“You planning to fill in as police chief? Because in case you forgot, that’s my real job.”
“Sure, I’ll fill in as police chief,” Win said. “Seriously, I’m desperate here.”
“Fine. But you owe me big-time.”
“I’m good for it.” Win lay long ways on the couch, hanging his feet off the end. “TJ says you and your neighbor are an item now.”
“TJ’s wrong.”
“According to him, you told her about Lisa.”
Colt clenched his fists. Why the hell had Delaney told TJ that? “So? The whole town knows about Lisa.”
“Did you tell Delaney what Lisa did?”
“We’re not talking about that, Win. We’re never talking about that.”
“Then I gather you didn’t tell her.”
“If you still want me to take your group out on Sunday, you better drop it.”
Win sat up. “Relax. Is Delaney going to let us carry her cargo pants and shorts?”
“I doubt it. It would be a pretty big step down, don’t you think?”
“I don’t know about that.” Win shrugged. “She’d just be branching out into a new market.”
“If she wanted to branch out into adventure wear, she could sell to REI or make a deal with Patagonia or North Face, not a small tour company that doesn’t even have a retail division.”
“I don’t know,” Win said. “I think TJ is on to something.”
Yeah, his brother was on to a lot of things, including being a big mouth and a shit stirrer.
Colt flicked his chin at Win. “You thinking of leaving anytime soon so I can get some work done?”
“All right, I can take a hint. Thanks for Sunday.” He got to his feet.
“Win, whatever you’re doing in Tahoe, don’t lose track of the time and miss Josh’s dinner.” It would be just like his irresponsible brother to screw up. “It’s important that we’re all there ... for Josh.”
“I won’t miss it. Catch you later.”
With Win gone, Colt settled in and worked steadily until lunchtime, when he and Jack took the kayak out on the river. The boat was a recreational kayak as opposed to a downriver kayak used for racing. It was too broad for fast and nimble maneuvering and lousy for traveling in a straight line. Racing kayaks were typically long and skinny with a bow shaped like a narrow V for speed.
Unfortunately, they were stuck with what they had and would have to make the best of it.
“We’re not going to win this, are we?” Jack said. Like Colt, Jack was competitive.
“Not unless Josh and TJ come down with a stomach flu.”
Josh’s doctors had said he could race after the surgery, since kayaking required mostly upper body strength, which Colt’s brother had in spades.
Jack scratched his chin. “I guess it wouldn’t be right to wish that upon them.”
“I’m not above it. With this piece of crap, I don’t know if we can even beat Deb. Don’t underestimate her, she’s a damn good kayaker. I’m pretty sure we can take Rachel and her crew, even in this. So at least we won’t come in dead last.”
“That’s little consolation.”
Yup, they were screwed.