"For right now the only flying you're doing is on OxyContin. For the rest, you have to heal first."

Colin's eye drifted shut slowly, then opened again. "I'm not being put out to pasture like you," Colin said, his words slow and thick. "First off, I'm not done. And second, I got no pretty little mama who thinks I'm a god waiting out in that pasture for me."

Luke chuckled. "Well, you manage to outdo me on everything else, so I imagine you'll find yourself some pretty little mama. Hard to come up with one better than Shelby, so your days of trying to beat me might just be over."

"I'm flying," he said.

"Whatever," Luke answered.

"Doctor say I'm gonna live?"

"And live pretty well--once you get better," Luke affirmed with a nod.

"Then you can leave. Nothin' for you to do here but watch me breathe."

"Y'know what? After what you just went through, watching you breathe is a mighty fine pastime. But listening to you talk is wearing me out. Why don't you go back to sleep?"

Colin swallowed and then smacked his lips. "Water," he ordered.

"Ice chips," Luke replied, leaning over the bed to spoon a couple of small chips in his brother's mouth. "See? There's things I can do. I'll be your battle buddy."

Colin sucked the ice hard, then swallowed. "There's nurses for that," he said.

"You've been kind of a load for these nice nurses. They're gonna fly one in special--from Samoa. Big guy, long ponytail down his back, built like a refrigerator. You'll like him--he's sweet."

"Go. Away."

"Shut your eyes and pretend," Luke said.

"Isn't this bad enough? You think I need a Riordan family reunion, too?" Colin grumbled.

Luke leaned forward in the chair. "Where would you be if I was lying in some hospital bed under a pile of bandages?"

"Hopefully on a sandy beach with a big-breasted nymphomaniac."

Luke shook his head. "You're adorable, you know that?" He stood up and turned away.

"You leaving?" Colin called.

"I'm asking for more drugs for you. Or duct tape. Don't go anywhere."

Luke made his way slowly to the nursing station, but the real reason he had to turn away from Colin was because tears of relief had gathered in his eyes. It was so good to have him back; such a miracle to get a second chance with him.

All five Riordan brothers were close, some closer than others. Their connections weren't based on their ages or their common interests so much as quirks of personality. Luke was the oldest, Colin second in age. Maybe that explained why the two of them had always butted heads. They'd always been competitive. Or maybe it was just Colin--he was the most likely to remain aloof and out of touch with all of them. But like any Riordan, if there was a celebration like a wedding or an emergency call like an accident or illness, Colin would come through. He might be last to arrive, first to leave, likeliest to pick a fight--usually with Luke--but he'd come through.

If Luke strained his memory, it seemed they started to rub each other the wrong way about the time Sean, fourth born in eight years, came along. That was about the time Colin did the most despicable thing--he shot up about three inches taller than Luke and managed to keep that advantage all through life. Luke was a respectable six feet and nicely muscled, but Colin was a six-foot-three-inch giant with big arms and long legs. Then, if that wasn't enough of an insult, Colin made it his life's work to do just slightly better than Luke in school and at getting girls. And the icing on the cake--Colin followed Luke into the Army, got into the Warrant Officer program and flight school and, as one could predict, outscored his older brother. Not by a lot, but still.

Luke had always had an attitude because no matter how well he could do at anything, Colin could always do just a little better. And if he wasn't doing better, he was taller and more handsome.

Well, now Colin was broken and scarred. Luke was ashamed that it had taken this to feed his determination for a fresh start with Colin. They should be best friends--they had so much in common! Twenty years in the Army, both of them helicopter pilots, both very successful with the ladies.

Well, that was in the past for Luke, but happily so--no man could ask for more than the life he had with his young wife.

But it wasn't in the past for Colin yet. It wasn't necessarily over for him. The recovery ahead might be difficult, but he could get back in the Black Hawk. If his arms and legs worked, why not?

Luke faced a very nice, very patient nurse. "Any chance my brother can start having some water? Or something?"

"Not too much longer, Mr. Riordan. That's something we really don't want to rush--not with the anesthesia and pain meds. He's actually going to have his first meal pretty soon. Jell-O and broth."

Luke grinned because the devil inside him was feeling slightly vindicated by Colin's comeuppance. Not the injuries--he'd never smile about that. But Jell-O and broth? Sweet. Really, Colin had come in first for a long time. "He's gonna love that."

The nurse just shook her head and smiled. "Oh, you kids," she said.

He went back to his brother. "Guess what, pal. You're going to get dinner."

"I hope it's a steak and beer with a shot."

"It's Jell-O and broth," Luke said. "Want me to request beef broth or are you okay with the chicken?"

"Can you please go away?" Colin said, turning his head. He turned back. "Aren't you just about cleared for sex with that hot little mama you married? I mean, the kid is what? At least six weeks, right?"

"Over eight," Luke said with a smile that was both victorious and taunting. There was another thing he'd finally gotten over on Colin--the perfect wife and a son.

"Oh, for Jesus's sake, go home!"

"Not just yet," Luke said. "Not until Mom gets here to take over."

Colin's unbandaged eye grew round for a second, then slammed shut. He groaned loudly enough to bring one of the nurses out of the nurse's station. With a scowl, he said to Luke, "Why couldn't I just die?"

Blue Rhapsody was shaping up to be one of the most dependable and responsive horses in Nathaniel's stable. She was excellent with a young rider, as if she knew by the sheer weight that this was precious cargo. Yet when Lilly rode Blue, she was a little more energetic and sportive.

Blue was not officially Lilly's yet, but nearly so. Lilly paid her board with cash and work. She had an arrangement with Annie to help with some young riders' classes and activities in exchange for boarding costs. Lilly and Annie were planning an overnight trail ride for six eleven-year-old girls and that brought back such wonderful memories for Lilly. She always knew she loved horses and that riding brought her untold happiness, but it was with the planning of a trail ride that she recalled how much her horsemanship fed her confidence and gave her a sense of mastery.

