Page 36 of Sweet Home Louisiana

“Of course not.”

“I mean, that’s not a bad point.”

“Snickers bars and overpriced T-shirts are not your main problem,” she said.

“What is?”

“Losing Tommy.”

Owen felt his gut tighten.“Yeah.”

“He was another body that could be taking tours out and dealing with stuff in the office so that Sawyer could take more tours out.Sawyer is awesome.But he’s better with people than books.”

Owen nodded.“He used to be, anyway.”

“What do you mean?”

“He doesn’t like doing the tours anymore.”

“Why?”

“He…worries.He can’t get past the idea that he’s responsible for all of these people.If something happens, it’s his fault.A guy reached his hand out to a gator the other day, even after being told not to, and Sawyer lost his shit.”

Maddie’s eyes widened.“Oh, no.”

“Yeah.He launched into this big lecture about safety and listening to people who know more and are experts and what the hell did the guy think was going to happen and on and on.People were pissed when they got back to the dock.”Owen shoved a hand through his hair.“And it takes him twice as long to get his fucking boat out on the bayou in the first place because he triple checks everything and his safety instructions take forever.He sucks the fun out of it from minute one.Once they’re out there, he doesn’t get too close to anything, just points stuff out from a distance.Especially the animals.People bitch about that, too.”

“Oh, crap.”Maddie looked genuinely concerned.

“So, Josh and I are taking as many tours out as humanly possible.Kennedy knows to try to keep Sawyer’s stuff light and to give him the older crowd, who doesn’t care as much about getting up close with gators and stuff.But we can’t always do that.”

She nodded.“Right.Well…that sucks.”

“It does.I wish he’d go talk to someone.But then again, I can only imagine what it was like for him getting that call from Tommy and then going out there and—” He cut himself off, but far too late.This was Maddie’sbrotherhe was talking about.

She was a little pale.

“Fuck.I’m sorry, Mad.”

“It’s…okay.It’s not like I haven’t pictured it all myself.”

He pulled in a deep breath.Dammit.“Well, thank you.For looking out for Sawyer.And all of us.”

She nodded.“I don’t want the business to fail.I really don’t.And this is all another reason you need Bennett.He can do some of the tours.He’s very charming and—”

“I’d better get back out there.I’ve got a boat waiting,” Owen interrupted.He liked feeling like Maddie was on their team and had their backs.Bringing Bennett up was just a reminder that all of this was temporary.

“Yeah.You should.”Maddie turned her attention back to the computer.

He felt like maybe he should say something else.But he had no idea what that would be, so he started for the door.He felt unsettled and baffled.Maybe it was just that he was surprised to find her working like she was.She didn’t want to be here, didn’t want the business, yet she was actually diving in.She wasn’t just doing inventory or straightening out the file cabinet.She was fixing things.She could have sat behind that counter and done her nails all day or worked on her art gallery stuff on her laptop instead of actually helping Boys of the Bayou, but she wasn’t.

He turned toward the dock but he noticed Brody talking to Kennedy at the end of the path.He knew he shouldn’t go over there.He knew he should let it all go.

But he was wound up and restless.So, of course he wasn’t going to leave it alone.

“Brody.”

“Hey, Owen.”

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