Page 9 of Peach Tree Family

"It's funny that they were both out here walking together," Seth said, and Theo gave him a sharp, sideways look, but he didn't know why. It made him nervous so he just kept talking. "But meeting up with them wouldn't have done you much good if you didn't know who they were."

"You don't think I moved us here without doing some research," Theo said.

"Guess not," Seth said, not that research occurred to him even as a possibility. He figured he'd just keep moving until he found work and a place to live and that would be that.

"A job at Stone Creek Inn would be a really good fit," Theo said.

"You like hotel work or something?" Seth asked.

"It's not the work so much. It's the location. I can walk there from the house. I'm hoping twenty minutes tops. I just have to get Ace enrolled in school. That's within walking distance too."

Seth looked at him. It was like Theo was always planning, calculating. But Ace didn't like some of his plans.

"School," he grumbled.

It wasn't long before they reached Peach Tree Elementary School and Theo announced, "Let's get you enrolled."

"Nooo," Ace said as he dragged his feet then turned to Seth. "You coming too, Seth?"

"I'm finished with school, thank you very much." Seth was just going to wait for them, but Theo thought he was going on without them.

"Maybe we'll see you in town," Theo said, but Ace wouldn't leave it at that.

"Noooooo. You can't go."

"All right. I'll come with," Seth told him with a smile. He did it because Theo was too quick to think he was bailing on them.

Now Ace sidled up to Seth and whispered, "Tell them I'm a bad kid so they won't take me."

"No sabotage," Theo told him.

In the end the whole thing wasn't too painful and Ace would be starting the next day. Hearing the news, his frown was intense and he kicked some rocks once they got outside. But the town was already in sight, and Ace got excited again.

Seth wasn't. Another small town wasn't where he wanted to be, but as they walked on Main Street and had a look around, he was surprised. Peach Tree might have been a small town, but it was nothing like where he came from.

This place wasn't dead, far from it. Practically every storefront was taken and open for business. The people walking around seemed lively and some of them were nicely dressed, like people ready to spend money.

"Tourist season hasn't started yet. That's why it's so dead," Theo said. "Things pick up when the peach trees are in bloom."

Seth just stared at him. If this was dead, what did this place look like when business picked up?

"You must have visited here a lot," Seth said to Theo and Ace.

"I didn't," Ace said and he looked sad.

Theo gave his brother a small smile. "I did only a few times, and I don't remember the place well. That's why I did research."

"Right," Seth said. He had set out from home blindly, trusting luck though he never had any. All that he knew was that he had to get away from Waterfield before he ended up in jail or worse.

Not Theo. He knew what needed doing and he was ready and able to take care of it. But Seth did wonder how far that went. Theo was out here with only his brother, and he didn't call the sheriff on him when he should have. Seth was reminded of that as the sheriff's office came into view.

Seth didn't like the sight of the place as gut-twisting memories came back to him, but Theo didn't either. He pointedly stared straight ahead as they passed it.

But there were other things Seth noticed as he eyed him, like how his hair moved when he walked and how his eyes were hard like he was daring anyone to get in his way. If Seth had walked around with a look like that back in Waterfield, it would have invited so many beatings. That's why he schooled himself to walk with his head down, his expression neutral. The look in his eyes, his posture, everything about him saying only one thing – I'm not looking for any trouble.

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