Cole surveyed the house appreciatively.  “Actually, I’m impressed.  It doesn’t look
like the same house at all. You’ve done good, little bro, I didn’t think you had it in you.”
	Ty had been hiding a growing grin as his brother talked, until he heard those last
words.  Then he shot Cole a stony stare and reached for another plank.  “Maybe you
should have given me more credit,” he said, accenting his words with a heavy hint of
bitterness.  The sound of the saw filled the air again as Ty went on with his work,
ignoring his brother.  He straightened his pile of wood, counted the planks, then reached
for another piece to place under the saw blade in preparation for its cut.
	“Are you still here?” he asked finally, lifting his eyes and glaring at Cole.
	His brother frowned and shuffled his feet, his hands stuffed deep in his pockets. 
“Ty, you know I never doubted your skills,” he said, finally a serious tone to his voice. 
“Quality was never an issue, you know that.  The thing was, you just didn’t seem
focused. You were always walking around like you didn’t really care about anything — or
anybody.  To tell you the truth, Hannah was worried about you just as much as I was.”
	Ty laughed.  “You were worried about me so you sent me packing with nothing
but pocket change and the clothes on my back?  How thoughtful of you.  Remember to
give Hannah my love when you go home, will you?  How is she by the way?  And that
little ragamuffin of yours too.  Sweet family you’ve got, too bad they’re saddled with you.”
	“Listen, Ty, I know you didn’t feel I was being fair,”  Cole went on, sounding
somewhat exasperated.  “But, to be honest, I thought it was time you grew up, and I
didn’t think you were going to do it any time soon without a push.” 
	Ty glared at his brother. “Fair?”  he shook his head. “You know I could have
starved out here, I hope you realize that,”  he said, then as his brother opened his mouth
to speak, Ty sliced through another plank, filling the air with impenetrable noise before
he had a chance to voice his words.  No, he hadn’t been fair.  Not fair at all. It wasn’t fair
that he had been forced to live this way, that he hadn’t really been given much choice.
The only other thing he could have done was to agree with Cole’s opinion of the way he
had been living his life and stay home, ignoring the bet. But what angered him the most
was that his brother was right, and even worse, that he had already realized that for
himself.  He didn’t need to hear Cole telling him the same thing, he thought.  He had
needed to grow up. He realized that more than ever now.  In some ways he hardly even
recognized himself as the same Ty McKinley who had arrived in Silverside several
weeks ago, and he was beginning to wonder if he would even feel comfortable in his
own skin once he got back home.
	Cole laughed at him, which infuriated him even more.  “You don’t look like you’re
starving, Ty.  You seem to have done very well for yourself.”
	“That’s just pure luck, Sandy’s a good cook,”  Ty said without thinking, then
grumbled under his breath.  All he needed was to give big brother Cole more to talk
about.
	And talk he did.  “You always did have a way with the ladies, didn’t you, Ty.  I
must say, it was a pretty good scheme, getting yourself in here, although I’m surprised --
she doesn’t look like your type.”
	Ty’s stare was hard and his eyes full of fire.  “You are welcome to your low
opinions of me, Cole, but just leave Sandy out of this. She has nothing to do with our
little business deal.  She has hired me to restore her house, and that’s all I’m doing
here.”
	Cole raised an eyebrow and smiled a half crooked smile as he listened to his little
brother. “Is it? Really?”
	“And just what is that supposed to mean?” Ty demanded, a cold stare directed
towards his brother.  
	Cole shrugged. “You will have to figure that out for yourself, I imagine, little
brother.”
	Ty unplugged the power saw and tossed the cord on the ground. He had had
just about enough of Cole telling him he thought he knew how Ty McKinley lived, how he
thought, and what he felt. If he wasn’t so fond of the man he had half a mind to give him
a quick upper cut and send him flying to the ground! But he had never hit his brother
before and he wasn’t going to start now.  They were supposed to like each other, he
reminded himself, though at the moment that certainly wasn’t the emotion that was
seething up inside of him.
	“Look, Cole, you sent me out here to do a job, and I’m doing it.  When I’m done
you’ll hear from me.  Until then, why don’t you go back home and take care of your own
business, and stay out of my life!”
