His eyes snapped to hers as he scowled fiercely. She didn’t back down as she met his look with one just as fierce, and even more determined. “What do you want?” he snapped.
“Kyle and Cassidy climbed up a tree, they refuse to come down.”
“Get Ian,” he growled, finally managing to wrench his sheet back.
She instantly seized it again. “Ian is with Mike, David, Doug, Jack, dad, andAiden, so forget aboutAidentoo. They got out of bed this morning, unlikesomepeople,and went to town to get more wood for the new house.”
Ethan groaned as he threw his arm over his eyes.“They’re immortal, tell them to jump.”
“Ethan!” she cried in exasperation. “They can still break bones, and what if they accidentally stake themselves on the way down?”
She knew that he was trying to stifle a laugh at the image that conjured. The only thing that held him backfrom doing sowas the fact that he knew his brother and sister as well as she did. The possibility of themaccidentally staking themselveswas very good. With a loud groan he threw the sheet aside and swung his legs out of bed. Isabelle took a step back, a victorious gleam in her eyes as she smiled smugly.
He didn’t bother to look at her as he tugged on his jeans and a T-shirt. “How the hell do they manage to get themselves into these messes?” he muttered.
“The same way that we did.”
He groaned as he shook backhis tussled hair.“Who dared them to go up the tree?”he grumbled.
“Julian.”
He snorted in disgust.“Of course.”
Isabelle waited for him to slip hissneakers onbeforeheadingoutdoors. She led the way down the path that cut through the woods toward the lake before veering off on another path that led further into the forest. They had spent many hours playing in thesewoodsas children, and Isabelle knew the trails like the back of her hand.
“Does mom know?” Ethan demanded.
“Like I was going to tell her,she’s got enough on her mind right now.”
“Huh?”Ethan asked tiredly.
Isabelle shook her hair back as she castascowlover her shoulder at him. “Nevermind,” she muttered.
Ethan stuck his tongue out at her. Isabelle forced herself not to laugh as she made a face at him. They may be adults now, but he was the one person that could always bring out her childish side. She loved that the most about him. She turned down the path that led to the treehouse, a path that she could follow with her eyes closed. The distinct chant of,“Jump! Jump!” suddenly reached them.
“Ah hell!” Ethan muttered as he broke into a run. Isabelle was right on his heels as they burst into a small clearing. Willow and Julian were standing at the base of a huge sycamore, looking up into its high, leaf filled branches as they continued to shout at their younger siblings. Cassidy was scooting down a branch, trying to adjust her hold as she started to slide to the side. Kyle, the less daring of the twins, had a death grip on his branch. “Don’t you dare jump!” Ethan bellowed, causing even Isabelle to jump in surprise.
Willow and Julian spunaround, their eyes wide as they gazed guiltily atthem. Cassidy let out a yelp as she jerked in surprise. With horrifying clarity, Isabelle realized thatCassidywasn’t going to be able to retain her hold on the branch as she slid perilously to the side. Ethan rushed forward, catching her just before she hit the ground. He grunted under the weight of her tiny body, his knees hit the ground from the force of the impact.
Isabelle rushed up to them, slightly breathless as her heart hammered rapidly with fear. Cassidy lay for a moment, her tiny face scrunched tight. Then, one bright blue eye popped open and she looked wearily up atEthan. She twisted her head, her long sandy blond hair covering her face as she looked at the ground just inches beneath her. She turned back around and burst into a brilliant grin as she hopped easily out of his arms. “Thanks!” she cried.
“Don’t mention it,”Ethangrumbled, shaking his head as he rose slowly.
“Nice catch,” Julian said in awe.
Ethan wipedthe dirt offtheknees of his jeans. “Show off,” Isabelle muttered, casting him an amused grin. He scowled at her for a moment before smiling softly. She lifted her head to peer through the thick branches at Kyle. “How are you going to get the other one?”
“Think they could both fall out alive?” he asked hopefully
She gave him a dark look as she shook her head at him.“Do you think a snowball could survive in hell?” she retorted.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought too,” he mumbled unhappily.
She slapped him lightly on the back as she grinned happily. “When was the last time you climbed a tree?”
His face twisted thoughtfully as he shrugged. “Ten years,maybe.”
He glanced back up at Kyle, who was clinging tightly to his branch, his facewas white as a ghost. “Jump Kyle,it’sfun!” Cassidy urged.
