Unexpectedly Hers(16)

He took his cane and plate and followed Emma into the kitchen, leaving Wyatt and the others behind.

“I thought Ryder would join us on the mountain. I’d been counting on his input,” Mari said.

Me too.

“He woke up with a bug up his ass. Let me go talk to him.” Wyatt nodded before chasing after his brother.

Inside the kitchen, Ryder stood near Emma, arms wound tightly around his waist.

“What’s going on with you today?” Wyatt demanded. “I let the yoga thing slide, but Mari needs you to come to the mountain and do some taping while I’m hiking up the ridge. And I’d like to know you’re watching. I need feedback from someone who knows snowboarding.”

“I’m not ready.” Ryder swayed from side to side, looking off to a corner of the room.

“Do you need another fifteen minutes, half hour, what?” Wyatt asked.

“No, I’m not ready to go to the mountain today. It doesn’t feel safe.” Ryder scuffed his cane against the floor.

“You’ll be plenty safe in the van. Just talk to Mari so she can understand what’s happening, and then watch the films as they feed in so you can tell me what I’m doing wrong.”

“No!” Ryder exploded, his finger jabbing Wyatt’s chest. Ever since the accident, anger seemed to be the one emotion that could break through the surface of Ryder’s otherwise impassive demeanor. “It’s not safe for you.”

“Oh, and slopestyle was safe? I think you know better than most that that’s not true.” Wyatt regretted the words the minute he’d said them, especially when he heard Emma’s shallow gasp.

“How’d you let this happen to your brother?” his mother had yelped when they’d arrived at the hospital to find Ryder hooked up to a zillion tubes and machines. “You were supposed to protect him.” Shame oozed through Wyatt now as a result of his snarky retort. But even if he’d mishandled this situation, he needed Ryder to cooperate, for both of their sakes. “Ryder, please. I’m counting on your support. Let’s get dressed and go, as planned.”

Ryder snatched his cane and thumped away, leaving Wyatt and Emma in his dust.

Disbelief and animosity consumed him. With Ryder gone, Wyatt turned his wrath on Emma. “What did you two talk about in here all morning? Why’s he suddenly so obstinate? And why’d you interfere anyway, ’cause it’s pretty clear to me that you didn’t need his help? Shouldn’t you be focused on being my innkeeper instead of my ballbuster?”

“Ballbuster.” She repeated his word as if testing it on her tongue and finding it tart. Whether irked or concerned, he couldn’t tell. Either way, she met his gaze with a stern one of her own. “Between my Gram and the elderly people I volunteer to work with, I’ve spent lots of time with people in various stages of recovery and isolation. One thing most have in common is feeling marginalized; they lack purpose. I thought redirecting Ryder and letting him help me would make him feel like he was something more than your extra baggage.”

“I don’t treat him like baggage!” When Emma winced, Wyatt raked a hand through his hair and drew a breath. More calmly, he said, “He has an important role in all of this, and he was on board with everything until this morning. I need him to help manage Mari and the way she chooses to tell our story. And I need his damned support when I’m out there on the slopes. What I don’t need is you encouraging some kind of mutiny.”

Emma stared at him in silence. He couldn’t tell what she thought of him or his outburst, but she couldn’t possibly think any less of him. He almost wished she’d flip her lid on him. Instead, her face filled with compassion and pity. “I’m sure you don’t mean to make him miserable, but he’s obviously uncomfortable.”

“Because of Mari’s questions? Then I’ll talk to her and make sure she’s more patient with his slower speech. Problem solved. I don’t see what’s so damn hard.”

“Probably because you’re totally focused on what you need . . . what you want.”

“You have no idea what you’re talking about, or what all’s at stake here, and not just for me, but for him, too.”

“I have some idea of the stakes, and he must, too. What if that’s the problem? What if he’s concerned you’ll end up like him if you keep pushing?” Emma dropped her gaze and then turned toward the sink, reaching for a sponge.

“I’ve been on a snowboard almost as long as I’ve been walking. Ryder knows I can handle myself. Besides, this isn’t slopestyle. The jumps are less acrobatic, the snow softer. No need to attempt 1440 triple corks and risk snapping my neck. Besides, if my safety is his main concern, then he shouldn’t plant doubts in my head.”