	As he spoke, Ty was sorting his cut planks and picking up the pile, preparing to
carry them to the back of the house.  As he swung around with another retort ready for
his brother, he found himself staring into the shocked face of his employer.
	“Sandy!”  he gasped.
	She stood  just around the corner of the house, about six feet behind Cole.  Her
face was as white as a sheet, and when she spoke, her voice was shaky and cold.
	“Mr. Cole — or whoever you are.” Sandy nodded her acknowledgment to him,
then looked back at Ty. “McKinley, just exactly what is going on here?”
	Not knowing what to say, he glanced from her to Cole and back, then dropped
the planks and stepped toward her, nervously.  He saw her tense, straightening her
back and narrowing her eyes, and somewhere inside he felt something he had never felt
before. Panic!
	“How long have you been standing there?” he croaked.
	“Too long, it would seem,” she replied coldly, as she stared him down.  With one
final glance towards Cole, she turned without another word and walked away.
	“Sandy, wait!” Ty called to her as she disappeared around the corner.  As he ran
past Cole, he paused and glared at him, pointing a menacing finger toward him.  “Don’t
you go anywhere!”
	When he reached the door, however, it was locked, and he swore under his
breath as he banged against it. “Damnit Sandy, let me in! Let me explain.”  But there
was no answer, and he flew back down the steps and circled around the house to the
back.  The back door was unlocked, as he knew it would be, for he hadn’t repaired it yet. 
Silently he thanked himself for his procrastination, as he opened the door and raced
through the house calling her name.
	“Sandy, will you just let me explain,”  he pleaded when he found her standing in
the living room and stopped short in his tracks. 
	“What is there to explain, Ty? You’re a stranger in my house.  I don’t even know
you.  I should have known better.” She let out a cynical laugh and shook her head. “I
have all the luck, don’t I?  I should have known better after what happened with
Jonathan!”
	“Sandy, please don’t say that.” He looked at her, hating that he was in any way
responsible for the way she was feeling. 
	She shrugged. “Why not? I just seem to get caught up in one mess after
another, don’t I?  There is obviously something underhanded going on if you are so
desperate to explain it to me.  Alright, explain — let’s start with telling me just who that
man out there is, Ty?”  she challenged him, standing with her arms crossed.
	Ty heaved a heavy sigh. “Cole is my big brother.”
	She laughed.  “Oh isn’t that precious!  Play the girl for a fool!  Let her believe the
guy is Mr. Cole who’s just looking to see examples of your work before he decides
whether or not to hire you.  You two are a real piece of work, aren’t you. What other lies
have the two of you cooked up?”
	“Sandy listen, I never lied to you. I never said he was Mr.  Cole, and he was
checking up on my work.  It’s a long story.  I wasn’t in a position to tell you the truth
before. I still probably shouldn’t, but to heck with it, you deserve to know.  Cole can just
deal with it.  Please, sit down and let me tell you everything.”
	“Oh, please do, McKinley — or whatever your name is.  I’m quite interested in
knowing what other lies you’ve told me, especially since you haven’t been sleeping in
your own bed for a while.  My whole relationship with Jonathan was a lie, Ty — I was
hoping not to make a repeat performance.  I guess I was wrong.”
	Ty winced at that. “No, Sandy — I swear, I’ve made omissions, but no lies. My
name is Tyler Edward McKinley.  I’m named after my mother’s parents.  Her father’s
name was Edward, and her mother’s name was Rachel Tyler.”
	She stared at him for a moment, then her knees seemed as if they wouldn’t hold
her any more.  Though she had defiantly ignored his suggestion to sit down a few
minutes before, suddenly it seemed like a good idea.  She didn’t know what to believe
anymore, but the apparent sincerity in his voice was unnerving.  She reminded herself
that the words little brother were not the only ones she had heard spoken out on her
lawn. Those words might have surprised her, but it was the rest of the conversation that
had shocked her.
	“And, Tyler Edward McKinley, just exactly what job have you come from God
knows where to accomplish here in Silverside?  What scheme did you have up your
sleeve that included lying your way into my house — and my bed.”
