Wild Man Creek. Робин Карр

himself up on the furniture. Colin still had a problem with Luke and probably always would. Maybe because he was the oldest of the Riordian boys, Luke always took a patriarchal attitude—at least with Colin—acting as if he was the parent and this got on Colin’s last nerve.

      There should be a statute of limitations on bigbrothering. They were only two years apart in age and Luke was not smarter or more experienced. Colin felt that after the age of thirty, brothers of all ages should become equals.

      When he got to Luke’s, his brother met him on the porch. “Good, you’re here a little early. I need to talk to you. Let me get you a cola.”

      “Skip it,” Colin said. “What’s on your mind?”

      Luke took a deep breath. “Jack mentioned you stopped by for a beer. I asked him if he was sure that was a beer and he said he was sure.”

      Colin put his hands on his hips. “So, let me guess. You informed him he shouldn’t sell me a beer?”

      Luke shook his head. “No, but I’m counting on you making a decision not to order one.”

      “Why don’t you just stay out of it, Luke? I’m capable of managing my own life.”