The men exchanged a few words, but the wind whipped them away from Meredith. I’m an idiot. I should have stayed there. No telling what Tucker is saying to Ian. Right as she decided to turn back around, from the corner of her eye, Meredith spotted her brother walking away.
Ian joined her on the bridge a few minutes later. “I’ll set out the lanterns first.” He did so and then quickly yanked off his boots and laced on his skates. “Let’s have you sit on the edge, like last time.” He stood on the ice, took her hand, and helped her sit on the edge of the bridge.
Meredith took a deep breath. “About what my brother implied—”
“I’ve handled it.” He looked into her eyes, then knelt to help her with her skates.
Unable to let the matter drop, she asked, “How?”
He started lacing her right skate. “Your brother’s having a bad day. We’re all bound to have a few. Even so, I told him I’ll not stand for him questioning your honor or my integrity.”
“I’m sorry, Ian.”
“Nay, lass. Don’t be. Tucker loves you. His concern was misguided. He needed to be reminded of a few things. There, now. Hand me your other skate.”
Meredith decided not to ask further questions. Tonight when she and Tucker were alone, she could. Maybe when he got back from Mr. Clemment’s, he’d have reconsidered and repented. That would clear the air.
“You’ll be more confident today once you realize you’ve learned to balance.” Ian helped her onto the ice.
“I’m not so sure of that.” She stared downward. “Why are there lines on the ice?”
“I swept it this morning.”
“You swept the ice?” She gave him a startled look.
“Aye. Last night’s wind carried pine needles and such onto the ice. I didn’t want anything to cause you to stumble.” He smiled. “And look at you—skating so well.”
Her focus shifted. “How did I—ohhh! Ohhh!”
“Here.” Ian braced her before she fell. His chest vibrated against her as he chuckled. “You were doing fine until you decided to fret. Let’s just have some fun, okay?”
“All right.”
Ian stabilized her, but he started holding her hand instead of wrapping his arm around her. When she slid or fell—even when she bowled him down—he never lost patience. “Ian?”
He lay still and propped his head in his gloved palm as if he lay on ice every day. “Yes?”
“How long does it take to get good at this?” She pushed against the ice and sat up.
“To my thinking, you’re already doing everything right.”
“I fell.” She crooked a brow and stared at him. “And I knocked you down. This is the fifth time.”
“Sixth, but who’s counting?” The corners of his eyes crinkled. “Falling isn’t what matters. The important things are if you get back up and if you enjoy yourself.”
“I’m having a wonderful time!” She tried to plot a graceful way to get up. “It’s the other part that’s difficult.”
With a lithe move, he got up and extended both hands. “Ah, lass, you don’t have to do that alone. Sometimes, ’tis fellowship in the struggle that makes overcoming it all the sweeter.”
“As long as you don’t mind my struggles.” She accepted his help.
He held fast to her hands. Even through their gloves, Meredith felt his warmth. “Mind? Not at all.”
“Sis! I thought you were supposed to be skating.”
Meredith twisted around. Had Ian not compensated somehow, they both would have fallen again. “Tucker!” She couldn’t believe he was back already.
“Sitting around on the ice is idiotic—unless you have a purpose.”
“You’re not one to talk,” Ian called back. “You’re lying on the bridge.”
“And I have good reason.” Tucker took a hammer and struck the ice.
“Tucker!” Terror shot through Meredith. “What are you doing?”
“The ice is too thick for that to cause problems,” Ian told her.
“I’m going to fish!” Tucker proceeded to take a saw and cut the hole larger.
All her life, Meredith had loved having a twin. Suddenly, she reconsidered. He had to have run over to Clemment’s cabin and back. He was making a pest of himself.
Tonight, when we’re alone and under our own roof, I’m going to give him a piece of my mind.
Shouting woke Ian. It took a second for him to realize the source. He immediately yanked on clothes and raced out his door. Tucker never raised his voice to Merry, but he was bellowing at her now.
Ian didn’t bother to knock. He plowed straight into their small cabin. Meredith stood close to the fireplace, as if it would stop her shivering. But Ian knew she wasn’t quivering from cold.
Tucker scared her.
Irate, Ian turned to Tucker. Tucker paced a few steps back and forth across the cabin. His speech was garbled. He turned to Ian, pointed, and shouted, “Don’t know. Go ’way.”
Ian stepped toward him. Just as he drew closer, Tucker spun back around. He took two steps then crumpled to the floor.