	Ty opened his mouth to speak, but just then the phone rang.  They stared at
each other silently as it rang a few times, then Sandy got up to answer it.  “Hold that
thought,” she ordered, as she walked towards the phone, the look in her eyes daring him
to even move an inch.
	Her expression changed, however, as she spoke on the phone.  She glanced
nervously at Ty, then hung up. “That was Serena,” she said, chewing at the corner of her
lip, momentarily forgetting her anger with him.  “She’s gone into labour early and Bob is
out of town.  I have to get over there and take her to the hospital.”
	“I’ll go with you,” Ty offered, genuine concern in his voice, but she refused him. 
She truly wanted him to care — about her, about Serena, about the last month or more of
her life — but she didn’t dare think about that right now.  Right now her friend needed her. 
She dashed from the house and almost bumped into Cole, who was just coming up the
porch steps.
	“Oh!” she exclaimed, and ran back up the stairs, this time bumping directly into
Ty who was coming out the front door.  “You have to find Bob,” she exclaimed
breathlessly, her eyes searching his face.  No matter how little she trusted him right now,
Serena needed them — both of them — and she had to know she could count on their
friendship. “Promise me you will find him!”
	Ty nodded.  “I will,” he promised her. “I’ll call Serena back and let her know you
are on your way and find out from her what numbers I can try to reach him at.  Sandy,
trust me, please. I’ll find him.  Then when this is all over, can we please talk?”
	His expression was so compelling Sandy almost forgot she was angry with him. 
She gave him a quick nod and turned to race off the porch again, nearly knocking Cole
over a second time as he watched her go with a look of total confusion.
	“Ty? Is everything OK?” Cole asked, looking from his brother to the woman who
was backing her car out of the driveway and speeding down the road.
	“We’re having a baby,” Ty said, by way of explanation.
	“You’re what!?” Cole exclaimed, then laughed.  “And you said there was nothing
going on between the two of you except some home restorations!  You are a sly one,
little brother!”
	Ty groaned and rolled his eyes.  “Not Sandy!” he said, as if he thought Cole was
completely out of his mind.  “Bob and Serena are having a baby — right now!”
	"Oh,” Cole said, then realization dawned and he looked at his brother, wide eyed.
“Oh! Is there anything I can do to help?”  If Cole knew anything at all, it was how
stressful it could be when a couple was having a baby. He and Hannah had been
through it, and he still remembered it like it was yesterday. 
	“Well, you might as well come in,” Ty said. “I have to try to find Bob.  He’s on the
road with his rig.  This baby wasn’t due for another three or four weeks yet.”
	Cole followed his brother into the house and waited while Ty made several phone
calls.  He called Serena, and reached her just as Sandy was pulling into the driveway.
Once he got the number for Bob’s employer he made that call and explained the
situation, then waited impatiently for the phone to ring. Eventually it did.  Bob had been
reached on his CB radio, and had pulled in to the nearest phone booth to call Ty back.  
	“Let’s go,” Ty said, as he hung up the phone and headed for the door.
	“Where are we going?” Cole asked.
	“To the hospital. I have to let Serena know I managed to reach her husband and
that he is on his way.”
	“Well, you don’t need me for that,” Cole said, as he followed his brother down the
porch steps.  Ty could have sworn the look on his face was none other than guilt,
especially when he followed up with his next sentence.  “Haven’t I caused enough
trouble here for one day already?”
	Ty paused with his helmet in hand, and looked at his brother.   Was Cole actually
acknowledging that there were negative consequences from his visit  and that he was
responsible for them?  He looked at him for a long time before finally putting down his
helmet again.  He had made up his mind. The bet no longer mattered.
	“All right, I guess you’re right.  But I have a business proposition I want to discuss
with you.” He looked at his watch, thoughtfully. “How much time do we have?  How long
does it take a woman to have a baby anyway?”
	Cole broke into laughter. “Depends on the woman, little bro.  I barely managed to
get Hannah to the hospital but we waited a good twelve hours when her sister was in
labour.  The baby will come when it’s ready.”
	“Oh!” Ty stared at him in disbelief.  “Well - give me fifteen minutes.  What I have
to say won’t take long.  Then you can hit the road if you want to.”