Lilly had always been smaller than other girls her age, and her grandfather must have seen the struggle that brought her. He was the one that arranged for her to start riding and helping with the horses on the ranch next door. He had never admitted to paying for this luxury, but she seemed to remember him running errands for their neighbor, delivering anything from hardware to feed, and once Lilly was grown she realized there could only be one reason for that--a barter for her riding. And giving his little granddaughter the opportunity to learn to control and manage the thousand-pound animals gave her just the boost she needed to feel taller, stronger.

As September came to an end and the weather cooled down, the sun was setting earlier in the evening. It was hard for Lilly to finish her bookkeeping at the feed store early enough to take Blue for a ride, but she never missed a day of seeing her.

One evening as she tidied up her desk across from her grandfather's desk, he asked, "On your way to the stable, Lilly?"

She glanced at her watch, then shut down her computer. "If I hurry, I'll be the one to feed Blue and maybe have time to exercise her just a little bit."

"You might want to bring that Navajo around for a meal one of these days."

"You've met him and you know his name," she teased. "He doesn't call you that Hopi."

"Of course he doesn't. He wants my granddaughter. He'll be cautious. I could forbid it."

She flashed him a grin and then chuckled. "And I could go to work for another feed store," she taunted.

Yaz seemed to drop the teasing, at least a bit. "Has he asked to see me? To spend some time in discussions with me?"

Lilly just tilted her head to one side and smiled tenderly at Yaz. This was his old traditional way of asking if Clay would be speaking for her soon. And all that old tradition, as she'd said a hundred times, wasn't important to her. She found it completely respectable--and it made the most sense--for a man to actually ask the woman he was interested in, considering that her acceptance really was the most important issue. But it was pointless to argue with Yaz. "I haven't known him all that long, Grandpa."

"It doesn't take all that long, Lilly." Their eyes were locked together for a long moment. "You'd better get to that stable before you miss seeing the horse that occupies so much of your brain these days."

"I suppose I'll see you in the morning," Lilly said.

"Where would I go? I'll be here," he returned. "I don't have a horse to visit." And then he winked at her.

It was dusk by the time she got there; with the mountains to the east and west and the sun beaming across the stable and pastures, it looked like a movie set, an idyllic setting for anyone who loved animals and the outdoors. She saw Blue out in the far pasture with Annie's mares. She assumed they'd all been fed and turned out; Nathaniel and Clay operated on a very strict feeding schedule to avoid digestive problems.

She was going to take a shortcut through the stable to the pasture, but before she got very far she heard music and stopped. It was the high, haunting, magical Native American flute, the kind she'd heard many times at celebrations and ceremonies and programs for tourists. Soft and pleasant, sometimes eerie, the rhythm slow. Lilting.

She walked through the stable and saw that Clay was perched on the top rail of the fence surrounding the pasture, facing away from the stable, playing the flute in the dusk. His silhouette cast a long shadow and the music he made caused her to quiver low in her belly. He'd been working all day so his hair was braided and hung down his back. He wore the hat with the feather. His fingers worked the flute while his pursed lips rested on the mouthpiece. Rawhide ties and beads hung down from the end of the instrument.

She leaned against the opened doors, her hands behind her back. He didn't notice her; he was completely at peace. The melody was no doubt something from his childhood, perhaps his grandfather's childhood. And it was flawlessly done, as though he'd been playing that particular piece for many years. Perhaps many lifetimes.

Lilly had spent so much energy fighting the old ways, but by degrees she was being reunited with her roots and she couldn't deny a feeling of coming home. Clay was bringing her comfort by way of reunion and familiarity every day, in so many small but significant ways.

She tilted her head back and closed her eyes, allowing herself to be seduced by the melody, so ghostly and captivating. She could almost see the men of her community in their Native garb, moving to the flute's music, the women swaying. She was lost in her own fantasy for a long time, and then the music stopped. She opened her eyes to find Clay walking toward her.

When he reached her, he put a finger under her chin and lifted it so he could place a light kiss on her lips.

"That was very beautiful, Clay," she said.

"My father's instrument. He taught me and I find it soothing."

"Music is such a big part of our relationship--the opera and now this. But I can't think of a way you can seduce me with the flute and make love to me at the same time."

His smile was teasing. "I like the music we make together whether there's music or not."

"Have the horses been taken care of?"

He nodded. "Annie and Nathaniel are out for a few hours, so we have to stay here. There's a pizza in their oven for us. Then we can grab a shower and I have plans for you. If you can stay, that is?"

"And go home later?" she asked.

"Stay the night," he said. "We'll get up early, feed the horses, go for a ride."

"I didn't bring a change of clothes, Clay."

"You don't need a change. I'll give you a T-shirt to sleep in. Or maybe I can keep you warm, myself. You can wear the same jeans in the morning, can't you?"

"What if Annie or Nate comes to your room?"

"Lilly, with your Jeep parked by my truck, they'd know to knock! If there's an emergency, we can get up and help."

She thought about this and then smiled dreamily. "What kind of pizza?"

"Half pepperoni and sausage, half pineapple and double cheese."

"You cater to me," she said with a smile. "That's good. You're very well trained."

"Do you have any idea how spectacular my life is when you're happy?" he asked.

"I must be quite the Hopi princess--it pleases me that you want to please me."

"I'm very hungry."

"Then let's eat," she said.

"And after that we can get to what I'm really hungry for."

There were only two people in Jack's Bar even though it was that time of day when the regulars usually gathered. Mel had stopped in before going home to the children and Mike Valenzuela, Jack's brother-in-law, had just come by for a beer.