Absolutely, Positively

how's the soft life in the big city?”

    “Fine.” Harry waited. He had learned long ago that it never paid to reveal urgency or eagerness with Leon. Leon liked to goad people until he provoked them into doing something stupid.

    “Shit. I still don't know why you want to live like that,” Leon mused. “Where's your Trevelyan spirit?”

    “Beats me.” Harry took a short sip of the beer.

    “No guts, no glory, son. Haven't you ever heard that bit of wisdom?”

    “I hear it every time I have a conversation with you, Uncle Leon.”

    “Josh tells me you're seeing some mousy little shopkeeper.”

    Harry did not move. “Did Josh call her mousy?”

    “No, but I got the picture. Runs a tea shop, Josh said. I know the type. Prissy, uptight little business suit, right?”

    “Not quite,” Harry said softly.

    Leon ignored him. “Hell, your pa at least had the gumption to run off with a rich man's daughter. Your ma was a real beauty, and everyone knows the Strattons have enough money to float a battleship.”

    “So they say.”

    “You're a damn fool for turning your back on all that cash, by the way.”

    “So I'm told.”

    Leon squinted at him over the beer can. “Hell, you ain't the best-lookin' Trevelyan to come down the road, but you're still a Trevelyan. Thought you could do better than a dull little shopkeeper.”

    “When did you develop this abiding interest in my private life?”

    “Got to take an interest in it. Worried about Josh.”

    Harry steeled himself. “What does my private life have to do with Josh?”

    “Simple.” Leon grimaced. “You're a bad influence on the boy. All he talks about is goin' to college forever and a day to get some fancy science degree. Says he wants to do research, for cryin' out loud. Next thing you know, he'll be dating boring little shopkeepers, too.”

    “And you'd rather he got himself killed trying to make a motorcycle fly through a ball of fire?”

    “Bastard.” Leon flung his empty beer can against the wall of the trailer. He sat forward, his fists bunched on his knees. “I want him to be a man, like his father was. Like I am. Like your father was. I don't want him turnin' into a goddamned, overeducated wimp like you.”

    “How much?” Harry asked without inflection.

    “What's that supposed to mean?”

    “You know what it means. How much do you want in exchange for laying off Josh for the summer?”

    “You think you can buy anything, don't you? That's the damned Stratton blood in you talkin'. Well, I've got news for you. This is my grandson's future we're discussin'. He's all I got left in this world. Blood of my blood, fruit of my loins. I want to see him become a man I can be proud of. You think you can put a price tag on that kind of thing?”

    “No problem.”

    Leon's face worked furiously. “This is about family, damn you. It's not about money.”

    “Don't give me that crap,” Harry said wearily. “We both know this isn't about Josh or his future. It's about making a deal.”

    “Son-of-a-bitch.”

    “It's okay, Uncle Leon. I'm willing to negotiate one more time. Now, how much do you want?”

    Leon glowered at him for a few more seconds. Then he fell back against the couch and closed his eyes. “I need a new truck. Old one won't go another mile. Evangeline's got a whole summer of fairs lined up. Got to have reliable transportation.”

    Harry whistled softly. “A new truck, huh? Congratulations, Uncle Leon. You're learning to think big.”

    Leon slitted his eyes. “We got a deal?”

    “Sure.” Harry put his unfinished beer down on the table. He got to his feet. “Same deal as last time.”

    “Like I said, you're as reliable as the sunrise. Got to watch that, Harry. Bad habit like that'll get you into a lot of trouble.”

    Harry went to the door of the trailer. He looked out across the grassy parking lot. “I meant what I said, Leon. We have the exact same deal as last time.”

    “Yeah, yeah. I heard you.”

    Harry opened the screen door and went down one step. He glanced back over his shoulder. “You stop pressuring Josh to leave college, and I'll pay for your new truck.”

    “Like I said, we got a deal.”

    “Yes.” Harry met his uncle's eyes. “Break your end of the bargain, Leon, and you know what happens.”

    “Don't threaten me, boy. You'd never go through with it. You haven't got the guts to do it, and we both know it.”

    Harry said nothing. He just held Leon's gaze. The sounds of