Mia straightened up, her gaze on Seth. “He did?”
“Yes.” Alice crossed her legs. “Erik was eight, and Seth was thirteen. It was winter, and Erik decided to skid across the north pond at the beginning of the season. He fell through the ice.”
Mia breathed out. “Were you there?”
“No. Just a bunch of the kids were out there, but we’ve all heard the story.” Alice scrubbed at some soot on her hand. “Seth reacted and ran across the ice, breaking it as he went because, even then, he was large. Then he dove in, no thought for his safety.”
Mia swallowed. “What happened?”
“Seth dragged them both toward the shore, punched up, and broke through the ice.” Alice shook her head. “So brave, even then. His strength is beyond the norm. He’d make such a good leader.” Regret lowered her voice.
Irritation snapped Mia’s spine into alignment. “Are you talking about the mine?”
“Of course.”
The time of family empires and firstborn male heirs was over. Wasn’t it? “Why can’t they both work at the mine?”
“That’s not how we do things,” Alice said quietly. “There can only be one leader. It’s not like we have a CEO and a COO or whatever.”
What was Mia missing? “I really don’t get it. Start another mine. Have the brothers work together.”
Alice sadly shook her head.
“Fine. Even saying that things have to be the way you say—which makes no sense, by the way—Seth could lead the mine and this entire backwoods community. It’s silly that he wouldn’t be chosen if he’s the best candidate.”
“No. Blood matters around here, Ms. Stone.” Alice’s mouth firmed into a white line. “You wouldn’t understand.”
Now that was a true statement. “There’s a lot I don’t get about this town. For one thing, why won’t anybody level with me about Ruby Redbird? Everyone seems to know more than they’re saying.”
Alice lifted a delicate shoulder. “You’re not one of us. Sorry.” She glanced at Mia’s dress. “You and Seth are temporary…you have to know that, right?”
Mia’s head jerked up. “Like you and Benjamin?”
A sly smile slid across Alice’s face. “Temporary? I don’t think so. We’ve been together much longer than anyone knows.”
So why not commit? Curiosity almost prompted Mia to ask the rude question, but good manners won out.
The fire gave up the fight.
It took another hour for the Volk men and the firefighters to go through the house to determine that the north side had sustained the most damage. The bedrooms sat at the farthest south corner, so everyone could remain at home for the night and probably even while the home was rebuilt.
Mia slipped on her shoes and levered from the truck when the fire marshal came back into view. Her heels caught in the rocky ground, but she finally reached his side. She stood about eye-to-eye with him. He was tight and fit, and probably about fifty. “Marshal?”
He nodded and wiped soot from his gray hair. “Deputy Stone, I take it?”
Nice how word got around so easily about her. Too bad there were so many other secrets. “Yes. Tell me about the fire, please.”
“Definitely arson. Fire from a bottle, as they say,” the marshal said.
Dread slid down her spine. “Any ideas who?”
He shrugged. “No. My official report will be available Monday. Good night.” Turning on his heel, he loped toward a firetruck.
Ben hurried over to fetch Alice and was gentle with her as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and led her back into the home.
Seth stalked close enough to grasp Mia’s arm. Soot covered his hair, his face, his entire body. Weariness cut grooves on either side of his mouth. “Some date, huh?”
She nodded, noting the tension in his expression and the fury in his eyes. “Arson?”
